Things to do around Marietta and Kennesaw when it is too damn hot to be outside
Every summer we eventually reach the part of Georgia weather where “let’s do something outside” starts sounding like a threat.
I keep seeing people ask for things to do around Marietta/Kennesaw, especially with visitors, parents, kids, dates, or people who just moved here, so here’s a starter list for days when the parking lot itself is trying to kill you.
Museums are the obvious answer, but we actually have some good ones nearby. The Southern Museum in Kennesaw is worth doing even if trains are not normally your thing. Marietta History Center is an easy stop if you’re already on the Square. If you don’t mind heading up I-75, Cartersville has Tellus for science, Savoy for cars, and Booth for Western art. You can turn that into an entire day without getting slow-roasted on a sidewalk.
Marietta Square still works when it’s hot because you can bounce between food, coffee, shops, galleries, and whatever else catches your attention without committing to a three-hour hike through the sun.
For actual activities, bowling, escape rooms, indoor pickleball, movies, arcades, trivia, board-game meetups, and community classes are all good options. The trick is finding something where the activity is the point, instead of sitting at a table staring at the other person asking what they want to do next.
Full disclosure, I own Schoolhouse Brewing in Marietta, so yes, I am biased, but we have pinball, a homebrew shop, beer, and aggressive amounts of air conditioning. It works especially well as an add-on after dinner or the Square, not as me telling you to spend your entire day inside my building like a hostage situation.
If you have parents visiting, the Cartersville museums + Marietta Square combo is hard to screw up. If you have kids, Tellus is probably the easiest win. If it’s a date, pick one activity plus dinner instead of trying to schedule six stops like you’re producing a field trip.
Add your favorite indoor Marietta/Kennesaw/Cobb spots below. I’d love to turn this into a useful running list because August is apparently going to keep being August.