Spend a weekend exploring quaint main streets and getting lost in the woods.
Atlanta ’s dealings is fabled . Thenightlife sceneis next degree . And there ’s anever - ending list of things to do . So it ’s no arcanum that living in this sprawling metropolis can be taxing . So when you ’re quick for true greening , head about an hour out of the urban center and 25 minutes west of Newnan toChattahoochee Bend State Park .
Here you ’ll hike up along a tedious flow river , the only noises coming from the rustling leave-taking atop oak , birch , and pines . You ’re free to communicate with the Chattahoochee ’s waters without interruption , and aside from a handful of fellow hikers and an occasional canoe , you ’ll palpate like you have the entire river to yourself .
Get miles in hiking one of Georgia’s largest parks
Chattahoochee Bend State Park is one of the largest and newest state of matter commons in Georgia , a 2,900 - acre swath of rolling mound and meandering lead that lets you get lost — but never too lost — in the wild . Its signature trail is the Riverside Trail , 2.6 international mile of minimal elevation addition along the river ’s edge , with a 30 - foot observation tower at the final stage rewarding you with a perch inside the tree diagram canopy . There ’s minimum elevation gain , and with a decent horizontal surface of fitness , it can be completed in about an time of day .
Another option is taking the shortsighted , mile - long hike along the Flat Rock lead . It winds along granite outcrop covered in lichens and mosses . They ’re the coolest photo ops in the ballpark , and the short , well-to-do trail make it approachable to people of any fittingness grade .
What I love about this park is that it ’s easily realizable in a duad of days , and you may see everything you want to without nonplus overwhelmed . If you ’re the type who needs to feel exhausted and battered after a good twenty-four hours of hiking , it might be a little gentle for you . But for class with pocket-size shaver or people who want to get deep into nature without pushing their strong-arm limits , hiking in Chattahoochee Bend State Park is perfect .
Photo by Marcus E Jones/Shutterstock
Explore the namesake river
No misstep to Chattahoochee Bend State Park is accomplished without hold the opportunity to get out on the water . you’re able to impart your own kayak , utilise the gravy holder incline to plunge your paddle board , or rentcanoes on sitefor a day out on the river . But if you ’d rather stay dry , there are other ways to explore this far-famed waterway as well .
The Riverside Trail connects with several others along the park ’s 12 - mile lead system , so you could use it as a jumping off point for longer trips into the wilderness . The Bend Trail continues north 2.9 miles to the river fold that gave the park its name . The track cuts through untamed forest , emerging by the river stoop at a backcountry campground . The trek through the trees makes the smear feel entirely isolated , though you ’re hardly two miles from a principal route .
Dream of a slower life in the quaint town of Newnan
Newnan calls itself the “ City of Homes , ” and a straightaway drive around its historic business district quickly excuse the name . The blocks surrounding the city center are filled with grand older residence that were dispense with during the Civil War . Go during the vacation season , and you may design your trip around theChristmas Tour of Homes , where many are open to the world . Otherwise , stop by the visitor center and get a single-valued function that leads you on aself - maneuver driving duty tour .
Strolling through the downtown is a fun way to explore its boutiques and shop , with a speedy stop into the old courthouse to look up to its neoclassical architecture . A brace closure out , Full Circle Toysis the sort of workshop you wander in because you saw a life - sized Chewbacca in the window , then get sucked in by aisle and aisles of nostalgia . I make bold you to leave behind without buying at least one thing that reminds you of childhood .
Spend the night in a cozy cottage
The good spot to stay on a trip to Chattahoochee Bend State Park is at the “ cottages ” inside the park . I use quote here becausethe cottagesare more like two - bedroom theatre , with a fully stocked kitchen ( include dishwasher ) , two full bathrooms , a living room , and a screened porch complete for sundown cocktail . They also have fire pits and piece of cake tables in the back for after - colored s’mores , and television set in the bread and butter room in showcase the rainwater twine in .
If you ca n’t book a cottage , Newnan has a bevy of smaller , chain hotels that ’ll do the Book of Job if you take a piazza to sleep . TheHome2 Suiteshas kitchens , if you need to fake for yourself . If you ’re turn the misstep into a full Coweta County exploration , stay about 45 minutes east at theVeranda Historic Innin Senoia . It ’ll give you a chance to explore that small Ithiel Town , while slumber in a circa 1906 home .
Eat at neighborhood joints and local breweries
If you ’ve lucked out and scored a bungalow or want to test out the kitchen at Home2 Suites , stop intoCleaver and Corkdowntown and see how originative you may get with their ingredients . The specialty nutrient store offers an challenging collection of biz sausage balloon , spice blends , and alien Malva sylvestris and oils that help you craft a originative dinner - in - the - wood . A couple of stoppage off , Ace Beer Growlerscovers the beverage portion of the repast with an extensive ingathering of beer and wine .
If you ’re not up for cooking , start your dayspring atLeaf and Beanwhere the chocolate chip cookies are an absolute must . Meat N ’ Greetmakes the upright burgers around , with an imaginative menu of high - quality hot dogs and fried chicken sandwiches too . The Alamois a beer - and - pizza touch plant inside an quondam theater , in all probability Newnan ’s most unique dining experience with some pretty good pizza to boot . RPM Full Serviceis a beer - cloggy gastropub in an honest-to-god gas place , idealistic for out-of-door eating and sampling local beer . Then be indisputable to blockade by theRock Salt Milk Barfor its big collection of gourmet shabu ointment .
In Senoia , Nic and Norman’sis a bar in an historical building with famous person pictures on the wall . Across the city ’s central back street you ’ll findBisto Hillary , the gastronomical highlighting of the area serving fantastic steaks , chicken parm , Phthirius pubis cakes , and roast branzino .
The Riverside Trail|Photo courtesy of Georgia State Parks
Newnan is also home to two breweries : Abide and Line Creek . Abideis the city ’s first brewery and credibly has the better beer , although it sits in an industrial area and is really only for savor . Line Creekis larger and has a gay patio , good for lazy afternoons with the tiddler .
For after dinner deglutition , rapier into an back street grace with murals of chicken and discover theThe Pharmacy Speakeasy . The cozy space mixes up a lot of forbiddance favorites , and feels like quite the find for such a small city . The Alamo is also great for sit down with local , as is Below the Neck , which sit in a basement under theRedneck Gourmet . Just make certain you have a machine driver in your chemical group — the driveway back to the car park is 25 minutes down a gloomy country road .
Adirondack Camping|Photo courtesy of Georgia State Parks
