Located an hour-and-half drive from Atlanta, LaGrange is a great family-friendly weekend destination. The LaGrange square breathes life into this small town, recently garnering attention from parents traveling with kids. It’s home to the only Great Wolf Lodge in Georgia, which is a huge draw, but there’s so much more than that. Discover the attractions unique to the city below, which are the best things to do in LaGrange GA with kids!
Nobody can resist the wolf’s calling. A ginormous waterpark, ropes course, bowling, and arcade make Great Wolf Lodge a kid’s dream resort. However, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you forgo the rest of LaGrange.
Just a few miles from Great Wolf Lodge are locally owned mom-and-pop diners (with better food and lower prices than GWL), adorable shopping, historic landmarks, and green spaces.
You’ve got to see it all to believe it. LaGrange is the small town that keeps surprising us with world-class attractions.
Best Things To Do In LaGrange GA With Kids
Where To Stay
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge chose LaGrange for its family-friendly resort because it’s a prime location- attracting tourists from Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The hotel caters to families, boasting a 100,000-square-foot waterpark to enjoy. Additionally, the resort includes a ropes course, Build-A-Bear Workshop, bowling alley, gold mining, and an arcade. It’s a one-stop shop for family fun.
As much as kids love Great Wolf Lodge, I find the Great Wolf Lodge Georgia food lacking and expensive for families. I recommend locally-owned LaGrange restaurants for budget-conscious families or parents looking to escape the overstimulation of Great Wolf.
LaGrange Attractions That Kids Love
I recommend using your vehicle to commute when you’re touring LaGrange GA with kids. The square downtown area offers plenty of parking, and you can walk to the local shops and restaurants. However, if you’re staying at Great Wolf, you’ll want to drive between the downtown area and the resort.
The Biblical History Center
The Biblical History Center is an archeological museum exploring the daily life of ancient times. It aims to help people understand the Bible and the ancient world in its historical and cultural context. You’d never guess that Middle Eastern artifacts are in LaGrange!
The museum offers daily activities specifically designed for children. The ‘Shepherds Bread Making Experience’ is a hands-on bread-making class that shows kids how food was once made. Another favorite is the ‘Kid’s Archeological Dig,’ which allows kids to learn about the science behind archeology while digging for artifacts.
The LaGrange Art Museum
On the third Saturday of every month, the LaGrange Art Museum offers an afternoon of fun designed for families. Families can tour the art museum and explore different mediums of art design. The event provides a hands-on art activity for kids to take home. The current museum exhibits are also open for families to enjoy together. It’s a free event and is hosted every month.
Hills & Dales Estate
Completed in 1916, The Callaway family home graces immaculate gardens and is one of the finest historic homes in America today. Hills & Dales Estate is a 13,000-square-foot home surrounded by gorgeously preserved 19th-century gardens.
Children ages six and up are allowed to tour the home. Hills & Dales does a fantastic job to include the kids by offering a scavenger hunt. The kids are excited as they tour the home and find every item on the scavenger hunt list. In addition to that, the Hills & Dales event calendar includes several monthly kid-friendly events.
Even if the gardens aren’t blooming, there’s always a reason to visit. One of the most popular events at Hills & Dales is during the holiday season. The home is decorated accurately according to history and truly dazzles for Christmas. Over-the-top trees, wreaths, and garlands adorn the already beautiful, historic home.
Ice Skating at Sweetland Amphitheater
Each Winter, from November through February, the Sweetland Ampitheater transforms into a magical winter wonderland with a skating rink. Sweetland On Ice is a covered 5,500 square-foot open-air ice-skating rink. Bundle up and enjoy the ice skating action, concessions, visits by Santa, and the Sweetland Beer Garden (a heated tent serving local craft beer and wine).
Sweetland on Ice also offers special movie nights. Watch classic movies while you skate around the rink. It’s a Winter wonderland that the whole family can enjoy. Ice Days costs $15 per adult and $10 per child, which includes the skate rental.
West Point Lake
West Point Lake is one of Georgia’s largest lakes at 25,900 acres and 525 miles of shoreline. Boat launching ramps are located in 34 public recreation areas around the lake, providing easy access for visitors who want to enjoy water sports.
The numerous West Point Lake parks offer designated swimming, boating, fishing, camping, and bird-watching areas. One of the most popular attractions is the eleven miles of rugged trails to explore, known as the Lakeside Trails. The singletrack loop is perfect for intermediate to experienced mountain bike riders, and it becomes more difficult the farther out you ride. Bikers and hikers can use the trail.
West Point Lake is also home to annual boating competitions and fishing tournaments. The most sought-after fish in West Point Lake are largemouth bass and crappie, but you can also find catfish, stripers, and hybrids. Spring, fall, and early Winter are the best West Point Lake fishing months.
Eat & Drink Like A LaGrange Local
Wild Leap Brewery
A brand local to LaGrange, Wild Leap has grown leaps and bounds since its first conception. The LaGrange location is the first brewery, but now they have a second location in Atlanta. The family-friendly brewery offers craft beer on tap and hand-crafted cocktails.
They offer indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor area has several games for kids to enjoy while parents sit back and relax. Check their event calendar for live music offerings and festivals. Or walk your drinks over to Southbend Park, the city’s newest green space, which includes a skate park, dog park, and playgrounds.
Karvelas Pizza Co.
Dining in LaGrange GA with kids doesn’t have to be fancy to be good. If you’re craving wings and gourmet pizza, you can’t beat the menu offerings at Karvelas Pizza Co. It’s a family-owned restaurant located right off the square. They’ve concocted original pizza flavors and pride themselves on homemade dough. The casual atmosphere is excellent for families.
Gus’s Grill
Gus’s Grill is jam-packed with locals on a Saturday morning because it’s the best breakfast spot in LaGrange. Offering Greek and American cuisine, everything we ate was terrific. I highly recommend the Gyro Omelette, made with lamb meat and homemade tzatziki sauce—another honorable mention is the biscuits, which have a slight crust since they’re pan-baked.