North Georgia Family Fun

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.

 

Autry Mill

Trails
Autrey Mill has over 2 miles of nature trails that feature a walk through a hardwood forest to pine forest. They wander past a scenic creek with rocky shoals, many spring seeps, mature trees, wildflowers, native plants, and a variety of animal life. There is plenty to explore with bridges, an outlook, a farmer's attempt to discover gold, foundations stones of the old mill, plus benches and pavilions.

The trails are almost all in shade and I had no problems using a stroller. I got a trail map at the visitor center which was helpful, except that there were trails in the forest that were not on the map. Annoying for me.

Playground

There is not a playground

Other

There are some neat things there - an adobe shelter and a teepee.  There is a farm museum and a preserved house and church that are beautiful. The visitor center has geese, snakes, turtles and even a chinchilla.

Website

Pictures

CNC Infant Walk

This is a big disappointment.  In about an hours time we walked down the path to the butterfly garden, and back to the start of the trails.  The woman leading the event has a good heart, I'm sure, but she was struggling to make this fun.  The kids seemed bored, and I felt like I was just standing around.  I do not recommend spending the money.  Instead, grab some friends and do the trails - then spend that extra money you saved on a good lunch.

Chattahoochee Nature Center

Trails
6 trails each about 1/25 mile long
River Boardwalk, Kingfischer and Homestead can be done with a stroller
Forest, Beaver Pond and Stone Cabin required the ergo carrier
Mostly shaded

Playground
No playground equipment

Other
See turtles in the lake, a beaver, raptor cages, a butterfly garden, picnic area and nature store
$5 entrance fee; free to members
Great calendar of events for kids and children
New Discovery Center coming soon
No Dogs

Website

Pictures