LOCATE IT: Atlanta Metro

Atlanta Metro: The Urban Outdoors

Atlanta, the South’s largest city, offers surprisingly numerous green oases for residents
to get out and enjoy the natural world, despite being a bustling city.

Explore Stone Mountain Park, one of America’s most popular attractions surrounding the world’s largest piece of exposed granite, only 16 miles from Atlanta. Four million annual visitors enjoy the water-land tours, the 1870s recreated rural Southern town, Crossroads™, and of course, climbing the mountain.

Fish, canoe,picnic, andhike to the ruins of a Civil War-era textile mill when you visit Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs, with its 215-acre lake.

Panola Mountain State Park in Stockbridge offers numerous opportunities for hiking, biking, fishing, birding, picnicking and learning about this exposed granite outcrop with its rare plants of the Piedmont region. Nearby, the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area near Lithonia, features 2,000 acres of granite outcrop, wetlands, pine and oak forests, streams,and alake, and offers hiking, biking, birdingandplant viewing opportunities.

Discover Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to the northwest of Atlanta, with its hiking trails, wildlife viewing, and historic Civil War earthworks, cannon emplacements and monuments. Just a few miles south, hit the Silver Comet Trail on your bike or your two feet.

This abandoned rail bed is now a largely paved trail that stretches all the way to Alabama.

Paddle at your own pace down the mighty Chattahoochee River that flows through the north and west sides of metro Atlanta. The river offers excellent opportunities to observe wildlife and wildflowers from your raft, canoe or kayak, do some fishing, or simply relax along its banks. There are several access points along the 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area,as well as many hiking trails that follow the river.

Some of these trails and river access points just outside the Atlanta city limits are in the neighboring city of Sandy Springs. Also find in Sandy Springs the Big Trees Forest Preserve, a remarkable 30-acre urban forest with hilly topography, two creeks and a diverse middle growth forest including some large 100- and 200-year-old white oak trees. Nearby, the City of Alpharetta’s Big Creek Greenway beckons walkers, bicyclers, strollers and other non-motorized transport along a serene, paved pathway through lush forest. Alpharetta also offers such activities at dirt biking, disc golf, rock climbing, horseback riding, geocaching, swimming, golfing, mountain biking and hiking.

Venture to Atlanta Botanical Garden for a variety of gardens, both native and exotic, indoor and out.

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Atlanta Metro - Locations

Alpharetta Arboretum at Brooke Street Park

Atlanta Metro
2 Park Plaza
Alpharetta, GA 30005
678-297-2811

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Alpharetta Arboretum at Cogburn Park

Atlanta Metro
12825 Cogburn Rd.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
678-297-2811

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Alpharetta Arboretum at Webb Bridge Park

Atlanta Metro
4780 Webb Bridge Rd.
Alpharetta, GA 30005
678-297-2811

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Alpharetta Arboretum at Wills Park

Atlanta Metro
11925 Wills Road
Alpharetta, GA 30009
678-297-2811

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Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Atlanta Metro
2200 Encore Pkwy.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
404-733-5010

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Big Creek Greenway – Alpharetta

Atlanta Metro
Various trailheads through Alpharetta
Alpharetta, GA 30009
678-297-2811

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Brookdale Park

Atlanta Metro
2457 Sylvan Rd.
East Point, GA 30344
404-270-7054

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Colonial Hills/Unity Park

Atlanta Metro
1400 Hawthorne Way
East Point, GA 30344
404-270-7054

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Connally Nature Park

Atlanta Metro
1992 Connally Dr.
East Point, GA 30344
404-270-7054

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Dick Lane Velodrome

Atlanta Metro
1889 Lexington Ave.
East Point, GA 30344
404-594-1789

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East Point PATH

Atlanta Metro
Kimmeridge Dr & Headland Dr (Sumner Park) and Bryan Ave
East Point, GA 30344
470-903-2766

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Egan Park

Atlanta Metro
3383 Bachelor St.
East Point, GA 30344

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Historic Mansell House and Gardens

Atlanta Metro
1835 Old Milton Pkwy.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
770-475-4663

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John D. Milner Sports Complex

Atlanta Metro
3009 Randall St.
East Point, GA 30344
404-765-1074

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Motorcycle Safety Foundation Campus

Atlanta Metro
1450 Morrison Pkwy.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
770-442-2043

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Panola Mountain State Park

Atlanta Metro
2600 Hwy. 155 S W
Stockbridge, GA 30281
770-389-7801

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Red Top Mountain State Park

Atlanta Metro
50 Lodge Rd.
Acworth, GA 30102
770-975-0055

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River Park

Atlanta Metro
2804 Blount St.
East Point, GA 30344
404-270-7054

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Sumner Park

Atlanta Metro
1899 Lexington Ave.
East Point, GA 30344
404-270-7054

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Sykes Park

Atlanta Metro
3224 Dodson Drive Conn.
East Point, GA 30344
(404) 270-7045

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Topgolf Alpharetta

Atlanta Metro
10900 Westside Pkwy.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
770-217-0513

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Wills Park Equestrian Center

Atlanta Metro
11915 Wills Rd.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
678-297-6122

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A P E X Museum

Atlanta Metro
135 Auburn Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-523-3248

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Abernathy Greenway Linear Park

Atlanta Metro
70 Abernathy Rd.
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
770-206-1447

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Abernathy Park

Atlanta Metro
254 Johnson Ferry Rd.
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
404-303-6172

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Acworth Beach/ Cauble Park

Atlanta Metro
2293 Beach St.
Acworth, GA 30101
770-917-1234

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Acworth Rosenwald School

Atlanta Metro
4375 Cherokee St.
Acworth, GA 30101
770-917-1234

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Acworth Sports Complex

Atlanta Metro
4000 S. Main St.
Acworth, GA 30101
770-917-1234

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Adams Farm

Atlanta Metro
1486 Hwy. 54 W.
Fayetteville, GA 30214
770-461-9395

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Adventures PTC

Atlanta Metro
1000 Cooper Circle S., #103b
Peachtree City, GA 30269
770-687-9100

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