Even in a city as large as Atlanta, it's easy to get into a rut and your favorite activities can start to seem like a routine.
But if you stray slightly off the beaten path, you may find a few new (and unusual) ways to spend a weekend.
Consider these nine activities cures for weekend boredom:
Throw axes at Bad Axe Throwing
1356 English St. NW, Atlanta. Starting at $20 an hour. www.badaxethrowing.com/
If you've ever played darts, you've experienced the thrill of throwing something sharp at a bull's eye (and maybe even hitting the mark). Now replace those darts with 1.5-pound axes and you've got the makings of a good time.
At Bad Axe Throwing in Atlanta, a two-hour session will cost about $40 per person. You can also save money by bringing your own food, beer and wine.
Try duckpin bowling at The Painted Duck
976 Brady Ave. NW, Atlanta. Bowling costs $25-$35 per lane and bowling shoes are an extra $4.50 per person.
The Painted Duck, a "distinguished drinkery, duckpin bowling and gaming parlour," opened in December 2017 on the Westside. If you've never heard of duckpin bowling, it's just like regular bowling except the balls and pins are smaller and you get to roll three times instead of two.
Take an archery class at Big Woods Goods
350 Ronnell Road, Canton. Classes range from $16 to $25. http://www.bigwoodsgoods.com/
If you've ever dreamed of shooting arrows like Legolas from Lord of the Rings, now's your chance. Big Woods Goods in Canton offers archery classes for beginners to advanced archers. Everyone must start off with the Archery Introduction course which costs $25 per person. The other classes range from $16 - $18.
Make jewelry at Amalgam Arts
743 E College Ave, Decatur. Check the website for pricing. http://www.amalgamartsatlanta.com/
You might remember making friendship bracelets as a child, but Amalgam Arts in Decatur takes that experience a lot further. Grab a friend and sign up for classes ranging from beginner jewelry making to wax carving and etching.
Prices and the number of meetings vary depending on the class. If you're not sure where to start, check out Groupon for some great deals.
Go skeet shooting at Tom Lowe Trap & Skeet Range
3070 Merk Road SW, Atlanta. Beginner shooting classes start at $17. http://atlantaskeetshooting.com/
"Beginner Friendly and Open to the Public" is the welcoming message you'll see on the Tom Lowe Trap & Skeet Range website. At this shot-gun-only facility, you can rent a gun and practice shooting clay pigeons in various environments.
Beginner shooting classes start at about $17. More experienced shooters can go through one round of 25 targets for about $25, including shotgun rental, ear plugs, eye glasses and shotgun shells.
Credit: Chris Hunt / Staff
Credit: Chris Hunt / Staff
Take a pole dancing class at PoleLaTeaz
2700 Northeast Expressway NE, C-300, Atlanta. https://www.polelateaz.com/
If you've ever considered pole dancing as a way to pay off your student loans, PoleLaTeaz might be the right place for you to spend your next free weekend. Whether you're going for fitness or fun, the school offers a variety of classes based on skill level and technique.
PoleLaTeaz has two locations – Brookhaven and Alpharetta – with different lessons and schedules at each.
Blow glass at Hotlanta Glassblowing School
178 Laredo Drive, Decatur. Classes start at $180. https://www.atlantahotglass.com/
If you think glass blowing sounds like an awesome first date idea, Atlanta Hot Glass in Decatur is all over it. The facility's Hotlanta Glassblowing School offers classes for anybody who wants to learn how to create unique artwork out of glass.
Prices start at $180 for one-off classes and if it turns out that glassblowing's your thing, they offer multi-session classes too. Search for Groupon deals if you're looking to save a little money.
D-Bat
2345 Adams Drive NW, Atlanta. $20 for 15 credits toward baseball. www.dbatbuckhead.com/
For baseball, softball and soccer fans, D-Bat has locations all over the greater Atlanta area, where you can learn to play like a pro. Each location offers batting cages and private lessons to sharpen your skills. Before you go, you may want to check the website of the location you're visiting to make sure they offer the class or activity you're looking for.
Special events at the aquarium
225 Baker St. NW, Atlanta. Prices vary. www.georgiaaquarium.org/
You may have taken your niece or nephew for a day trip to the Georgia Aquarium, but you might not know about their more adult-oriented events. Between fitness classes by the water, themed mixers and food and wine tastings, there's no shortage of activities throughout the year. Check out their upcoming events page for schedules and pricing.
About the Author
