Weekend Perfect for the Circus and Outdoors

Glad you clicked on our Grab & Go Kids Planner!

We've assembled a weekly calendar of kid-friendly activities and new places to try out with children.

Each week, we'll give you the info on the five best family activities or events for the week.

You're time-pressed enough, so we're happy to do the research and find the best things to do and places to go, both locally and within reasonable striking distance.

Look for the kids’ planner each Wednesday, and help us build the planner with your own suggestions and tips — just add them to the comment box. Even if you disagree with our picks, let us know. We want to hear from you!

Here are some of our suggestions:

1. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents "Barnum’s Funundrum" at both Philips  Arena and the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

See 130 performers from six continents, along with a slew of elephants, pirates, mermaids and more perform in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of P.T. Barnum himself!

Philips Arena: 7:30 p.m., Thursday; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Friday: 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday; 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday.

Gwinnett Center: 7:30 p.m., Feb. 24; 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Feb. 25; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m., Feb. 26; noon and 4 p.m., Feb. 27.

Tickets run from $14 to $35. For information and to order tickets, visit     http://www.ringling.com/ or call 1-800-745-3000.

2. Jack  and Jill and the Crown of Wonder at Blackwell  Playhouse, 3378 Canton Road.

Jack and Jill went up the hill… As a musical.

The musical opens on Saturday and plays at 3 p.m. every Saturday until March 26. Tickets are $8. For information and tickets, call  678-213-3311 or visit http://www.blackwellplayhouse.com/.

3. Yellow River Game Ranch, 4525 Highway 78, Lilburn

Stroll along a mile-long trail on 24 wooded acres and encounter more than 600 highly sociable birds and animals indigenous to the state of Georgia. White-tailed deer, bunnies, buffalo, sheep, kid goats, black bears and a bevy of new-born animals are waiting to be fed, admired and petted on a "nose-to-nose" basis.

The ranch opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Last ticket is sold at 4 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the ranch is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the last ticket sold at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $8 for 12 years and up and $7 for ages 2 to 11. For those under age 2, one child is admitted free with purchase of adult admission. For information, visit http://www.yellowrivergameranch.com/index.htm or call  770-972-6643.

4.at 151 Manning Road

A perfect Marietta park for a picnic lunch, sunshine, tennis, soccer or hikes. The park includes 13 lighted tennis courts, a one-mile track, two ponds, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor basketball court and pavilions, picnic tables and grills.

5. The Silver Comet Trail

 Get out and really enjoy the weekend. The Silver Comet Trail is located five miles south of Marietta and travels west through Cobb, Paulding and Polk counties. This quiet, non-motorized trail is for walkers, hikers, bicyclists, rollerbladers, horses, dog walkers and is wheelchair-accessible.

The Silver Comet Trail is more than 61 miles long and starts near Mavell Road in Smyrna. It ends at the Georgia/Alabama state line near Cedartown and Esom.

The Silver Comet Trail was built over an abandoned rail line in northwest Georgia. At the state line, it connects to the Chief Ladiga Trail in northeast Alabama. Both trails were built on connected rail lines that carried passengers and freight throughout the south and southeastern United States.

Bike rentals are available. Brings lots of water in case the fountains aren’t working.

Check the Web site for more details and map out your route.