Things to Do in Marietta

More than 90 nontoxic paint colors, 600 pottery pieces, and an unlimited amount of creativity—that’s what guests find at Splatters Pottery, Painting & More when creating their own masterpieces. During a painting session, guests take the first step by selecting a plate, mug, or other glass or mosaic piece, and then cover it in doodles or paint. Once guests are satisfied with their work, they hand it over for firing and return in a week to pick up the finished product. The kiln-fired pieces are also food safe and wash easily, making them extra efficient for eating soup in the bathtub. For avid artists, parties and camps let guests sculpt their own pottery from clay, make a mosaic, or drizzle colored sands together.

When you walk into Jeronimo! and see the massive, inflatable slides and bounce houses, you'll understand why the open area resounds with children's laughter and squeals of delight. Here, kids can jump, climb, and maneuver through the colorful structures to their hearts' content, the thought of town criers announcing bedtime far from their minds. For youngsters aged 2 and younger, there's a separate, soft play area with a smaller bounce castle. All inflatables and toys are cleaned daily to ensure kids' health and safety.

Parents can sip fresh coffee or tea while they surf the web on one of the facility's computers. When the jumping is done, kids and adults head next door to send golf balls around transportation-themed obstacles at the indoor Putt 'N Play course. The center also boasts a dance floor and rock-climbing wall that turn parties into adventures and rents out inflatable slides, castles, and water mazes to liven up at-home events.

Hidden just east of Cobb Parkway, a complex of low, slate-blue warehouses shelters a community of textile workers, sculptors, and graphic designers intent on refining their art. Beads by Design's shop and atelier contributes to this creative wellspring, and today the Southern Flames—a society of glass-bead makers—gather there for their monthly meetings. The shop opened in 1998, displaying a wealth of Japanese Delica seed beads, fire-polished and pressed glass beads, pearls, gemstones, and glittering Swarovski crystals under the high, exposed-metal roof. Visitors can pick up notions or tools, or stick around for jewelry-making classes. These begin with the basics of knotting wire rings and stringing necklaces and expand into the creation of broad, beaded cuffs inspired by Ndebele jewelry and macramé techniques for braiding copper wire. To give students complete creative control of their work, instructors provide propane torches attached to work tables, and safely teach how to fabricate glass beads and intimidate nay-saying critics.

Though most kids dream of one day being a pilot, very few ever get a chance behind the cockpit. The team at American Flyers seeks to change that by training students to obtain a pilot’s license or merely try out their skills in an introductory lesson. The flight schools’ numerous locations feature flight-training software, online courses, and pigeon mentors to grant students numerous ways to learn how to fly.

From its roots as a Georgian stained-glass manufacturer in 1977, the now international Armstrong Glass Company has slowly added more and more design elements to its inventory—from textured to fused to cabinet to iridescent glass. Each of Armstrong's handcrafted products differs slightly in coloring as it takes shape. This lends individuality to every piece, even if they’re identically designed. The company tackles custom projects with ease, such as tabletops, glass sinks, room dividers, and houses for people who don’t throw stones.

Kathy Antar opened The Sewing Studio planning to provide sewing services for design professionals and event producers, but was soon flooded with phone calls and emails from people who simply wanted to know how to use their sewing machines. To meet that need, The Sewing Studio began to offer a selection of beginner, intermediate, and advanced sewing classes. During each 2.5-hour session, students learn how to thread machines, wind the bobbin, and practice various stitches using their own machines. In addition to classes, Kathy custom-designs furniture upholstery, bedding, and window coverings and supplies expert design-consultation services, which can transform a client's dream design into a tactile reality.