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New York
United States
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ITINERARY (1/2 Day)
Martin Luther King Jr. Playground
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
Historic Fire Station 6
Lottafrutta
nugget’s Advice
Prepare in advance
If you want to take a tour of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth home, check the national park's website for availability.
Recommended day/time
Lottafrutta opens at noon, so plan accordingly if you want to get one of their famous fruit cups. We were ready to get one as a late-morning snack, but had to wait until they opened.
Recommended time of the year
The middle of summer might be too hot to walk around the park. We visited on a mild December day, and the weather was perfect.
Save Money
Entrance to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park is free.
About This Day
This itinerary combines rich history with fun places for kids. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the most important historical sites for the civil rights movement in the United States. While visiting Atlanta with kids, it offers a unique opportunity to speak with older children about nonviolent protest and to learn together about the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Toddlers and younger kids who may not appreciate the significance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life will still enjoy the Martin Luther King Jr. Playground, the fire engine at the Historic Fire Station 6 and the delicious fruit cups at Lottafrutta during this family mini-adventure.
Martin Luther King Jr. Playground
401 Freedom Park Trail, Atlanta
FREE
The Martin Luther King Jr. Playground is the perfect place to kick off your tour of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. Let your kids play a little before heading to the visitor center. If you are traveling with a toddler, you may want to split up and visit the visitor center on your own while the other parent stays at the playground. I visited with my toddler son by myself, so this wasn’t an option for us. In any event, keep the playground in mind as a future incentive, and offer to visit it again if your children behave through the rest of the tour of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park.
DIRECTIONS If you are driving, park your car at the parking lot on Irwin Street NE, between Jackson Street NE and Boulevard NE. The playground will be on your right, as you follow the Freedom Park Trail from the parking lot towards the visitor center of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park.
TIP There’s little shade at the playground. Keep this in mind when visiting in the summer, as it might be too hot to stay for long.
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park
450 Auburn Avenue Northeast, Atlanta
FREE
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park includes a number of buildings across a few city blocks. Start at the visitor center, which offers a small exhibit explaining the American civil rights movement and the life of Martin Luther King Jr. From there, head to Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King Jr. and his father were once the pastors. Continue on to the reflection pool with the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. When we visited, there was a little piano next to the reflection pool that my son enjoyed playing. He was also intrigued by the marching statues inside the visitor center. A little further down Auburn Avenue is the birth home of Martin Luther King Jr., which you can only visit with a guided tour. Unfortunately, there were no tours available during the day we visited.
DIRECTIONS The visitor center is right next to the playground, once you pass the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Everything else is within short walking distance to each other.
TIP Ebenezer Baptist Church is not stroller friendly.
Historic Fire Station 6
39 Boulevard Northeast, Atlanta
FREE
Built in 1894, the Historic Fire Station 6 served the Auburn community until the early '90s. The main attraction is the original fire engine. While you aren’t allowed to touch it, it’s still a sight that will delight kids of all ages. There’s also a little gift shop in the back, where I bought my son his own little fire engine as a treat.
DIRECTIONS The fire station is located at the corner of Auburn Avenue NE and Boulevard NE. You can’t miss it if you are heading towards that intersection from the reflection pool.
TIP Don’t miss the historic shotgun houses across the street from the fire station for a glimpse into the life of blue-collar workers in Atlanta during the early 20th century.
Lottafrutta
590 Auburn Avenue Northeast, Atlanta
$$$
Lottafrutta is a colorful mix of a snack bar and restaurant. Popular with locals and visitors alike, they are known for their fresh fruit cups and smoothies. They also offer a small selection of grilled sandwiches. Their sandwiches are good, but my son’s highlight was the fruit cup with homemade coconut cream. There’s seating both inside and outside along the sidewalk.
DIRECTIONS Continue on Auburn Avenue NE for a couple more minutes. Lottafrutta is located at the corner of Auburn Avenue NE and Randolph Street NE.
TIP If you are looking for a more substantial lunch, you can continue on Auburn Avenue NE and head to Krog Street Market. This indoor food market offers a variety of crowd-pleasing lunch options and has plenty of indoor seating.
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