Douglasville, 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.

From the ground, it’s easy to tell when Skydive Georgia’s airplane reaches 14,000 feet—just look for the tiny specks barreling out of its side. These specks are really the company’s team of certified skydive instructors and their clients, both beginners and experts alike. To ensure everyone’s safety at that extreme altitude, the staff meticulously maintains their turbine airplane and equips all of their parachutes with zero-porosity canopies, digital altimeters, and Cypress automatic-activation devices for a flawless jump. Before and after their big moment, clients can prepare or relax at Skydive Georgia’s climate-controlled training facility, which boasts a simulator, observation deck, and picnic area ideal for swooping down and stealing tuna sandwiches.

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

The 18-hole course at St. Andrews Country Club drapes over 400 acres of countryside, demanding precise ball placement and keen focus as players navigate its two distinct sides. Course superintendent Heath Hammond keeps a meticulous watch over the conditions of the bermuda fairways and bentgrass greens, ensuring they stay not only pleasing to the eye but also lush enough for comfortable celebratory somersaults. Players choose from five separate sets of tees to start their round, rendering the course as long as 6,629 yards from the back tees but enjoyable for golfers of all ability levels. On the front nine, players must exhibit precise control over shots as they wind through the course's residential portion. The game relaxes on the back nine as it winds through open spaces dotted with handsome trees and allows players to unleash power. Before a round or during practice sessions, golfers can hone their strokes on St. Andrews' two-tiered driving range. A chipping green, a sand trap, and a bentgrass putting green round out the practice area's offerings, allowing players to re-create actual course conditions.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course
• Total length of 6,629 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 71.7 from the back tees
• Course slope of 135 from the back tees
• Five sets of tees per hole

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.