The holidays are here and many families will take trips to Grandma’s house. However, if Grandma or other family members live too far from home, day trips or short getaways may be in your family’s plans.
On any kid’s list of “places they want to see’’, many are in nearby Atlanta. The city offers many natural manmade, historic and modern sights to see.

During several recent visits, with grandchildren in tow, we sampled some of the offerings.

The Georgia Aquarium, the largest in the world, with its whale sharks, beluga whales and giant octopus takes many visits to unlock all its treasures. Its tanks, with more than 8 million gallons of water housing some of the most unusual animals on earth.

Deepo’s Undersea 3-D Wondershow is well worth additional admission price according to our 11-year-old granddaughter. She also loved all the interactive computer displays the aquarium offered.

Open daily (Between Nov. 25-28, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Georgiaaquarium.org. (404) 581-4000. Located at 225 Baker Street NW.

World of Coca-Cola from its thrilling 4-D theater to a walk through a fully functioning bottling line is both an educational and fun-filled experience. The Bottle Works permits visitors (still behind glass walls) to step into the center of a real bottling line to get a behind-the-scenes view of the actual process.

The building itself is both colorful and invites exploration at every turn.
Large costumed Polar Bears roam the halls and are easily agreeable to posing with visitors.

My granddaughter visit highlight was the sampling of more than 60 different products from around the world at the end of the tour. One standout for me was the hall filled with all the historic and antique Cole memorabilia, including actual delivery trunks and vans. It seems that Coca-Cola has a secret formula for putting together a fantastic interactive museum.

Open daily (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) worldofcoca-cola.com (800) 676-COKE (2653) or (404) 676-5151. Located at 121 Baker Street NW, right across the park from the Aquarium.

Zoo Atlanta is great live fun at any time of the year, but holiday visits are special.

We visited during the last big holiday event, “Boo at the Zoo.’’ Even if you visit before, put down this event on your calendar for next year.

For this visit, we had in tow our four-and-a half-year-old granddaughter who was literally entranced and mesmerized with the happenings planned for this special event. Not only did she get to see elephants, lions and tigers up close, she could watch an elephant paint!
As we wander, the zoos’ grounds there were booths staffed with Halloween costumed zoo volunteers who handled out candy treats.

Inside exhibition halls, young children bounced in large blow-ups, created their own Halloween masks and posed for photographs with costumed characters.

Time-honored carousel and train rides were also popular.

Feeding the birds in enclosed birdhouse is another must-do exhibit.
However, of the nearly 1,000 amazing animals who live at this mammoth zoo the giant pandas are probably the most highly visited residents.
The Giant Panda experience is clearly one of the zoo’s most meaningful exhibitions in the zoo’s more than 100-year existence. I remember bringing our oldest granddaughter as an infant to see the pandas. Our youngest granddaughter was as delighted to see these beloved creatures.

Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas) zooatlanta.org (404) 624-WILD. The zoo is located in Grant Park, several miles from downtown near Turner Field.

High Museum of Art is the Southeast’s largest art museum and the building that houses the art is itself a work of art featuring the architecture of Richard Meier and Renzo Piano.
The light-filled galleries can be reached by ascending or descending a large winding ramp (there are also elevators available). This spectacular option truly enhances any visit.

The additions to the complex also provide more inspiring showcases for both museum permanent and visiting collections.

The Greene Family Learning Gallery welcomes children of all ages.
One of the current shows is entitled Leonardo da Vinci- Hand of the Genius. We happened to see a similar show at a museum in Portland, Ore., while accompanied by another young granddaughter. She, at the age of seven, found interesting many of designs, which da Vinci was responsible.

Open from Tuesday through Sunday. (Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas). high.org (404) 733-HIGH. Located 1280 Peachtree Street.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is Atlanta’s home to dinosaurs. Here kids can come face-to-face with the world’s largest dinosaurs and explore the development of life on earth through the landscapes of the present-day.

Dinosaurs are constantly starring in movie theaters and on home DVDs. At Fernbank, real-life paleontologists have reconstructed dinosaurs on display. According to the museum’s officials, roughly half to two thirds of the dinosaurs we now know about and have on display were unknown before the 1970s.

Currently the museum is offering a giant screen production in 2D called Wild Safari –South African Adventure.
Open daily (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). (404) 929-6300. fernbankmuseum.org. Located at 767 Clifton Road NE.

The Center For Puppetry Arts had daily performances by Center puppeteers and companies from throughout the U.S. and the world. Within this, fascinating museum/hands W on, facility visitors can also create a puppet, tour, purchase puppets or puppet-making kits or just watch your children or grandchildren let their imaginations and creative abilities run wild.

Puppet-making workshops for children (ages four and up) are held each day.
Museum exhibit allows visitors to discover the movements and control actions of the modern puppet world with interactive displays.

This wonderfully laid-out center offers hours of entertainment.
Through November 29, dinosaurs are roaming this venue in the form of a “dino-myte’’ puppet show called Dinosaurs.

Open Year Round. (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas). Located at 1404 Spring Street at 18th. Limited free parking. (404) 873-3391. www.puppet.org.

Highly Recommended:
Atlanta CityPass, which is valid for nine days, includes all of the above locations, except for Center For Puppetry Arts.

This pass permits its holders to skip most ticket lines and provides actual tickets to six of the attractions included and any applicable sales tax. It truly is an affordable way to experience Atlanta’s prime museums. Options included on the pass not discussed above are CNN Studio Tour, Atlanta Botanical Garden, and Atlanta History Center.

The cost for an adult pass is $69 (a value of $121) and $49 for kids three to 12 ($88 value).
You can buy the CityPass at any of the attractions you visit. The Atlanta prices and program are good through March 2010. For more information: (888) 330-5008. citypass.com