How to Make Day Trips with the Kids 'SMARTA'

With school out soon, some families are already looking ahead to summer days and planning what to do with the kids.

Metro Atlanta offers a lot of nearby things to do any of the week, and with a little patience, there's also a hassle-free way to get there — MARTA.

Taking the kids by train or bus can make your adventure start with the getting there — and you don't have to park on the other end.

Places to go

If traffic and parking have ever made you hesitate before setting out for some metro destination, fear not. MARTA can take you to the Georgia Aquarium; Imagine It!, Atlanta's children's museum; Centennial Park; Turner Field; Phillips Arena; Georgia Dome; High Museum; the State Capital, Atlantic Station; all major shopping centers; Center for Puppetry Arts; and many others interesting places. 

If you're not familiar with the system's various lines, chart your course before you get to the station, which will save you time and energy—especially with kids to keep track of too. 

Discounted fares

Kids under 46" ride MARTA for free, with a limit of two children per paying adult. There are measuring graphics on the ticket machines, faregates and bus entrances so you don't have to guess. If grandparents will be watching your kids this summer, they will also get a discount.

Seniors 65-years-old and older, and those on Medicare, can get Half-Fare Breeze cards by calling (404) 848-5112. MARTA is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, so the entire family can come along. 

Tips for travel

MARTA is not always the quickest mode of transportation, especially on weekends or holidays when trains run less frequently.  Be sure to pad your travel time accordingly, especially if you're trying to make a particular performance time.

Prepare for the weather, since you will be doing some walking — perhaps waiting in the open air — so if it looks like rain, don't take any chances and take an umbrella along.

Be sure to travel light, since you'll have walking, escalators and perhaps crowds to contend with. If you are bringing a stroller, make it a collapsible one, and if you're carrying bags, make sure they're comfortable to tote over a distance and to hold if you can't get a seat.

Transit safety

Teaching your child how to ride MARTA is a great way to empower them and to show them how to handle themselves out in the world.

Keep a close eye or a hand on young ones and remind them to keep next to you and watch their toes between the train and platform and on the escalator. Riding MARTA is a good chance to quiz your kid on their address and phone number, so they can recite them if necessary. You can also tuck a page with all that information on it in their pocket. 

How do you like getting around via MARTA? How old would your child have to be to ride it alone? Tell us in the comments!