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Explore Georgia By Land, Water and Air

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Stefanie Paupeck
Georgia Department of Economic Development
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Explore Georgia By Land, Water and Air

The Peach State's Outdoor Activities Come in All Shapes and Sizes

ATLANTA, April 30, 2009 - A plethora of entertaining outdoor activities await you in Georgia. For every adventure –biking, skydiving, boating, hiking, rafting and more – the Peach State is the perfect place to head outdoors. And with her mild spring weather coaxing blooms out of azaleas and dogwoods all over the state, now is a beautiful time to head into the sunshine for these land, water and air activities.

Embark on a land adventure on one of the Georgia's many hiking trails. Over the peaks and through the valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains, hiking opportunities abound. The world-famous Appalachian Trail starts in Georgia, and the state contains what is arguably its most rigorous section. Lush in their spring greens and stunning in their fall colors, hiking through Georgia's mountains is a favorite pastime of natives from all over the state. Walkers and runners also appreciate the many state parks, natural forests and recreation areas. The Colonial Coast Birding Trail is an opportunity for hikers and walkers alike to discover some of the state's flourishing wildlife. Georgia's biking resources are some of its most abundant, including everything from challenging, off-road trails to long, paved excursions to bike-friendly city streets. In fact, the City of Roswell has been designated a bicycle friendly community by the League of American Bicyclists. Destinations like Pine Mountain's Callaway Gardens boast all of these, allowing visitors to walk, run and bike their way through 13,000-acres of world-class amenities and gorgeous gardens. Also known for her pristine historic city squares and small town settings, Georgia offers walking tours in cities across the state. Walking tours give visitors a chance to enjoy the outdoors while experiencing Georgia' rich heritage, from historic Savannah, with one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts on the continent, to more than 70 destinations in Thomasville, including Victorian and Antebellum homes. Did you know that the Professional Disc Golf Association is headquartered in Appling, GA? Appropriately, Appling is home to three disc golf courses, and there are nearly 50 courses sprinkled around the state. Fantastic exercise for people of all ages, this growing sport is becoming more popular every year.

In the water, Georgia has adventure galore. Visitors to the Bavarian village of Helen can enjoy the unique experience of floating down a real lazy river. A number of outfitters will happily rent you equipment and identify convenient drop-off and pick-up locations, leaving you to lazily drift down the Chattahoochee. A more extreme activity would be to hit the class III to class V rapids on the Chattooga Wild and Scenic River with a raft and a paddle. As one of the Southeast's premier whitewater rafting rivers and Georgia's only with the "wild and scenic" designation, several companies can accommodate anyone from lone rafters to large groups. Canoeing and kayaking find their homes among Georgia's free-flowing rivers. Winding through practically untouched habitats, travelers glimpse rare animals and magnificent landscapes. Whether you spy a bald eagle or find the elusive gopher tortoise, wrangle a giant catfish or spot a shortnose sturgeon, paddling down Georgia's rivers will make memories to last a lifetime. Cutting down mountains, across plains, through famous pine forests and into the sea, Georgia's rivers are natural assets best enjoyed with a boat and a paddle. The Altamaha River has been designated one of the 75 "Last Great Places" in the world by The Nature Conservancy. It is one of the very few great southern rivers to flow dam-free to the sea, encouraging all manner of wildlife to flourish. The Flint River is also known for its lack of dams. Located entirely within Georgia, it stretches from Metro Atlanta to the southwestern tip of the state. The Flint has one of only 42 free-flowing river reaches longer than 125 miles remaining in the contiguous 48 states, and contains the largest diversity of fish and fauna among the Gulf Coast river drainages east of the Mississippi. Motor boating is an excellent activity on Georgia's many lakes, including Clarks Hill Lake (also known as J. Strom Thurmond Lake), the largest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project east of the Mississippi with 1,200 miles of shoreline. With beaches and marinas up and down its coast, Georgia has everything from sea kayaking to deep sea fishing vessels available for charter, allowing visitors to explore the coast, the reefs and the deep sea.

High above Georgia, hearts are pumping with excitement on high-flying adventures of all kinds. Ropes courses have popped up in numerous locations, challenging daring adventurers to attack elements several stories off the ground. You will have to brave suspended bridges, gravity defying aerial leaps and balancing on tight ropes as you make your way through the courses. Ropes course lovers will have to travel to Historic Banning Mills in Whitesburg to test their courage on The Snake Creek Challenge, covering 27 course elements designed to encourage team building. The Screaming Eagle zip line lets visitors experience jumping off a 30 story building. With one of the world's highest timber pole towers looking down at Snake Creek 300 feet below, the 2,400-foot zip-line is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. Flying along at up to 60 miles per hour, the Tree Flight Zip Line Canopy Eco-Tour is one of the longest and highest tree canopy eco-tour lines in the world. It whips you over the Snake Creek Gorge up to six times on over two miles of cable, bridges, tree houses and towers up to 200 feet in the air. Hang gliders' gravity defying wings take flight at several launch sites around the state. Lookout Mountain Flight Park and Training Center takes visitors soaring above craggy Appalachian peaks and lush valleys up to 4,000 feet in the air. Skydiving opportunities can also be found, where customers experience the rush of free falling 14,000 feet above Georgia. Mountain climbers have no dearth of faces to challenge them. Likewise, rappelling bluffs abound for those who prefer to go down, rather than up. Near Tallulah Falls, Tallulah Gorge's steep, rugged climbs feature few tie-off bolts, and her 1,000-foot cliffs challenge even the most experienced climbers. Slopes for all skill levels and unique geological formations can be found at Pigeon Mountain near La Fayette. Georgia invites visitors to take their adventures high above the state on ropes, wings and mountains.

Whatever your tastes for excitement, whether on the ground, in the water or up in the air, Georgia has an activity for you. Plan your next adventure today by visiting www.exploregeorgia.org.

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Altamaha River: http://www.altamahariver.org

Callaway Gardens: http://www.callawaygardens.com/

Chattooga Wild and Scenic River: http://www.fs.fed.us/conf/rec/rafting.htm

City of Roswell: http://www.cvb.roswell.ga.us/

Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond Lake): http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/thurmond/

Colonial Coast Birding Trail: http://georgiawildlife.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=85

Flint River: http://www.garivers.org/

Helen: http://www.helenga.org/

Historic Banning Mills: http://www.historicbanningmills.com

Lookout Mountain Flight Park and Training Center: http://www.hanglide.com/

Professional Disc Golf Association: http://www.pdga.com/