This is the time of year to get excited about being outside and breathing the fresh air. Spring is definitely here and summer is right around the corner. This means that your kids are almost out of school. If you are looking for ways to entertain the kids and the family, look no further. Georgia is a great state to live and the state parks have engaging and educational things to do year-round.

Get Outdoors Georgia, a Georgia Department of Natural Resources program, encourages families to take part in outdoor activities at any of the 63 state parks across Georgia. The list of activities and programs range from biking and fishing to camping and hiking. Many of the parks offer events year round and there are several clubs, such as Canyon Climbers for hikers and Muddy Spokes for bikers.

Residents at the Henry county master-planned community, Heron Bay, don’t have to go far to enjoy outdoor activities during this beautiful time of year.  Panola Mountain State Park, which is less than 20 miles from Heron Bay in Locust Grove, has 24 events and activities to take part in right now. If you’ve never really experienced the outdoors but are ready for a challenge, (more…)

As fall winds down and the tell tale signs of fall start to arrive, many Atlanta homeowners find themselves looking for outdoor activities to make the most of  the remaining days of fall.

For the residents of Heron Bay Golf & Country Club, the trip to the beautiful outdoors can be found right around the corner at Panola Mountain State Park. This 1,219 acre facility features four picnic shelters, a playground, 2 fishing lakes and various activities such as hiking, bicycling and jogging, birding, boat rentals, fishing, picnicking and other various interpretive programs.

In addition to all their family friendly activities, Panola also offers a variety Saturday events which provide a great way to meet people and get outside for some exercise. (more…)

On the first Saturday of every month, from June 6 through Dec. 5, 2009, join Panola Mountain State Park for an introductory climb to Canopy-Adventure-Research-Educational Technical Tree Climbing (CARETTC). From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. participants will use rope and harness for exploring the canopy above. Advance registration for this amazing adventure is $10 plus $3 for parking. Tree Top Excursions provide a unique opportunity to explore our natural surroundings. To register, call 770-389-7801. 

Panola Mountain State Park is located in Stockbridge, just a short drive from Heron Bay Golf & Country Club. (more…)

Panola Mountain State Park is an active contributor to the “Get Outdoors Georgia” campaign, and offers many events in Henry County to help the cause – some of which we have featured here before. This weekend is a truly exceptional activity as you have the opportunity to participate in an overnight camping excursion with a guide. Adequately called a “Backpacking Clinic,” you will be taken to breathtaking vistas, pine savannas, hardwood bottomlands and water crossings all while learning tracking skills, wilderness survival skills, useful plants and backpacking skills. The clinic is for new and seasoned backpackers, although, in my opinion, beginners will be able to get more out of the experience. If you have long harbored a desire to hike part of the Appalachian trail, or to undertake some other physical challenge that involves backpacking in Georgia, then this is an opportunity you won’t want to miss. Instead of diving in and learning by trial-and-error, your first backpacking experience can be with a knowledgeable guide that is there to educate and answer questions, which is infinitely more beneficial than a learning as you go. The hike is five mile and begins on Saturday (November 8th) at 1 p.m., ending on Sunday (November 9th) at 1 p.m. (more…)

Gather the kids and head to Panola Mountain State Park on Saturday night for their Nocturnal Treetop Excursion. This is a fun opportunity for your kids and you to learn a thing or two about what lives high in the trees. You’ll be aloft in a beautiful 90 foot Southern Red Oak, so if you have a fear of heights this might not be the best activity for you. However, if you can overcome that fear, you’ll be immersed in an interesting eco-system that you otherwise may never have the opportunity to explore. The nocturnal climb will include fluorescent lichen and other glowing critters of the night, as well as stargazing and night climbing activities. You may even get to see a barred owl on the excursion. Be sure to register in advance by calling 770-389-7801 – there is no same day registration. (more…)