Travel Planner: Gainesville, GA

Established in 1850 in the Victorian style, Atlanta's oldest cemetery was designed to serve as a public park as well as a burial ground. Some of the 70,000 permanent residents include six governors, five Confederate generals, and 6,900 Confederate soldiers. Also here are novelist Margaret Mitchell and golfing great Bobby Jones. You can bring a picnic lunch or take a tour conducted by the Historic Oakland Foundation. The King Memorial MARTA station on the east-west line also serves the cemetery. www.oaklandcemetery.com. Hours: Tours: Mar.-Nov., Sat. at 10, 2, 6:30, Sun. at 2, 6:30. Weekday group tours by appointment.

At this 3,200-acre state park you'll find the largest exposed granite outcropping on earth. The Confederate Memorial on the north face of the 825-foot-high mountain is the world's largest sculpture, measuring 90 feet by 190 feet. There are several ways to see the sculpture, including a cable car that lifts you to the mountaintop and a steam locomotive that chugs around the mountain's base. Summer nights are capped with the Lasershow Spectacular,

an outdoor light display set to music and projected onto the side of Stone Mountain—attendance is a rite of passage for new Atlantans. There's also a wildlife preserve, an antebellum plantation, a swimming beach, two golf courses, a campground, a hotel, a resort, several restaurants, and two Civil War museums. Crossroads, an entertainment complex with an 1870s-Southern-town theme, offers costumed interpreters and a movie theater. The newest addition is Sky Hike, a family-friendly ropes course at 12 feet, 24 feet, or 40 feet high. www.stonemountainpark.com. Admission: $8 per car, $25 per adult for an Adventure Pass. Hours: Daily 6am-midnight.

This restored country inn, constructed in 1875 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has a rustic but polished charm. Nestled in a quiet out-of-the-way location on a beautifully landscaped 17 acres, the inn's well-appointed rooms feature antiques and comfortable, attractive furnishings. There are no TVs in the rooms, but they are available in the large garden room, complete with snacks and comfortable seating, as well as in the newly redecorated lobby. You can play volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, or croquet, or practice your swing on the mini-putting green on the grounds, or sip wine at Glen-Ella's tasting room. Pros:

the staff is eager to make the stay special; picturesque perennial and herb gardens; golf, hiking, boating, fishing, wineries, and horseback riding are all nearby; family movie nights.

the spring-fed swimming pool can be quite chilly; inn on a gravel road; restaurants require a drive to Clarkesville or Clayton. www.glenella.com. 12 rooms, 4 suites. In-room: no TV, Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, pool. Credit cards accepted. Rate includes: Breakfast.

For upscale, lodge-style accommodations, this resort is a great option. The rooms are comfortable and spacious, in an elegant but rustic style. Some have fireplaces and balconies overlooking the valley. The stone fireplace in the lobby is an impressive 70 feet high. The resort also features a variety of sports activities. Pros:

elegant rooms, some with fireplaces and balconies.

far-flung location. www.brasstownvalley.com. 102 rooms, 32 cottages, 5 suites. In-room: Wi-Fi. In-hotel: restaurant, bar, golf course, pool, tennis courts, gym. Credit cards accepted. Rate includes: Breakfast.