It was the best 20 minutes of my life! The turtle was the best part, I wasn't the one who paid for…read moreit, so i don't know the price, but I'm sure it was affordable. Go see the turtle when you're there, or the snakes if you like snakes.

June 2021. Sandy Creek Nature Center in Athens, GA, is a hidden jewel in the area. They hold an…read moreeducation and visitors center where they feature reptiles, amphibians, exhibits and a library. They hold different activity programs for all ages. (More information on site or in their website) The main reason I ever visited is because they have beautiful wetland hiking trails that connect to other trails within the city and county such as Cook's trail and the North Oconee River Greenway trail but be aware because pets nor bikes are allowed in their trails. I personally enjoy their hiking trails because on a hot day you can enjoy a nice shade all the way but if it has recently rained be aware this is wetlands so bring shoes accordingly. Last, another reason I like hiking the Sandy Creek Nature Center wetlands trails is because you get to experience an active wildlife.

What an incredible local find. I literally just googled things to do with kids in Athens, GA. I was…read moreshocked first that it was free, so we traveled about 30 minutes from my daughters home. What a serene park, with a smaller zoo but was so nice. The tree coverage was perfect and it was a nice little journey into nature. There were bald eagles, owls, snakes, alligator, otter, red fox, and my favorite bears! I have never been so close to bears. The park is well kept and I was very impressed by the grounds. Nice little zoo takes about 30-45 minutes to walk through. Follow signs to park to see zoo signs. They also have a very nice public pool. This is a great spot for kiddos. This would be perfect for a picnic. And it's FREE! Very nice spot to visit.

Absolutely gorgeous park. We bring our dog here for walks around the pond and to go to the do park…read more The park is well maintained with plenty of trash cans throughout. The dog park is full of responsible owners, I've never had a problem here.

Wonderful morning on the trails for a group hike! We did two loops…read more The trails are well maintained and clearly marked. There are some inclines, making it a moderate hike. Several people enjoyed the sliding rocks and waterfall afterward. Great outing for family and/or friends .

On this rainy and chilly Sunday morning the park felt almost suspended in its own quiet, the kind…read moreof stillness you only get when the weather keeps everyone else home and you end up with the place to yourself. No one was camping or fishing or wandering the grounds (though I did see one park ranger pickup truck on patrol), which meant I had time with the real centerpiece of the park, the Watson Mill Covered Bridge, and the soft sound of the river underneath it carried farther than usual in the damp air. The bridge was built in 1885 by W. W. King, one of Georgia's most skilled nineteenth century bridge builders, and it remains the longest existing covered bridge in the state at 236 feet. It uses the Town lattice truss system, a design patented in 1820 that relies on a crisscross pattern of planks secured with wooden pegs, and Watson Mill is one of the best surviving examples of that method in the Southeast. The bridge once served the workers of the grist mill and sawmill that stood nearby, and it doubled as a community gathering place where people held picnics and even square dances. The Georgia Department of Transportation restored it in 1973, and the bridge became the anchor for the surrounding state park, which preserves both the structure and the landscape that supported it. The posted clearance was too low for my Sprinter van so I walked the length of the bridge instead, letting the boards creak underfoot and taking in the smell of wet timber that always feels older than the structure itself. There is no dedicated pedestrian lane, but the interior is wide enough that I could step to the side when a car approached, and the drivers moved slowly enough that it never felt unsafe. The combination of the rain, the quiet, and the long wooden tunnel made the whole experience feel like stepping back into the late nineteenth century for a few minutes. [Review 245 of 2026 - 942 in Georgia - 25434 overall]

We use to visit this place every weekend when the boys were younger. It was a great place to spend…read moretime together. The owner is terrific

This lake and man‑made beach have always been a great little getaway spot for my family. We've…read morevisited four times and always enjoyed it, but yesterday was a different experience. Yellow jacket bees had completely taken over the beach area, and I was stung. Because I'm allergic, I had to leave quickly to get Benadryl. Please look into this issue -- my family and I truly love this place and want to keep coming back.

Went on a hike on a rainy day, the trail was easy to navigate and surprisingly a good amount of…read morepeople were there. The bathrooms were AMAZING well stocked, stalls had toilet paper and are the cleanest park bathrooms I've seen in Georgia so far! There was plenty of parking I believe I paid $5 to park if it wasn't $5 it was $10 but it was well worth it. I'll be back to enjoy the beach, the rest of the park and more trails.

This park was beautiful. It is hilly in parts and the trails aren't marked well in my opinion. I…read moreenjoyed my walk overall and views.

Beautiful park...especially during fall foliage. Looks straight out of a movie. Tons of colors…read moreeverywhere. Really nice rest stops and benches with trees. Walking path isn't too difficult for those of us who may not be used to hiking. Tons of people walking on the trails as well...all ages. Recommend!

What a great Saturday morning - yoga, friends, and goats! Lots of goats!…read more I booked a class with Goat Yoga Georgia because of friend was teaching. I have been practicing yoga much more than usual, especially during the pandemic, and when things started opening up, I was eager to practice with a community. The location was easy to find with lots of parking available in an empty field. A porta-potty was available, if needed. Yoga mats were available to rent in case you were concerned about goats nibbling on yours or yours getting dirty. Helpers were available to help each participant find a spot for the day's practice. The practice started in a usual way with warm-ups and stretches. It was nice to be outdoors. After several minutes of stretching and warming up, the sound of bells filled the air. And in came several goats! The goats wore collars with bells - I assume it was so they didn't sneak up on anyone. They were curious and spent some time sniffing the practitioners. Helpers lured them around to everyone with tasty treats. Goats were happy to jump on backs and explore yoga bags. Helpers and neighbors all offered to take photos. At this point, I was still doing some yoga. Then, the baby goats arrived. I was done. No more yoga. Just goats. They were awesome. Let me clarify - lots of practitioners were doing yoga and interacting with goats. I was just really focused on the goats. I'll do better next time. And there will be a next time. 5 stars. Super fun! Thanks for a great day!

A wonderful experience! Great for team building. Clean goats, cute facilities, and overall a great…read moretime! Excellent venue for social events. Highly recommend!

Came here for a festival. Nice park! Clean and well taken care of. Nicely decorated seasonally…read more They have 2 large covered stages with great acoustic capabilities. Enjoyed the visit even late because it is lit up very nicely.