Whew! What a weekend!
The girls and I just got home from a whirlwind trip to Atlanta to celebrate the birthday of a sweet friend...
We got up early Saturday morning and hit the ground running along with my dear friend, C, and her youngest daughter, A, who has a birthday that falls right in between my girls' birthdays.
We made it to town mid morning, checked into our hotel room, and headed over to our first stop, the World of Coca-Cola...
The kids and I last visited here back in 2014...
We checked out the vintage advertising memorabilia, and the girls tested their hands at a vintage vending machine...
before checking out the vault exhibit where it's said that they store the secret formula...
There were lots of security cameras involved...
and some fun interactive activities...
Did we unlock the recipe???
Nope... In fact, L actually got a little too close and set off the alarm...ooops!!!
From there, we toured through an exhibit featuring the Coca-Cola of yesteryear...
before scoring some time with Coca-Cola's official mascot, Mr. Bear...
The girls loved the Pop Art exhibit where they got to design their own Coca-Cola art...
{L's art}
{M's art}
{my art}
before heading into the Tasting Room!
where they had the opportunity to taste Coca-Cola products from all around the world. The Fanta Pineapple was my favorite...
What a fun treat!
From there, we headed across the park to the Georgia Aquarium, which is currently undergoing an expansion, set to open in 2020. Hubby & I last took the kids back in early 2011 when the girls were just babies, both 2 and under, so they were super excited to visit again now that they are older...
L LOVED watching the beluga whales...
M preferred the precious sea otters...
From there, we checked out both the sea dragons...
and the penguins...
There were a TON of people there ~ visiting on the last day of August and over Labor Day weekend didn't help, I'm sure ~ but the aquarium walk through is always a hit!
The HUGE aquarium wall is one of my favorites, too...
On the walk back to our hotel, we strolled through Centennial Olympic Park...
After freshening up in the hotel room, we enjoyed a special dinner at the Sun Dial, a rotating restaurant that overlooks Atlanta from atop the Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel...
I have a distant memory of eating here once as a child, but this is also where my parents took me to celebrate my high school graduation many, many, moons ago, and it has always held a special place in my heart...
Though it no longer rotates due to an accident a couple of years ago, it was such a treat to experience a meal here with my own sweet girls...
After a great night's sleep, we woke up, grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel, got ready for a special lunch, and the girls had some fun with face masks...
{goof balls, SWEET goof balls, but goof balls nonetheless}
After checking out, we met our ride (C's husband) and headed over to the American Girl Boutique and Bistro...
to conclude the weekend celebration with a birthday lunch for A...
Both Nanea and M...
and Maryellen and L...
had a fabulous time...
It was the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend away with sweet friends!
