ATLANTA — The temperature is rising, beckoning you to go back outside. Instead of heading to the same places you went during winter, why not explore some new places in Georgia?
Thrillist listed about a dozen of the most beautiful places in Georgia, and here are three you might not know about.
Rock City Gardens
Rock City is more than just rocks. The Rock City Gardens in Lookout Mountain feature more than 400 native species of plants and trees, with something blooming all year.
Entry is currently timed in 15-minute intervals, and tickets are $26.95 for adults and $16.95 for ages 3-12. The Gardens recommend buying your tickets in advance, because slots can sell out quickly. Bordering its sister town of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, Lookout Mountain, Georgia, is part of the Chattanooga metropolitan area. If you live in Atlanta, Rock City is close enough that you might want to consider a season pass, which is $53 for adults and $33 for children; or an Ultimate VIP season pass, which is $68 for adults and $43 for children. Don’t forget to bring your four-legged family members, who are welcome.
Carrollton Greenbelt
You’ve walked, biked or skated every inch of the Atlanta Beltline, but have you seen the Carrollton Greenbelt?
With 18 miles of shared use path, the Greenbelt is the largest paved loop trail system in the state of Georgia. It connects neighborhoods with the city school campus, the University of West Georgia, the city parks and several commercial shopping areas.
Carrollton is near the Georgia line with Alabama and makes a great weekend getaway or short stay on the way to vacation somewhere else in the South.
Radium Springs Garden
One of Georgia’s Seven Natural Wonders, Radium Springs Gardens is about three hours from Atlanta. The springs pump 70,000 gallons of clear, 68 degree water from an underground cave every minute.
Spend the day walking through a courtyard where the Radium Springs Casino once stood. The park features a restored terrace, new sidewalks, a casino garden and gazebos.
The gardens are in Albany, home of the Flint RiverQuarium. While there, you’ll be introduced not only to fish and reptiles, but also to dozens of birds native to the Flint River Basin. The best part is the price. The RiverQuarium costs only $9 for adults and $6.50 for kids.
———
