Chillin' in the ATL! I came through here camping in the…read morewoods in Atlanta- and loved it here! This place is out in the boonies, far enough where you can hear the nature and the wind whipping through the trees. I managed to score a great spot overlooking the lake. There wasn't really good access to the water where I was, it was a steep climb down to the waters' edge, but the spot was fantastically beautiful. It was covered in leaves but with lots of shade from trees still. There was a picnic table set up for us, a fire ring, and a BBQ grill. The park rangers were nice, and the place felt well patrolled. The showers were clean and the facilities were nice. I really appreciated camping here! There was so much nature- including deer and armadillos! I'd certainly return!

Atlanta State Park is a nice park with good hikes. The largest number of people were gathered in…read moredifferent spots on the lakefront of Atlanta State Park. I enjoyed the hikes and was by myself for the most part on the trails. The Volksmarch Trail was probably my favorite.

Looking for a place to hike? Bike? Kayak? Bird? Bring horses for a trail ride?…read moreThis is it. Several marked trails, about 65 miles of paved and unpaved roads with old concrete ruins rising out of the forest. This was once the Longhorn Ammunition Plant and has a lot of history that you can read about in the visitor center (if you can find it!). The visitor center is behind the Refuge offices. Take the first right after you enter the gates, then the first left to find it.

This was a great find by accident. We found out about it while at the state park and it was…read moredefinitely worth the stop. It is an old army ammunition factory that was turned over to the wildlife and fisheries department. Shells of some of the old buildings still stand. Lots of birds and wildlife, but very, very few people.

Buituful scenery park staff is super kind and the shower facilities are really really awesome…read more This place is so peaceful I love it there!!

Good park the fishing is not that good I think it's over fished good to walk and swim.read more

This place is surreal. Extremely peaceful and well worth the drive. We stopped here on the way back…read morefrom Mississippi to take some pictures of the trees. The admission to the park is really affordable (like $4 per adult) and free for prior military. They have cute little cabins for rent and even canoes if you'd like to paddle around the lake. This place is a great day trip from DFW.

Awesome park Great…read moresites Lovely trees and water Nice park employees Canoes Boat ramps Hiking trails

I go here to trail run. The main walking trail runs out to the lake and is about two miles out and…read moreback. The lake views by the spillway are worth the hike which is entirely wooded so that helps tremendously with the summer heat. Its very easy walking and I've even seen people on motorized skateboards. There are biking trails also but hiking/running them is permitted if you go against the bike traffic. These are pretty hilly and narrow and you need to watch your footing and listen for bikers if you're on foot. The trails overall are a blast to hike and run. Depending on which bike trail you take it is two or four miles. Whether you take a bike trail or the main trail once you get to the spillway you can keep following the trail which runs through the woods, around the golf course and dumps you out onto University Blvd about a mile and some change west of the park. That route including getting back to the parking lot is about six miles. There is also back road I believe that gets you close to the spill way if you don't want to hike.

Great park! I went to the east side. There was a play structure, swings, a trail, a deck leading to…read morethe lake, a hiking trail, picnic tables, drinking fountains, and restrooms.

Crater of Diamonds State Park is one of my favorite places to visit. We've traveled from Florida…read moretwice just to come here, and even made a third stop on our way home from our vacation out west - and we've still never found a diamond. Yet I would come back again and again. There's something incredibly therapeutic about the thrill of the hunt and the possibility that the next scoop of dirt could contain something amazing. It's not really about what you find - it's about the experience, the hope, and the adventure. The people here are also some of the kindest you'll meet. Everyone is searching for their own treasure, but they're genuinely excited when someone else makes a discovery. It creates a welcoming atmosphere where people get along, share stories, and celebrate each other's successes. If this place were closer to home, I'd probably spend at least one day every weekend here - maybe all of them. It's a fabulous escape and a special place that keeps calling me back, whether I find a diamond or not.

This was one of the highlights of our Arkansas trip while visiting family from our Florida home…read morebase. For anyone unfamiliar, this is the only diamond mine in the world open to the public where you can actually keep what you find. Some surprisingly large diamonds have been discovered here over the years, so there's always that tiny bit of hope that keeps you searching. What surprised me most was the layout. For some reason I expected caves or mining tunnels, but it's actually a huge open field where visitors search, dig, sift, and surface hunt. We paid $45 total admission for 3 people and thankfully already had equipment provided by our rental house (checkout Punkin's place in Murfreesboro, Arkansas on Airbnb) because you can absolutely spend extra renting tools onsite if needed. We started with wet sifting before moving into dry and surface searching. There were a few muddy sections from recent rain, but overall the conditions were great during our May visit. Slightly overcast skies with an occasional drizzle made the weather perfect for being outside. I honestly can't imagine doing this in the middle of a blazing hot summer afternoon. I had read reviews from people saying they left exhausted, but we approached it a little differently due to some back and shoulder limitations. We worked smart, paced ourselves, and still had a fantastic time. We didn't find diamonds that day, but we did leave with some beautiful rocks and a really fun experience. We would absolutely do this again!

The refuge is the perfect spot for a walk, hike, run, or biking adventure! Each of the trails offer…read morea different perspective of the refuge and there's amazing birds and wildlife that you could see along the way! I love taking my puppy here to hike and enjoy the lake and river. It is pet and kid friendly! Please sign in at the visitors center when you first come! Signatures keep the refuge open and able to enjoy :)

The walking trails are very nice and I really liked the sitting areas overlooking the water. Every…read moretime I go the little place to go into with all the habitat information is closed but it looks interesting. Parking is good and the location isn't bad.

It's really quite lovely! It's always very clean and definitely worth stopping in. The only bummer…read moreis now that they charge you to stop and park even if it's for 10 minutes

Friends trail Great trail! Easy path to follow, roots and…read morerocks make it unstable for any stroller or wheels. Clean area, the river is beautiful! The path also leads up to a cliff area. Must stop and walk when town. Our 2 year old followed us everywhere on the trail.

I first heard about Mineola years ago when I came here for a yoga retreat on my birthday. This is a…read moretown you would never expect has its own charm to it. Since then it holds a special place in my heart! Love that they have a nature preserve to showcase the beauty that is east Texas. If you are seeking quiet and serenity and all the nature views come here. Lots of options as well in the area if you are looking to hike or run. Also not too far from Tyler State Park but this is lovely if you are looking for something more on the smaller scale. Check online for hours of the park. They do events here as well. Awesome views to catch the sunrise. And best of all not too far of a drive from DFW if you are seeking a little oasis of a place. Take pics and enjoy.

Such a beautiful place to walk around, I would just be careful since there are snakes and…read morealligators.