North Georgia Family Fun

Welcome!

Hi - Glad you found your way here.  Since I have had my son and quit work, I am looking for ways to spend the day, have some fun, maybe even get in some exercise.

I have scoured books, websites, community literature and more, and put together a list of parks, nature centers, local attractions, etc.  As we visit each location I am posting information about the trails (how are they with a stroller, how long is the trail, what is it like), the playground (is there one, is it in the shade, what is it like), other information, the website, and pictures of the location.

I have deliberately left out directions, hours, fees, etc.  Because of the this, please see the website or contact the location before you go.

If you have additional comments or ideas for fun places you would like us to check out for you, please leave a comment at any post.  Thanks! Hope you get to enjoy at least one of these locations with your family. Only where children gather is there any real chance of fun. ~Mignon McLaughlin

 - Lesli Peterson

Maps of locations

Alphabetical list of locations

Hidden Songbird Trail

Trails
Songbird Trail is a 1.7-mile loop that is very easy and not a problem with a regular stroller.

Playground
None

Other
This trail passes through 300 acres of lands managed specifically to enhance songbird viewing by providing a diversity of habitats. Shrubs, forests, beaver ponds, and grassy areas each attract their own array of birds. Species seen here include chestnut-sided warblers, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, sandhill cranes, and red crossbills. An observation platform overlooking a beaver pond is an excellent place to observe wildlife. If you are going to the mountains to see wildlife, this is the place to go. Bring a camera.

This trail takes a long time to get to.  But, I think it was worth it. I'd like to go back in the Spring.

Pictures

 

 

 

 

Wild Horse Creek Trail

Trails
This is a side trail of the Silver Comet, and looks pretty much the same.  It is about 8-10 feet wide and concrete/paved.  It is 4 miles in and out, taking about 1.5 - 2 hours to complete.  I was there several days after a rain and it was still very wet and muddy.  See pictures below. The mid made it difficult to stroll in some places, but not bad. 

Playground
None - however, the parking lot is at a ball field with a playground.

Other
There is a lookout you can climb to see over the marsh.  We did not see any animals but others have seen them there.  There is supposed to be the largest red maple tree in GA near the trailhead.  I looked but could not find it. i was disappointed because it is why i picked this trail that day, but now we just have to go back.  Also, I have to confess, we did not complete this trail due to the extra windy cold weather, so we will be going back!

Website

Pictures

 

Trails
This is a side trail of the Silver Comet, and looks pretty much the same.  It is about 8-10 feet wide and concrete/paved.  It is 4 miles in and out, taking about 1.5 - 2 hours to complete.  I was there several days after a rain and it was still very wet and muddy.  See pictures below. The mid made it difficult to stroll in some places, but not bad. 

Playground
None - however, the parking lot is at a ball field with a playground.

Other
There is a lookout you can climb to see over the marsh.  We did not see any animals but others have seen them there.  There is supposed to be the largest red maple tree in GA near the trailhead.  I looked but could not find it. i was disappointed because it is why i picked this trail that day, but now we just have to go back.  Also, I have to confess, we did not complete this trail due to the extra windy cold weather, so we will be going back!

Website

Pictures

 

Vickery Creek

Trails
There are 6 miles of trails here.  It is not good for taking a stoller.

Playground
None

Other
There are a few picnic tables alongside the creek as well as some semi-strenuous cliff sides. Use caution when climbing on the rocks. It takes you past the mill's power plant, the spinning room, and along the banks of the creek to the dam that helped to create the power for Roswell Mill

Website

Pictures

 

 

 

 

Mcfarlane Nature Center

Trails
There are some trails but not very many.  All together I am thinking less than 1 mile.  But each trail either leads to a cute picnic area or to a field that looks fun for playing ball, etc. My 18 month old son walked most of the trails with me and only got tired near the very end.

Playground

None

Other
Tons of people had their dogs out playing in those fields - some even off leash.  The real gem of this place are the gardens.  While we were there in January, there was not much to see, but I cannot wait to go back in Spring and Summer - you can tell they are really magnificent. The Master Gardeners of Cobb County take care of those.  Take a picnic when you go.  Also, you can see some old stables, a bee keeping area, and the old farmhouse which is the home of the caretaker now.  This place is small, but we ended up spending an hour there on a blustery day because there was so much to see. It is in such a remote area that there are hardly any people there also, which is nice.

Website

Pictures

The website has much better pictures, but I wanted to show the stables, some of the garden beds, and the way the trails are made.  We used a regular stroller (not the running stroller) and it was fine to navigate.

 

Leita Thompson Memorial Park

Trails
There are 3 trails. The yellow one is 1.12 miles.  The blue one is 2 miles; the red one is 2.25 miles.  The red and blue trails offer a .25 mile extension around the lake.
All the trails are very shaded and crushed gravel.  It is wide enough for two people to walk side by side - even with strollers.  No tree trunks or erosion control logs.  There is one area where you have to cross a very small creek but I was able to do it without any problem in our regular stroller (not the all-terrain).

Playground

None

Other
There is an off-leash area for dogs, but you get to it from a different parking lot than you use to get to the trails.  Park by the gardens (not the ceramics house) for the trails. There are a lot of mosquitoes so bring some repellent.  There were several runners so try and stay to the right as you walk.

Pictures

Tree Climbers International

Other
Every first and third Sundays they offer a beginners class for adults and kids both.  After a short orientation, you are able to climb to basically any limb in the tree.  There are about 15 ropes hanging to choose from so you can pick a low limb or a high one (not that you have to go to the top).  You can climb all you want until 5pm (however, you have to let others all get a first time to climb, then you can go up again).  We were pooped after 2 times each. Great for the kids.

Website

Pictures

Interactive Neighborhood for Kids

Update June 7
Directions to the Corner Drug Store for ice cream, and Laurel Park are on the maps section of this website. Go here to see the link.

Trails
No trails - it is indoors

Playground
This entire attraction is one big playground - but in a more unconventional sense.  There is a climbing area with slides, etc but that is not the best part.  This attraction is a "play" neighborhood complete with a vet, grocery store, beauty shop, bank, and more.  Everything is real from the cash register in the soda pop shop to the dental chair in the dentist office.  The best part - it is scaled down for kids.  The chair is low, the tables are kid size, the check out lane is pint size.  It is such a place of discovery for kids - a chance to use their imagination in new and unique ways.

Other
I did not see this on the website, but learned it when we went -- they really encourage home schoolers and stay-at-home moms to come.  Call ahead with a reservation and you get in 1/2 price. 
Great restrooms, a small gift shop (they are strict about your child not playing with things in it) and a few snacks are available.  Your hand stamp lets you come and go all day, and they encourage you to either bring your lunch and eat at the lunch area or to go and get lunch then come back.  It is in an industrial part of town, but main street is very close and provides a lot of dining options.

About 15 minutes away is a Corner Drug Store that serves 50 cent ice cream and Laurel Park that has a great spray/water area for the kids.  Maybe I can convince my friend to post directions below in the comments.

Website

Pictures

Hembree Park

Trails
There is a trail that is just over 1 mile (maybe 1.2 or 1.2).  It is perfect for a stroller - crushed gravel. The trail is also extra wide so going with a friend is nice; you can walk side by side on the trail, even with strollers. The trail follows the outside edge of the park all the way around.  It is mostly shaded, but there are a few full sun spots.  It is also fairly level, making the walk pretty easy (unless you are in brand new flip-flops like I was today).  There are numerous rest stops along the way.

Playground
There is a pretty neat playground area in the back of the park.  It is fenced in, also. It kind of looks like it is in full sun, but the way the sun comes up, it is in the shade most of the day.

Other
There are lots of birds in this park and not a lot of people.  Tennis courts and ball fields, as usual.  I really like the fountain at the front of the park - took some cute pictures of my DS there.  There is also an activity building at this location.

Website

Pictures

East Palisades Trail

Trails
3 mile loop. Beautiful and peaceful. Dirt/clay trail which get REALLY muddy after the rain. This was very doable but not easy with a jogging stroller.  I would not recommend it without one (or an all terrain).  I would not have been able to do what I did with our regular Chicco stroller.  There are a lot of tree roots on the trail and about 10 or so tree trunks crossing the path (in one area, three cross the path all together - don't let this discourage you - this path is the easiest way).  You have to go over these - you can't go around them.
As a rule of thumb, stay to the left when the trail spits.  I did not follow this rule and spent 30 minutes on a sharp incline with tons of tree roots.  I was not able to finish after that craziness, only to learn upon turning around that I went the wrong way and it should have been a relatively easy 5 minute walk.
Trails are in all shade, and we got a good breeze from the water (at least today we did).  Bring Skin So Soft -- it was cool today but the mosquitoes were still out because it is such a lush forest and by the water.

Playground
No playground here.

Other
We saw blue heron, babies ducks, pretty native wildflowers, tons of song birds and more.  It was very nice.
If you are a timid walker, you may want to bring a sling rather than a stroller.  There are some tiny paths, steep drops and big holes (from tree roots coming out of the ground).  I am a wimp and I still did it, but it is not a piece of cake.
There is a $3 parking fee here.
Great places to bring the kids to play in the water, especially right by the parking lot.
There are not any restrooms that I saw.
People were fishing there which was nice.

Website

Pictures

Coming Soon

Tanglewood Farms

Trails
None

Playground
None

Other
This is a great farm of miniature animals that kids can pet and feed.  Goats, cats, dogs, horses, donkeys, llama, cows, rabbits (these are big actually)...
There is a little "town" also.  It is out in the middle of nowhere which I like because there is no crowds, etc.  We did the whole thing in about an hour.
I was able to take the stroller around.  It was a little difficult because of "rounding up" gates. I would bring it again though - worth the trouble.

Website

Pictures