McDonough, GA Outdoor Activities

A heavy mist settles over the rolling hills of High Point Farm each morning and slowly dissipates as the sun rises to reveal the arenas where Cindy Thaxton and her staff train horses and riders. The farm, which was established in 1993, spans 35 acres and includes several facilities. In its world-class competitive arenas, Cindy helps develop harmony between her students and the horses while sharing her own passion for dressage, equitation, hunters, and jumpers. A USDF silver and bronze medalist in her own right, Cindy has led six students to silver-medal status. She practices a multidimensional teaching approach, instructing competitive students as well as those with little interest in racing against their horses.

After a career that included breaking both knees in the Army and seeing three back-to-back hurricanes while working for a Central Florida sheriff's office, David W. Turner Sr. felt it was time to pursue his dream of becoming a professional bass fisherman. Today, he follows the FLW and B.A.S.S. tournament trails, competing under sponsorships from major brands such as Dobyns Rods and Lew's. To stay sharp when not on the circuit, Turner lends his bass-angling expertise through services that range from customized fishing lessons to five-hour guided trips on waters such as Lake Allatoona, Lake Lanier, and Lake Sinclair. He welcomes clients aboard his 21-foot Triton boat, outfitted with Hummingbird side-imaging depth finders that create a topographical image of the lake bottom. In addition to lessons and guided trips, Turner gives back through Operation: A Day on the Lake, a program through which tournament anglers take a veteran out for a day of fishing.

Iron Gate Farm owner Lisa Eisele harnesses a life's worth of horseback-riding dedication—including a youth career with the American Paint Horse Association—to enrich the skills and horsemanship of novice riders. Along with instructor Sarah Hutchinson, who draws upon her own extensive experiences breaking and showing horses in various disciplines, Lisa emphasizes safe riding techniques as well as important skills such as barn husbandry, equine first aid, and reminding steeds to double-knot their horseshoes. When not accommodating students at private sessions, group lessons, or summer camps, the farm also shelters owners' horses in 12'x12' matted stalls replete with blanketing and twice-daily feedings.

The doors of IceForum at Town Center open 365 days a year, offering all manner of ice enthusiasts access to NHL-regulation-sized ice surfaces. Children as young as three learn to skate in lessons offered year-round, based on curriculum developed by the U.S. Figure Skating Association. Other youths can enroll in the youth-hockey program, helmed by former NHL player Yan Kaminsky, which aims to develop budding players' talent so they'll catch the eyes of scouts for college hockey or full-contact productions of The Nutcracker on Ice. Adult hockey leagues give grown-ups the chance to compete at beginner, intermediate and competitive levels, or they can just take a relaxing spin around the rink during public-skating sessions. On weekends, public skaters dance to the sounds of a live DJ or waltz to the rink's muffled sobs as one more pair of sharp skate blades turns its ice into tears.

Spurred by a desire to connect with other adventurers sharing his passion for exploring wilderness territory, Reginald Mitchell began leading hiking trips throughout Georgia and the Southeast. Though he regularly helms mountain-climbing excursions on local slopes such as Kennesaw Mountain and Amicalola Falls, he's also traversed mountains in areas as disparate as Tennessee, California, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Middle Earth. Sandwiches and trail mix fuel hikers on most tours as they enjoy hiking's numerous health benefits, such as weight loss, endurance building, and stress relief.

Georgia Aquatic Center keeps amphibious folks well hydrated with four pools specifically designed for fun and fitness. Catering to the young, the young at heart, and recently switched Freaky Friday victims, the outdoor beach and slide pools boast easy-access ramped entry, three tube slides, an ever-sprinkling sprayer, and a splashy manmade waterfall. Indoors, the competitive and aerobics pools are tailored to lap swimmers and lesson takers, maintaining a constantly balmy temperature of 82–85 degrees. These temperature-controlled oases can also be rented out for birthday parties regardless of the season, and provide a training ground for swim teams, stroke-and-turn clinics, and lifeguard training.