The Hearts of Rural Georgia

The counties beyond Atlanta will keep you active and excited through the snowbird season.

by

Words by Kathleen Walls

Approximately 40 km (25 mi) east of Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park is a prime southern RV destination in Northwestern Georgia. At 1,295 ha (3,200 ac) and about an hour to DeKalb and Henry counties, you can comfortably spend the entire winter here with much to experience and enjoy.

Stone Mountain Park is the largest campground in the Peach State with 400 RV, pop-up, and tent sites plus yurt, safari tent, and RV rentals. With many natural attractions, its significant landmark is Stone Mountain, which rises from the mostly flat landscape and showcases the largest bas-relief carving in North America (and the largest Confederate monument in the world).

It consists of three Confederate figures of the Civil War including President Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson. The carving also spans 27 x 58 m (90 x 190 ft) and is set 13 m (42 ft) into the mountain. It’s hard to miss and overlooks many areas of the park.

The Outdoors Await

During my visit, I hiked one of the several trail systems but preferred the Summit Skyride. This high-speed cable car glides up 250 m (825 ft) to the peak of Stone Mountain. With amazing views of the area, the Stone Mountain Historical and Environmental Education Center explains the area’s history and the surrounding region.

If you have children (or grandchildren) visiting, The Great Barn is the perfect spot to let them loose with its climbing structures, slides, trampolines and several interactive games. Nearby, and another area of the park I liked, was The Antebellum Plantation or what is now called Historic Square. It consists of restored southern-style homes dating back to 1793 and 1875. Take a self-guided tour to admire period furniture and classic residential appointments of the south.

More Activities and Sites to See

The park has a miniature golf course but if you want to play a real round, two courses include Stonemont and Lakemont. While I passed on the golf, I did go on Stone Mountain Lake in my kayak where I spotted a few visitors fishing. At 147 ha (363 ac) the lake inhabits active species including bass, carp, crappie, and catfish. Canoe and SUP rentals are available or take a pontoon boat tour - like I did - for a leisurely ride around the lake.

Following a day outdoors, sit back and relax during the Lasershow Spectacular. Starting at dusk, this night-time spectacle consists of a laser and light show as well as fireworks often presented with music. It’s ideal for the whole family.

Any time during your visit, go to The Crossroads, which has a variety of shops and dining options with an 1870s theme. At the Sweet Shop, I watched candy makers make fudge, taffy, and peanut brittle. Of course, I sampled the sweet offerings all the while watching a glass-blowing demonstration at Yellow Daisy Glass and Craft. There’s also a 4D Theater, segway tours and e-bike rentals.

Some dining choices are The Campfire Grill, Base Camp BBQ, Big Rock Cafe (that serves southern fare), the Waterside Restaurant, and the Commons Restaurant that has an upscale atmosphere.

DeKalb County

Approximately 20 minutes from the park and 15 minutes from downtown Atlanta in Druid Hills, is the Michael C. Carlos Museum. Located on the campus of Emory University, the museum permanently showcases eclectic historic artwork from Africa, ancient Egypt, Nubia, Greece, Rome, and South Asia, to name a few places.

I took a tour that began with the Greek collection (led by docent Michael McDavid) and included period pottery, statues and various works of art. I thought the Egyptian collection was the most fascinating with mummies and artifacts, dating as far back as 167-30 BCE.

Approximately 10 minutes from the museum is the David J. Sencer Center for Disease Control (CDC). Being a government facility, there’s no fee for admission but non-U.S. visitors require an official photo ID or passport to enter.

Dr. Amy Kirby, a microbiologist for the centre, took my group on a tour through the various exhibits. One traces the roots of the CDC from its opening in 1798 when the Marine Hospital Service was established to care for merchant seamen.

It then expanded to inspecting immigrants and preventing common diseases like yellow fever, cholera, and malaria. By 1902, its name was changed to Public Health and Marine Hospital Service and in 1946, it became the Communicable Disease Center.

Artifacts include Dr. Joseph Mountin’s microscope, an iron lung, an early USPHS quarantine box, and more. I also learned about the discovery of the polio vaccine, the eradication of smallpox, as well as studies on Ebola, AIDS and the Guinea worm. Kirby also explained that one of the two existing samples of the smallpox virus is at the CDC. The other is in Russia.

Also located in Druid Hills is the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, which according to its website, is “one of the most popular and iconic cultural attractions in Atlanta.” The entrance adorns a trio of dinosaurs, a sub-species of the hadrosaur known as Lophorhothon atopus that existed in Georgia during the Cretaceous Period.

During a guided tour, I entered the Great Hall, which hosts the Giants of the Mesozoic Exhibit where a 100-ton Argentinosaurus fossil skeleton and other dinosaur skeletons are displayed. These creatures lived some 145 to 165-million-years-ago.

Another highlight is its exterior grounds consisting of 30 ha (75 ac) of outdoor nature adventures in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest that offers scenic views of the area and is home to native birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. For added convenience, there are ADA-accessible pathways and is recognized by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the Seven Places to Get Outside.

Henry County

Day trips can be enjoyed in Henry County, approximately 56 km (35  mi) south of Dekalb. The first place I went to was Noah’s Ark,  a sanctuary for exotic animals. It’s free to visit but I opted to pay for the guided WOW Tour of the Animal Habitat with a guide.

Close-up views of resident animals included American black bears, exotic cats, a variety of mammals, primates and more. At the time of publication and according to its website, the facility was temporarily closed until February 1, 2023, so be sure to visit its website to confirm hours of operation before your visit.

For a different perspective of the area, consider taking a helicopter tour. There are many choices including South Atlanta Helicopters and the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation where you can view or ride in classic Huey and Cobra. I took a run with the former in an R44 Raven II.

Our pilot, Freddie Briggs, flew us over Henry County where we spotted a movie set, which is a common site as Georgia is where the series The Walking Dead is filmed. There’s even a Walking Dead Trail to enlighten ardent followers of the show.

I also visited Heritage Park Veterans Museum, which is dedicated to all veterans and those who have served or currently serving in the armed forces. It tells their stories and an impressive area is the Wall of Honor, which commemorates fallen soldiers from the Revolution to present-day battles.

Rounding out my tour of the county was the Southern Belle Farm. The general manager Daniel Welliver explained the farm’s story while we sampled their delicious strawberry ice cream and shortcake. The farm was passed down through five generations of the Carter family and today, it serves as a successful educational and agritourism attraction.

Henry County, however, is not all about seeing the sights. In traditional southern fashion, dining is an important part of the culture and there are many choices to sample it. Just Dogs is a mother-son-owned restaurant specializing in unique hot dogs while Rutabaga's Market & Café has great food and a décor that’s a blast from the past. Welcome Home Creamery & Coffee, Rico's Mexican Restaurant and Southern Fusion Dining are other popular options.

Georgia is a fascinating state to travel through and/or visit for a reasonable amount of time. Stone Mountain Park, Henry and Dekalb counties - and even the sites and sounds in nearby Atlanta - all combine to provide a destination that can keep you active through the snowbird season.