by Rick Robinson

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: July 31, 2009

A few miles northeast of Atlanta, GA is a little gem that will bring a smile to your face. Stone Mountain is an amazing 3,000 acres of camping, golf, swimming, laser light shows, ferry rides, hiking, bike riding and any other outdoor activity that you may like. Last year my wife and I decided to camp on the lake at Stone Mountain after spending a week in the Smoky Mountains. We reserved a campsite on the lake and pitched a tent. We then went to the local store and bought steaks, drinks, and all the goodies for the next couple of days. Each campsite area has a charcoal grill, water hookup, and nearby bathrooms with showers. There were only a handful of campers in our area and many and all were families. It was May so it was warming up a bit during the day but never reached a "hot" temperature. As the sun started to set, a coolness settled over the lake and so we lit the charcoals and began grilling. The smell of sizzling rib eyes mixed with the earthy smell of nature really put us in a wonderful place. It was a clear and cool night on the lake with family, food, and the outdoors. Being amateurs at camping, we really didn't know what to expect so this was a great start.

The next day we awoke to a nice sunrise and decided to head out on the bikes. The loop around the park is long but it's flat and very enjoyable. We made our way back to the campsite then decided to get really adventurous. At Stone Mountain there are two ways to get to the top, tram or hike. We chose the hiking method and it was a blast. For a couple that doesn't do much hiking it was a little challenging but well worth the view. We had finished something together that we could always talk about every time we return.

At night during certain times of the year, Stone Mountain puts on a magnificent laser light show. This is not to be missed! We took the ferry from the campsite to the huge lawn that looks up to the mountain. On the face of the mountain is a bas relief carving of Robert E. Lee and other Confederate soldiers. The laser light show outlines these figures then gives a patriotic show that you will never forget.

So, next time you head out on vacation and you pass through Atlanta, stop by Stone Mountain even for a day and you will be very pleased.

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