10 Things to Do in Atlanta in Summer

During your visit you'll discover that there is plenty to do in Atlanta all year round. However, the summer season holds a particular charm for outdoor enthusiasts.

You can ride a Segway through the city streets to explore the city, get a breathtaking view of Atlanta from a Ferris wheel and eat ice cream at an ice cream festival, among other things. Check out these and other exciting activities to incorporate into your itinerary.

Among the best tours in Atlanta that you can enjoy during the summer, the Segway tour with a local guide stands out. You can tour the main streets of the city in a fun way, learn about the history of the destinations visited and also take advantage of the warm weather of the season.

The adventure begins at a previously agreed location in the city centre. There, the guide will give you some basic tips on how to ride the segway and provide you with the necessary safety equipment.

The route of this tour usually incorporates places of interest such as:

• Inman Park, which is one of the oldest areas of the city, where you will find a beautiful display of Victorian period architecture, restaurants, bars and cafes.
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, which is home to the grave and childhood home of the American minister and activist.
• The Krog Street Market, with over 100 years of history in Atlanta.

You'll also pass a roughly half-mile-long mural in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood. Every year, more than 150 street artists paint their work here, giving life to a festival called Forward Warrior.

Useful information

• Price: from 63€ per person.
• Duration: 3 hours (approx.)
• Where: main streets of Atlanta (route may vary).

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city on a wine tour of the North Georgia wine country is another great thing to do during your visit to Atlanta in 1 day or more. You'll see the colourful vineyards in summer, taste wines and learn about their production.

The wine tour usually incorporates a total of three wineries, which can vary according to daily availability. Some of the vineyards usually visited are:

• Cottage Vineyard and Winery: this is a family-run winery with a young history, dating back to 2013.
• Serenity Cellars: a small winery whose wines are inspired by Tuscany, so they are produced from various blends.
• CeNita Vineyards and Winery: present in the wine market since 2008 and with a huge estate where you will enjoy beautiful panoramic views.

Your guide will take you to the village of Helen for you to explore at your own pace. There you will find:

• A beautiful architectural display inspired by the villages of northern Germany.
• Cobblestone streets.
• Handcrafted products in blown glass and other materials.

Useful information

• Price: from 104€ per person.
• Duration: 10 hours (approx.)
• Where: Selected vineyards in northern Georgia.

A must-visit destination on your summer itinerary is the Atlanta Ice Cream Festival. This is an annual celebration where you can sample all the ice cream you want and enjoy it outdoors with your family.

When you arrive at Atlanta's major urban natural lung, Piedmont Park, you'll be surrounded by dozens of ice cream vendors, live music and a colourful atmosphere. Immediately, you'll be able to sample vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, raspberry and other treats. You will also find some street food stalls.

You will also find a children's play area, ideal if you have decided to visit Atlanta with children. You will also have at your disposal some activities associated with physical and mental wellbeing, as this event aims to promote the improvement of people's lifestyle.

Useful information

• Price: free admission.
• When: mid-July (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.).
• Where: 1320 Monroe Dr NE, Atlanta (located between the Midtown and Virginia Highland neighbourhoods).

Skyview Atlanta is one of the most popular attractions during the summer months in the city. So if you're not afraid of heights and your visit coincides with that season, you should enjoy this unique experience in the city.

You'll board a safe gondola with comfortable chairs, a glass floor and panoramic windows. Immediately, the Ferris wheel will start spinning, reaching approximately 60 metres in height. In total, the skyview makes a maximum of four turns in no more than 15 minutes.

This is a suitable activity if you don't know what to do in Atlanta at night or during the day. This is because the sky is clearer during the summer, so at any time of the day you'll get an amazing view of downtown and the surrounding area.

The Ferris wheel is also close to other attractions such as the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, the College Football Hall of Fame, among others. This way you can take advantage of the time to incorporate these destinations into your itinerary for the day.

Information of interest

• Price: from €15 per person.
• When: daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm (summer by reservation).
• Where: 168 Luckie St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303.

During your stay in Atalanta in summer you'll find a lot of tourists on the streets, so you could escape the city for a day and get in touch with nature. A good alternative is to take a trip to Cloudland Canyon State Park.

To do this experience, you will have to travel from the city centre to Cloudland Canyon Park, a journey of approximately 2.5 hours. You can do this transfer on your own or connect with a guided tour.

When you arrive at the park you will be able to do several activities, some of them are:

• Cycling route.
• Hiking route.
• Visit to the park's waterfalls.
• Exploring the underground cave system.

If joining one of the best brewery tours in Atlanta is on your travel itinerary, then you can attend the Summer Beer Fest, held annually during the month of June. There, for one day, you'll find the top local and national brewing companies gathered together.

When you arrive at the event, you'll see a stage with live music and DJs. You will also find a series of street food stalls and other preparations representative of the city's gastronomic culture.

On the other hand, you will find more than 200 types of beer. All of them produced both in Atlanta and in the United States. You will also be able to taste some wines and ciders from the wineries of the North Georgia wine region.

In addition, in the Historic Fourth Ward Park, which is where the event takes place, you will find several picnic areas where you can sit on the grass in peace and quiet. There you can eat, drink and enjoy the festival.

Useful information

• Price: from 45€ per person.
• When: third week of June (4:00 to 20:00).
• Where: 680 Dallas St NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Historic Fourth Ward Park.

Your stay in Atlanta probably coincides with the 4th of July celebration. If so, you'll be able to join in some of the activities that take place annually on that day to commemorate America's birthday.

You'll be able to go to several places in the city centre. You can enjoy the traditional patriotic parades from early afternoon, ending with the fireworks display. Such is the case of:

• Centennial Olympic Park.
• Truist Park.

Other options include Atlanta's Historic Fourth Ward Park or the Children's Museum of Atlanta, where you'll find music, entertainment, food trucks and more fireworks.

One activity that has become a summertime tradition in Atlanta is the Hot Air Balloon Festival. It's an event that year after year brings together locals and tourists who enjoy watching these balloons colour the sky.

Once you're at Callaway Gardens, you'll find a celebratory atmosphere suitable for the whole family. You'll see approximately 30 hot air balloons take off, decorating the sky throughout the day and night of the weekend.

You'll also have the opportunity to take a tethered balloon for a ride and get a bird's eye view of the region. In the meantime, you can take some photographs.

For their part, the little ones at home will have a special area with games, aimed at all ages. For example:

• Climbing walls.
• Bouncy castles.
• A ride on a children's train.

Useful information

• Price: from 15€ per person.
• When: First weekend in September.
• Where: 17617 US-27, Pine Mountain, GA 31822, Callaway Gardens.

During your summer trip you can enjoy a unique culinary experience. This is the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, where you can sample dishes from the city's top restaurants. In addition, you will taste selected high quality wines.

At this event you will discover the best flavours from all over Atlanta through dozens of tastings. All in a celebratory atmosphere with live music, art exhibits and a small artisan market.

In addition, you'll enjoy live culinary demonstrations by renowned guest chefs at each edition. You can also take part in some local and international cooking classes.

The Food & Wine Festival is undoubtedly one of the best gastronomic tours in Atlanta and, proof of this, is its more than 20 years of tradition, promoting the culture of food and drink.

Useful information

• Price: from €95 per person.
• When: early September.
• Where: Historic Fourth Ward Park (north entrance).

Another activity to incorporate into your itinerary is Japan Fest Atlanta, whose annual celebration coincides with the end of the summer season. You will enjoy Japanese culture in all its expressions: dances, music, gastronomy, among other aspects.

You will have the opportunity to taste some of the Japanese gastronomy. Such is the case of spring rolls, Teriyaki, tonkotsu Ramen, gyūdon, sushi, desserts, sake, beer, among others.

In addition, during this experience you will see a series of shows, which vary depending on the edition of the event. Some of them are:

• Martial arts demonstrations.
• Bonsai workshops.
• Kimono exhibitions.
• Tea ceremony.
• Cosplay competitions.

On the other hand, you will find a special area for the little ones at home. There, you will be able to accompany the children while they learn and have fun with a series of Japanese games specially selected for them.

Useful information

• Price: from 15€ per person.
• When: third week of September (10:00 to 18:00).
• Where: Gas South Convention Center. 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA 30097 (50 minutes drive from downtown Atlanta).

You should know that not all summer months in Atlanta tend to be equally crowded. In fact, this hot time of the year is usually classified into three levels, depending on the volume of visitors.

For example, there is the high season, usually recorded during the months of May and September. On the other hand, there is the very high season, which is usually in July and August. Meanwhile, June is characterised as the low season month of the summer in Atlanta, due to the fact that it is the period with the least amount of tourists.

During your visit to Atlanta you'll need to pack a few items of clothing and personal items to help you cope with the inevitable heat.

Make sure you pack light, breathable clothing: shorts, cotton T-shirts with and without sleeves, beach-style dresses, skirts and, of course, a swimming costume.

Also pack sunglasses, mosquito repellent, high coverage UVA and UVB sunscreen and at least two pairs of sunglasses. Also, don't forget to pack at least two pairs of comfortable shoes.

Atlanta is a city with a fairly marked summer, when temperatures can reach an average high of 32ºC (90ºF). However, this rarely happens, as daily thermometers usually register days of up to 30ºC and nights of no less than 24ºC.

In addition, you should know that this hot season in Atlanta is characterised by being as short as the winter, lasting approximately 3.8 months.