10 Fun Atlanta Train Rides & Activities

Take your family on a picturesque train ride through beautiful Blue Ridge. They offer 26 mile round trip excursions with a two hour stop in McKaysville/Copperhill, TN to explore, grab a bite to eat and check out the river views. They also offer shorter trips throughout the year such as Santa Express. You can choose an indoor rail car or an open-air rail car.

Your child will love exploring the many Train exhibits at the Southeastern Railway Museum. There are Cabooses, Passenger Cars, Locomotives, Transit Trolleys and even Baggage and Rail Post Office Cars. They also feature fun family events for hands-on exploring, education and interactive displays. Your family can also take a Big Train Ride or Miniature Train Ride.

Learn history about Locomotives and the Civil War while having fun at the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History. There are historic Train Exhibits including the General Locomotive from the Civil War, Glover Machine Works, Great Locomotive Chase, Artifacts and Collections as well as the Jolley Education Center for hands-on and interactive exhibits created especially for kids including a Play Motion Train Simulator.

If you need a little or a lot of train merchandise, look no further than Legacy Station. They sell your child's favorites and classics including Thomas, Brio and many different wooden trains, tracks and more. They also have all the popular decor and accessories items for kids such as Peanuts Village and Disney Village along with many holiday items. You can also purchase from a large selection of Lionel Train items and MTH Trains along with G Scale, HO Trains and O Scale Trains.

Take your family on a five-mile picturesque Train Ride through Stone Mountain Park. Your family can ride in open-air cars on this 1940s full size locomotive. While you're there, check out many other family attractions such as the Farmyard, Dinotorium and Adventure Golf. Rides are 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy a train-themed restaurant experience aboard the Orient Express. The restaurant is inside an old train car and atop train tracks for a unique setting. They feature Chinese, sushi and hibachi, and even have a special hibachi kids menu.

Enjoy two special train activities during the holidays at Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Your family can take a unique ride on The Botanical Express through the Great Lawn for a ride-on train experience on select weekends. A model train display features seven tracks filled with G scale trains and a holiday trolley chugging through an intricate mountain-themed and whimsical design. 

There's a large outside patio to enjoy the traditional German food and beer, but families will want to sit inside so the kids can ogle the toy train that runs on a track suspended from the ceiling.

Your family can enjoy a casual meal in this fun restaurant for kids, a former freight depot constructed by the Atlanta & West Point Rail Road. The railroad was used in the 1800s and the kids will experience history with features such as the original ticket window. Indoor and outdoor seating is available with a patio that overlooks the Belt Line.

Take your family on a Train Ride on the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad and experience riding in 1949 vintage cars. They offer different routes and stops along with way with attractions, shopping and restaurants as well as historic venues for President Carter. The also feature special events throughout the year such as Day Out with Thomas, National Train Day and more.