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.

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!

I lived in Tampa for six years and desire more than anything to get back down there to the tropical…read moreenvironment and just to enjoy the geographical layout with water all around me. However, I finally stumbled across a place in Georgia on Lake Lanier that gets me that type of serenity I'm looking for inland. Introducing Paradise Rental Boats at Port Royale! I googled this place and found it online and after researching decided to visit here on Memorial Day weekend! They had two options even during the busy holiday weekend; a brand-new pontoon boat or a jet ski. My girlfriend and I chose the pontoon boat and decided to invite her brother. Before arriving I completed a boat readiness test which was very easy but was a requirement to rent the boat. When we pulled up to the marina I was surprised to see that it was everything I was hoping for! There was a ramp down to the rental spot and it got me in the mood for the adventure that was about to transpire. Everything was clean and all the staff was dressed in matching uniforms and they explained everything in detail that left me with no confusion. The boat was brand new and have a great stereo on it! We chose to rent the pontoon boat for four hours and drove all the way out to Sunset Cove where there were many boats and lots of partying going on! We cruised around throughout the boats and felt fancy for a bit lol. After returning there was a really cool tiki hut bar and outdoor restaurant! Total cost for the boat rental was $266 which we split three ways for four hours. We had to fill up the gas tank which was only about $22. Highly, highly, highly recommend you go here and you'll probably see me out there every single weekend!

This place is really nice. They're very respectful and very helpful. Lots of nice boat selections .read more