Atlanta has some really great parks to explore.  There is a wide range of options: some in the city and others out in the burbs, some are great with strollers and others are best with backpacks, some along the river and others up the mountain!

Photo Credit : Piedmont Park

Piedmont Park is a popular choice.  In the center of the city, there are long paved trails, a large lake, a big playground, many park benches and picnic tables.  On Saturdays, they host a farmer’s market.  They have a track course surrounding two softball fields, two soccer fields and two volleyball courts.  There are also tennis courts and a public pool.  Many restaurants are on the edge of the park, including a personal favorite, The Flying Biscuit.  Piedmont Park is next to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, another local treasure, so you could easily visit them at the same time.  This past week, the park celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a benefit concert with Paul McCartney.  Pretty cool!  I wish I could have been there.  Even though Piedmont Park has something for everyone, it is very large and there is enough space for everyone.

Photo Credit: http://georgiatrails.com/trails/bigcreek.html

If you are north of the city or you are looking for something off the beaten path, less manicured and more natural, an excellent option is the Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta on North Point Parkway, next to an Ethan Allen furniture store.  If you live near there, you have certainly passed by the entrance a number of times, and you might not have even known it.  One of the fun things about this treasure is that it appears to be a quiet little gem that appears out of nowhere.  It is really close to North Point Mall, but it has a tiny little driveway and can be rather difficult to find this small sign.

While the Greenway is left to its own devices regarding landscaping, you still have the luxury of over six miles of very wide, smooth paths for strollers.  I think the paths are the widest that I have seen of any park that I have visited.  This may not sound like much to many people, but when you are out walking with other Moms and can fit 3 or 4 strollers across the path at once – That makes for some great conversations and good times…

The trees are very tall and provide great shade, which is a huge advantage of this park over others, as Atlanta days can be so hot and the sun so bright for little baby skin, especially those under 6 months who aren’t supposed to wear sunscreen.  Also, if you get hungry, you can bring a picnic and sit at a picnic table or leave the wilderness and be back in civilization in minutes.  There are many great spots for lunch nearby.