Are you looking for a family vacation this summer that doesn't involve standing in long lines and eating tons of junk food? Then why not opt for an active one instead! Lucky for you, our beautiful state of Georgia offers MANY options for you to take this opportunity to enjoy your family. Best of all, most of them are just a short driving distance away!! There is no reason that you and your family can not get out this summer, enjoy the outdoors and incorporate some sort of exercise while having fun. Whether it is taking a day trip somewhere, packing a lunch, picnicking and hiking, or taking off for the weekend and enjoy a little camping trip and reconnecting with one another and with nature.

Our family at Honor Athletics is the most important thing to us, and we love nothing more than getting outdoors and being active. So, I have put together a MUST DO LIST for this summer to get you and your family excited about spending time together, moving and getting some fresh air! Leave those Blackberries, IPhones, IPads and all your other devices at home and reconnect with the ones who matter most to you, that is my challenge to you this summer! 

*First is the one that we have done the most, and that is STONE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. Stone Mountain offers everything for the outdoorsman! You have the option to take a walking trail or a hiking trail up to the top of the mountain that is approximately 1 mile each way. We love to pack a lunch and eat at the top of the mountain that overlooks the amazing city of Atlanta with breathtaking views. It is not a very difficult hike (our 2 1/2yo daughter does it with us) and has an extremely rewarding finishing view. The park also offers things like a laser light show at night, canoeing, playgrounds, fishing, golfing and much more. A must do for any family, you can just spend the day or spend the weekend, either way, you need to come and see this big granite mountain!

*Take a Full Moon Bridge Hike at TALLULAH GORGE STATE PARK. This is so cool! It is about a mile and a half hike that will take you down the stairs, across a suspended bridge that is 80 ft in the air and around the rim of the gorge, all while underneath an amazingly huge full moon! You do need to register in advance and its $5 per person and $5 to park, but HIGHLY worth it! Just click the link for more details and exact dates. That is not all that this gorgeous park has to offer, you can also mountain bike, kayak, whitewater raft and view pristine waterfalls, just to name a few activities that go on here.

*Go fishing in the picture perfect JEKYLL ISLAND. We have had the pleasure of visiting Jekyll Island for a very close friends wedding last year and I have to say, it was perfection. I have never seen such beautiful trees, beaches and landscaping in my life. The fishing at Jekyll alone is something that must be experienced at least once in your life. You can rent a charter boat and go deep at sea or stay close to the shore. Either way I know that you will not be disappointed. You can also go on some amazing dolphin tours or rent kayaks and have your own tour! They also offer dinner cruises and plenty of of fun filled outdoor family activities. Whether you want to just pick shells on the beach and have a picnic or be adventurous, Jekyll has something for everyone! 

*Enjoy a wonderful night under the stars camping at AMICALOLA STATE PARK  in Dawsonville, Georgia. Here you can hike to the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi! You can rent a cabin, camp or stay at the Lodge, whatever you decide, I can promise that you and your family will have a vacation that they will remember for years to come. You can enjoy whitewater rafting, hiking, trout fishing and horseback riding making this an ideal location for any outdoor enthusiast and their family. 

 *Take a nature walk thru PHINZY SWAMP in Augusta, Georgia. This park offer over 1,100 acres of nature at its finest. It is located just minutes from downtown Augusta! Here you have the opportunity to see Alligators, Red-Shouldered Hawks, Blue Herons, and if you're lucky, Bobcats! What is so cool about this park is they offer what is called Swamp Saturdays. This is where they provide a guided, introductory 2.5 mile walk thru the swamp. They are free and no reservation is required. They do this the first Saturday of every month and starts at 9:30am. The volunteers that guide the tour are able to provide you with information that you might not know about the swamp the the animals that run thru it. Something that you and your family are sure to be amazed by!

*Learn a new skill with your children and take an Archery Class at PANOLA MOUNTAIN STATE PARK.  At the nature center of this beautiful park they offer an indoor archery class with a certified instructor!  All equipment can be provided for you or you can bring your own. The cost includes an all-day archery range pass and is for ages 9 and up. You do need to register in advance for this and the cost is $10 per person and $5 for parking. Just click the link for more details. What a fun way to learn something new and enjoy the outdoors with the people who mean the most to you. 

Well there you have it folks! 6 trips that you can do to get out of the house and enjoy this beautiful state that we are lucky enough to call home. I hope that you are able to try at least one of these this summer. You really have no excuse not to!! We love to hear from our customers and if you or your family tries any of these fun activities this summer than please comment your experience and post pictures below!! Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy your beautiful families this summer! 

xoxo, Kristyn