It's the week every Gwinnett kid (and secretly teacher) has been waiting for since January.
Spring break has sprung for Gwinnett Public County Schools' students, and, though many will or have hit the road, there are some parents, students and teachers that have decided to stay nearby for the break from classes.
If home is where the heart is this spring break, here are six ways you can fill up your days -- from taking in some sun to milking goats.
Be a beach bum – for free – It may be a bit chilly, but it's never too cold to be a beach bum. From today until Sunday, Lanier Islands will extend free beach admission, save for the $15 gate fee, to guests, granting them access to more than a half mile-long stretch of refreshing sand and a view of Lake Lanier's southernmost shoreline. Visitors can also take part in a beach party from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily. For more on the free beach days at Lake Lanier, visit its website.
Give your kids the keys – Tiny Towne can offer the littlest driver to the eager adolescent a foray into driving. The Norcross fun center features high-tech mini cars on realistic streets, so aspiring drivers ages 3 to 15 can learn about the safety rules of the road – and, of course, go for a thrill ride. This week, parents can take advantage of a 20 percent off deal between the hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Saturday. For more information, visit Tiny Towne's website.
Scream in the stands for the Gladiators – Even the sports fan has a couple of of opportunities to root on the home team this spring break. The Atlanta Gladiators hockey team will have two home games this week. The Duluth-based team plays South Carolina at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday and 7:05 p.m. Saturday the team competes against Greenville during its Fan Appreciation Night. For tickets, visit the Atlanta Gladiators website.
Celebrate your inner thespian – For those with a penchant for the drama, Aurora Theater has you covered with a production of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Into the Woods." Matinee and evening performances will be presented Wednesday through Saturday, as well as a special theater workshop for aspiring young actors called Drama Beach. For information about tickets, visit Aurora Theatre's website.
Milk a goat – Dacula's Rancho Alegre will open its farm to homeschool students and GCPS spring breakers at 10 a.m. Friday. The family specializes in Gwinnett locally-grown fruits and vegetables. On Friday, children can get a glimpse into Rancho Alegre Farms' day-to-day by visiting unique stations such as Pet a Pony, Worms and Compost, Hayride, Petting Zoo and Goat Milking. To learn more about Alegre's special day, visit its website.
Root for the ducks – Stone Mountain Park has myriad activities this spring break week. One of the most unique is the Great American Duck Race, which throws children ages 2 to 7 into the live action of a duck race. One member in the audience will be chosen to hold and release one of four mallard ducks where, at the sound of the starting horn, they race on a water track to the finish line. The Great American Duck Race will be held today through Saturday at 11:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, there will be an additional race held at 5:45 p.m. To learn more, visit Stone Mountain's website.
More things to do
Browse the AccessAtlanta AJC calendar for things to do this week in Lawrenceville, Norcross, Duluth and Buford.
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