Photo courtesy: Explore Gwinnett
Time to pack your sunscreen and load up the car. We get many questions from locals on what to do and where to go when friends and family come into town. Here are a few of our favorites!
Lots of folks may not realize that the mighty Chattahoochee is more than a scenic backdrop. Running more than 400 miles through Georgia, Alabama and Florida, tubing is a relaxing way to “shoot the hooch,” or take a scenic float down the river. River Tubing in Duluth offers two to four hour float trips for $10 between May and September.
Golfers can choose from a bevy of courses all over Gwinnett. For those who enjoy golf but look for a less expensive and more laid-back activity, we highly recommend disc golf, which is a combo of frisbee skills and golf rules. Gwinnett is home to four 18-hole disc golf courses. Courses include Alexander Park in Lawrenceville, Lenora Park, Little Mulberry Park in Dacula and Suwanee Creek Park.
For those with toddlers and elementary aged kids, book a visit to Creekwater Alpaca Farm. The adorable alpacas are sure to melt everyone’s heart with their big eyes and soft hair. You can book an afternoon tour for a day of learning, plus hang out with horses, ducks, goats, and other cuddly creatures. Their cute gift shop features artisan-created alpaca socks, hats, and mittens.
Once the kids are back in the hotel with a sitter, it is time for the adults to enjoy the great outdoors. We highly recommend booking one of Southern Beer Tours’ craft brewery tours in Gwinnett. Put on your walking shoes to enjoy the “Sippin’ in the Suburbs” Lawrenceville downtown walking tour. The tour, set in downtown Lawrenceville’s open container district, starts at Exhibit Ale, where you will enjoy a couple half pints to kick off the tour. Stroll with your beverage to Ironshield Brewing (one of the largest breweries in Atlanta) for a pint and a behind the scenes tour. Round out the tour just a block away at Slow Pour Brewing, where you’ll hear live music, play cornhole and enjoy tasty food truck treats.
For those who want to get outside without spending any money, Gwinnett’s best hiking trails are an excellent option. Our favorites include Yellow River Park, where 12 wooded miles lead to a terraced waterfall near Stone Mountain. Traverse the terrain at Little Mulberry Park in Auburn, one of the highest altitudes in Gwinnett. Do not miss the Katrina Miller Wildlife Preserve. A great family-friendly option is the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. You will pass woods, hills, and natural shoals on your way to the park pavilion, an ideal spot for a picnic. A bonus activity is Treetop Quest, Gwinnett’s aerial adventure park, featuring an above-the-trees Zipline and obstacle course, located on the GEHC campus.
Other favorites include Simpsonwood Park, Suwanee Creek Park, Harbins Park (for mountain biking) and the easy trails and historical sites at McDaniel Farm Park.
Bold or cautious, budget or not, finding your next outdoor destination experience in Gwinnett is easy! Visit exploregwinnett.org for recommendations, outdoor events, and more info!