For a Half Day
Chattahoochee River Recreation Area: Forested hiking trails link nine waterside recreation areas in the north of the city. Canoes and rafts are available for hire as well as picnic facilities. Fishing is permitted with a Georgia licence and a trout stamp. The National Park Service Visitor Contact Center, 1978 Island Ford Parkway (tel: (678) 538 1200; www.nps.gov/chat) can provide further information. The park is open only during daylight and is free. Public transport unavailable; take the GA400 north to Exit 6 (Northbridge).

For a Whole Day
Civil War Sites: A car is necessary to explore the many sites of the Civil War Battles that were fought in and around Atlanta. Historians uncover something new all the time. Just south of the city, the 1864 Battle of Jonesboro (tel: (770) 478 4800 or 1 800 662 7829; www.visitscarlett.com) successfully cut off the supply route to Atlanta causing the city to fall. On the opposite side of the city is Roswell (tel: (770) 640 3253; www.cvb.roswell.ga.us) where grand antebellum homes are open to visitors. Its old mill manufactured Confederate uniforms. Down the road is Kennesaw National Battlefield Park where one of the few battles that General Sherman lost took place on 2 July, 1864. Nearby is the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (tel: (770) 427 2117; www.southernmuseum.org). An affiliate of Washington's Smithsonian, the site is filled with Civil War memorabilia and the actual engine that was involved in ‘The Great Locomotive Chase' in 1862 when a gang of Union soldiers attempted to steal a Southern train. For further information, contact Visit Metro Atlanta (www.visitmetroatlanta.com).

Dahlonega: This historic old mining town with charming shops, water wheels and a Gold Museum is the site of the first gold rush and Georgia's entry to the Appalachians. A long-distance walking trail starts above the town. Dahlonega is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Atlanta via GA400 (a toll road). Dahlonega Chamber of Commerce (tel: (706) 864 3711 or 1 800 231 5543; www.dahlonega.org) can provide further information.

In Search of Gone with the Wind: It is over 70 years since Gone with the Wind was written, but the book still sells over 250,000 copies per year. With some planning and a car, one can search out the haunts of the fictitious Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara. Start at the Margaret Mitchell Museum in Atlanta (see Key Attractions). Then drive over to Jonesboro, just south of the city (tel: 1 800 662 7829; www.visitscarlett.com). Margaret Mitchell grew up there and it is said that Tara was patterned after the Stately Oaks Plantation (tel: (770) 473 0197; www.historicaljonesboro.org). Visit The Road to Tara Museum which displays original props and costume reproductions from the film. Head northeast to Marietta to the Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum: Scarlett on the Square (tel: (770) 794 5576; www.gwtwmarietta.com). Among other things, it has one of the few existing, original costumes from the movie. For further information, contact Visit Metro Atlanta (www.visitmetroatlanta.com).

Six Flags Over Georgia: This large amusement park (tel: (770) 739 3400; www.sixflags.com) has 11 rollercoasters, including an ageing wooden monster; plus a wooden carousel and a diving spectacular. The nightly fireworks display and laser show are an exciting end to a fun day. From central Atlanta, take the I-20/GA402 west across the river, turning left at Six Flags Parkway.

Pine Mountains: Pine Mountains is a scenic area of hilly woodlands, hiking paths and mountain-bike trails. President Franklin D Roosevelt's Little White House is nearby at Warm Springs (tel: (800) 864 7275; www.fdr-littlewhitehouse.org) as are the lovely Callaway Gardens with their butterfly centre and azalea gardens (tel: 1 800 225 5292; www.callawaygardens.com). Callaway is about a 1 hour 15 minute drive south of the city via I-85 and US Hwy-27.

Stone Mountain Park: Carved within the world's largest granite monolith is a huge bas relief Confederate Memorial, featuring Confederate President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee and General ‘Stonewall' Jackson. Located 26km (16 miles) east of Downtown, Stone Mountain Park has become more than just the monolith. The 1,280-hectare (3,200-acre) park also contains a resort hotel, spa and golf course, plus attractions like a skyride to the mountain top, the nightly laser show, scenic railroad, amphibious duck rides, antebellum plantation and an antique auto and music museum. Its newest attraction, Crossroads, is a re-creation of a 130-year-old town with craftsman, town characters and live shows. Though its unique Treehouse Challenge and Great Barn are geared for children, it is fun for everyone. The park's newest attractions include SkyHike, a course of interactive ropes and zip-lines, and Snow Mountain, a snow park which will be open from November to February and will include 10 snow tubing runs. Stone Mountain (tel: (770) 498 5690 or 1 800 401 2407; www.stonemountainpark.com) is located off Hwy-78. The park is open all year round 0600-2400, although individual attraction opening times may vary.