Stone Mountain and BEYOND!!!!!

Known for being the largest piece of exposed granite in the world (although I hear this isn't completely true - that the mountain is actually comprised of a mixture of different types of rock) Stone Mountain is located just east of Atlanta, Georgia and is surely a trip that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and interests.

The blog about this trip has been in the works for some time. We went on this trip last January and had a blast. Here are some pictures from an AWESOME and unexpected trip. We had gone down to Atlanta to see a hockey game. Here's the amazing thing about going to see a game in Atlanta, you can get a seat at center ice for $10! Sure, you're in the clouds, but the view is awesome! We've been a couple of times, and on each occasion we stop at Taco Mac to eat because there is a door from the restaurant directly into the arena. It's great!
So we went to the game and met up with some friends who moved to the area. We were spending the next day in town and asked for something worth seeing and Stone Mountain was their recommendation. We were not disappointed at all. Now, our trip was off the cuff, but I would recommend if you want to take this trip, bring a backpack with a snack and drink and be prepared for a much different climate at the top from what you encounter at the beginning of your voyage.  

I remember walking amongst the trees and then after a time, you're no longer walking on grass and dirt, you're now walking on rocks. The trees that offered you shade are now being replaced by more rocks. You're no longer walking, but jumping from rock to rock. I would dare say that if you don't have a decent pair of shoes, you'll regret it. I was wearing shoes with a lot of shock support and my knees and calves were throbbing by the end of the trip. 

Stone Mountain is like a monument to the Confederacy. I never realized this, but when you get close to the mountain you sure become aware immediately. There is a huge carving into the side of the mountain of confederate soldiers. It's amazing. In describing it, I would consider a middle point between Mount Rushmore and a Stone textured Billboard sign. If you go and plan to get a picture, you'd better have a good camera because the sun goes directly over the mountain making the shadows very unforgiving for the novice photographer. Hence the absence of pictures depicting the carving monument.
Another such monument is a row of flags denoting each of the flags from the Confederate time period. Most people, when thinking of the Confederacy, see the General Lee and think of nothing else. Each flag has a plaque under it describing the significance. Sadly, this monument was off the beaten path and we would have missed it had we come down the same way we went up. It looked like a clearing in the woods where the weather had cleared a path, but otherwise it was dirty and unkept.
We just spent a few hours there, but truthfully, there is so much to see and do. There were people having sled races at the bottom of the mountain. If you look below at the last picture on the far left you'll see a white rectangle. That is the path where the sleds were raced. I believe in the summer, there is a laser or fireworks show in the evening to classic confederate songs. I'm not sure whether this is something you view from down below, or from the top of Stone Mountain. I have to think it would be amazing to see these, whether from the top or the bottom. There are also tons of attractions in the village below that were all closed the day we were visiting.

Check out our pictures below!!!

 At the top of Stone Mountain.  If you look behind me, you can see the village.  I'm sure on a clear day you could see at least 20 miles.

 This is the path we took to go up and down.  There is a woman in front of us with high heels on.  This was tough enough to do with the Filas on.  I can't imagine not having the proper footwear.  It was in this region that people have carved messages in the rock.  Some dated back to the early 1900's.

I'm taking a break near the top.  It's ridiculous to think of how cold it was at the start, and how warm at the top of Stone Mountain.  On this day, there was snow at the bottom of the mountain.  At the top, it was in the mid to upper 50s.

Here I am overlooking the village below.  In the right hand corner of the picture, you can see cables for the tram that can take you up and back where the view is spectacular.