A hidden gem in Cumming right by the lake! A friend of mine told me about this park a few years…read moreago, and it's become a favorite of mine to visit, especially in the Fall! Heads up, you will feel like you're driving into a neighborhood but rest assured, you're in the right spot! It leads you right to the entrance, and there is tons of parking available. There's a trailhead sign as well which is helpful. Gorgeous views of the lake on every side of the park, with plenty of trails in and around the park. Every time I visit, it's always very quiet and serene, and there's a little beach/island that is all dried out now that you can go walk out on which is cool. Anytime I need to destress, a walk around here instantly does the trick!

This is a super cute park. There is no playground so definitely be aware of that but it is a nice…read moreplace to chill at the lake.

I'm always on the hunt for a new bike trail, so I decided to head to Big Creek Park in Roswell. If…read moreyou have any favorite trails, let me know in the comments! I entered at Old Alabama Road parked at Big Creek Park and followed the signs. The trail is well-maintained, clean, and wide enough for cyclists, walkers, and runners to comfortably share the path - in most areas. One of my favorite things about this trail is that much of it is shaded, making for a really enjoyable ride. The park has massave MTB & hiking trails as well. Plus restrooms and pleanty of free parking. The trail system is larger than I expected. There are several connecting paths that was listed as color coded according to the level. I found myself taking a different route than I planned and accidentally made a few complete loops before realizing I had connected to another trail! I completed around 23 miles - easy ride. I'd consider this a great beginner-friendly trail. Most of the ride is relatively flat with only one or two moderate inclines that got me a lil winded. Otherwise, it's an easy, low-impact ride that's perfect for enjoying the scenery. Since the trail winds through neighborhoods, I saw a nice mix of families, casual riders, walkers, runners. Everyone seemed to have plenty of room to enjoy the trail. This is definitely a trail I'll be riding again. A great place for riders of all skill levels. If you're looking for a scenic, peaceful ride that's easy to access and enjoyable for the whole family, Big Creek Greenway is absolutely worth checking out.

I had the pleasure of visiting this trail that is part of the Big Creek Greenway, Cumming…read more Well-paved & maintained, this trail is suitable for people of all ages. Although it was pretty crowded on a Monday evening, the walk was very peaceful among trees with lots of shade. Great for walking your dogs, biking, jogging or simply a quiet evening walk. The creek that crosses the trail offers a refreshing break in between walks. With all the below-mentioned amenities, this is one of the best trailheads that I've been to so far in Georgia. Amenities offered: Wheelchair accessible parking & restrooms, vending machine, picnic benches, drinking water fountain, pet waste stations, park benches, free parking lot

Very nice trail with good parking availability. Family and dog friendly. Unpaved with plenty of…read morechange in topography, not too strenuous and definitely not flat. Good for young kids (but no strollers) and adults of all ages. Nice views along the lake and from up above. Clean and well maintained. Multiple loops means you can make your hike as long or as short as you like. Everyone, bikers and those on foot, were friendly and shared the trail with no problem. I recommend this trail for everyone!

Charleston is an impressive Gainesville park, on the lake. There are miles and miles or mountain…read morebike and hiking trails. Great place to get outdoors and spend a few hours in nature! There is ample parking and restrooms.

Bowmans Island at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a nice little escape if…read moreyou're looking for a quiet hike with plenty of water views. Parking is easy to find, with enough space for at least 75 cars, including spots near what looks like a boat ramp. It costs $8 for the whole day, which isn't bad if you plan to stay a while. Fishing seems to be the main attraction here. There were plenty of folks (kids and adults alike) either in boats or lined up along the shore, casting their fishing lines off the bank. The trails are mostly easy to moderate, but there are a few steep, narrow spots where you'll need to watch your footing. I walked about 3.5 miles with a hiking group, following a loop that winds through the trees and offers a mix of open views and shaded paths. There are some benches along the way if you need a break. Bathrooms are available, which is always a plus, and there's a lot of green space. But honestly, I wouldn't recommend spreading out a blanket for a picnic as the ground is littered with dog poop, despite the big "no dogs" sign at the entrance. It's about an hour's drive from Atlanta, with the last few miles on Buford Dam Highway being steep and winding. The park wasn't overly crowded when I went, but there were a good number of people fishing or tubing. If you're looking for a peaceful walk by the water and don't mind stepping around a few messes, it's worth checking out.

Plenty of parking. Trails in plenty of places to explore . Replace to take the family for picnic…read moreand grilling.

A hidden staycation opportunity that flies under the radar. Known for their boating and lake…read moreactivities but the other side offers a relaxed environment. Lodge/hotel lodging with spacious rooms with the treat of a Keurig in each room. A truly heated pool with poolside service or indoor or patio eating. Onsite restaurant with outdoor lake views offering buffet breakfast and menu dinners. A coffee nook offering fresh coffee/lattes along with patries. The topper is an onsite spa. Plenty of options on the property with golf, pickle ball, game room and water park.

I'm very surprised Lake Lanier has so few reviews. After all, it was one of the water sport venues…read moreof the 1996 Olympics, one of the most popular summertime destinations in the state. Most any warm season holiday is celebrated at Lake Lanier making it a popular place for vacation rental homes. Here you can go boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, golfing, as well as experience a fabulous fireworks show in the summer or Christmas lights and snow sleds in the winter. There is a spa, a beach, a waterpark, a luxury resort and good times @ Margaritaville. You can rent jet skis, go horseback riding, charter a fishing boat, rent a house boat, go camping or take a hot air balloon ride nearby. It was created by the completion of Buford Dam on the Chattahoochee River in 1956, and named for Confederate Army poet Sidney Lanier. Its primary purpose was for flood control and water supplies and has a water volume of about 1,049,400 acre-ft. The narrative will tell you its construction destroyed more than 50,000 acres of farmland and displaced more than 250 families, 15 businesses, and relocated 20 cemeteries along with their corpses in the process. But I want to pause here and dive a little deeper under the surface of its waters and introduce you to: [ OSCARVILLE, GEORGIA ] "The truth is rarely pure and never simple." ― Oscar Wilde Lake Lanier is partially located in Forsyth county. It is a county that prided itself on not having black residence so much that Oprah came to film an episode of her Emmy Award-winning talk show here in 1987 (trigger warning): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WErjPmFulQ0 The show makes mention that "no black person had lived in the county for 75 years", which was a direct reference to a predominantly African-American community known as Oscarville. It was home to 1,100 black people prior to a racial conflict in 1912 which was so brutally violent that it caused blacks to flee the county... even those who were landowners. "According to Elliot Jaspin, a historian and journalist quoted by the Digital Library of Georgia and the New Georgia Encyclopedia, only about 24 of the nearly 40 Black landowners in Forsyth County at the time were able to sell their land. The other properties have no record of sale, and some believe the abandoned land was simply taken by White residents." - The Times Oscarville began as a small farming town around 1870, but after so many fled the county in 1912, it was practically a ghost town. Those still claiming ownership of their land either had it seized or were "asked" to to forfeit their land to build the Buford Dam by Newport Dam Development according to an article published on April 6, 2021 by The Signal. Prior to the violence, Oscarville was actually known for its agricultural prowess in fighting off the boll weevil infestation that hindered many farm crops and enriching the soil with chicken feces. A technique that has been duplicated to this day to revive poor farming/gardening soil. "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." ― Aldous Huxley [ MUST WATCH ] Link to Oscarville | The Town Submerged by Lake Lanier (Intrigued Mind): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifMKfBO_R6s [ FINAL THOUGHTS ] Lake Lanier is a beautiful lake and a rich resource for Atlanta. It provides approx. 70% of the drinking water for Metro Atlanta as well as power, recreation and businesses. But there is more than what meets the eye as you look across its glistening surface. An entire town is buried by its waters and has been nearly forgotten, and the hard truth is this is not an isolated story. There are several other towns across the country who suffered the same fate. They include: Kowaliga (Benson), Alabama Seneca Village In New York City Susannah, Alabama and Vanport, Oregon The story of Lake Lanier and Oscarville will be featured in an upcoming TV series called Oscarville - Below the Surface. Here is the link to the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVux8Y96cok Thanks for reading. 2022 / 59 #BlackHistorySeries

The park itself is great. There is a bike trail, and there are multiple good kid parts. It is very…read moredog friendly. You should like, totally go there. It is totes adorbs. Highly recommend. Bobby Yoe, OUT.

I love this newer park. It has a great hiking/biking trail that is somewhat challenging. Lots of…read moretrees and plenty of shade. I have seen a wide variety of birds and other wildlife here. It can go from empty to very busy in under an hour. Please get some recycling going at this park. There's a lot of plastic and garbage out on the backside of the trail. This park is a place that should be highly recommended in my opinion. It also has some unique play structures for little kids.

We always stop here when we visit family. This place has everything from great views of the lake,…read moresunsets, if you are lucky enough you can see rainbows, trails, swimming to boats! Honestly, you can spend an entire day here and will be asking to return the next day.

Nice little park near Lake Lanier dam. Lots of pavilions, park benches and grilling stations. You…read morecan spend an entire day here. Plenty of parking, but you have to pay a small fee at the entrance.....I think it's $4.00 for cars. During summer time, this park gets really busy and crowded....obviously very noisy too, as kids are running around and having fun in the water. This place is not too far from my place, so early mornings, especially on weekends, I come over here, with my comfy chair, a nice cup of coffee and something to read. Nice, very clean and beautiful place. There are several boat rental companies, with small and large boats, ski jets and all other kind of fun stuff. Highly recommended!

The kids and other parents had an amazing time! My…read moreexpectations were definitely exceeded, Thank you

Here fishy fishy fishy…read more.. I am so glad to have found this place and I hope you will take the trip out to enjoy this facility as well. This is a trout hatchery. It rears about 75,000 trouts for the rivers and lakes in Georgia. Try to come on a Saturday, as they have a tour starting at 1pm. The kids loved the tour. This is up and close to the fish and they even get to feed the fish. The fishes goes into a frenzy.. and so do the kids In addition, they have a family fishing pond. Its a small pond and its is stocked with a LOT of fish. A fantastic way to get little ones hooked on fishing. The fish will bite and you will catch a fish very quickly... there was a LOT of squeals of delight when a kid hooks a live one. You can bring your own gear, ( hook#6 , bread + hotdogs) or use their free loaner poles. The area is well shaded, with benches and picnic tables. Truly awesome for the little ones.. you can hook a fish in 15-20 mins..