With gas prices rising, out-of-state family road trips may not be in the cards this year. Don’t count a family vacation completely out though; there are several ways to stay cool in Georgia this summer. Here are some of our favorites:
Best beach party
Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain is hosting summer beach fun for the whole family through Aug. 21 with entertainment and games centered around Robin Lake.
Best places to make a splash
The Splash in the Boro Family Waterpark in Statesboro has something for everyone, from a thrilling tube slide to a relaxing lazy river. Further north, Lake Lanier Islands Beach and Waterpark in Buford is home to the largest wave pool in Georgia. Just outside of Atlanta in Powder Springs is Sun Valley Beach, a one-and-a-half acre pool with 11 water slides and sandy beaches. Just want to cool off? Run through Centennial Olympic Park’s fountains in downtown Atlanta. If you long for a costal breeze, take a trip to Georgia’s coast and enjoy the southern cuisine, sea turtles and dolphin-watching.
Best escapes for nature lovers
Take a leisurely kayak trip through the Okefenokee Swamp or take a guided tour of Mill Pond in Twin City, outside of Swainsboro. Prefer to canoe? Travel down the Flint, Altamaha or Chattahoochee Rivers. Risk-taking individuals might prefer a guided white-water rafting trip on the Chattooga River.
Best places to cool off
Want to chill out? Throw on a sweatshirt skate a couple of laps around the Marietta Ice Center or the Cooler Ice Rink in Alpharetta. Georgia’s historic theaters also offer air-conditioned entertainment. The Springer Opera House first opened in 1871 and is the official state theater of Georgia. And make sure to check out the summer lineup of shows, concerts, and films at the Fox Theater, which is kept cool by an innovative, 1920s-era water-powered system that cools the air in the auditorium by “washing” it.
