Though the winter months in Georgia are typically mild compared to those up north, the cold, rainy days the city does get may have you huddled indoors binge-watching your favorite television shows. But when you’re ready to get out of the house again, here are some free or low-cost winter activities available for seniors around Atlanta.
Head to the Mall
Walk a lap around a mall and you’ve done your exercise for the day. Some area malls, including Greenbriar Mall in Southwest Atlanta, offer free activities such as senior bingo and monthly fitness classes.
Be a Tourist in Your Backyard
Atlanta seniors often forget to take advantage of the many museums and historic sites the area has to offer. The winter months are a good time to check out some favorites.
- MLK, Jr. National Historic Site, 450 Auburn Ave. NE. Open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free to the public.
- Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, 441 John Lewis Freedom Pkwy. Open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m., Sunday noon-4:45 p.m. Museum admission is $10 for seniors, but many events are free.
- Georgia Governor's Mansion, 391 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW. Free tours are offered Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10-11:30 a.m.
- Anne Frank in the World, 5920 Roswell Road. A permanent exhibit sponsored by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. Open Tuesday through Sunday. Hours vary.
- The Wren’s Nest, 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. The home of Joel Chandler Harris, creator of the Uncle Remus tales, is now a center dedicated to keeping the art of storytelling alive. Open for tours Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. Saturday storytelling starts at 1 p.m. Admission is $8 for seniors.
- Federal Reserve Bank, 1000 Peachtree St. NE. Learn the story of money at the Fed’s monetary museum. Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.
Surround Yourself with Art
- The High Museum, 1280 Peachtree St. NE. Daily admission is $14.50. A senior membership is $55 a year. Admission is free on the second Sunday of each month. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m, Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
- Castleberry Hill Art Stroll, 180 Walker St. SW. Free tours of the area’s galleries are offered the second Friday of each month.
- All Fired Up Art Studio, 1563 North Decatur Road. Paint a piece of pottery, or take a creative art class. Costs vary based on the activity. Open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday, noon-7 p.m.
Get Outside
When Atlanta is blessed with mild days during the winter months, here are a few outside activities seniors may want to try.
- Walk the Beltline, Atlanta’s Beltline is a 22-mile pedestrian and bicycle-friendly loop that circles the city’s historic neighborhoods.
- Tour Oakland Cemetery, 248 Oakland Ave. SE. This 48-acre Victorian cemetery is the final resting place for many famous Georgians, including author Margaret Mitchell and golfer Bobby Jones.
- Visit Woodruff Park, 91 Peachtree St. NW. Relax under an umbrella on the plaza, play table tennis or bocce ball, or bring your grandchildren to the playground. Free downtown history tours are offered on the first Thursday and second Saturday of the month.
At senior living communities like Arbor Terrace at Cascade in Southwest Atlanta, staff members help residents stay busy during the winter months and all year long with planned senior activities. If you or a loved one are thinking about a move to senior living and looking for a community with an active lifestyle, call 404-691-0304 and schedule a tour to see what Arbor Terrace has to offer.
