Redwood Creek: Top 25 Picnic Destinations

		STONE MOUNTAIN PARK: Atlanta Peach
		THE SETTING Located only 26 miles from downtown Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park is an ideal weekend retreat. The park's claim to fame is the magnificent Confederate Memorial Carving, a three-acre surface depicting Civil War Confederate figures Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The world's largest mass of exposed granite, Stone Mountain itself stands 825 feet tall and covers 583 acres. But the park, which began as an underground molten eruption 300 million years ago, has much more to offer within its 3,200 acres, from breathtaking forestland and nature trails to pristine lakes and spectacular flora. Stone Mountain has two main public picnic areas: the Triangle, located between the Railroad parking lot and the Antique Car and Treasure museum, and the Studdard picnic spot, just across from the riverboat complex. Either setting is perfect for a relaxing summertime lunch in the great outdoors.
		WHAT TO SEE AND DO After picnicking, you'll find the park's beautiful open spaces are ideal for Frisbee tossing and kite flying. Fifteen miles of nature paths are perfect for a scenic walk or jog. If you'd like to rough it a little, visit the 441-site Family Campground, featuring lakeside tent and RV sites complete with electrical hook-ups and running water. The park also boasts a golf course, pedal boats, a tennis center, swimming beach and several waterslides. Other attractions include the Mountaintop Skylift, Stone Mountain Railroad, Paddlewheel Riverboat, Discovering Stone Mountain Museum and the Lasershow Spectacular, ending with fireworks. Crossroads, a reproduction of an 1870s town, will open later this year. The family area will feature living history and arts-and-crafts demonstrations, a 4-D theater and the Great Barn, a four-story playhouse for kids.
		HOT TIPS The picnic areas are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The park is equipped with shuttles that can transport you between Memorial Hall, the Skylift, the Riverboat Complex and the Antebellum Plantation. However, the park's major attractions are within reasonable walking distance and can be reached by sidewalks. A Georgia fishing license is necessary for all anglers. Licenses, bait, tackle, and snacks are sold at the Park Campground store. The campground also has a supply store, laundry facilities, a beach sand volleyball court and a playground. Daily park permits cost $7, but you may opt to purchase an annual pass or the Rock 'n Roll permit, a see-and-do-everything pass that covers admission to all major attractions.
		PHOTO OPS The Cracks and crevices in Stone Mountain's granite surface are home to a variety of rare plants and flowers, such as the Confederate Yellow Daisy, that make beautiful close-ups. Photograph the covered bridge, and meander along the 1.3-mile nature trail to the top of the rock that offers a fabulous view of Atlanta and the surrounding area.
		LOCAL SPECIALTIES In the spirit of the peach state, toss a few of the fuzzy fruits into your wicker basket. Don't forget peanut butter sandwiches or anything made from another Georgia delicacy, peanuts, as well as salad dressings or breads made with the state vegetable, the vidalia onion. To drink? Georgia's own mint julep, of course.