Field Notes

At a dirt-floored dance hall far from the bustling streets of Atlanta, people raced, reveled and made merry. This place was the Lithonia Speedway and the accompanying Country Club, tucked into the rural expanse outside of downtown Lithonia. During the mid-1900’s, the Club and Speedway were a center of Black entertainment in the Atlanta area, […]

We spent Juneteenth with the volunteer board of the Flat Rock Archives at the Lithonia Farmer’s Market in historic downtown Lithonia! In spite of the rain, we had plenty of people stop by to learn the story of one of Georgia’s oldest Black communities.  This was also a major year in the celebration of Juneteenth […]

Summer is here – and that means that it’s time to get outside! The National Heritage Area has over 34 miles of bike trails stretching from historic downtown Lithonia all the way to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit for you to get a cool breeze and a fun workout, even on hot days. The […]

Summer is here, and that means that we’re all looking for some fun summer reads, to inspire adventure and enjoy a good story. We love books (almost) as much as we love the National Heritage Area, and not just our fun Junior Ranger booklets. Here are some of our favorite books, from all of your […]

You might not have visited every part of the National Heritage Area – but Georgia Public Broadcasting has come close! Check out this wonderful special edition of Georgia Outdoors, focusing entirely on the National Heritage Area: Note: This special was filmed many years ago, and some things in the NHA have changed (the PATH trail […]

On June 5th, 2021, Arabia Alliance staff and board set up at the Lithonia Farmer’s Market, located right in the middle of historic downtown Lithonia. Surrounded by buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, we got to talk to visitors about the National Heritage Area, hand out Junior Ranger booklets, and enjoy the day […]

Summer’s here, and that means that ticks are, too. Don’t let these small arachnids deter you from enjoying the outdoors, though. It’s easy to take precautions and enjoy your hike at Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area just the same. Here are a few tips to stay tick-free when you’re out on the trails: Use bug […]

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us are still experiencing languishing, a psychological term meaning “the condition of absence of mental health, characterized by ennui, apathy, [and] listlessness,” according to the American Psychological Association. After an extended period of stress and uncertainty, many of us are having trouble getting fully back on track. […]

We had the privilege of joining the New Black Wall Street Market’s Memorial Day Festival & Commemoration this past weekend! Over the course of Memorial Day weekend, Arabia Alliance staff and board talked to festival goers about the National Heritage Area, including the recreation and history right in Stonecrest – from Arabia Mountain to the […]

You know Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve and Panola Mountain State Park – but these aren’t the only rock outcrops (“monadnocks”) in the National Heritage Area. The landscape is dotted with smaller rock outcrops that still host a variety of plant and animal life. In fact, the name “Arabia Mountain” may have come from the thin, […]

@Livinglifetheherringway is helping us get the word out about hiking at Arabia Mountain! Here’s what she had to say: I love doing “firsts” with my family. Hiking up Arabia Mountain was a first for us and such an adventure. I learned a lot and here are some tips for any other family visiting for their […]

We partnered with ATL Adventurer for our #PreservethePark campaign – here’s what they had to say: Arabia Mountain is one of my favorite local hikes, and it’s only 30 minutes from the city 🙌 I’ve written a blog post with lots of details + pics on how to plan your visit. It’s a super cool […]