The Atlanta area is full of reasons to get up off your couch and have some fun.
These eight adventure ideas are only the tip of the iceberg.
Try the ropes course at TreeTop Quest - Lumber, rope and zip line adventures await children and adults ages four and older at both the Buford and Dunwoody locations of TreeTop Quest. Challenge yourself at your own pace as you make your way across courses that escalate in difficulty. For more fun, test your balance on the Spider Quest course where no harnesses are necessary as you move around obstacles with a giant net underneath you.
Ride a waterfall at Poole's Mill Park – There are no fees, no lifeguards and no formal slides but Poole's Mill Park offers a summertime water ride your family won't soon forget. Put on a swimsuit you don't mind mucking up a bit, grab your towel and head up to Forsyth County where Poole's Mill Park offers a gradual natural waterfall that welcomes guests to slide down its face. With a small playground, picnic space and a covered bridge, the park is a great place to spend a day having fun and taking a few pictures.
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Hike a monadnock at Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area – Already a champion at climbing Stone Mountain? Climb its neighbor, Arabia Mountain. Taking the self-guided path, you'll be directed along the best path to ascend the monadnock, which took 400 million years to be created. The reward for your hike is at the top when you can see the city of Atlanta over the treetops and see the surface which is often described as looking like the surface of Mars.
Paddleboard at Sweetwater Creek State Park – You've probably heard of Sweetwater Creek State Park as a great place for hiking but it's also a great place for watersports fun. Georgia residents and visitors can rent paddleboards and take on the water. They also offer paddleboarding classes in addition to kayaking and canoeing ranger led adventures.
Get high at Historic Banning Mills – Take a ride on the World's Longest Zip Line or sleep in a hotel room meets tree house high above the ground at Historic Banning Mills, located between Carrollton, Chattahoochee Hills and Newnan. The destination also features more than 100 zip lines, the World's Tallest Freestanding Climbing Wall, an aerial adventure course, a 100 foot power free fall, horseback riding, kayaking and live falconry demonstrations.
Credit: Chase Andrews
Credit: Chase Andrews
Terminus Wake Park – If you're one of people who has sadly realized that Atlanta's mean streets don't exactly offer the wakeboarding scene you wish it did, you need to hop in a car and head north. Terminus Wake Park offers three cable lakes where you can test your well-honed skills or try out the sport for the first time. Make your reservation online in advance to minimize wait time.
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Shoot the Hooch in Duluth – There's no need to head to Helen when you're craving a trip down the Chattahoochee River on an inner tube. Simply head over to Abbotts Bridge Road near the Johns Creek/Duluth border where you can pay less than you will for lunch in Buckhead to tube down the river. The best part? Coolers are welcome.
Credit: Phil Skinner / AJC
Credit: Phil Skinner / AJC
Race your friends at Atlanta Motor Speedway – Do you feel the need, the need for speed? Grab your friends and head out for a day of driving fun at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 1.54-mile quad oval hosts several driving companies that operate at the facility on various days, at a variety of prices that allow you to ride and race in a variety of scenarios including the ability to go over 150 mph on the track. Add to your day by staying for Thursday Thunder or Friday Night Drags.
Feel like traveling a bit further for your adventure? Callaway Gardens has a fun zip line meets ropes course called TreeTop Adventure while further down the road Columbus is quickly becoming known as Georgia's whitewater rafting destination.
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