8 Amazing Outdoor Family Adventures

We dare you not to scream when you step off the platform at Historic Banning Mills in Whitesburg and zip over the trees on a Screaming Eagle Canopy Tour. Six levels of tours let you choose your adventure, but we suggest the Flight of the Falcon tour, which includes the 3,400-foot zip line where guests fly like Superman.

An exhilarating mix of outdoor fun, Nacoochee Adventures in Helen includes a half-mile zip line, sightseeing ATV tours, and a hair-raising freefall on a giant swing. Zip line canopy tours include a full-body harness and a specialized braking system that encourage riders to let go and truly savor the experience of flying wild through the trees.

Enjoy stunning scenery in the North Georgia mountains, zip line adventures, and some crazy fun suspension bridges as you hike through the trees at Amicalola Zip Lines with Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventures in Dawsonville. For the ultimate thrill, ride the 2,000-foot-long zip line that allows you to soar from one ridge to another hundreds of feet in the air.

At TreeTop Adventure at Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain, test yourself on a self-guided, in-air obstacle course comprised of 10 zip lines ranging from 44 to 700 feet long and 34 challenges created with ladders, wires, logs, discs, netting, and other suspended surfaces.

Go all out in Columbus and get your heart pumping with a free fall and zip line into Alabama on the Blue Heron Zipline Adventure Park, part of the adventure activities at Whitewater Express.

Experienced and novice riders have lots of room to push their limits on dirt bikes and ATVs at off-road parks in Georgia.

For beginners (age 16 and older) who would like a guided, scenic ride, head to Sunburst Adventures in Clarkesville. Choose an ATV or UTV, and follow a guide through a beautiful 5-mile loop of mountain terrain. Sunset tours are available, and four-seater UTVs are great for families with young children.

Just north of Dahlonega, Iron Mountain Park rents everything you need for the ultimate trail riding experience. Rent vehicles for two, four, or six passengers, or bring your own ATV/UTV, dirt bike, or SXS to ride more than 150 scenic routes that range from mild to wild.

At Off Road Adventures at Durhamtown in Union Point, Georgia, less than two hours east of Atlanta, riders can explore 150 miles of one-way trails, including pee wee, supercross, MX, a dirt drag strip, a dirt flat oval and a freestyle park. Want to stay for more than one day? They have cabins, tent sites, and full-hookup RV sites for your extended stay.

Learn the basics of archery and practice taking aim at archery ranges at Georgia State Parks. 

Panola Mountain State Park, located about 20 minutes outside of Atlanta, offers archery lessons on weekends. Bring a bow or use any of the compound bows available, and head to the standard or 3D ranges to test your skills.

At Unicoi State Park & Lodge in Helen, bring your own equipment to take aim at the static archery range, 3D archery range, and static air rifle range.

Georgia Veterans State Park & Resort in Cordele has a 4-acre archery and air gun range that is ADA accessible with wide concrete walkways and platforms. Routinely scheduled clinics for resort and campground guests are available.

Most people know about Six Flags Over Georgia theme park near Atlanta, but Georgia has another awesome theme park in the southwest corner of the state. Wild Adventures in Valdosta has roller coasters, a water park, and a safari, but it also has live music, seasonal events like Great Pumpkin LumiNights and Wild Adventures Christmas, and the adults’ playground, Water's Edge Brews & Bites. Ride, slide, and explore the 170-acre theme park, water park, and animal park all in one!

Located next to the Tallulah Gorge State Park and its five waterfalls, Tallulah Adventures features an outdoor climbing gym where you can go to practice your rock climbing skills and learn new ones. In addition to climbing the rock wall, you can choose from various weekly activities like art and music events to classes on bouldering and yoga. Then, kick back and relax with a cold beer and great food at The Edge Cafe.

Cyclists have plenty to explore in Georgia. From the coast to the mountains, scenic trails and paths offer hours of enjoyment whether you prefer leisurely rides or adrenaline-pumping adventures. 

St. Simons Island and nearby Jekyll Island have miles and miles of bike paths the whole family will enjoy. On St. Simons Island, you can pedal next to the ocean or to the airport to watch the planes take off and land. On Jekyll Island, explore the maritime forest or tour the historic district. 

The Atlanta BeltLine is built on former railroad paths and when complete, will be 22 miles of continuous paved paths circling Atlanta and connecting 45 neighborhoods. Shops and restaurants alongside the path offer refreshments and entertainment along the way. An added bonus: several playgrounds along the route keep kids engaged and entertained.

Surrounded by epic mountain bike trails rolling through the Cohutta Wilderness Area and Chattahoochee National Forest just two hours north of Atlanta, Mulberry Gap has everything a mountain biker needs for an awesome adventure. Rugged trails like Pinhoti, Bear Creek and Windy Gap are all easily accessible from the scenic mountain resort in Ellijay. 

Located eight miles south of downtown Atlanta, the Dick Lane Velodrome is a one-fifth of a mile and 36-degree banked concrete track for bicycle racing, set in historic East Point. This is the home of track cycling in Atlanta and the only place where cycling with NO BRAKES is considered fun! Catch exciting cycling action as racers reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour on bikes with one gear and no brakes.

Georgia is an ideal playground for those who like a variety of camping adventures, and many of the best spots to camp are near lakes and the coast, where fishing and watersports can fill your days.

If you prefer camping with extra amenities, Timberline Glamping at Lake Lanier, Lake Allatoona, and Clarks Hill Lake is a must-try. Choose from large safari tents and cozy bell tents to retro RVs so you can camp without bringing your own tent. You also get comfortable beds, air conditioning and heating, hammocks, fire pits, charcoal grill, and much more.

Situated on a wooded peninsula, Tugaloo State Park has campsites with spectacular views of 55,590-acre Lake Hartwell. Tent campers can choose between the developed campground or primitive sites located a short walk from the parking area. Or, you can choose to stay in yurts, which are made of wood and canvas and come with beds, futons, screened windows, and locking doors. During summer, the lake is a popular destination for swimming, water skiing, sailing, and boating.

On Cumberland Island, you can truly get away from it all without spending a fortune and sleep under the stars on one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands along the Atlantic Ocean. Campground options range from those with access to bathrooms, showers, and charging stations, to primitive sites that offer only clearings for tents. Once you've settled in, you're just a short walk to the pristine beach, trails through maritime forest, and historic sites. Follow these tips for How to Plan Your Best Camping Trip to Cumberland Island.

Waterfalls dot the landscape throughout North Georgia from Cloudland Canyon in the northwest to Toccoa Falls in the northeast.

Cloudland Canyon State Park waterfalls can be found by hiking deep into the heart of the canyon. Visitors who take the Waterfalls Trail are rewarded with the site of Cherokee Falls after a half-mile and then Hemlock Falls about a half-mile farther down the canyon. Be warned, it is a steep hike down to Hemlock Falls; 600 stairsteps one way.

Open to the public on select days, Lula Lake Land Trust in Lookout Mountain boasts plenty of epic photo ops, including two waterfalls cascading into turquoise water.

Anna Ruby Falls, formed by Curtis and York creeks, are local favorites in Helen. It is one of the most visited waterfalls in North Georgia. Hike the easy-to-moderate half-mile trail from the parking lot to the foot of the falls, and you just might agree. The 0.15-mile Lion's Eye interpretive trail near the visitor center and craft shop is available for persons with visual and physical disabilities.

An easily accessible 100-yard pathway leads to Toccoa Falls, a 186-foot, free-falling waterfall on the campus of Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa. It's one of the tallest free-falling waterfalls east of the Mississippi River - taller than Niagara Falls. Toccoa Falls is accessed through the gift shop, which is open daily. A nominal admission fee is collected in the gift shop.