The Best Parks In Atlanta GA

As one of the greenest big cities in the South, several unforgettable public parks permeate Atlanta’s urban landscape. From Buckhead to Midtown to Stone Mountain, the metro area has plenty of options to choose among. Whether it’s antebellum history or simply a few outdoor basketball courts you’re in search of, frequent these six picks and you won’t be disappointed.

1. Piedmont Park

Park, Swimming Pool

Piedmont Park

Piedmont Park is mammoth-sized and perfect for nearly any outdoor activity one could think of on a nice, sunny Atlanta weekend. Frisbee players, joggers, bikers, dog walkers, roller-blading maniacs, and simple catch players pepper the lush, grassy, rolling hills of Piedmont Park day in and day out. Paved trails cut through them and provide rich views of nearby Midtown skyscrapers. The basketball courts and swimming pool are just added bonuses. Luckily, Piedmont Park’s surrounding area is replete with ice cream shops and smoothie joints, all within walking distance.

Piedmont Park, 1342 Worchester Drive NE, Atlanta, GA, USA,+ 1 404 875 7275

2. Stone Mountain Park

Park, Natural Feature

Stone Mountain Park with Confederate carving in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This park is certifiably unique. Home to the world’s largest granite ‘monadnock,’ Stone Mountain, well… isn’t really a mountain, after all. This ‘Goliath’ hunk of rock is elevated 1,686 feet above sea level and equips visitors with a surreal view of Atlanta (and especially its skyline at night). Guests have the option of either walking the summit (which is a mostly gradual 1.3 mile trek) or taking a gondola. Carved into the side of the mountain are antebellum renderings of Confederate president Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson. The park is overflowing with rich Southern history.

3. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Memorial, Park

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park

Kennesaw Mountain was the site of a historic Civil War battle in which nearly 70,000 soldiers either died or fell prisoner to the Union Army, the victorious camp. Ubiquitously adorned with inscriptions and memorial plaques for the men who fought here so long ago, its trails and paths combine to stretch for dozens of miles. The park occupies nearly 3,000 acres and is in the Kennesaw area of metro Atlanta. Checking for parking and directions ahead of times is recommended as the park is often highly occupied during peak hours.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, 900 Kennesaw Mountain Drive, Kennesaw, GA, USA,+ 1 770 427 4686

Chastain Park is tucked away inside a mostly residential area of upper Buckhead, but humming with activity nonetheless. Local features surrounding the park itself include youth league baseball and football fields, community tennis courts, a neighborhood swimming pool, a private and elegant horse park, a public middle school, and the beautiful Galloway School. Don’t forget Chastain Park Amphitheatre – one of Atlanta’s best live music venues, without question. The park also has a scenic rolling golf course and several pathways, which cut in and around it. Individual pavilions and stone fire pits, perfect for family picnics, stretch as far as the eye can see.

Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA, + 1 404 233 2227

4. Centennial Olympic Park

Park

A keystone feature of Downtown Atlanta and one of the 1996 Olympics’ best physical keepsakes for memory, this 21-acre urban park can be found smack in the middle of the city’s heart. Keep an eye out for the dazzlingly lit fountains and interactive waterworks – but don’t fret – they’re nearly impossible to miss. The open, grassy area below the Olympic ring themed stonework often hosts concerts and live music shows, with names like Outkast and Dave Matthews Band. With about three million visitors per year, Centennial Olympic Park tops the must-visit list for Atlanta’s best attractions.

5. Grant Park

Park, Shop, Store, Zoo

Grant Park

Young Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) at Zoo Atlanta near downtown Atlanta, Georgia

For a park that’s slightly more on the mellow end of the spectrum, pleasant Grant Park (home to Zoo Atlanta) makes the best pick. The park is surrounded by placid greenery and small coffeehouses, many of which are the perfect place to read a book or simply relax. A few small fountains and plenty of oak trees make for a shady and tranquil visit. A short walk in virtually any direction from Grant Park will be certain to yield in a small new shop or store that you’re sure to appreciate.

Grant Park, 840 Cherokee Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA, USA, + 1 404 521 0938

By Richard Isaac Tulis

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.