1. Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

    1. Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

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    Stonecrest, GA

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    Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

    4.8 (20 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area Photos

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    Zemin H.

    The parking lot at trailhead is limited and always full during weekends. It's about one mile walk includes boardwalk to the entrance of Arabia mountain, there is almost no sign of the trail, just follow your instinct. It says mountain but it's mostly flat. I also liked to walked the blue labeled trail around the lake. In spring you can see diamorpha, or "red moss". These diamorpha are beautiful. They grow even from rocks. In fall, you can see beautiful yellow daisies all over the hills. My favorite moment at the mountain is the sunset, bring your camera, also don't forget headlight for safety.

    Mountain trail

    Great park to get your workout and also enjoy nature. Nice view from the top and there is also a bike trail below.

    Richard R.

    The 'AREA' in the title Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area is spread out over 40,000 L-shaped acres. It begins near Vaughter's Farm and slides on a Southwest angle to Panola Mountain State Park. From Panola Mountain it travels Southeast to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Distance by car from Vaughter's to Panola Mountain is around 7.5 miles. Distance by car from Panola Mountain to Monastery of the Holy Spirit is about 8.75 miles. MAP: http://arabiaalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/AMP-Map.pdf SEE 400 MILLION YEARS FROM HERE Arabia Mountain is known as a monadnock, an isolated rock hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding landscape. It is believed to be about 100-million years older than nearby Stone Mountain. These huge exposures of granite tend to only happen when the softer sedimentary rock around it erode over time. They are typically mammoth masses of magma that slowly cooled under the earths surface. This slow formation is what makes them so much harder and dense. Famous monadnocks (aka inselberg's) around the world include: Sigiriya (Sri Lanka) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pyNJ_spwPQ Zuma Rock (Tunisia) Wase Rock (Nigeria) Mont Niénokoué in Taï National Park Mulanje Massif in southern Malawi Jugurtha Tableland (Tunisia) Mount Monadnock (New Hampshire) Shiprock (New Mexico) Chief Mountain (Montana) Rock of Guatapé (Colombia) Murphy's Haystacks (South Australia) Ayers Rock (Australia) Pietra di Bismantova (Italy) Suilven (Scotland) "Hollows" in the mountain surface create a unique ecosystem that support endangered plant species that survive only in these specific conditions. I must make it a point to return early spring when the bright red diamorpha is in bloom. http://arabiaalliance.org/plant-discovery/diamorpha-blooms/ Highlights on the map include: - Vaughter's Farm - Lyon Farm House - Flat Rock Community - Arabia Mountain & Quarry Remains - Panola Mountain - Evans Mill Ruins - The Parker House - Serpentine Bridge - DeCastro Retreat - Horace King Commemorative Covered Bridge - Monastery of the Holy Spirit FLAT ROCK COMMUNITY An African-American man named T. A. Bryant, Sr. owned a homestead at the very eastern edge of metropolitan Atlanta in a community known as flat Rock, a settlement of emancipated slaves. The origins of Flat Rock even predate the founding of DeKalb County in 1822. When the Civil War ended in 1865, it is said may African-Americans from the area headed north for better opportunity, but T. A. Bryant, Sr. felt it was important to keep the community and their common bond with each other in tact. So he bought land, continued farming traditions and the community thrived despite the harshness of the times. After all, the Civil War ended slavery, but not the battle of skin color. Flat Rock's legacy of resilience will be celebrated at the DeKalb History Center with a two-year exhibit opening in just a few days, on February 28th, 2019. FINAL THOUGHTS The best way to take in the area is via bicycle on a self guided tour. There are over 30 miles of trails waiting to be explored. But for those interested in the rich history of the area, a tour of Flat Rock Archives given by President and Co-Founder Johnny Wait would be richly rewarding. https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/330710 The view from Arabia Mountain was very nice, and kinda felt like you were on some sort of meteor with all the craters in the surface. However, the overlook trail behind the Panola Mountain Ranger Station is a waste of time if you want a true "view" of the mountain. Ride the trails instead and be sure to find your way to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. The stain glass windows make for a spectacular kaleidoscope of colors on the pristine white interior walls. ENJOY! 2019/29

    Tiny flowers on plant life
    Ashley S.

    Of all my years living in Atlanta (I'm a native ATLien) I had never been to Arabia Mountain before. Even after The Black Lips named an album after this spot, still it has taken me all of these years to go explore Arabia. I will say that I live closer to Sweetwater Creek State Park and go there A LOT, so maybe I have some bias towards it and the wonderful state parks of GA (and their amenities). Let's start with what you'll struggle most with, parking. There are several lots to pull off and park on Klondike and you should be aware that Arabia is not the only park or pathway in this area. There are several parks, including Panola Mountain State Park, that all interconnect in different places, and each has their own parking. So do use a hiking app or make sure you get the exact location of which trail you want to take. The parking lot at the trail you take up to the top of Arabia is very small and cramped. Once you pull in, if there aren't spaces available you'll have to back out of the lot as there isn't enough room to turn around. People often pull over on the road or at the entrance which can block your eyesight as you're pulling out of the lot. I was not a fan at all of the parking situation. Again, this may be because I'm used to the amenities of our great state parks. The trail isn't blazed a color but instead there are stacks of rock columns that are about waist high that guide you up the mountain. Luckily there were a lot of people the day I went so it was pretty easy to pickup that the rock stacks were our guides. The walk up is a little over half a mile. It's similar to hiking up Stone Mountain but without the super steep incline at the end...but you are still going up a (small) mountain. I'm used to doing at least 2 miles out at Sweetwater so I thought it was a rather short and easy hike. It is a completely different landscape and looks almost otherworldly. There is a lot of unique plant life on the mountain that you don't see elsewhere. But with this plant life comes caution, do not step on the plants or in any of the puddles where the unique lichens grow. There are certain times of the year when you can go and see the lichen bloom. I saw some of the small red flowers on some lichen and I'm sure it's beautiful to see swatches of red patches all over the mountain. Once you get to the top there is a spectacular view. I was there until about an hour before sunset and I could tell that it would be a great spot to catch a sunset - but be sure you have a flashlight or headlamp to help get you down. Just like most parks it does close at sunset so be ready to take a quick hike back down. There was some information at the start of the trail about the plant life and how the parks and trails in the area all connect. I'm sure I'll go back to Arabia, and next time I'll probably check out the Mountain View Trail that goes through a forest and around a lake where you can look up at the Mountain.

    Gavin M.

    Nice clean running trail. I prefer to park at Stonecrest Library. Lots of parking available at different sections based on the kind of activity you crave. I prefer jogging at a decline to warm up personally and when on a long run I don't like running in circles so I choose Arabia for those . I've seen deer in the middle of the day and several snakes so pay attention where you step.

    Gorgeous trails!
    Macy O.

    One of favorite photo shoot locations! I've done about five shoots here over the past year and get stunning photos every time. This place is HUGE. There's a ton of different colors and backdrops to shoot on. Most of what I have shot here has been swimwear or boudoir. The park is usually secluded enough of weekdays that my models and I may run into one or two other hikers walking around. There's parking to the left of the entrance onto the mountain and parking towards the actual heritage building. There's a porta-potty typed of thing in the parking lot as well if you need to go! If you walk to the top of the mountain, there's a beautiful view! It's quite windy up there too :)

    Mellony J.

    Endless sights and miles of trails. The parking can be difficult during peak times but we found a place after doing a loop around. The hike was quite enjoyable, though we wish we would have packed a picnic. Definitely a great hike for the family and a day full of exploring!

    I absolutely loved this trail! I visited vary early on a Saturday so I was able to find parking easily in the main lot. There's lots of trails but the main trail has markers so you know where you are going. The incline is not so bad so if you are looking for a light incline and not so strenuous hike. Since it had not rained in awhile there were no pools which was sad but I will be back to see those. The view is incredible especially if you go when the sun is rising! I ventured off the trail and found a nice peaceful lake. The crowds started to roll in towards early afternoon and there were several people doing photo shoots as a heads up. Don't forget to be mindful of the plants and vegetation growing!

    Hiking with Heather and Chance!
    Sydney K.

    Such a fun place to explore!!! Couldn't have been happier wandering around with my best friend and her pup. So many paths to choose and you meet tons of cool people. I brought my Canon and it was a dream shoot.

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    Ask the Community - Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

    Review Highlights - Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

    It's smaller in size than Kennesaw Mountain or Stone Mountain, but the hike is so much easier with a lot more variety to see.

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    ATL Cruzers - We asked Sammy to stop and she gladly did.  Photo ops are important.

    ATL Cruzers

    4.8(126 reviews)
    16.7 miDowntown

    Absolutely loved this tour. Our tour guy was amazing. The training was amazing. I felt like a pro…read moreriding around the town on the Segway. Another unforgivable moment in Atlanta for me. This tour takes you to a lot of places in Midtown that I would've never seen before but now I want to experience these places as well. I've never been to Piedmont Park and I will be going back to visit. But the tour guy was amazing. He knew a lot on the tour and I will say he knew all of our names. It's hard to learn one person's name, but having to learn that seven people that were on the tour and being correct every time it was impressive. They give you a helmet and teach you from the beginning how to ride, slow down, come to fast stop so you are comfortable before you even start the tour. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of it. I highly recommend you take this tour if you're ever in Atlanta.

    This is my first and only negative review. It takes a lot for me to do this. We had a very…read moredisappointing experience with this company. Our group of four booked a Segway tour weeks in advance and arrived as scheduled, only to be told upon arrival that the tour could not proceed because their tour guide was unavailable that day. We were informed that they had attempted to notify us the day prior, while we were in transit, but no meaningful effort was made to ensure we actually received that message. A voicemail was left while in transit that only gave the name of the person to call back. We did respond message the company back but no message of details was sent to us. There was no information given us that the tour had been cancelled and there was no effort by the company to call us back this morning to indicate the tour was canceled. Instead this company allowed us to show up. When we showed up this morning, the office was dead quiet. The one staff easily could've contacted us before we arrived, to have allowed us to make alternate plans. As a result, we showed up expecting a confirmed booking. While an apology and refund were offered, that is the minimum one would expect in this situation. There was no attempt to find a replacement guide or propose an alternative solution, despite the significant inconvenience caused. What was most concerning, however, was how the situation was handled. As we calmly discussed next steps among ourselves, we were unexpectedly told that we were making the staff member, Sammi, "uncomfortable". Despite the fact that even though we were highly disappointed we remained polite and measured. We were then asked to leave, and the door was locked behind us, which felt offensive as well as entirely unwarranted given our demeanor. She should've called us that morning and if anything that would possibly be why she was uncomfortable because of her own mistake. Our disappointment was warranted and we were not in any way aggressive, moreover never have any of us been called that. It's preposterous that her mistake, resulting in our disappointment and regrouping could be attributed with making her uncomfortable. She could have a higher tolerance for customers and customer service vs blaming validly disappointed customers for frustration which she caused. We are reasonable, respectful customers and simply expected clear communication and a basic level of customer service. Unfortunately, neither was demonstrated here. I would not recommend relying on this business if your plans depend on them.

    Photos
    ATL Cruzers
    ATL Cruzers - MLK's birthplace

    MLK's birthplace

    ATL Cruzers - MLK's resting place.

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    MLK's resting place.

    BeltLine Tour

    BeltLine Tour

    4.4(24 reviews)
    14.7 miInman Park

    The BeltLine Tour is a FREE 3-hour bus tour of the BeltLine which I learned is a 22-mile loop of…read morehistoric rail lines that will eventually create parks, trails, transit, and new development for Atlanta. We took the tour last wknd, and enjoyed learning about the BeltLine project while driving through the Atlanta neighborhoods like Glenwood, Grant Park, Boulevard Crossing, Capital View, Peachtree Hills, etc. and some historic sites, too. Highlight of the tour was seeing the Bellwood Quarry which will be the centerpiece for the future Westside Reservoir Park - the largest park in Atlanta. I was amazed - not to the level like when I first saw the Grand Canyon - but almost, just b/c I never knew such a gem existed INSIDE Atlanta. In case you're wondering about the location, it's behind Marietta Blvd and right now it's fenced off to the public. They say the only way you can see it is taking this tour. Check out the photos - beautiful, right?! The BetlLine project is huge, and has the potential to transform Atlanta. They say it will ultimately connect 45 neighborhoods. I also learned that Atlanta is the one of the most underparked cities - we're at 3.8% whereas most cities are 10-15%. Check out the website to get more info on the project. The tour is a great way to spend your Friday or Saturday morning, and then grab some brunch afterwards :) They book fast and advanced reservations are required. Our tour guide was great and highly knowledgeable but she does talk non-stop. Three hrs is a long time and honestly, I did doze off a few times :) But seeing the Quarry was totally worth it, and I definitely learned a lot about Atlanta.

    Yes, the tour is a whole 3 hours. But if you have any interest in Atlanta, mass transit, and/or…read moreurban design, you will quickly get immersed in the tidbits that the tour guide feeds your group and the time will fly by. This was my case during the FYLA event that I attended. The shuttle that we boarded was comfortable and air-conditioned (for those worried about suffering through Atlanta summer temperatures or having to weather a rough ride). Our guide, Shanté (or Shauntay maybe?), was a doll, knew a lot about the project and the city as a whole. She seemed to be seasoned, as she spoke clearly and timed everything she said just right, as she stood with her back to the front, to face our group. I learned a lot and saw neighborhoods that I had never seen or heard of. The architecture of Atlanta is something to admire, as it is unique. I enjoyed seeing the Bellwood Quarry Reservoir (look at our photos, it is gorgeous) and the Old Fourth Ward Park. Now I am hoping that I can convince my landscape architect-in-training sister to join me for this tour. I was told to wait a couple months before going again, to get some new information. Keep in mind that the tours book to capacity at least a month in advance, to plan wisely (though our guide said that if you are really interested, show up and see if some people who have reserved dropped out the last minute--she said this happens quite frequently). If you want, take along some snacks. Just make sure to empty your bladder and any other organs that may need to be voided before arriving to the start point of the tour. The closest bathroom before taking off from the Inman Park MARTA station is at Dough Bakery and the staff restrict bathroom use to patrons. Don't judge me for getting a grapefruit scone so that I could relieve myself. You will make a stop a little bit before the halfway point of the tour at a Kroger (is this murder Kroger? I'm unsure), where you can pick up nourishment and use the facilities. But it can be an uncomfortable first hour or so, if you are thinking you can just hold it. Okay, let's move past the bathroom thing... You should learn more about the A, its history, its neighborhoods, and the progress of the BeltLine. This tour will help you do all those things in a span of just 180 minutes, give or take.

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    BeltLine Tour - No Trespassing

    No Trespassing

    BeltLine Tour
    BeltLine Tour - View along the tour

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    View along the tour

    Jimmy Carter Presidential Library - The replica oval office

    Jimmy Carter Presidential Library

    4.5(159 reviews)
    15.1 miPoncey-Highland

    We visited the Carter Center on Jan 6, 2026 as part of Road Scholar's "The Civil Rights Movement -…read moreAtlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham" program. It is the home of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Access to the library is by appointment only. Tickets to the museum were covered by our program. Upon entering the Carter Center, the first thing we did was lunch at the Kitchen at Copenhill cafe. The cuisine was all-American, and decent enough. By the time I began exploring the museum proper, we had 100 minutes to spare. The way to the museum was into the gift shop, and then through either auditoriums A or B. The Carter Center is (so far) the only museum I've been to where the gift shop comes before the galleries. Given the limited time, I got to see three of the gallery sections. The first gallery section, aptly named "The Man From Plains", covers Carter's years before becoming POTUS. Exhibits cover his relationships with various people ("Black And White"), farming background ("Farm Family"), small-town education ("A Plains Education"), naval career ("A Career Officer?"), religious upbringing ("A Man Of Faith"), and courtship and marriage ("Jimmy And Rosalyn"). Easily my favorite section of the galleries, I got to appreciate (profoundly) Carter the person, human being and humanitarian. (Footages of this section are found on my YouTube channel in playlist "2026-1: The Civil Rights Movement - Atlanta, Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham", titled "Day 3: Jimmy Carter Museum, Part 1 - The Man From Plains".) The next gallery section is my least favorite, and not just because Carter wasn't all that great a POTUS. It covers the 1976 presidential election and his only term of office from 1977 to 1981. Exhibits include "The '76 Campaign", "The Walk Down Pennsylvania Avenue", "Inaugural Celebration" (including the Bible used in the swearing-in ceremony), the Oval Office (during the Carter administration), "Camp David Accords", and "Final Year - Two White Houses". No surprise that the focus is on the achievements than the failures. As photos the posted by others on Google show, there is apparently more that I didn't see because I wasn't aware of them. Wish I had a map of the museum. The final gallery section is my second favorite. It covers Carter's humanitarian work post-presidency, and is wonderfully illustrated by exhibits "Nineteen Eighties... Nineteen Nineties... Two Thousand and Beyond", "Building Hope", "Renewing Spirits", "Waging Peace" and "Recognition from Home and Abroad". The latter displays numerous accolades including a Grammy award, a Gates award, a Nobel Peace Prize, and (with Rosalynn) two Presidential Medals of Freedom. Situated near a window is the presidential lectern (supposedly) from the Carter administration where visitors can take photos of and with it. I took three of myself standing in front it. There is more that I didn't see because I wanted to go to the koi pond, but time had ran out. (Footages of the last two sections are found in "Day 3: Jimmy Carter Museum, Part 2 - Presidency & Post-Presidency". Same channel and playlist.) If I had more time, I would see the rest of the museum's content, the koi pond, the Japanese garden, and the Jimmy Carter bust near the museum entrance. What I did see impressed me so much that I'm adding presidential museums as places of interest for future travels. I recommend spending at least half a day to appreciate the museum and grounds of the Carter Center.

    Wonderful experience. You learn what a great person he and Rosalyn were, easily the most impactful…read morepost presidency of all time. Beautiful gardens, informative exhibits during a tumultuous period in our history as a nation. Well worth a couple hours of your time.

    Photos
    Jimmy Carter Presidential Library - Another shot of replica oval office

    Another shot of replica oval office

    Jimmy Carter Presidential Library
    Jimmy Carter Presidential Library - Oval Office replica

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    Oval Office replica

    Southern Culinary Tours - Nice patio -- Bulla

    Southern Culinary Tours

    4.9(48 reviews)
    16.8 miMidtown

    Stop 1 Publik Draft House…read more Peach martini was a little sweet shrimp & grits were pretty good but could use more spice The first several bits were nice and cheesy -- but the cheese did not feel infused through the grits cypress brewery --anniversary lager not bad -- crispy keene donut burger. needed additional acid to break the sweetness. -- bbq sauce added to sweetness -- excellent sweet potato fries nicely salted bulla potato peach martini a little sweet shrimp could use more spice real cheesy good -- cheese did not feel infused through the grits cypress brewery --anniversary lager not bad -- crispy keene donut burger. needed additional acid to break the sweetness. -- bbq sauce added to sweetness -- excellent sweet potato fries nicely salted bulla potato bravas--. pretty good. spice was real good built up right amount of crema --potato tortillas really good almost hot potato omelet vibe -- old fashion too sweet -- chicken paella -- preparation good in special pan, crisp up rice. artichoke was different but good, seafood with the paella would have been perfect Henry's for dessert Had the toffee ice cream pie. Really good, the atmosphere was fun. Real good experience overall and a lot of fun to try the different places. Bring your appetite.

    We had a great time on the Midtown Atlanta Food and Cocktail Tour! Katrina was a great guide and…read morewe definitely visited some unique spots. We loved hearing about the area and seeing the sights. Loved the atmosphere of the Rowdy Tiger! We had a nice variety of different food and cocktails. Would definitely recommend!

    Photos
    Southern Culinary Tours - Potato tortilla

    Potato tortilla

    Southern Culinary Tours - Henry's wall

    Henry's wall

    Southern Culinary Tours - Publix Draft House

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    Publix Draft House

    Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area - parks - Updated July 2026

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