Stone Mountain Park554

Stone Mountain Park is home to the world's largest relief carving, on the world's largest mass of exposed granite on 3,200 acres east of Atlanta. The park offers a bounty of recreational activities, historic sites, and unique attractions.

There is so much to do, a family could easily have a different experience at each visit. Some "family-approved" highlights include:

Crossroads, which serves as the main entrance to the park, is an 1870s southern town, featuring opportunities to interact with master craftspeople who demonstrate glass blowing, candle making, blacksmithing, and candy making. Several interactive play-based attractions in this area make it the most popular place to take the kids. The Treehouse Challenge is made up of two dueling tree houses that pits the girls against the boys as they compete in challenges to score points on the big boards. (Children can simply play in this area without competing, and enjoy it just as much.)

The Great Barn is a best bet for getting out of the sun. This attraction also fulfills every parent's dream of having the excitement of a video-like adventure coupled with physical and mental exercise. Children become a Pickens family member (a fictional family of fruit farmers) and help in the daily harvest. To play the game, farmers receive a scannable wristband to tally points earned by gathering balls that symbolize fruits and completing assigned tasks with them. Inside the barn, kids find a gigantic climbing structure with rope nets, mazes, interactive games, and two ultimate super slides that descend 40 feet from the peak of the Barn. Noncompetitive tykes can move between levels at will.

The Camp Highland Outpost offers physical family fun, with rock walls, a ropes course, line bridges, and zip lines. Little ones (and big kids) cool off with the talking fountain Stoney, who tells tales of the area and spouts off water in all directions.

The Summit Skyride: Ride a high-speed Swiss cable car up to the top of Stone Mountain to see incredible views of the Atlanta skyline and the Appalachian Mountains. Pose for a photo before boarding and see it when you return.

The Train Experience features a ride in open-air cars on a 1940s locomotive around the Mountain. The train stops halfway through the tour for a live family-friendly musical show visible from all seats.

The Antebellum Plantation gives visitors insight into an authentic pre-Civil War Georgia plantation. Original buildings, circa 1790-1845, were collected from key areas around the state, were moved to Stone Mountain Park, and restored to create a realistic site. Southern belles in traditional dress greet visitors, pose for photos, and tell stories. Craftspeople talk about the traditions of the old south. And in the farmyard, children can pet animals while professionals answer questions about animal life.

Ride the Ducks is a unique sightseeing tour that takes visitors through the park via land and water (not included in one day all attraction pass).

By evening, the north face of the mountain is transformed into a one million square-foot natural screen for a popular laser light show. Preferred seating can be arranged for a nominal fee on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visitors can play tennis at the former Olympic site, the Lincoln Tennis Center. If guests prefer golf, try a round at the Park's 36-hole championship course, or hit the new mini-golf course. Biking, jogging, and hiking can be pursued on the Park's 15 miles of sidewalks, miles of nature trails, and the famous 1.3 mile hike to the top of the mountain.

Picnicking is permitted throughout the Park. Four full-service and at least ten convenience dining spots are located throughout the Park. Our pick for dining? Miss Katie's Sideboard, which serves home-style Southern cooking, complete with hand tossed rolls (yes, that's literal) and strolling singers. Kids' meals are available.