As you prepare to pack coolers and gather blankets, consider these lesser-known picnic spots inside and outside the Perimeter that promise an ideal backdrop for a day of friends, family and food.
Heritage Park: Also known as Founder's Park, this 0.67-acre garden park is ideal for those craving a picnic with a little metropolitan flavor. Just a few blocks from Turner Field, this spot offers a picturesque view of the city's skyline and a glimpse into its past. The park's black granite plaza features an etched map of the city that juxtaposes pre-1880s Atlanta with its modern counterpart. Location: Crumley Street between Frazer Street and Reed Street, Atlanta.
Sunnybrook Park: Nestled in the residential Garden Hills neighborhood, this is a pocket park whose major distinction is its quiet, peaceful atmosphere enhanced by the heavy shade of century-old beeches and oaks. Ken Gillett, director of the Atlanta Parks Department, touts the spot's natural serenity and describes it as "a place for contemplation." Sunnybrook is for low-key or romantic picnics. Location: Pinetree Drive at Brentwood Drive, Atlanta.
Sweetwater Creek: Although Sweetwater Creek and its mill ruins aren't exactly a secret to many Atlantans, one left turn can uncover an often-overlooked part of the park. "If you start on the main trail head, everybody tends to go right because that's where the mill ruins are," says Kim Hatcher of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites Division. "If you go left, it's flat and kind of sandy because that area sometimes gets flooded by the river." Location: 1750 Mount Vernon Road, Lithia Springs.
Tanyard Creek Park: Not far from Piedmont Hospital on Collier Road, neighborhood favorite Tanyard Creek Park is best known by its pre-Civil War mill ruins and playgrounds hidden in a grove of pines. The park was the site of the Civil War's bloody Battle of Peachtree Creek, and historic markers scattered throughout the park commemorate its legacy. A large field across the creek offers an excellent opportunity to burn off post-picnic calories, too. Location: Collier Road at Walthall Drive, Atlanta.
Watson Mill Bridge: "My favorite table in the whole state is by this bridge and river," Hatcher says. Although the park is quite a drive from Atlanta (it's about 20 miles northeast of Athens), Hatcher insists its natural beauty and relative secrecy make it the perfect choice for a destination picnic. Hatcher's No. 1 spot can be found at the end of the park's 229-foot covered wooden bridge. On the banks of the South Fork River, the covered bridge is one of only 20 left in Georgia. Location: 650 Watson Mill Road, Comer.
— Provided by Associated Content
PICNIC ESSENTIALS
Hand sanitizer: Many alcohol-based instant sanitizers are considered a good substitute for soap to kill common bacteria and viruses before you dig into lunch.
Travel toilet paper: Charmin To Go bathroom rolls cost about $1 a roll and can come in handy if the squirrels have used all the TP in the park's restrooms. And companies like Cottonelle sell flushable moist wipes in travel packs for about $1 for 10 wipes.
Bug repellent: Most experts agree that insect repellents containing DEET offer the best protection against mosquitoes and wicked pests like ticks.
Sunscreen: Even on hazy or overcast days, the American Cancer Society recommends the use of sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher. It also recommends the use of wide-brimmed hats and wrap sunglasses with 99 percent to 100 percent UV absorption. For more advice, visit www.cancer.org.
— Cox Newspapers
About the Author
The Latest
Featured
