UPDATE to Top 10: Fun w/Kids in ATLANTA

Stone Mountain Park

Summer, 2006: It's always a beautiful day on Stone Mountain, 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta, and a world away from the hustle and flow of life in the city.

Stone Mountain is many things, but as the world’s largest exposed piece of granite, with the world’s largest bas relief (carving) on the north face (the Confederate memorial depicting Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis), it serves as the majestic centerpiece of 3200 acres of park, lake and woodlands that make up Stone Mountain Park.

We’ve been visiting Stone Mountain every other year or so since we moved to Atlanta in 1994. It’s always been one of our favorite Family Fun excursions, especially when we have friends visiting from out-of-town, and during holidays – spring, summer, winter and fall, there’s always something going on at Stone Mountain.

Even so, it had probably been at least a year (maybe two) since our last visit, and we realized very quickly that we hadn’t been to Stone Mountain in a while: There have been a lot of changes, and Stone Mountain Park is a lot different than the sleepy state park we used to know.

The old favorites are still there: the Skyride, the Train, Memorial Lawn and the anticipation of the famous Laser Light Show. I would say some things never change, but that wouldn't be quite right, because even the old stand-bys are all spiffed up and seem shiny and new -- there's even a brief stop for an Old West song & dance show during the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad Circuit!

And then there's all the stuff that really is new, within the last couple of years. There are more than a dozen family attractions now, including the new CROSSROADS area, a replica of "an 1870s southern town bustling with activity in a manner most of us have only read about in history books." Crossroads includes amusements, live shows and special events; restaurants and concessions; characters in costume, demonstration crafts (Glass Blowing, Candle Making, Candy Making and Blacksmithing) and shops.

It's not yet a Disneyworld (nor would we want it to be!), but with all the new attractions and everything else (including two championship golf courses and the Marriott Evergreen Resort), Stone Mountain Park is growing into a world-class resort and theme park, while retaining the camp/nature, laid-back feel and natural beauty that make Stone Mountain such a wonderful escape from the hectic pace of life in Atlanta.

After our recent visit [Rebel Review: Stone Mountain Park], I have to add Stone Mountain Park to The Rebel Housewife Top 10 List – Fun With Kids in ATLANTA.

There is so much to see and do, and it is so close and convenient to Atlanta, you could spend the entire summer out at Stone Mountain and never get bored. For locals, I highly recommend the Stone Mountain Membership Annual Pass, which includes unlimited admission to the park, free parking and all attractions, except for the new Ride The Ducks. The membership pays for itself in only two visits, and is a phenomenal value to enjoy everything at a rational pace any time and go back for all the various events throughout the year.

See you at Stone Mountain!