Things to Do in Conyers

Pottery painting and glass fusing are two of the most celebrated crafts at Earth Paint and Fire. Spirited and inclusive, the studio’s BYOB classes and art sessions invite guests to indulge as they customize a plate or fuse colored glass to create ornate dishware and jewelry. During special project sessions, the staff members also assist artists by helping them customize works with painted accents such as the footprint of a newborn baby, the paw of an aging pup, or the tire tread of a beloved robot butler.

The Robertson family exemplifies the unifying power of family fitness. While parents Mark and Melissa manage Ascension Climbing's incoming clients, their three kids—Grace, Caleb, and Zeke—provide one-on-one training in the art of scaling mountainsides or the gum-studded underside of a giant's desk. Grace, who formerly coached college climbing teams, transfers her expertise to competitive clients during one-on-one lessons at one of 18 ropes. Zeke oversees the littlest ones at Ascension’s climbing walls and two bouldering caves, and Caleb fills in the schedule with lessons on climbing safety and technique.

As a tightly knit, climbing-savvy family, the Robertsons hope to strengthen the bonds of other clans through Ascension Climbing’s many activities. They invite families to climb and boulder together during events and trips. They also host groups and parties, spreading their love of climbing through chaperoned events and overnight lock-ins.

In business since 2002, All Fired Up owners Jim and Bobbie Drummond share a passion for creating art, whether that’s to transform a white dinner plate into a colorful piece of art or fusing disparate pieces of glass to form a distinct tile. Inside their two studio spaces, the owners encourage a laidback atmosphere, where their customers can unwind while unleashing their inner Rembrandts during drop-in studio times, parties, or date nights with suave paintbrushes.

More than 50 species of butterflies flit between the petals of an ever-changing array of exotic plants inside the greenhouse as sunlight streams in through the glass ceilings. Outside, experts launch owls, falcons, and eagles into the air to fly—and many come back down to land on the arms of the audience. Since 1952, the staffers of Callaway Gardens’ educational nature preserve have immersed visitors in their passion for wildlife management and conservation across more than 4,600 acres of demonstration gardens, arboretums, and outdoor sports attractions.

At the 5-acre Horticultural Center, visitors wander through three conservatories, a grotto, and an outdoor garden and stand at the base of a 22-foot indoor waterfall. They can also soar up to 30 feet above the forest floor on a five-zipline treetop course replete with ladders, logs, and netting or practice their lumberjack calls on a 10-mile discovery trail through the trees. Staffers regularly lead guided hikes through the woods, hold a range of butterfly shows and cultural workshops, and help facilitate seasonal events—including circus, music, and theater performances and a holiday light show. On overnight stays, they welcome guests into lodgings such as a rustic inn, 155 secluded pine cottages, and 57 stone and wood villas with balconies.