This holiday season, share fresh air and the great outdoors with your friends and family. Choose from outdoorsy ideas below and watch a thoughtful present turn into an infatuation with Mother Nature. To make shopping even easier, Georgia’s park system just unveiled a new online retail store with ParkPasses, hiking stick medallions, camping-themed gifts, and more. 

Lace-up, grab friends or family, and head to Jack Hill (Gordonia-Alatamaha) State Park for the American FootGolf League National Championship. 

A dedication ceremony was held recently to announce the renaming of Gordonia-Alatamaha State Park in Reidsville, Ga. to Jack Hill State Park. In attendance were Hill family members, Governor Brian Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Williams.
 

“When will leaves peak?” is a common question for park rangers in autumn. Only Mother Nature knows for sure, but Georgia’s peak color is usually toward the end of October or early November. To help leaf peepers plan their fall escapes, Georgia State Parks has launched “Leaf Watch 2020” to track autumn color as it moves across the state.  .

Several Georgia State Park and Historic Site managers were honored recently for their dedication to outdoor recreation and cultural resources. While the park system has faced unique challenges due to the pandemic, sites have remained open and continue to welcome guests to explore Georgia.

With so many activities that Georgians can enjoy right in their own state while still social distancing, why not take a local road trip and make Georgia's State Parks & Historic Sites your basecamp for exploration? Below are six social distancing activities available at lesser-known destinations. Stay overnight in cabins or a campsite and make a weekend escape in the mountains, by the swamp, or by a lake.

The Visitor Information Centers (VIC) in Sylvania and Plains are reopening on July 21. Each year, more than 13 million Georgia travelers stop at state-run visitor centers to be greeted with helpful advice, brochures and, of course, free samples of Georgia-grown peanuts. These two of the smallest centers not only help travelers, but are also destinations in their own right. They recently were transferred from the state’s Department of Economic Development to the State Parks and Historic Sites system, which is part of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

If honoring wellness and staying active are on your “to do” list for 2020, getting outdoors can make it fun to meet fitness goals. Crossing mountaintops and marshes, boulders and battlefields, Georgia’s State Parks offer miles upon miles of exercise trails. Historic sites help you explore the Peach State while quickly increasing your step count. Below are 20 hikes for 2020 to kickstart your active adventures. Stay overnight in a yurt, cabin or campsite to reward yourself with a toasty-warm fire at the end of the day. Start planning on GaStateParks.org/Hiking.

DNR properties, locations, and offices operating under normal hours of operation

No public facilities closed due to Coronavirus.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources today announced the selection of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program “Conserve Georgia” grants for conservation and outdoor recreation projects. Selected applicants will be invited to the second and final level of the application process for their proposals, which would result in $19.86 million of funding to benefit local parks and trails systems and state-owned lands. Grantees will join with private, public, and non-profit partners to help provide the support to leverage the state outdoor stewardship dollars with an estimated $77 million in additional match funds.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, so Georgia’s State Parks are offering 10 ways to celebrate over the weekend. From sunset hikes to hayrides, park rangers have planned outdoorsy events for couples, families and even Fido. Check out the suggestions below or find your own way to surprise your nature-loving sweetheart on GaStateParks.org.

Free Admission to State Historic Sites.

Georgia’s State Parks join national initiative to connect with nature

Top Ten Ideas for Spring Break in Georgia's State Parks and Historic Sites

Trade shopping malls for waterfalls this Black Friday when you choose to #OptOutside. Created by outdoor retailer REI and celebrated by Georgia’s State Parks, the national movement encourages Americans to spend time with friends and family in the great outdoors, rather than fighting shopping mall crowds and traffic. Added bonus: working of that pumpkin pie! Many Georgia State Parks are hosting ranger-led events on Friday, November 29, including:

This holiday season, wow friends and family with the gift of the great outdoors. Choose from the below eight ideas and watch a simple present turn into a new infatuation with Mother Nature.

Every fall in Georgia, Mother Nature displays her most beautiful work, beckoning travelers from near and far to take in the scenery of the Peach State. From the crisp mountain air, the comforting autumn breezes and the red, orange, yellow and faded green hues, Georgia State Parks is the premier destination to take all of fall in. Thanks to the overlooks that can be found at the below state parks, guests can indulge in the beauty offered by standing miles high and basking in its glory.

Did you know that in addition to hiking trails, rivers, lakes and mountains, Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites are home to several remnants of forts and earthworks that date back as early as the 17th century? Here, history doesn’t just live on plaques and markers in these locations, it literally comes alive with re-enactments and special events throughout the year. In honor of Veterans Day on November 11, here are five Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites to visit that highlight the history of Georgia’s earliest battles. Find more about Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites’ history at GaStateParks.org/History.

“When will the leaves change?” That’s the most common question park rangers hear when autumn rolls around. Only Mother Nature knows, of course, but peak color in Georgia is usually at the end of October or early November. For many people, the perfect autumn weekend includes cozy campfires and gooey s’mores surrounded by fiery-hued forests.  To help leaf peepers plan their fall escapes, Georgia State Parks has launched “Leaf Watch 2019” to track fall color as it moves across the Peach State.