Georgia Offers Thrills and Spills

(ARA) - Recognized around the world as the backdrop for "Gone With the Wind," home of Coca-Cola and CNN and host of the 1996 Olympic games, Georgia is often overlooked as the sportsman's paradise that it is. However, the Peach State's diverse landscape and breathtaking scenery offer some of the most exciting and challenging outdoor adventures in the country. Whether you want to hike up a mountain or hang-glide off of one, kayak down a meandering river or raft a Class V rapid, Georgia has just what you're looking for in outdoor adventure.

Georgia by land

Set at the base of the Appalachian Trail, the Peach State is just the place for hikers, bikers and campers to fine-tune their skills while taking in some beautiful mountain scenery. In Dawsonville, Amicalola Falls is home to both the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi and a challenging, eight-mile hiking approach to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the 2,150-mile Appalachian Trail. Spend the day hiking the falls; then relax in the Len Foote Hike Inn overnight. In Rock City, the brave-hearted can sneak a peek at seven states at once from atop Lover's Leap and test their fates on the 180-foot Swing-Along suspension bridge. If you enjoy the perilous view, visit Tallulah Gorge's new suspension bridge over Hurricane Falls, the tallest of the gorge's five major waterfalls. Tallulah Gorge, Allenbrook/Vickery Creek, Rocktown/Lostwall, Currahee and Mt. Yonaha are also home to some of the state's finest rappelling. Fort Mountain in Chatsworth derives its name from an ancient 855-foot rock wall that stands on the highest point of the mountain. The wall, built by Native Americans for fortification or ceremonial purposes, is surrounded by hardwood forest, blueberry thickets and winding streams that encompass some of the most scenic hiking and biking trails in northern Georgia.

Mountain bikers will also love the switchbacks of Georgia's Bear Creek and Chicopee bike trails . . . not to mention the historic Bartram Trail, the 23-mile Pine Mountain Trail and the Silver Comet Trail just outside Atlanta. Just off the coast of St. Marys, Cumberland Island offers campers the ultimate in "roughing it." This National Seashore is the largest and southernmost barrier island in Georgia, offering guests more than 17 miles of secluded white, sandy beaches where wild horses and other island wildlife roam freely year round.

Georgia by water

There's something for water-lovers of all kinds in Georgia. The Altamaha River, which flows 137 miles from its origin to its delta on the Atlantic coast, is the second largest watershed on the eastern seaboard and is home to more than 130 rare and endangered species. This gentle brook is the ideal spot for a leisurely ride downstream or for learning to kayak. Once you've mastered your technique, explore the natural wonders and ancient cultures of Georgia's coast, including ancient Cypress trees, whales that have been known to surface off the Golden Isles and the virtually untouched Blackbeard and Sapelo barrier islands. For a real thrill, head to the Chattooga River in Northeast Georgia for some of the most difficult and technical Class III, IV and V whitewater rapids in the region. For an up-close encounter of the alligator kind, tour the still, black waters of the Okefenokee Swamp in Folkston. The swamp is home to more than 10,000 threatened American alligators and a host of other rare and exciting wildlife.

Georgia by air

Even the bravest of daredevils will find something to quicken their pulses in Georgia. Rising Fawn in Northwest Georgia is home to the country's premiere hang gliding school, Lookout Mountain Flight Park. The park, which teaches and certifies more hang glider pilots than any other school in the country, features the easiest, safest and most-used launch in the world and more than 20 miles of scenic, soarable ridge. The 44-acre mountain retreat offers camping, lodging and many other amenities as well as a variety of training packages. Soar above the Appalachian Mountains for an unparalleled view of Georgia's natural beauty. If you're looking for more of an adrenaline rush, try free-falling through the air at any of Georgia's United States Parachute Association member drop zones in Cedartown, Monroe, Rome and Thomaston. Float through Georgia's scenic skies with the most highly trained and experienced skydiving professionals around.

Whether you prefer to stroll through a valley, float down a stream or leap from a mountain's edge, Georgia has just the outdoor adventure for you.

For more information, visit www.georgiaonmymind.org or call (404)656-3545.

Courtesy of ARA Content