We are proud to partner with the Aimee Copeland Foundation to provide free, high mobility wheelchairs at 10 state parks, historic sites and a wildlife center. Those with mobility impairments will be able to reconnect with nature, explore trails, go fishing and attend adaptive hunts. The all-terrain wheelchairs encourage visitors to experience a sense of freedom that can be difficult to have in an everyday wheelchair. Locations can be found on GaStateParks.org. Users must get certified and have a buddy with them at all times. (Want to volunteer to be a buddy? Contact the Aimee Copeland Foundation to sign up.) 

Red Top Mountain State Park visitors are enjoying many new upgrades at this Lake Allatoona destination. The campground now offers some full hook-ups, ADA improvements, power upgrades, waterline replacement and cable. A new yurt village welcomes “glampers,” and 20 new cottages offer screened porches with pretty views. Additional improvement include new comfort stations, a new playground, renovated beach area with accessible pathways, and picnic sites. Come play at this lakeside escape.

November is Native American Heritage Month, so we invite you to celebrate the legacy of Georgia’s first people. The history and traditions of these vibrant cultures are told by the earthen mounds that remain at Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site in Cartersville and Kolomoki Mounds State Park in Blakely. Today’s visitors can climb to the top of the tallest mounds and explore museums to learn indigenous lifeways. In the early 1800s, the Cherokee Nation established its central government in north Georgia. New Echota Historic Site near Calhoun showcases this capital through original and reconstructed buildings, and nearby Chief Vann House Historic Site features a stunning 1804 home.

Mother Nature surprised us with a slightly early “leaf season” this year, but it’s not too late to enjoy autumn color. In early November, the cypress needles at George L. Smith State Park turn deep orange, reflecting off the dark mill pond water. Near metro-Atlanta, Red Top Mountain, Sweetwater Creek and Hard Labor Creek state parks still have some turning leaves, and F.D. Roosevelt State Park is a good choice for camping and hiking in middle Georgia. Find places to enjoy late-season leaf watching on GaStateParks.org. (Photo by @mkterry10. Tag #GaStateParks for a chance to be featured on our Leaf Watch Travel Planner.)

This holiday season, give 37 lakes, seven waterfalls, three canyons and a swamp tucked into one little stocking. Our new combo pass includes parking and admission to Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites. A $100 value, the combo sells for $85 and is valid for 12 months from purchase date. Passes are thoughtful gifts that will be appreciated for months to come. (Photo of Santa taking a pre-holiday break at James H. Floyd State Park by @zen_void.)