Spring Break Still Offers Hometown Activities for the Kids

With just a few days left of Spring Break, your kids probably want to make the most of their time off. Here are a few ideas to help you keep them from driving you crazy.

Thumbprint Art: Hurry over to Ocee Library for this art class/workshop, which runs from 11 a.m.-11:45 .m. today in the Ocee Branch Library community meeting room, 5090 Abbotts Bridge Rd., Johns Creek. Kids learn to create fun and clever works of art and even comics with thumbs. Best for ages 5-12, and it's free. Call 770-360-8897 if you are worried about space for your child.

Area 51: It's Roswell, Georgia, not New Mexico, and this location has two 18-hole golf courses in "The Fringe" outside, a few other games, and the Aurora Cineplex 10-screen theater. Hop, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Gnomeo and Juliet, and Rango are your best bets for kid-friendly fare. 5100 Commerce Pkwy., Roswell.

Studio Movie Grill: Head east down Holcomb Bridge Road and you'll find this movie theater/restaurant, which allows you to have dinner and a movie at the same time. It's a good choice for today's slight chance of showers. 2880 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta.

Native Plants & Animals: The Chattahoochee Nature Center is always a good place to take the kids, rain or shine, with its trails, gardens, animal habitats, pond, access to the Chattahoochee River and The Discover Center, with indoor exhibits, theater and nature store. Many activities are free with the price of admission. A family membership pays for itself if you come back just a few times.

Motorcycles Roar: Kids will love to see and hear the roar when as many as 1,000 motorcycles start their engines to make the Noble Heroes Ride Saturday morning, starting at 11 a.m. from North Point Community Church off North Point Parkway in Alpharetta, up GA 400 into Forsyth and south down Birmingham Highway to Crabapple. The ride ends at Olde Blind Dog Tavern in the Crabapple community in Milton. Show your support for former Fulton County police officer Paul Phillips, who was shot while off duty as he tried to assist a motorist.

Taste of Forsyth: Who doesn't like to eat? A few dozen Forsyth County restaurants will set up at the Cumming Fairgrounds on Castleberry Road from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday to serve samples of their favorite dishes. But if that's not enough, the city will provide music, a Touch a Truck area, a Kids Zone and more local entertainment. Rain or shine.