Read more about the article Quarantine Quest – FDR State Park, Pine Mountain, GA
FD Roosevelt State Park

Quarantine Quest – FDR State Park, Pine Mountain, GA

As pandemic restrictions ease, we’ve been exploring places closer to home and thankfully, the Georgia State Parks system provides plenty of outdoor activities. This week, we hiked at F.D. Roosevelt (FDR) State Park in Pine Mountain, GA.

Ths 9,000-acre park lies 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. And since it’s near Callaway Gardens (one of my favorite spots), you’d think I’d know this park inside and out. I don’t. Up until this trip, I’d only taken the scenic drive starting across Highway 27 from the Callaway Gardens Country Store.

Pine Mountain Valley

The drive follows along the ridge of Pine Mountain, offering several small scenic overlooks of Callaway Gardens on the left and Pine Mountain Valley on the right. But the drive only scratches the surface of Georgia’s largest state park.

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Read more about the article Quarantine Quest – Cloudland Canyon State Park, GA
Views of Cloudland Canyon

Quarantine Quest – Cloudland Canyon State Park, GA

Since the Georgia State Parks are open and our state is lifting shelter-in-place restrictions, we chose to hike at Cloudland Canyon State Park. Located 120 miles northwest from Atlanta, it’s almost in Tennessee near Chattanooga.  

Dear Hubbie (DH) and I hiked the rim trail years ago and more recently, we took the whole family on a Wild Cave tour. Click here to read the article “Muddy Adventures” I wrote for Atlanta Parent magazine.

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Read more about the article Quarantine Quest – Sweetwater Creek State Park, GA
Sweetwater Creek State Park

Quarantine Quest – Sweetwater Creek State Park, GA

One of my favorite state parks close to Atlanta is Sweetwater Creek. I’ve written about it for RootsRated, the now-defunct Touring Bird and here on this blog. Now that traveling has stopped due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve ventured to several nearby outdoor spots for early morning hiking.

Fees & Parking

Although Georgia’s state parks remained open during the shelter-in-place order, we waited until the restrictions lifted in May to venture 30 minutes to the park located west of Atlanta, just a few miles off of  I-20.  The visitor center is still temporarily closed, but bathroom facilities are open. Fees are $5 per car which can be purchased online to avoid dealing with cash at the pay stations. 

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Read more about the article Quarantine Quest – Red Top Mountain State Park, GA

Quarantine Quest – Red Top Mountain State Park, GA

Life was going along smoothly with several college visits planned during the spring of 2020. In mid-March, the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to all travel plans as shelter in place orders dominated the global landscape. Seven weeks later, the state of Georgia is opening up and we’re slowly venturing outdoors to enjoy hiking near the Atlanta area. 

Located about 45 minutes northwest of Atlanta, Red Top Mountain State Park had fallen off of our radar. Before having children, we took our dogs on frequent hikes there with a dog hikers group. For whatever reason, we hadn’t been to the park in many years and felt this was the best time to explore the area. 

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