Field Notes

You can always hike and bike on your own, but sometimes it’s nice to have a guide tour you through the National Heritage Area, exploring history, geology, nature and more. As we enter 2022, there are plentiful programs to enjoy: 1. Guided hikes at Arabia and Panola Mountains  After a long Covid-19 hiatus, rangers are […]

We all like to avoid the crowds – and with that in mind, here are our tips for easy parking at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve on the weekends. The outdoors continues to be a welcome respite for people during the pandemic, and we love that people are coming out and enjoying the National Heritage Area. […]

With a new year comes new resolutions – and, we hope, more time spent outdoors and exploring Georgia’s history and nature. We put together a few ideas as you think about the year ahead:  1. Why hit the gym when you can hit the trails? Nature lovers and fitness fanatics alike can exercise on paths […]

As we head towards the end of 2021, we’re thinking about all the wonderful hiking opportunities winter brings. Every season in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area offers its own wonder and winter is no exception. The bare monadnocks feel all the more otherworldly in the colder months, when many of the trees have lost […]

Welcome back from the holidays, and welcome to a new year! We checked in with DeKalb County’s own Ranger Alex for a few tips on hiking at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve and throughout the National Heritage Area this year. Here’s what he had to say: Arabia Alliance: So Ranger Alex, are guided hikes back at Arabia […]

Have you ever wondered where “Arabia Mountain” got its name? While we don’t know exactly, Ranger Robby and Ranger Zana of Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve have a few ideas:  As Ranger Robby said, one of the best hypotheses we have is that quarry workers, toiling on the exposed rock in the hot summer months, would […]

Beginning with a “New Year’s Resolution Hike” on January 2nd, guided hikes, education and community events are returning to Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve after a pandemic hiatus. The Nature Preserve has released the schedule for January and February events; a full list can be seen here. Hiking Events Recurring events include morning interpretive and recreational […]

The Monastery of the Holy Spirit’s Abbey store, closed for much of the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is now open for the holidays. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 11:00am-4:30pm.  A popular stop for food and gifts within the National Heritage Area, the Monastery’s Abbey Store hosts a variety of holiday favorites. That […]

We recently completed the second community engagement event to determine the future of the Bruce Street School. This event gathered feedback, artifacts, and stories that will go towards shaping the future of this powerful historic site – DeKalb County’s first Black public school. People recorded oral histories, described their dreams and aspirations for the school […]

Author: Patrick Sullivan For many, soccer’s origins in Atlanta began with the arrival of the Chiefs in 1967. Yet the sport’s history in the metropolitan area can be traced back to the late nineteenth century and was closely tied to the growing DeKalb County granite industry in the quarries at Stone Mountain and Arabia Mountain, […]

Due to inclement weather, the planned community engagement event at the historic Bruce Street School is being moved from Saturday, Dec. 11 to Sunday, Dec. 12, 1-4pm at 2449 Bruce Street (location stays the same). This event is the second in a series designed to gather community feedback and direct the ultimate historic preservation of […]

Above: People take part in the first community feedback session to shape the future of the Bruce Street School ruins. The second community engagement session will take place on Sunday, Dec. 12. Photo: Talecia Tucker/Martin Rickles Studio. On Sunday, Dec. 12, from 1-4pm, community members will again gather to shape the future of the Bruce […]