Things to Do in Lithia Springs

Throughout KangaZoom's 12,000-square-foot facility, youngsters aged 2–12 and their parents whoosh down giant slides, carom about jump castles, and dart through obstacle courses during daily open play sessions. The inflatable basketball court's added bounciness makes it easier for kids to dribble the ball or each other, and a separate area for toddlers allows them to safely interact away from older children’s high-octane play. Though adults can join their children as long as they're wearing socks, they can also kick back in the lounge café and snack on concessions and drinks. Three private rooms host birthday parties for groups of up to 20 revelers, and KangaZoom's staff run regular dance and fitness classes for kids to learn impressive moves before the kindergarten prom.

A shotgun-only facility, Tom Lowe Trap & Skeet Range invites beginner marksmen to shoot across 20 combination trap-and-skeet fields as well as a five-stand sporting-clays field. At each of these areas, clay pigeons launch into the sky above dense forests and rolling hills. Shooters as young as 10 (with proper supervision) can target the wingless birds during practice sessions and competitive leagues. Tom Lowe Trap & Skeet Range also partners with local independent instructors, who train beginner shooters to shoot and track the migratory patterns of clay pigeons.

Before hitting the field, visitors can rent a gun from Deshotels Arms, Inc., the onsite pro shop. The shop also sells ammo, used guns, and new shotguns from brands such as Beretta.

Since 1959, East Cobb Stables' 3.5-acre parcel of Georgian countryside has served as an idyllic classroom for students to learn the timeless, unconditional bond between a man and his steed. The resident horses enjoy vigorous exercise on two outdoor rings, where visitors learn to saddle up and perfect the techniques of the hunter-jumper style. Imparting grooming, tacking, and riding techniques during lessons, a stable of five instructors molds pupils from all backgrounds and age groups into bona fide equestrians, calling upon years of varied experience to share the secrets of taming the wild puppeteers that live within each horse.

A Roswell native, River Through Atlanta owner Chris Scalley grew up on the Chattahoochee River, which he proudly still calls home. It's not unusual for Chris to spend 200 days or more on the Hooch, as he and his affiliate guides constantly lead fly fishing instruction, boat trips, and wading trips on the river. Because of his lifetime of experience, Chris has accumulated a unique knowledge of the local ecology, behavior of the trout, and how frequently they vote on American Idol. Though he has fished at destination rivers all over the world, Chris still feels that the Hooch holds its own with regard to angling and aesthetics. To preserve these aesthetics, Chris led efforts to protect the Chattahoochee and its sport fishery, earning him recognition in 2007 as a Hero of Conservation in Field & Stream.

Hidden just east of Cobb Parkway, a complex of low, slate-blue warehouses shelters a community of textile workers, sculptors, and graphic designers intent on refining their art. Beads by Design's shop and atelier contributes to this creative wellspring, and today the Southern Flames—a society of glass-bead makers—gather there for their monthly meetings. The shop opened in 1998, displaying a wealth of Japanese Delica seed beads, fire-polished and pressed glass beads, pearls, gemstones, and glittering Swarovski crystals under the high, exposed-metal roof. Visitors can pick up notions or tools, or stick around for jewelry-making classes. These begin with the basics of knotting wire rings and stringing necklaces and expand into the creation of broad, beaded cuffs inspired by Ndebele jewelry and macramé techniques for braiding copper wire. To give students complete creative control of their work, instructors provide propane torches attached to work tables, and safely teach how to fabricate glass beads and intimidate nay-saying critics.

In Tennis founder Chris Peck conducts private, group, and team coaching geared toward the sport he played for four years during college at his four-court facility. Peck's credentials include USPTA certification as a tennis professional and the position of tennis director for the city of Smyrna. He initiates young people into the world of racquet sports by helming afterschool programs for children as young as 4. Once they have mastered backhands, forehands, and strategy through years of practice, high-school and college competitors can sign up for the In Tennis tournament academy, where students compete to earn state, regional, and national rankings.