Dallas, GA Outdoor Activities

In 2001, the first of many ziplines began to sprout from the grounds surrounding the Old Mill Farm. The cows would inspect the strange contraptions quizzically, but they soon grew comfortable with the droves of smiling guests whooshing overhead. Today, spread across more than 100 acres near the North Oconee River in Lula, Georgia, North Georgia Canopy Tours lead groups on high-flying adventures. Complete with commemorative photo packages, the tours entertain guests with serene views and exhilarating activities. The ziplines reach up to 70 feet off the ground and extend as far as 850 feet, allowing zipliners to catch glimpses of flying squirrels migrating south in V formation.

Staff also welcome visitors to stay overnight in 15 campsites and several authentic Native-American teepees equipped with amenities such as electricity and air conditioning. The walls of each teepee bear custom-painted Cherokee symbols representative of the seven Cherokee Clans, for which North Georgia Canopy Tours' seven campgrounds are named.

Fire Wire Zip Lines gets mankind off the ground with zipline flights in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After their daily safety inspection, the side-by-side Fire Wire lines are ready to launch riders out of the trees and over verdant hills on a 1,700-foot adventure. Fire Wire Zip Lines also offers the Blue Ridge Canopy Adventure, an adrenaline-pounding two-hour tour composed of a series of 15 ziplines that takes place at heights of up to 90 feet. As they swing through the trees, gaze into Dead Man's Gorge, and teeter at the Edge of Insanity, steely nerved adventurers enjoy the view while staying focused on the finish-line prize—the conferral of Canopy Hawk status—and keeping an eye out for opportunities to high-five the endangered High Fivin' Bird

Piedmont Park preserves the luxury of yesteryear. Designed in the late 1800s, the park's facilities have withstood the test of time with recreational halls that reflect the simplicity of its lush landscapes, wetlands, and the onsite Atlanta Botanical Garden. Over the past 20 years, the Piedmont Park Conservancy has restored the park to its historic natural beauty, transforming a dilapidated space into a frequented green space. A slew of activities engage the community with outdoor programs ranging from environmental day camps to team sports such as soccer and softball. Park tours explore the history of the neighborhood and the weekly Green Market whets appetites with fresh produce from local farmers and thieving rabbits.

Most farms house livestock, cornfields, and vegetable patches. But the crown jewel of Skydive the Farm’s 55 acres of property is something a little less typical: a Grand Caravan turbine-engine plane. Its Blackhawk engine modifications allow it to jet briskly to proper skydiving altitude, at which visitors leap out its doors and parachute to the farm’s spacious landing area. Adventurers can dive tandem-style, strapped to a certified instructor, or opt for more independent freefalls. Available only after several hours of training, these flights earn divers AFF licensing, requiring them to open their own parachute and land with radio assistance. Family and friends can watch their loved ones master the skies from a spacious viewing deck instead of having to find a sturdy enough cloud to climb upon. Divers can also watch themselves afterward via the center’s professionally-made flight DVDs, complete with video footage and photos.

At Iron Horse Farms, head trainer Christine Johnston and her staff of sheepdogs and equestrians immerse horse lovers in everything from intensive show training to introductory lessons. Riders can feel the wind in their manes in the outdoor arena or move to the indoor pen on days when the Pegasus constellation trots over to eclipse the sun. Packed with soft rubber footing to ensure horses’ comfort, the training areas represent just part of the expansive facility, which also includes lounges, tack rooms, and large turnout pastures.

AirSoft Depot lets gun toters loose on an expansive, tree-lined field to challenge their reflexes and ignite their adrenaline glands in free-form shooting games. Plywood forts, rusty barrels, and bright orange traffic cones act as safe cover during shootouts as players duck and roll through each blockade to achieve their missions. AirSoft Depot's home base stocks an assortment of imitation firearms ready to be rented, loaded with ammo, and cocked with a punny catch phrase, or airsoft gun owners can bestow their armaments on the center's seasoned techs, who repair and upgrade most brands.