Stone Mountain State Park, Georgia

Stone Mountain State Park is located in DeKalb County, just east of Atlanta, along Highway 78. There is also a village called Stone Mountain located just outside the State Park. Millions of people visit Stone Mountain State Park each year, which offers over 3,000 acres of natural scenic beauty, attractions and outdoor recreational opportunities. The actual mountain itself is the world's largest mass of exposed granite and is the centerpiece of Stone Mountain State Park. Dubbed the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the mountain's north side contains the world's largest high relief carving, depicting three Confederate soldiers. This beautiful family-oriented park also contains acres and acres of forestland, pristine lakes and streams, lovely gardens, miles of scenic nature trails and man-made attractions. There are three hiking trails in the park of varying difficulty. There is the "Walk-Up Trail" that goes to the top of the mountain; "The Cherokee Trail," which winds around the mountain base; and "The Nature Trail and Gardens."

You can also ride a sky lift for a close-up view of the memorial carving, visit an antebellum plantation or take a tour on an authentic paddlewheel riverboat. The park also puts on a spectacular laser-show, has an antique car museum and a state-of-the-art "4D" theater. You could spend days in Stone Mountain Park and possibly not have time to visit all the attractions - it's that big. Aside from hiking, other outdoor activities in the park include biking, golf, fishing, and swimming, boating and camping. "Crossroads" is a recreated 1870s Southern town at Stone Mountain, where you'll meet fascinating characters and crafters who demonstrate what life was really like 130 years ago. The Great Barn is an actual 1870s barn filled with four floors of fantastic 21st century fun, just for children. There are rope nets to climb, mazes to explore, and super slides that whisk you from ceiling to floor. Tennis fans love the Stone Mountain Tennis Center, which was the site of the 1996 Olympic tennis competition and is the premier tournament center in the Southeastern United States. It features 16 outdoor, lighted courts and an 8,200-seat stadium court, 13 championship courts, two center courts, and a full service pro shop.

Camping is also very popular at Stone Mountain, which offers a 45-acre private campground located on the East Side of the State Park. It contains 38 sites for tents, 44 RV sites and 54 sites for tents/RVs. Most of the sites are shaded and a few border the lake. Amenities in the campground include a children's playground, laundry facilities, dump station and flush toilets. The maximum stay is fourteen nights, and there is a one-time fee to enter. The tent camping section is closed October through early March.

Stone Mountain Park gates are open daily from 6 am until midnight. Most of the park attractions open at 10 a.m., weather permitting. Directions to Stone Mountain: take exit 39B off I-285 and go east on Highway 78 to exit 8, which is the Stone Mountain Park Main Entrance.

Stone Mountain Village, which is located just outside the west gate of the state park, also has a number of attractions, including over fifty specialty shops and restaurants and a historic downtown center that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town's motto is "Where the Old South and the New South Meet." The Stone Mountain Village Walk & Wine Tour is a unique annual event that is free to the public, where local restaurants, galleries and shops offer a sampling of various wines, foods and discounts on merchandise. This event is usually held at the end of June. Stone Mountain has art galleries and a Civil War Museum, fine restaurants and a "Tea Room" that is housed in an 1854 Victorian antebellum home. You'll also find a variety of accommodations, including an 1820s Bed & Breakfast Inn along with modern hotel chains and 2 resort hotels located inside the State Park.