Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Athens is a city in northeastern Georgia, about 60 miles from Atlanta. The city is both modern and historic, with an active artistic community surrounded by antebellum pre-Civil War homes. The outskirts of Athens are home to several large state parks that offer outdoor opportunities for fun and relaxation. Green forests dotted with lakes and rivers provide visitors with hiking, biking, boating, fishing and horseback-riding opportunities. State park lodging accommodations range from tents to cabins for both small and large groups.
Fort Yargo State Park is located approximately halfway between Atlanta and Athens, Georgia. The park covers 1,816 acres of Georgia forest and has a 260-acre lake with swimming beach. Lodging accommodations include RV campsites, lakeside canvas and wooden tents called yurts, which are circular structures similar to the nomadic homes of Mongolia. Three cottages are available for rent, one of which is dog-friendly. Visitors can rent pedal boats, canoes and fishing boats. Outdoor activities include miniature golf, mountain biking, fishing, boating and hiking.
Fort Yargo State park
210 S. Broad Street
Winder, Georgia 30680
Park: 770-867-3489
Reservations: 800-864-7275
gastateparks.org/FTYargo
Watson Mill Covered Bridge State Park is 28 minutes northeast of Athens, in the rural area of Corner. The park's main attraction is its covered bridge--Georgia's longest covered bridge and one of the few remaining covered bridges in the state. The park maintains over 1,000 forested acres and has a swimming beach with natural rock-formation slides along the Broad River. Two campgrounds are located in the park; one for RV and tent camping and another strictly for equestrian campers, complete with tie stalls. Picnic shelters are available, and newly constructed hiking and biking trails, along with separate equestrian trials, complete the outdoor amenities.
Watson Mill Covered Bridge State Park
650 Watson Mill Road
Corner, Georgia 30629
Park: 706-783-5349
Reservations: 800-864-7275
gastateparks.org/Watson
Hard Labor Creek State Park is 30 minutes southwest of Athens. Located in Rutledge, the 5,804 acre park is best known for its Creek Golf Course. Two lakes offer water activities, and the park rents canoes, fishing and pedal boats. A swimming beach with a bath house is on-site. Lodging accommodations consist of an RV and tent campground and a separate equestrian camp area with riding ring and stalls. Twenty cottages are also available, and two of them are dog-friendly. A group camp area with picnic shelters can serve large groups. There are 24 miles of forested trails that are shared by hikers and horseback riders.
Hard Labor Creek State Park
5 Hard Labor Creek Road
Rutledge, Georgia 30663
Park: 706-557-3001
Reservations: 800-864-7275
Creek Golf Course: 706-557-3006
gastateparks.org/HardLabor