The Best Chillin in Atlanta

Blue Heron Nature Preserve is located directly off of the heavily trafficked Roswell Road in Buckhead.  The preserve boasts seven acres of greenery, wetlands, meadows, wildlife, and wildflowers.  There is even an educational facility located on the grounds for those extra curious explorers.  This...

Park your car on the residential road and look across the street into the woods for the trail. The trail winds around through a bamboo forest with streams winding in and out. The trail splits and you can either take the high road or low road closer to the river. Both trails meet back up near the...

To visit the Eastside Trail of the Atlanta Beltline, park in the paid public parking ($3 Monday-Thursday; $5 Friday-Sunday) at the far southeast corner of Piedmont Park, behind the Park Tavern restaurant and brewery. From there, walk to the intersection of Monroe Dr. and 10th St. and cross Monroe...

Deepdene Park is the eastern most segment of the Olmsted Linear Park system that borders Ponce de Leon Avenue, connecting the Poncey-Highland community to the Druid Hills neighborhood. The parks included in this system are Springdale, Vigilee, Shadyside, Dellwood, and lastly, Deepdene.  While the...

A quick and local getaway from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta city life, Cascade Springs Nature Preserve offers over 100 acres of forested trails that lead to Utoy Creek and Cascade Falls.The trail starts at the parking area and leads to a boardwalk where old historical structures stand alongsi...

Big Trees is truly a backyard beauty. The entrance connector brings you through to the beginning of the trails. If you are low on time, try out the Big Trees Loop (1/2 mile) which appears slightly before the major Backcountry trail system. Without going too deep into the preserve, you can still e...

Locating the entrance to Constitution Lakes Park is the hardest part of this hike.  There's no specific address to take you to the parking lot, but if you find South River Industrial Boulevard, you'll see the sign for Constitution Lakes Park on your right.  Parking is free and there are two trail...

You’re going to be really surprised you’re still in Roswell, or in the Atlanta area at all. When you get out of your car and start walking down the wooden stairs at the start of the trail, the busy sounds of the rushing cars on Atlanta Street fade away into the wind flowing through the Tulip Popl...

Stone Mountain sits on the outskirts of downtown Atlanta. Located in the center of Stone Mountain Park, this 1,686 ft. granite mound provides visitors with a challenging cardio workout and excellent panoramic views of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Those who want to climb Stone Mountain should u...

Sweetwater Creek State Park offers a breath of fresh air and beautiful sights only 15 miles from Atlanta. The park has 9 miles of trails to choose from. The shortest of the three trails is the Red Trail (1 mile, one-way). After a half mile you will arrive at the impressive 5 story New Manchester ...

Starting at the Burnt Hickory Parking lot on Kennesaw National Battlefield, you head south on a pretty flat trail. After a mile and a half you will come across a bridge that goes over Noses Creek. If you're looking to cover more ground, the trails around the creek expand for miles in any directio...

Sweetwater Creek State Park has a lot to offer in terms of adventure. One of the best things about this park is its proximity to the city of Atlanta. It is incredible how easy it is to feel like you are hours away from the city, even though Sweetwater is only several miles west of the city. It mi...

The Big Creek Greenway is a roughly 8-mile stretch of paved trail that runs from its northern Marconi Drive entrance in Alpharetta down to Old Alabama Road in Roswell. There is also an extended bit of the Greenway a little further north in Forsyth County, though these two trails do not connect. T...

Kayak from the Olde Rope Mill Park to the Lake Allatoona Waterfall (1.5 mile paddle from park to waterfall). This easy lake paddle is great for beginners.  Waterfall Coordinates: 34.1436403,-84.5330342  If it is warm, bring a bathing suit and play in the water! There are also numerous spots to ha...

Red Top Mountain State Park finds itself just 30 minutes up I-75 from the urban sprawl of Atlanta, and it is surprising how quickly you can forget exactly how close you are to the city with just one night of camping here.  The State Park has a range of activities to offer, so there is bound to be...

The Georgia summer is no joke. Fortunately, Red Top Mountain's Homestead Trail hosts enough shade and swimming for all adventurers. The 5.5 mile loop is located on a large peninsula stretching out into Lake Allatoona. Hikers enter a lush forest of wildlife and will encounter moderate elevation...