by Ann E. Smith

Created on: November 03, 2008   Last Updated: November 16, 2010

Atlanta is a diverse Southern city with relatively mild weather, so it is a great place for fall activities. The city offers both outdoor and indoor options, and here are just a few ideas.

Piedmont Park. A public park since 1904, this scenic landmark is located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. There are numerous winding paths at the park that are open to walkers, joggers, roller bladers and casual cyclists. The park features fields for volleyball and soccer, and it also has public tennis courts. There is even a dedicated dog park for your furry friends. The park can provide hours of family entertainment, and it's also great for a romantic walk or people watching.

Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain is located a few miles from downtown Atlanta, and it is one of the city's most visited destinations by both tourists and locals. This gigantic park features over 3,000 acres of natural land, including Stone Mountain itself, which can be easily hiked. The park features a sky lift as well as a train ride and lots of other activities for you and your family.

Shopping. Atlanta features countless shopping facilities, including several premiere outlet malls. The fall is a great time to shop in some of the malls that require walking outdoors from one store to another. What a great way to get holiday shopping done early.

Georgia Aquarium. Located downtown, this is the world's largest aquarium with "eight million gallons of fresh and marine water". While manageable, the lines can be a bit long so fall is a good time to go. That way, you can enjoy the weather while waiting to enter this magnificent facility.

Running. Atlanta offers many scenic places to go for a jog, including paved paths at Piedmont Park and Chastain Park, as well as various scenic neighborhoods such as Morningside or Inman. Atlanta is known as being a running-friendly city, and it offers some nice hills.

Music venues. It's always great to hear live music, but the fall is especially inviting for that. Atlanta offers a wide variety of music venues, including the charming outdoor amphitheatre at Chastain Park. Other popular spots are Philips Arena and the Tabernacle.

Virginia-Highland. This classic Atlanta neighborhood offers numerous restaurants, cafes and boutique shops. Window shopping and grabbing a bite to eat is a perfect way to spend a fall afternoon.

Football. Southerners love college football. It's almost a religion! So if in Atlanta during the fall football season, consider going to a college game at Georgia Tech or visiting a sports bar to route on your team. If you are into professional football, you may want to catch an Atlanta Falcons game.

Outdoor festivals. Atlanta hosts its fair share of outdoor festivals, where local artists and musicians showcase their talent.

These are but a few ways to enjoy some free time in Atlanta during the fall. This season is such a nice time of year, and you can certainly make the most of it in Atlanta.

Learn more about this author, Ann E. Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.