By Mike May
On your next family vacation, consider a trip just north of the Florida border to Georgia. A great final destination is the Stone Mountain State Park, located just east of Atlanta. Simply put, Stone Mountain State Park is family friendly and fun place to visit at any time of the year.
Upon arrival, set aside time to jump aboard Summit Skyride. This high-speed Swiss cable car transports guests more than 825 feet above ground to the top of Stone Mountain. From the top, you can see the Atlanta skyline and the Appalachian Mountains, and more up to 60 miles away. You can also walk to the top of Stone Mountain.
On your way to the top, you can see the famous Stone Mountain Memorial Carving. It features the head shots of three Confederate Civil War heroes — General Robert E. Lee, General Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson, and former Confederate President Jefferson Davis – engraved into the mountain, which is the largest free-standing granite creation in the world.
At the Stone Mountain State Park, families will enjoy riding the Scenic Railroad, discovering Stone Mountain Museum at Memorial Hall, visiting Geyser Towers, playing at Dinotorium, walking through Dinosaur Explore, and much more.
You’ll also hear the music generated by the Carillon, the 732-bell ‘musical machine,’ which sits across Stone Mountain Lake and was a gift to the park from Coca Cola following the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City.
This park has many festivals throughout the year such as Spring Fun Break, Summer at the Rock, Pumpkin Festival, Highland Games, and Stone Mountain Christmas, among others.
Golfers in the family will be interested in the Stone Mountain Golf Club which features two championship 18-hole golf courses. They are Lakemont and Stonemont, both of which are part of the Georgia Golf Trail.
Above: Trevor May golfing at the Lakemont Course with Stone Mountain in the distance
After golf, eat at The Commons Restaurant, which is nestled alongside Stone Mountain Lake with views of nearby Stone Mountain. The menu provides many delicious Southern cuisine favorites.
Fried Green Tomatoes, served at the Commons Restaurant
As for overnight accommodations, there are three great options inside Stone Mountain State Park: Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort, The Inn at Stone Mountain Park, or the Campgound.
The Atlanta Evergreen Lakeside Resort has luxurious accommodations and spacious suites, plus indoor and outdoor heated pools.
The Inn at Stone Mountain Park features over-sized guest rooms, spacious verandas and an outdoor courtyard swimming pool. Many of the rooms have views of Stone Mountain Lake.
Perched alongside Stone Mountain Lake, the Campground has room for RVs, pop-up tents and safari tents.
For more details about Stone Mountain State Park, access www.stonemountainpark.com or www.GeorgiaGolfandTravel.com.
