School's out for the summer, making us all a bit nostalgic for summer vacation and specifically, summer camp.
Sitting in your cubicle daydreaming about riding your bike, rafting down a river or jumping off the diving board into the deep end? Why let the kids have all the fun? Take a mental health day or clear your weekend calendar, grab some friends and hit one of these outdoor "summer camp" themed activites for adults. Netflix can wait.
Beltline Bike Tours
The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership and Atlanta Bicycle Coalition offer free, guided bike tours of the Atlanta Beltline Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. and Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m. Saturday's tour meets at Atlanta BeltLine Bicycle (where you can also rent at bike) and includes a 13 mile guided tour of the Eastside trail, with stops at Historic Fourth Ward Park, Piedmont Park, and Atlanta Bicycle Coalition Office.
When you're done with your tour, indulge your inner child with a scoop or three at Jeni's Ice Cream at Krog Street Market or rehydrate with a beer at Hop City, margaritas at Superica, the popular Jack & Coke slushie at the newly reopened Victory in Inman Park, or relive your campfire days at the similarly themed Lady Bird Grove & Mess Hall. Sunday's tour leaves from WeCycle Atlanta (which also offers bike rental, but you must reserve 24 hours in advance) and covers nine miles on Atlanta's booming Westside. Stop for post ride refreshments at Bartco or West Egg Cafe.
Dad's Garage Improv Classes
Those summer camp plays were essentially an exercise in improvisation, so why not reconnect with your inner thespian at Dad's Garage improv classes? Prefer to work behind the scenes? The theater group offers screen writing classes as well. All classes end with a showcase, which is basically the adult version of the delightfully awkward camp talent show. www.dadsgarage.com
Preserving Place Cooking Classes
Prefer the kitchen to the stage? Check out the classes at Preserving Place. Nestled in the booming Westside Provisions District, the store offers several weekly classes on topics ranging from canning to entertaining to homemade cocktails and bitters, all hosted by local experts such as award-winning chef James Beard and Restaurant Eugene owner Linton Hopkins. Even better, you can shop for your next event on site. Preserving Place offers its own line of sauces, pickled goods, relishes and jams.
Mudfire Pottery Classes and Workshops
Mudfire in Decatur calls itself "an open playground for imaginative adults." In addition to one-off classes and workshops, Mudfire offers studio memberships, much like your gym, with drop in hours and one-on-one instruction available without the hassle of schedule and regularly attending a class. The studio also offers parties for groups of up to 50 people, plus in-depth workshops on ceramics, glazing, screenprinting and more. mudfire.com
Eclectic Music Atlanta
Never got those piano lessons as a kid? Want to find your inner rock star? Eclectic Music, with three metro Atlanta locations, offers private lessons in piano, guitar, voice, ukulele, violin, bass, drums, and more, with frequent opportunities to showcase your talents. Or just jam alone in your house, if you prefer.
Wall Crawler Climbing
Take your rock climbing skills outdoors with Wall Crawler Climbing. The "Indoor to Outdoor" workshop offers one indoor lesson, then a day trip to an outdoor "crag" to test your skills such as rappelling, building anchors and basic rope work. The "Intro to Trad Climbing" introduces you to the traditional sport-no bolts, just you and the great outdoors, plus learning how to find the best routes, anchors and team communication. Want to test your skills indoors first? Get a day pass for $15 ($13 for students) and climb to your heart's conent-cushy landing guaranteed.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding
Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) is all the rage. Sunshine, water AND a great core workout disguised as fun. High Country Outfitters has you covered, offering weekly demos with certified guides. Feeling a bit more ambitious? Try SUP yoga, a 90 minutes paddleboard workout. All classes are held at Overlook Park at Morgan Falls in Sandy Springs.
Shoot the Hooch
If your idea of exercise is floating down the river, adult beverage in hand, Shoot the Hooch has you covered. The headquarters at Azalea Park in Roswell offers raft, canoe, kayak, tube and stand up paddle board rentals plus Nathans hot dogs, pulled pork sandwiches, ice cream, fresh pretzels and refreshing beverages for your excursion.
Dive Atlanta
Sure, Atlanta's landlocked, but it doesn't mean you can't practice for your next beach vacation. Dive Atlanta in Lawrenceville offers scuba diving classes for all levels, including open water certification, search and recovery and Nitrox class. Once you're fully certified, the shop sponsors scuba diving trips to places as close as the Georgia Aquarium and Panama City to as exotic as Belize and Costa Rica.
Click here to begin your search for the perfect summer camp.
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