The Best Parks In Atlanta GA

As one of the greenest big cities in the South, several unforgettable public parks permeate Atlanta’s urban landscape. From Buckhead to Midtown to Stone Mountain, the metro area has plenty of options to choose among. Whether it’s antebellum history or simply a few outdoor basketball courts you’re in search of, frequent these six picks and you won’t be disappointed.

1. Stone Mountain Park

Park, Natural Feature

Stone Mountain Park with Confederate carving in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

This park is certifiably unique. Home to the world’s largest granite ‘monadnock,’ Stone Mountain, well… isn’t really a mountain, after all. This ‘Goliath’ hunk of rock is elevated 1,686 feet above sea level and equips visitors with a surreal view of Atlanta (and especially its skyline at night). Guests have the option of either walking the summit (which is a mostly gradual 1.3 mile trek) or taking a gondola. Carved into the side of the mountain are antebellum renderings of Confederate president Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson. The park is overflowing with rich Southern history.

Chastain Park

Chastain Park is tucked away inside a mostly residential area of upper Buckhead, but humming with activity nonetheless. Local features surrounding the park itself include youth league baseball and football fields, community tennis courts, a neighborhood swimming pool, a private and elegant horse park, a public middle school, and the beautiful Galloway School. Don’t forget Chastain Park Amphitheatre – one of Atlanta’s best live music venues, without question. The park also has a scenic rolling golf course and several pathways, which cut in and around it. Individual pavilions and stone fire pits, perfect for family picnics, stretch as far as the eye can see.

Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA, + 1 404 233 2227

2. Centennial Olympic Park

Park

A keystone feature of Downtown Atlanta and one of the 1996 Olympics’ best physical keepsakes for memory, this 21-acre urban park can be found smack in the middle of the city’s heart. Keep an eye out for the dazzlingly lit fountains and interactive waterworks – but don’t fret – they’re nearly impossible to miss. The open, grassy area below the Olympic ring themed stonework often hosts concerts and live music shows, with names like Outkast and Dave Matthews Band. With about three million visitors per year, Centennial Olympic Park tops the must-visit list for Atlanta’s best attractions.