The Georgia Piedmont region extends from the edge of the coastal plains region up to the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Many of Georgia's most populous cities, including Atlanta, lie in the Piedmont region. You'll find a number of attractions to suit just about any taste, whether you like to explore the offerings of a large city or would rather explore wilderness and get back to nature.
The Atlanta Botanical Garden, located in central Atlanta, sprawls over 30 acres and features a range of different gardens. The children's garden features slides, a jungle gym, green roof and bug-shaped tunnel for kids to walk through. The shady southern seasons garden provides a cool shelter during hot Georgia summers, as it can be 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the park. Check out flowering lilies in the 60-foot aquatic plant pond or step inside the Fuqua orchid center to view a range of orchid species. During the summer months you can catch an open-air concert on the garden's great lawn. Exhibitions due to open in 2010 include a 40-foot high canopy walk, an edible garden of fruits and vegetables and the Storza woods, which will be accessible via the canopy walk.
Atlanta Botanical Garden
1345 Piedmont Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-876-5859
atlantabotanicalgarden.org
Located just a few miles outside of central Atlanta, Six Flags Over Georgia offers a whole day's worth of thrills in the form of nine colossal roller coasters, a handful of lift-and-drop rides and tons of family attractions. When you're ready for a break from the thrills, you can catch a kid-friendly show like the "Looney Toons" dance off or celebrity karaoke.
Nearby you'll find Six Flags White Water Atlanta, a water park featuring intense water slides, a lazy river ride and several kid-friendly pools. For the ultimate thrill, take on The Cliffhanger, a nine-story waterslide that sends you on a vertical plunge straight down to the pool below.
Six Flags Over Georgia
275 Riverside Parkway
Austell, GA 30168
770-948-9290
sixflags.com
Oconee National Forest sits in the center of the Georgia Piedmont region, about an hour southeast of Atlanta. You can camp at one of three different campgrounds, all designed to accommodate tent camping with shared bathroom and water facilities. The Oconee River boat launch lets you bring your watercraft to paddle along the river, or you may opt to swim at the Lake Sinclair recreation area. Additionally you'll find several miles of hiking and equestrian trails in Oconee National Forest.
Oconee National Forest
Gray, Georgia 31032
770-297-3000
fs.usda.gov
