Stone Mountain Park
Atlanta: Top 5 Attractions
The centerpiece of Georgia's top tourist attraction is a monolithic dome of exposed granite that rises above the Piedmont Plateau about 15 miles east of Atlanta. Stone Mountain Park is much more than a mere geographical curiosity, however, for the 32,000-acre site harbors an unusually eclectic combination of recreational and educational facilities, nature areas and hiking trails, museums, a waterslide park, two championship golf courses, an Olympic-class tennis center, a five-mile scenic railroad, a working replica of a Mississippi side-wheel riverboat and a larger-than-life tribute to three prominent Confederate leaders. To say there's something for everyone here might be a bit of an exaggeration, but spend a day in the park and you're sure to have an experience like nothing you'll ever find outside of Georgia.
The mountain itself rises more than 800 feet from the surrounding area and features a massive bas-relief carving, 190 feet wide by 90 feet high, of Confederate president Jefferson Davis and generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. A suspended cable car carries visitors to the summit, but for a good workout and a close-up view of the area's unique ecosystem, hike the 1.2-mile summit trail, which is particularly scenic during spring wildflower season. From March through October, an extravagant laser animation and pyrotechnics show lights up the side of the mountain after dark.
The basic entrance fee of $8 per car allows access to trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and the laser show. Operating hours for some park attractions vary seasonally, and prices for all-day passes to the park's various rides and activities vary depending on which are open on a given day, but around $25 for adults and $19 for children.
For discount coupons you can download from the Internet, go to www.stonemountainpark.com and find the "Internet Coupons" page in the "Tickets/Promotions" section of the site. To avoid the parking fee, take the MARTA East Line to the Avondale station and transfer to the No. 120 bus bound for Stone Mountain Village.
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