It's no secret that Stone Mountain Park is a great place for those seeking an outdoor adventure. The average person who has visited the park has likely hit the most popular highlights: climbing the large granite monadnock, strolling around the shops and attractions, eating a funnel cake (who can resist?), visiting the historic landmarks, viewing the ever-popular laser show and more. When you're planning your next trip over to the park, consider these few things that might not always come to mind as you're packing your sunscreen:
1. One word: Festivals. Why is it that we just hear about "Snow Mountain?" There is so much more going on throughout the year! Consider these festivals and events as you determine the best time for your family to visit the park. There's truly something for everyone. Heck, there is even a festival devoted to what has become a backyard essential: The Big Green Egg. EGGtoberfest, held in October, is a genius move to get grill masters from a niche community of "EGGheads" together to show off their skills and exchange ideas and humble brags. Those of us who choose to let others grill for us have this event to thank for a lunch that's way better than the turkey and cheese we normally pack for the picnic tables.
2. For the more active types, there are 15 miles of hiking trails around the park that all possess their own unique character. The Songbird Habitat Trails are a bird lover's dream. This is the place in the park to hear and see a variety of bird species. Park experts say dawn and dusk are the best times for bird encounters. This area of the park is also where the cycling and archery events were held in the 1996 Olympics. Once you seek out a trail map at the park, you'll be surprised to see how much more there is than the one-mile hike up Stone Mountain itself.
3. Are you a music lover? You may know that carillons are not just for church bell towers, but did you know there's one in Stone Mountain Park? There's a little nook tucked down by the water that houses this 732 bell carillon that's scheduled to provide park visitors with beautiful music throughout the week. According to the Stone Mountain Park website, we can thank the Coca-Cola Company for donating the carillon to the park after its exhibition in the 1964 World's Fair. Be sure to catch the live concerts on the weekends (the weekday bells are taped). The echoing of the bells over the water as the sun shines down on the mountain provides a certain peacefulness that can rejuvenate anyone seeking one of the more simple pleasures the park has to offer.
4. For those that love to learn and learn some more, Confederate Hall is your destination. Confederate Hall is not unknown to the average park visitor, however it's possibly their bathrooms or air conditioning that might initially entice one to visit the building at the base of the mountain walk-up trail. What each visitor quickly realizes is that beyond the refreshing reprieve from the heat, this place is a great start to experiencing so much within the park. The building itself houses exhibits that highlight the history and nature of Stone Mountain, including a short film about how the infamous Civil War carving landed on the side of the mountain – good stuff! Puppet shows, nature walks, animal encounters and self-guided expeditions through the different trails and historic landmarks are just a few of the elements that comprise the programming offered from this location in the park. Stop in for more information and check out www.stonemountainpark.org if you have a particular interest in the more educational information and opportunities offered through the Stone Mountain Memorial Association.
Whether you're a regular or a once a year patron of Stone Mountain Park, find what speaks to you about this treasure just outside of our city. There's so much packed into this natural retreat and exciting destination for many.
Check out these links to other stories with more information about Stone Mountain and Stone Mountain Park:
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