Atlanta is known for its accessibility and rapid growth. Amidst the bustling city with Southern charm, outdoor adventures provide a unique setting for family experiences or a rigorous and challenging day outdoors for the active traveler.

Piedmont Park provides an in town recreational venue in Atlanta�s Midtown area. With 185 acres, sidewalks, expansive green spaces and cafes lining its perimeter, it is the heart of outdoor activity for Atlanta�s urban residents. The park includes multiple playgrounds for children of varying ages, baseball, soccer and football fields as well as public tennis courts. Newly constructed pedestrian walkways are perfect for a stroll, providing spectacular views of the downtown and midtown skylines and Lake Clara Meer. For a more challenging experience, visit Skate Escape on the edge of the park where rollerblade and bicycle rentals are available at hourly and daily rates. Canine lovers can let their pets get their day�s exercise at the dog park, an enclosed area where dogs can play off-leash.

The sidewalks of Piedmont Park connect the18 miles from Georgia Institute of Technology through the suburbs of Atlanta to Stone Mountain Park. These sidewalks are one of the many PATH trails that provide off-road pathways for pedestrians, bikers and rollerbladers. Visitors can stop at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, experience the quirky Little Five Points area, enjoy lunch in the city of Decatur or end their visit at Georgia�s most visited attraction, Stone Mountain Park. Other intown PATH trails include the South Decatur Trolley Trail, the Westside Trail and the Chastain Park Trail.

Stone Mountain Park offers outdoor lovers a reprieve just east of Atlanta. This 3,200-acre state park offers hiking trails of varying difficulty, pristine woodlands for camping, streams and a recreational lake. Climbing the mountain is a popular challenge for active locals. The trail begins at the base of the mountain with a gradual incline and ends in a challenging uphill climb to the summit. The top of the mountain is known as one of the best views of Atlanta�s landscape. For those not athletically inspired, the sky lift provides a relaxing trip to the summit. The 1.31-mile Cherokee Trails circles the base of the mountain, while the Nature Trail and Gardens are perfect for an afternoon stroll in the shade of Georgia�s native vegetation. The grounds of Stone Mountain also include 441 wooded campsites, volleyball courts and a swimming pool. The Stone Mountain Lake offers an opportunity to cool down on one of four waterslides such as the Mountain Screamer or Southern Pipeline. The lake also has canoe and paddleboat rentals.

Atlanta�s most important natural resource is also one of the top destinations for outdoor adventure. The Chattahoochee Nature Center encompasses several acres and a multitude of outdoor activities on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The center offers a selection of guided activities including canoe trips, wildlife and horticulture walks as well as classes exploring the culture and lifestyle of the Native Americans that once occupied the area. The nature center also includes marshes, river wetlands, aviaries, greenhouses, indigenous gardens and hosts several special events each year. The Chattahoochee National Recreation Area includes 50 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas, canoe and raft rentals and year round fishing (permit necessary). For a lazy day on the river, rent inner tubes or rafts and drifting down the river, known as �shoot the Hooch,� an Atlanta summer tradition.

From the Chattahoochee River runs another series of multi-use pathways ending at Kennessaw Mountain Battlefield Park. This 2,884-acre National Battlefield preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign and offers sixteen miles of trails around the base and to the top of the mountain, providing views of the downtown Atlanta skyline and the North Georgia mountain region.

The Silver Comet Trail, just 11 miles northwest of Atlanta, is the largest example in Georgia of abandoned railways converted into multi-use recreational trails. The trails span 37 miles for cyclists, skaters, runners and walkers winding through old rail tunnels. The PATH Foundation plans to extend this trail to encompass 57 miles across Georgia, linking it to a system of paths in Alabama and developing a system of recreational trails throughout the Southeast.

Lake Lanier Islands is located 40 miles north of Atlanta and is the city�s closest water recreation area. The 14,000-acre lake was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and now serves as a primary water source for the metropolitan Atlanta area. The 540 miles of shoreline includes recreational areas, parks, campgrounds and marinas, making it one of the most visited federally operated lakes in the U.S. The Lake Lanier Islands Beach and Water Park has water slides, a wave pool and relaxing beach. The local equestrian center offers guided trail rides through the hills of North Georgia and along the shoreline of the lake. Lake Lanier is also a popular destination for avid fishers, serving as the venue for several professional fishing competitions throughout the year. Harbor Landing has a large inventory of boats for day rentals, including ski, deck and pontoon boats and houseboats for longer excursions while Lanier Sailing Academy offers sailboat daily rentals.

Callaway Gardens is a 14,000-acre garden, resort and preserve nestled in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The garden offers a myriad of activity for outdoor enthusiasts year-round. For sports lovers, Callaway offers championship golf courses, including Mountain View Golf Course, former home of the PGA Tour's Buick Challenge, as well a soft and hard court tennis facility that is consistently recognized as one of the top 50 tennis resorts in the country by Tennis magazine. Guests also can take advantage of 13 lakes with a superb fly-fishing program or enjoy the world�s largest man-made white sand beach, Robin Lake Beach. Activities along the shores of this 65-acre lake include swimming, table tennis, shuffleboard, volleyball and paddle boat rentals. Nine trails for beginners to intermediate hikers are available while nearby Pine Mountain offers 30 miles of trails and more than 15 campsites inside the Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. The Discovery Bike Trail is a 10-mile paved path meandering throughout the garden, combining sightseeing with outdoor excursions. The mile-long fit trail circling Robin Lake provides exercise stations throughout the way.

Set at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains and blessed with a mild climate year-round, outdoor adventures provide an exciting way to explore the beautiful landscape of the South. City parks and trails provide a large variety of outdoor activities while Atlanta�s outlying areas present challenging outdoor adventures.

Established in 1913, the ACVB is a private, nonprofit organization created exclusively to market metro Atlanta and Georgia as premier conventions, meetings and leisure destinations in the regional, national and international marketplace and to favorably impact the Atlanta economy through conventions and tourism. ###

For more information, please contact: Lauren Kenworthy Public Relations Specialist 404.521.6649 lkenworthy@atlanta.net

Brandy Humphries Director of Communications & Public Relations 404.521.6645 bhumphries@atlanta.net

Michelle Gryder Public Relations Assistant 404.521.6398 mgryder@atlanta.net