We had a great hike this morning at Lullwater Park. Here's the best part: it's only 14 minutes…read morefrom our house. The gate off Clifton Road is blocked for cars, so we parked at Hahn Park off Houston Mill and walked in. It has the added advantage that you walk by the ruins of the actual mill and by the suspension pedestrian bridge over South Peachtree Creek. Lullwater itself is beautiful. Very friendly fellow hikers. We made one circuit around the lake and headed back to where we started. Technically you are supposed to have an Emory University if card to hike, but apparently no one has ever been stopped by Emory security. And be careful on the trail from Houston Mill to Lullwater: there's loads of poison ivy on both sides of the trail. Late at night while you're sleeping poison ivy comes a creeping all around. Take a snack and water. Lullwater has no facilities. But it is super well maintained by Emory.

What a great place to go for a walk, run, bike ride, fishing or just sitting and relaxing. Great…read morepond in the middle with all sorts of wildlife like turtles, cranes, deer and all sorts of other things. It's behind Emory and the President of tue university's home is in the park. Very. Pretty. Plenty of trials to explore - follow the creek all the way down Houston Mill and Hahn woods. In fact if you're driving Hahn woods is a good place to park as parking is not great anywhere around Lullwater. There is a deck that you can pay to park in at the Emory Clifton campus - that is the closest parking I believe.

I always love a park in the middle of the city. It's such a vibe…read more They had a small farmers market this day and that was a cute little stroll through. I do want to keep in mind that we went here a couple of months ago so it was super hot, but during the fall I can image it's delightful to sit and read a book and relax. There's chair swings looks over the lake, which is nice and plenty of walking to do.

Huge park that connects to the Atlanta Beltline and Ponce City Market!…read more This park is pretty big and offers a space to do various activities such as picnicking, leisure walk, and biking/scootering to name a few. I even saw a baseball field. I would just stay vigilant because there's a lot of bike riders who go fast on the walkways, so I wouldn't suggest wearing noise cancelling earphones. For parking, you can find some free street parking around.

Why didn't I discover this sooner it's a popular place for dogs, clean water, very chill and quiet.read more

A really nice spot to spend some time outdoors. The trails offer a good mix of easier sections and…read moremore challenging areas, so there's something for different activity levels. I especially enjoyed the quieter parts of the park and the scenery along the way. That said, navigating the entrance and getting around the property can be a little confusing, especially when it's busy. Overall, it's a worthwhile place to visit if you're looking for a peaceful outdoor experience with a bit of variety.

The park is great for kids, parking is easy, and the bathrooms are super close--roughly a 5-minute…read morewalk to the dam. The water is brown, so everything looks different than you'd expect, but it's still enjoyable.

Beautiful 'back spot' if you're up for checking a local gem nestled right off the drive up there ~…read moreGot hiking, trails, a lake with a view.. picnic spot, maybe even a little biking (just be mindful of those leaving their prints behind, too). "Mind your mess!" Respect out Earth Mother and please leave her as you originally found her ~ Leave some kind words on the community board for the next group of kids & kids-at-heart to foster and always share the beauty of our world and nature ~ *check down by the creek to the left and the ruins of the old water mill!*

Seeing OutKast come home to Centennial Olympic Park for #ATLast was genuinely one of the best…read morenights of my life. I had seen Big Boi solo before, but seeing him and André 3000 together in Atlanta, surrounded by the city and culture that produced them, was something else entirely. OutKast is sacred to me, and that weekend felt like an Atlanta hip-hop family reunion, with Future, Killer Mike, Sleepy Brown, 2 Chainz, and others turning the park into an extraordinary hometown celebration. The Friday night I attended felt like a Dungeon Family hit parade, and I'm very glad I was there for it. The whole weekend only deepened my affection for Atlanta. After Friday's show, we went to El Bar, where the late DJ Speakerfoxxx was absolutely killing it, and on Saturday we watched part of OutKast from a rooftop before heading to Terminal West to see a then-emerging Jungle, who sounded destined for superstardom from the first tune. Even the Coca-Cola presence beside the park felt perfectly Atlanta: an iconic global company woven right into the landscape of its hometown. What a trip, what a music city, and what a weekend. SALUTE.

I really wanted to explore this place more than I got to. When I was in town, the whole park was…read moreclosed to the public. Kind of a bummer, I would have loved to have walked the entirety of the park and not see it from the outside at certain intervals. We were told that it was closed off because they were doing repairs after the FIFA World Cup viewing parties. Not sure if this was true, but there was still FIFA props everywhere. What I was able to take in was from the perimeter. Every gate I was able to stop and peek in to figure out what was in each spot. From behind bars I was able to see a lot and figure out what was what. Would have been nice to actually walk through here and be on Olympic grounds kind of. It is beautiful to see, and it is huge. Maybe one day I will be able to take it all in.

Pro: If you're looking for a scenic hike near Atlanta, I highly recommend Sweetwater Creek State…read morePark. The park offers a perfect blend of nature, history, and adventure. The trails wind alongside beautiful rushing rapids, through shaded forests, and lead to the fascinating ruins of the historic New Manchester Mill, which dates back to the Civil War era. citeturn0search0turn0search2 The Red Trail is especially popular and provides stunning creek views with a relatively easy-to-moderate hike, while longer trails offer more of a challenge for experienced hikers. The sound of the water, rocky landscapes, and peaceful surroundings make it easy to forget you're only minutes from Atlanta. excellent destination for a day of hiking, picnicking, and making memories with friends. Con: Parking fees are $10 (gone are the $5 day) Also, the way you pay is...via link and it can be tricky & time consuming. You can go park anywhere in the park once you pay...you don't have to pay 2nd time.

We stayed in Atlanta for the weekend and we were craving a hiking trail on our last day. We spent…read moresome time trying to find the perfect spot that included water, medium hike, and close enough to the city to avoid adding another two hours to our trip back home to FL. This state park was a great find and only a 30 min drive from mid town. They had different trails for different levels of hiking. Our trail ran alongside the creek and we got to dip our legs in the water while others were swimming and tanning. If we weren't so tired we would have made a whole day of it!

I finally made it to Grant Park! I've driven by this park plenty of times and have even attempted…read moreto attend an event or two here, but parking always managed to derail my plans. Well, I finally figured out the secret: GET THERE EARLY! I arrived early for the Vegan Festival, and there was plenty of street parking. There's also parking near the zoo if you don't mind walking over to the festivities. Now that I know the layout and what to expect, I'll definitely be more prepared the next time I come. And I have to say, Grant Park is beautiful! I can see myself coming back even when there isn't an event happening. The Vegan Festival itself was a lot of fun. We checked out different vegan vendors, made bracelets, picked up some hair products, and of course, I had to get some food. I grabbed a vegan platter and a delicious lemonade, and my daughter decided to go her own route and got fish and shrimp. She said it was delicious! There were also some non-vegan food options at the festival. I personally didn't have an issue with it, although I know some people definitely did. One vegan vendor even said, "I'll give you $100 if you eat 10 chicken wings." And I'm like... WHAT?! It was a hot day. There weren't a ton of places to sit, so I would recommend bringing your own folding chair or something comfortable to sit on. The pool was open, the splash pad was open, and the courts were being used, so there was plenty going on beyond the festival. Overall, I had a great time. I enjoyed discovering Grant Park, meeting vendors, doing some crafts, eating good food, and just enjoying the day. I'll definitely be back to the park.

I haven't been to Grand Park or the Zoo in a very long time. I missed the market event today. But…read moremy grandbaby and I enjoyed the park anyway. We walked around people watching and hugging trees. Grant Park is a nice park to just chill and lay underneath the trees and read a book. And if your lucky you might hear the elephants.

Airport stop I first…read morechecked out this park years back during travels. It's amazing to see how the area has changed - all the new construction! Great walking paths, so many great photo opportunities, lots of steps! Well kept and close to the ponce market which I haven't had a change to check out yet.

This park is not far from the greenway trail and various other food and attractions. It includes…read moreboth a water park you can get in and some lakes which you cannot, as well as a variety of interweaving paths and plant life. The restrooms by the water features were a bit sketch, but functional, and there wasn't a whole lot else in the way of facilities. The rest of the park was pleasant enough to be worth a little detour, but not a prime destination in itself.

Nice park, very clean, has a small dog park as well. You can even feed the ducks!…read more I will agree that parking was tricky, but we just parked in one of the apartment building parking lots without issue.

Birthday boy requested a picnic for an intimate family celebration and he got that and more. Lenox…read morepark is definitely a hidden gem.

Glenwood Park is a mixed-use development which opened in 2005 in East Atlanta. If traveling from…read moredowntown on I-20 eastbound, Glenwood Park is just off exit 59B (Memorial Drive, Glenwood Avenue). If traveling westboard towards downtown, take exit 60 (US 23, Moreland Avenue). This low key neighborhood, sandwiched between Grant Park and East Atlanta Village, is sort of "hidden." I think if you asked the average metro Atlantan if they've heard of Glenwood Park, they'd probably say no. Glenwood Park opened the same year as Midtown's Atlantic Station. Like Atlantic Station, Glenwood Park is all about urban and sustainable living. Unlike Atlantic Station, Glenwood Park isn't big. It's relatively small at just under 30 acres in total size. It's a lot quieter and isn't as commercialized. The property feels more residential than anything with quiet streets and wide sidewalks with nicely manicured lawns. After about a decade of existence, the development still looks great. There's a park/greenspace with a picturesque pond and a beautiful fountain. The community collects almost two-million gallons of its own well water per year in order to irrigate the park and street trees. There's a community garden where residents can reserve plots filled with high quality, organic soil. There's a dog park, playground, and neighborhood pool. One courtyard features a little stone fountain and full-sized bocce ball court. The layout was designed with pedestrians in mind, though there's plenty of free street parking and parking lots located on the development. It's clean and feels safe. The Atlanta BeltLine runs through the neighborhood in a north-south line. Food-lovers probably know Glenwood Park because of its restaurants, Gunshow, The Shed at Glenwood, and Vickery's Bar & Grill. Local celebrity chef Kevin Gillespie opened Gunshow in 2013 with fellow chefs Andreas Muller and Joey Ward. It may very well be *the* best restaurant in Atlanta. It's certainly one of the most fun and unique with it's American-style dim sum. You can read my review of Gunshow here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/gunshow-atlanta-2?hrid=_Zvxkqv86FBPQtUBysU21Q. The Shed at Glenwood is a modern farm-to-table restaurant with seasonal fare. Vickery's, known for its cocktails and burgers, opened its second Atlanta location in Glenwood Park. Drip coffee shop also has a location here.

I'm not sure how to review a neighborhood but it shouldn't be too hard. This place is great -…read morebungalow style houses, flats, condos, townhomes and great neighbors. There are a handful of retail businesses on the south end of the neighborhood that we frequent and the usual smattering of intown amenities - proximity to downtown, Virginia Highland, Starlight Six Drive-In. You get the point. Since moving here in 2009 we have made so many good friends and really love where we live. There's a community garden, a pool/gym and a dedicated dog park free to residents (as of this writing). A brownfield redevelopment and product of Green Street properties, GWP is home to the 2005 Southern Living Idea House. Many of the homes are distinct in design, presentation and vary in style but all still flow together. Most lots are very small but we managed to eke out a wonderful front flower garden and transform the triangle shaped garden in the back into a treed and flowered sanctuary. We tried our hand at gardening in the community garden but the summer Atlanta sun and invasive weeds had us handily beat by mid July. In October each year, the Hotoberfest beer festival is held in and around the main park (now Brewer Park) drawing a few thousand people to the neighborhood. Less exciting but nearly as big a draw (maybe stretching here) is the annual garage sale. A handful of movies have been filmed here including the Blind Side and Hall Pass as is part of the Real Housewives of Atlanta (one of them lives here as of this writing). Like other neighborhoods that started mid real estate boom but not finished before the bang, there are empty lots, foreclosures and short sales. The last builder to get going has long ago gone out of business and a few independent developers have put up new homes but it remains to be seen if the original vision of Green Street and the first residents will be fulfilled. However, this remains a one-of-a-kind neighborhood south of I-20 and a great alternative to the stunning but prohibitively expensive homes in Morningside, Virginia Highland and the handful of other established intown neighborhoods. Being so close to everything available in Atlanta has spoiled us for going to festivals (Inman Park, Dogwood, Summerfest, Shade), the drive in and so much good food + drink in walking distance (you hear me $2 PBR at ten places I can walk to). The EAV and Grant Park are both short walks and great neighborhoods in and of themselves. The Zoo and Turner field are less than 3 miles away as are dozens of the best restaurants in Atlanta. The beltline trailhead is just across I-20 so you can walk off all the beer and carbs. Definitely kid friendly, we've seen at least six newborns arrive since we moved here. The little ones have a playground, a music class and no shortage of friends to grow up with. We will be adding our own in February 2012 so we're planning on being in Glenwood Park for the foreseeable future.