| Near Atlanta |
| snowmountainpark.com |
| 800-401-2407 |
| Camping reservations: |
| 800-385-9807 |
A snow palace near Atlanta? This is no eggnog-induced vision, but a new feature at Snow Mountain, the winter reincarnation of Georgia’s Stone Mountain Park. The park has switched on 2 million twinkling lights and debuted new Snow Mountain features to counter the effects of seasonal overindulgence, with more slides, an expanded outdoor play area and Fort Snow, where kids of all ages swoosh and crawl through tunnels made of snow.
Need more together-time with family or friends? Avalanche Alley is a blast, assures Stone Mountain spokeswoman Jeanine Jones. Five people can ride together on the supersized snow tube, a fresh way to share holiday cheer.
Also new: the Holly Jolly Cabaret and Wonderland Walkway, a song- and light-filled passageway leading to Snow Palace, whose resident Snow Angel creates festive flurries.
Terrain at the 3,200-acre park, where laser light extravaganzas conclude summer days, now hosts a 400-foot tubing hill and base for all-around snow fun. Spectacles range from a “Polar Express” 4-D movie to visits from Santa.
“My personal favorite attraction is the Summit Skyride,” says Patrick Myers, a transplant from Wheaton. The ride ascends 825 feet to the summit of Stone Mountain, offering views of Atlanta’s skyline, the Appalachians and the Confederate Memorial Carving.
Possibly the largest high-relief sculpture in the world, it features President Jefferson Davis, Gen. Robert E. Lee and Gen. Stonewall Jackson on a 3-acre stone surface rising 400 feet above ground. “The beauty of that sight alone is enough reason to visit,” Myers advises history- and art-loving Washingtonians. “Add to that the beautiful grounds, the many activities for people of all ages, and the seasonal events.”
For scenic vistas, Myers, his wife and 3-year-old daughter love riding the train that circles the mountain.
Stone Mountain Christmas ends Jan. 2, while Snow Mountain activities continue through March 6. A $49.75-per-person “Christmas and Snow Mountain Combo Family Value Pass” covers attractions, a meal and unlimited hot chocolate.
“Families can stay at the park at our newly renovated hotels or our award-winning campground,” suggests Stone Mountain Park General Manager Gerald Rakestraw. The park earned a perfect score for facilities and recreation from Woodall’s North American Campground Directory. From an RV or tent site, you can watch the stars along Santa’s path.
