Field Notes

Every third Saturday through October!
Enjoy lively discussions about the design and construction process of the historic Abbey Church. If you have an interest in architecture, art, history, landscaping, and stained glass design, the Monastery of the Holy Spirit Architectural Tours will amaze and astound you.

Just 30 minutes east of Atlanta, you can see vernal pools, snorkelwort, and diamorpha at our local monadnocks. In March, you can experience these unique places firsthand through guided hikes and events at Arabia, Panola, and Stone Mountains. Visit all three parks during the month, and you’ll earn a special souvenir that you can wear as a […]

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources began lowering both lakes at Panola Mountain State Park in January to perform inspections of 50-year-old earthen dams. The Upper Lake is expected to be re-filled once repairs can ensure the safety of the dam. Plans for the Lower Lake are contingent on assessment results, according to state park officials. The section of the Arabia Mountain PATH (AMP) that runs over the dam will be closed until the repairs are finished.

We’ve got the perfect way to keep kids busy and entertained, even if they are finishing off sugary holiday treats. Get them out in the fresh air with this new Winter Scavenger Hunt. They’ll learn how the world adapts in winter and see plants that only appear for a few months of the year!

Put away your mittens and hang up your coat; the warm weather seems here to stay. The next few weeks are expected to remain in the mid-50s, so we’ve created a Top Five List of ways you can take advantage of our warm winter wonderland.

Getting holiday cabin fever? Escape the stuffy indoors with a family hike! Winter break is the perfect time for visiting relatives to see a different side of local trails. We’ve gathered our top five exploration activities that are sure to inspire a year-round love of hiking. If you haven’t hiked with young kids before, make […]

Make your loved ones feel extra special this holiday season with thoughtful gifts found nowhere else on earth! You can even relieve some holiday stress with a quick hike along the AMP between stops. Take a peek at our full shopping guide below to find out how you can fit a kayak in a stocking, where you can adopt an owl, and how to get monks to take care of your holiday baking.

Join one of the biggest volunteer events of the year at Panola Mountain State Park! We’re celebrating Your State Parks Day and National Public Lands Day so we’ve set up several exciting volunteer projects for you. Throughout the park you can help by cleaning up rivers and lakes, removing non-native plants, and restoring native grassland by […]

Hidden away from the summer sun, the crane-fly orchid is blooming. Shaded by towering oaks and other hardwoods, this orchid produces several flowers on its delicate stem from mid-July through August. This plant’s striking purple underside makes it easy to identify if you know where to look. The orchid only grows in deep shade and […]

Over 100 students are learning a cool equation this summer: a week of camp in the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area equals fun. Through an innovative partnership between the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area Alliance and the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta, students from four metro-area YMCAs are exploring some of the significant natural and historic sites. […]

Let big beautiful trees shade you as you hike or bike this summer on our coolest trails. We’ve explored the AMP and hiking trails for areas that shelter you with leafy canopies. While you enjoy lower temperatures in the shade, you’ll also pass by bubbling streams, historic landmarks, and calm reflective lakes. Read our Top […]