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Kim Hatcher, public affairs coordinator for Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites, is today’s Around Atlanta guest on Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio. The state of Georgia features diverse terrain from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the barrier islands along the coast, and with more than 60 sites across the state, park visitors can experience nearly all of Georgia’s unique natural features!
Most vacationers are so focused on visiting either the mountains or the beach that they forget about the wide variety of places that can be enjoyed throughout the state. With many of the state parks protecting large chunks of land and significant features, you can find the tallest waterfall in the Southeast, the Okefenokee Swamp, cypress swamps, hordes of Spanish moss hanging off stately white oaks, Georgia’s own little Grand Canyon and so much more within the boundaries of our state parks.
In addition to a wide variety of natural features, the parks offer an abundance of recreation opportunities and fun activities. Visitors will find campgrounds galore with all types of accommodations, including cabins, lodges, primitive campsites, yurts and much more. In addition, visitors can enjoy hiking, sightseeing, mountain biking, horseback riding, kayaking, canoeing, playing golf and so much more at Georgia’s state parks. You can even bring man’s best friend along with you, as all of the parks are dog-friendly, with many of the trails and some accommodations even allowing pets! For children, the parks offer Junior Ranger programs, geocaching and other exciting activities. Adults and children alike will enjoy the park’s challenge programs that encourage people to get out and explore. For a small fee, you can join the hiking, biking or paddling challenge, which requires participants to visit four specific destinations and hike, bike or paddle a trail. Then, once all four trails have been conquered, participants will earn a t-shirt proclaiming their victory.
For those new to camping, Georgia State Parks offers a first-time campers program, which includes a two-night campsite reservation for $50, plus all of the gear needed to enjoy the weekend – tent, sleeping pads, a cook stove, chairs and more. In addition, campsite staff will be on hand to provide a camping 101 lesson, including how to set up the tent and use the stove. This is a great option for those who want to try camping but are unsure of their outdoor skills, or who simply want to ensure they’ll enjoy the experience before spending the money to purchase their own gear.
As the weather continues to cool, nature lovers around the state are searching for the best places to watch the leaves change colors. To help aid in the search, Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites has created the Leaf Watch, which shows the best places to enjoy fall color in Georgia. This travel planner includes the top 15 state parks for fall color, a calendar of events, safe hiking tips, information from the Georgia Forestry Commission and instructions for making campground reservations. As Kim points out, campsites, cabins, yurts and other accommodations can be reserved 13 months in advance, and with all accommodations booked well in advance for the month of October, now is the best time to reserve your perfect camping spot for the 2015 Leaf Watch! Thanks to Georgia’s mild climate, late October and even early November is the prime time for bright, colorful trees, so this weekend is the perfect time to spend the day at one of the state’s many parks and historic sites.
Some of Georgia’s most popular state parks and the best places for fall color include Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville, which is home to the tallest waterfall in the Southeast, and Cloudland Canyon in Northwest Georgia, which offers incredible scenery. Other great places in the metro area for leaf watching are Sweetwater Creek near Six Flags, Red Top Mountain on Lake Allatoona and Don Carter on Lake Lanier.
To learn more about Georgia’s State Park and Historic Sites, call 1-800-864-PARK for an informative brochure or visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org. Be sure to like Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites on Facebook as well, where you can often find last-minute cancellations and great deals on accommodations.
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The “Around Atlanta” segment is designed to showcase the best of metro Atlanta – the communities, attractions and special events that make this city great. To submit your event, community or attraction to the Around Atlanta edition of Atlanta Real Estate Forum Radio, contact 770-383-3360.
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