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.
