Located within historic downtown Ball Ground this little hidden gem is a true oasis from the hustle…read moreand bustle of city life. Situated on 15 acres of pristine land it features a playground, 2 picnic pavilion and a duck pond. There is also a stage area for public performance. For more information https://cityofballground.com/parks-department/ The duck pond is especially charming being that the ducks are people friendly. Not sure if they allow you to feed them ....The geese here are quite a character. When I was here with my friend she accidentally said out loud that ducks are cuter than geese. Well one of them took to chasing her for a bit for her slip of the tongue....serves her right.... I've also used their restroom facilities a couple of times before when I was in the area. Very clean and very well maintained..... A great addition to this charming little town that I hope will remain small and quaint. 1277th review 3/18/2018 197th for 2018

Edge of the World is a great nearby walking trail that winds along Amicalola Creek. The trail is…read moremostly easy, with a mix of wooden walkways (watch out for a few holes) and dirt paths. There are also a few side trails that climb up the mountain if you're looking for a bit more of a challenge (including dodging Joro spiders!). The small waterfalls are beautiful, and the cool creek water is perfect for dipping your feet in on a warm day.

Loved the Edge of the World! All I could think in my head was the song, it's the end of the world…read moreas we know it, & I feel fine. The Edge of the World is a landscape we never see. It was semi difficult hike just because we live in Florida and use to live in Illinois (AKA Flatland), but we did it. The easiest way to this is from the parking lot, walk to the left and walk down the stairs. Keep walking on the boardwalk and watch for holes in the boardwalk. When the boardwalk is done, keep walking and then you will come to trees, the trees have steps made from the trees, & carefully watch your step and go down. I actually scooted my butt down and then climbed the tree steps. It was not bad, just something I'm not accustomed to. You will see the water and rocks moving and it is just so beautiful. People walk through and sit in the water and take pics. Be careful when you walk through it can be slippery. We had water shoes. Water is so refreshing. We actually walked the long way, which is walking to the right of the parking lot to the start of the boardwalk. We didn't want to walk down the stairs bc they looked pretty steep. It really is amazing. I'd say you will be here about an hour or two. Parking is free and there are a bunch of signs you need a fishing license. Which we don't have. We just parked And walked!

Amazing park with great walking and bike trails along the Etowah River. This is a great place to…read morebring and walk your dogs or yourself. The trails drift between flowering trees that hold plaques indicating their type. It's an adventurous park where kids can come play at the playground. The open fields are great for picnics, soccer or a fun game of freezbie. Find your adventure at the park and enjoy many of the little surprises it has hidden amongst the trails and trees. This park is also the location for fairs, live music on the outdoor stage, and vendor events. This park has plenty of fun.

What a beautiful park with so much to see and do. I'm pretty much a regular here so it's a long…read moreover due review. Etowah River park is huge! With many different activities to do. You can start with the 1/2 mile oval and completely level walking, jogging or running path. It has multiple covered rest benches and a big open middle for activities like kite flying or frisbee. Then cross the bridge to a few miles of trails surrounded by trees flowers and local wildlife. There is also a canoe launch for access to the Etowah River. The park also has an amphitheater that hosts local bands and other activities. Two brand new playgrounds for the little ones, very clean restrooms and some nice pavilions with picnic tables make this a very nice place for family outings. A 58 acre park that connects to other parks and trails makes this a 5 star place for almost any activity. Well done Canton. Another feather in you cap.

Visited today on a spectacular spring day (happened to be Earth Day.) The sky was so blue, the…read morebirds were singing, and the gardens were bursting with color. My favorite part of the gardens is the Japanese garden with its countless deep red Japanese maples, reflecting pools, shaded benches for contemplating the gardens' beauty. It's a beautiful place to take a stroll and have lunch in the shaded outdoor dining area next to the sandwich shed. Sandwiches are delicious, prepared by the fabulous Home Restaurant in the area. Make a day of it! Bring your book, have some lunch, and walk the gardens for a peaceful day out in nature.

There are plenty of parking spaces, you will see guides to lead your car to available spot…read more Currently tulips are off from its peak season, you can still see some, daffodils are in full bloom, also the azaleas are poised to burst forth at any moment. With weak or no cellular signal or Wi-Fi available within the gardens, visitors can pay full attention on admiring the beauty of nature. The gardens occupies total of 376 acres, featuring over 250 acres of landscaped gardens divided into several distinct sections: the Japanese Gardens, the Monet Waterlily Gardens, the Daffodil Gardens, and the Manor Gardens. The Japanese Gardens occupy a central position within the estate, covering 40 acres and featuring streams, ponds, miniature islands, small bridges, and Japanese maples. As one strolls through this section, one can deeply contemplate the core tenets of Japanese aesthetics: *Mono no aware* (物の哀れ the pathos of things), *Wabi-sabi* (侘寂 Wabi-austere beauty and sabi -rustic patina or beauty in aging), and *Yūgen* (幽玄 profound and mysterious grace and subtleness rather than obvious beauty. mystery). *Mono no aware* is certainly palpable here; the seasonal colors are vivid, yet most of the tulips have already faded. However, visitors do not see the withered blooms, as they are swiftly cleared away. This practice is, in fact, an authentic element of Japanese aesthetics--one that does not seek to deliberately pander to visitors. After all, imperfection and impermanence inevitably evoke a sense of melancholy, which lies at the very heart of Japanese aesthetic philosophy. As for *Wabi-sabi* and *Yūgen*, they are subtly woven into every detail of the landscape, inseparable from the whole. I could sense the garden's inherent simplicity and minimalism--its use of "negative space" and evocative atmosphere--such as the circular stone steps leading into the lake, only to come to an abrupt stop. Is it perhaps an example of the essence of sudden enlightenment found in Buddhist philosophy? Throughout the gardens, various Japanese-style shrines and stone lanterns are scattered everywhere, exuding that distinct aura of ethereal elegance and profound tranquility characteristic of traditional Japanese gardens. The floral plantings are meticulously designed to rotate with the changing seasons: spring brings a display of tulips and daffodils; summer features water lilies--specifically in the "Monet Water Lily Garden," which boasts 140 varieties of lilies and a replica of Monet's bridge; and autumn offers a vibrant tapestry of colorful foliage alongside sweeping fields of Sulfur Cosmos wildflowers. I visited the Butchart Gardens in Victoria over 30 years ago--a truly stunning garden that, at the time, was awash with tulips. In terms of sheer size, Gibbs Gardens is more than six times larger than Butchart Gardens.

I had the pleasure of visiting this trail that is part of the Big Creek Greenway, Cumming…read more Well-paved & maintained, this trail is suitable for people of all ages. Although it was pretty crowded on a Monday evening, the walk was very peaceful among trees with lots of shade. Great for walking your dogs, biking, jogging or simply a quiet evening walk. The creek that crosses the trail offers a refreshing break in between walks. With all the below-mentioned amenities, this is one of the best trailheads that I've been to so far in Georgia. Amenities offered: Wheelchair accessible parking & restrooms, vending machine, picnic benches, drinking water fountain, pet waste stations, park benches, free parking lot

Great trail to walk or ride bikes. Awesome stroll down a creek side greenway. Trail ends at a…read moreshopping center which is a great place to grab lunch before returning to the trail.

Relatively easy hiking trail to a waterfall in the Cherry Log/Blue Ridge area. Kids as young as 3…read morecan walk the trail. It's a pretty short trail to the waterfall approximately 1/2 mile. The cell service is poor getting to the trail so map it out before hand. Along the trail you will see a Glamping camp, which is very cute. Definitely would recommend as a family outing.

I was finally able to get some lite hiking in. Fall Branch Falls was the perfect trail to get back…read moreinto it. All the Yelp Reviews are pretty spot on and all agree. A nice moderate trail deep in the woods, which I liked because the shade kept everything a little cooler. The trail is very easy to follow and not overly long. Caution needs to be taken as there are many tree roots extending above the ground and could easily cause a trip. Careful is key. A rise in elevation of approximately 300 feet over half a mile makes it a decent cardio walk. With many different trees, plants and flowers along the way. All culminating with a beautiful waterfall. Note: depending on the season and amount of rain will determine the amount of water coming over the falls. Two minor items that need to be corrected. 1. Yelp has the wrong address (or pin drop) I'm not sure which. Not even close. 6 more miles down a gravel road to be exact. I'll try and fix that. 2. Not one sign or directional indicating you're are heading in the right direction. But other than that a very enjoyable experience.

I recently ran from Woody Gap trailhead to the top of Blood Mountain and back for the first time…read morewhich totaled around 16.5 miles round trip. It is a very beautiful section to hike, run and/ or camp on! Along the route you will pass over Preachers Rock! This is one of the best spots to watch sunrise if you're able to get up there before it begins! It is just over a mile from the parking lot of Woody Gap to the top of Preachers Rock. Along the route to Blood Mountain you will pass several designated camping spots (free to camp, first come first serve). I have yet to camp on this section, but I've picked a couple spots to try out next time! There are 3 water crossings along the route that you can fill up at; just make sure to filter the water before you drink it. I recommend bringing a Sawyer Mini water filter. It fits into the palm of your hands, so it doesn't take up any room in your pack. The trail itself is very easy to follow. I was a little nervous at first that I may get off course or take a wrong turn/ trail, but I can assure you that there is only one main trail that runs from Woody to Blood. There are some side trails that intersect, BUT they either lead to campsites or shelters. As long as you stay on the main trail, it is hard to get lost! I can't wait to go Bach again and run from Woody Gap to Neel Gap which will be around 20 miles round trip.

It was a 30 minute hike and worth it because the view is beautiful! It's a little steep towards the…read moreend but it's doable.

This is a perfect location for a photoshoot! The parking can be a bit challenging but once you find…read morea spot, you will be able to enjoy the grounds. The bridge and river were picturesque. The waterfall was a popular place to be, as families swam, picnicked, and soaked their feet in the water. It was beyond crowded, so it might help to get there earlier. If you have anyone elderly or injured, you may want to be mindful of the steep hills leading to and from the waterfall- assistance might be needed. A nice place to have a family outing.

Beautiful park, very peaceful. The water is clear and very zen place to be. Many families and hikersread more

It was built in 1820 and has a pretty interesting history that you can read about on the sign…read more Very cool bridge that makes for a great photo opportunity. I've seen people do engagement shoots, family photos, etc on the bridge as well as over on the rocks. We have not done photos here we just come here to explore the area and let the kiddos run out some of their energy. They like to run back and forth on the bridge and play on the rocks as well as explore the playground.

This park is a little off of the beaten path. It is really scenic and worth the effort to get to…read more I went on a day that was a dreary, but the upside was that nobody else was there. The rain also made the little falls rush a little bit more dramatically. The main attraction is the now covered with graffiti bridge. Historical and full of vibe. The trails are not that long but if you go all the way around you will be able to get some cardio. I think that you could sit and get some inspiration here, if your that type of person. I would recommend checking this place out at least once.

Well the wife is out of town and then the boy will play? LOL…read more When I mean play, I mean get the opportunity to do somethings that I have been meaning to do. I wanted to go back to hiking paths and climbing mountains, like i used to do when I lived in the Adirondack Mountains. Getting here was a bit of a challenge. The GPS was a little off, but following the car in front t of me helps a lot. They looked like a bunch of hikers due to the stickers all over their car... Arrival to the parking lot was all gravel. The trailhead had some signage which was incredibly helpful. I took several pictures of the map and the direction I wanted to go. Seeing on a map and reality are two different things. At least I had some marker points to refer and go by. Down over the bridge you are met with a steady uphill climb some switchbacks and some rocky terrains to go over. The first Awesome fixture was the Fatman Squeeze. A hulking boulder with some tight side paths to go up on both sides end up at the same place. Then venturing on to the gravel path which takes you to the cell towers. Once past that the. Looking for the sign that leads you to the overlook. There it was. Beautiful over look to the mountains in the area.since we were facing the south the real mountains could not be seen. Couple of things to share, need to remind people that the canopy can be stuffy and humid. Be prepared to sweat, a LOT. Isn't that why you came? To overcome this mountain challenge??! Bring water. If your dog is strong enough to climb, other than that this can be challenging for their paws and your back, if you have to carry. Make sure your shoes are tied on tight. There are a lot of roots and loose rocks that can make a day go bad if you are not paying attention. Tightly tied shoes will alleviate the shift in the ground. Most importantly. Take your time, pause, reflect. Love, appreciate. Sweat. Have a good time...

When a friend asked if I wanted to do some hiking at pine mountain, I said sure! I made my way…read morethere and after 20 minutes of looking I thought to myself, this place is big! It also didn't help that my friend was waiting at the west loop trail and I was near Allatoona dam. After getting myself situated, parking at the lot located off of komatsu drive se (access komatsu via E. Main Street right off of 75), we made our way up the west loop trail to get to the David G. Archer overlook. Don't get me wrong, there are miles of trails here at pine mountain, but from the parking lot to the overlook is just under 2 miles. It breaks down from the parking lot as follows (taken from the pine mountain Rec area trail system map): West trail head/parking to west loop - 0.18 mi West loop to summit overlook- 1.57 mi Summit overlook to David G. Archer summit - 0.16 mi The view at the top gives you a beautiful look at expansive greenery, with Allatoona lake visible (although more visible in the fall). During clear days you're able to see Atlanta and its skyline in the distance (keep in mind Atlanta is easily less than 50 miles away. From here, we turned around and went back to our cars, although if you want, you can continue on past the summit and hike down to the East trail. Trails are marked very well with blazes so you have to try to get lost (see photos for blaze colors). There's forest, outcrops, easy and huff/puff portions of the trails, but I don't think it's a hard hike by any means. Pet friendly hike that leads to a great view with as much trail as you're interested in challenging. Do yourself a favor and give pine mountain (not to be confused with pine mountain near Columbus, GA) a chance! I know I'll be back!