Stone Mountain Park in Georgia is one of the best outdoor destinations in Georgia. Roughly 25 minutes outside of Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park is a quick drive that provides the perfect escape from city life. With covid cases and the need for outdoor family friendly activities more important than ever, this park has been a godsend for my son and I. As a visitor, there are campgrounds and hotel lodging options, but as a local, this is the best spot for a weekend day activity. The park is free to enter if you are not going into the attraction portion of the park, but expect to pay for parking.
What exactly is Stone Mountain Park? Well…it showcases a huge carving in the side of the mountain as shown below filled with engraved quotes in stones surrounding the bottom of the mountain. There is a gorgeous lake for water activities and boating. This summer, we chose to enjoy the water by sitting along various shore banks and simply taking in the views.
There is a 5 mile path consisting of a cement sidewalk that goes around the mountain where you can find many exercise enthusiasts sweating it out. There are hiking trails that are great for kids in addition to the ambitious hike up the mountain. We prefer to avoid the crowds going up the mountain, and like to explore the trails in the woods or near the water. If you wish to hike up the mountain one way and enjoy a ride for the other, there is a cable car that you can ride up or down the mountain (for a fee). There is no shortage of tables and outdoor grills for a family picnic that can make for the perfect day outside. You can even find a playground for the kiddies if desired.
If you are interested in more activities beyond hiking and playing outside, there is a historic center that includes a petting area with some of the cutest furballs I have ever seen (pictured below). Stone Mountain Park Attraction center features special events throughout the year that your kids will love! Halloween, Christmas and 4th of July feature the best events of the year. Pre-covid, you would find the obstacle course packed, but now things may be restricted due to covid. This section of the park requires you purchase a ticket, but due to the cost of parking and frequency we go to the park, it was best to buy a season pass. Stone Mountain Park is a must do for Georgia activities!
