Family Holiday Fun Around Atlanta

This past weekend, we went as a family to the Georgia Aquarium. We have annual passes so that we can go at a moment’s notice to enjoy the exhibits. We also had a fun time posing by the life-sized holiday ornaments at Pemberton Place in front of The World of Coca-Cola. More from Pemberton Place below…

The Georgia Aquarium

But first, The Georgia Aquarium. Since we are enjoying a family study of marine biology this year, it’s perfect.

The newest exhibit, Sea Monsters Revealed: Aquatic Bodies, is truly amazing! (Learn more about it and view a video at that link). See, our high schoolers, as part of their marine biology studies, are to dissect certain sea creatures like starfish and a small shark. Well, not only did they have the layers of those creatures peeled back, we saw SO many more.

My shark lover, Littlest Girl, was thrilled! Sharks, emperor penguin, giant squid, a huge sunfish and many more! We’ll be back again soon.

Of course we spent time at the touch tank, the huge window of Ocean Voyager and the girls got to touch anemone – exactly what they have recently studied! This was a wonderful family field trip to go with our Marine Biology Studies for all our Multiple Ages.

The inside of the aquarium was all decked out for Christmas. Beautiful! I don’t want to give too much away – because you need to go see it yourself!

World of Coca-Cola

Afterwards, we enjoyed Pemberton Place right in front of the World of Coca-Cola. Especially the over-sized Christmas ornaments. (We plan to return between now and the end of the year to enjoy the tour again!) This area between the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola was all decorated for Christmas. It was a fabulous spot for family photos!

Below is all the holiday happiness information you might need, including RECIPES from the World of Coca-Cola!

HOLIDAY HAPPINESS BUBBLES OVER AT THE WORLD OF COCA-COLA THIS SEASON

Celebrations include a Reinvigorated Annual Pass and Holiday Exhibits, Recipes and Gift Ideas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the World of Coca-Cola is full of ways to celebrate. Starting November 20, the Atlanta attraction kicks off the holiday season with holiday decorations and additions to the visitor experience. On Dec. 2, the World of Coca-Cola also will re-launch its annual pass with new benefits.

“Coca-Cola has long been a part of the holidays, from the 1930s when the Company commissioned Haddon Sundblom to illustrate Santa Claus, to the ways we spread cheer during the season today,” said Russell Jacobs, general manager of retail and attractions for The Coca-Cola Company. “It’s only fitting that the home of happiness be a place where people can celebrate the season and its history.”

Holiday Lights Make Spirits Bright
Outside the World of Coca-Cola, Pemberton Place is decked out in holiday lights, and the attraction’s icon bottle is lit up with a holiday color scheme. The World of Coca-Cola also is bringing back its life-sized holiday ornaments, including one painted by celebrated Atlanta artist Steve Penley.

The scene is just as festive inside the attraction, with giant holiday Coca-Cola bottles and ornament trees. The Lobby monitors also welcome guests with “happy holidays” in languages from around the globe.

Open Happiness All Year with the Annual Pass
Just in time for the gift-giving season, the World of Coca-Cola is enhancing the benefits of its annual pass starting Dec. 2. A great stocking stuffer for Coca-Cola lovers, the new annual pass will feature expedited entry into the attraction and unlimited visits for one year. At $32, the cost of an adult pass is the same as just two visits to the attraction.

The annual pass also comes with multiple discounts, including $4 off general admission tickets for up to four guests per visit, a 15 percent discount at the Coca-Cola Store, a 10 percent discount on professional photography packages at the attraction and a 10 percent discount at Pemberton Café in Pemberton Place.

Annual pass holders also receive a semi-annual newsletter including special member news, offers and events.

Check Your List Twice at the Coca-Cola Store
The World of Coca-Cola Store can help you tackle that holiday shopping and find a gift for everyone on your list. The Store has a variety of Coke- and Atlanta-themed gifts, including holiday ornaments; scarves, hats and pajamas to help bundle up for the winter; eco-responsible gifts like T-shirts, jewelry and purses made from recycled Coca-Cola products; kitchenware and beverage accessories, collectible Coca-Cola bottles and more. Those with annual passes also can take advantage of their 15 percent discount at the Store.

A Coca-Cola Christmas Celebration
Now through Jan. 6, World of Coca-Cola guests can view a special holiday exhibit, “A Coca-Cola Christmas Celebration.” The exhibit features historic Sundblom Santa artwork as well as Coca-Cola holiday advertising and packaging.

Taste the Holidays – Recipes!
The World of Coca-Cola Taste It! beverage lounge now features samples of Gingerbread Coke® and Chocolate Cherry Coke for the holidays, with recipe cards for those who want to take home the flavor of these seasonal beverages.

Coca-Cola Chalk Pastel Tutorial

Gingerbread Coke Ingredients

• 8 oz Coca-Cola®
• 1 oz Monin® Gingerbread syrup

Preparation
Fill a 16-ounce glass half full with ice. Combine all ingredients and stir. To find Monin brand syrup, go to www.moninstore.com.

Chocolate Cherry Coke Ingredients

• 8 oz Coca-Cola
• ½ oz Monin Cherry syrup
• ½ oz Monin Chocolate syrup

Preparation
Fill a 16-ounce glass half full with ice. Combine all ingredients and stir. To find Monin brand syrup, go to www.moninstore.com.

(I also have a Chocolate Coca-Cola cake recipe I tried!)

Sprite Zero Cranberry, the latest beverage from The Coca-Cola Company in stores through the New Year, also is available for sampling.

Experience Santa and the Polar Bear
In addition to visiting the Coca-Cola Polar Bear that is at the attraction year round, guests can see a short film in which the Polar Bear family speaks for the first time. Produced by Ridley Scott, “The Polar Bears” film reminds families to share happiness and come together during the holidays.

Outside the 4-D Theater, guests can learn about the history of the iconic Coca-Cola Santa. They also can make memories of their own by stepping inside a classic Sundblom Santa painting and taking photos under the Christmas tree.

Share Your Holiday Story
Year round, the attraction’s Pop Culture gallery features a My Coke Story area where guests from around the world have shared their Coca-Cola stories. For the holiday season, My Coke Story also will highlight a holiday-themed story.

Share your holiday photos (like we did!) at the World of Coca-Cola with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #WOCCHoliday. Check out the World of Coca-Cola’s holiday hours of operation here.

About the World of Coca-Cola
The World of Coca-Cola has welcomed guests from six continents, more than 75 countries, all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Join more than 6 million people who have visited the Atlanta attraction and experience the history of the world’s most famous soft drink at the dynamic, multimedia home of the 127-year-old secret formula for Coca-Cola. Get closer than ever before to the vault containing the secret recipe, view more than 1,200 never-before-displayed artifacts and get an inside look at the bottling process. Take a trip around the world in a thrilling 4-D movie experience and tempt your taste buds with more than 100 flavors from around the world before taking home a commemorative glass bottle of Coca-Cola.

The World of Coca-Cola is located in Pemberton Place, adjacent to the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta, and is accessible via the Peachtree Center or CNN/ World Congress Center MARTA stations. Consumers with questions may call 1-800-676-COKE or visit our website at www.worldofcoca-cola.com to purchase tickets. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/WorldofCocaCola or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/WorldofCocaCola.

We love the World of Coca-Cola and have spent birthdays there. If you’d like to learn more about any of the World of Coca-Cola exhibits we’ve seen, you can find them here.

As I said, we are headed back to the World of Coca-Cola before the end of the year. We especially love viewing the original Norman Rockwell paintings.

Atlanta High Museum of Art

Plus, the newest exhibit at The High Museum of Art, is pulling us. Go West goes right along with our history studies. So it won’t be long until we’ll be back there. Remember when we went to see The Girl with the Pearl Earring?

More ideas:

• Georgia State Capitol is beautifully decorated around Christmas time!
• We sure enjoyed our tour of WSB-TV and radio a couple of weeks ago.

Stone Mountain has a winter time fun – SNOW Mountain! Yes, snow in our neck of the woods!

• If you are a Georgia homeschooler, don’t forget the FREE Homeschooling in Georgia ebook by Jamie Worley and me.
• Plus, Jamie and I have a collaborative Homeschooling in Georgia Pinterest board with all sorts of resources for our fellow Georgians.

There’s so much to see and do right around here. Have fun these holidays! And keep an annual pass in mind for Christmas gifts!