Hillcrest Orchards Apple Pickin’ Jubilee 9696 Hwy 52 E., Ellijay 706-273-3838; hillcrestorchards.net Cost: $7; Petting Zoo $3. Open: Apple Pickin’ Jubilee through Oct. 27 y daughter Micah and I took a day trip to North Georgia to visit the Hillcrest Farm not far from Ellijay for their apple picking jubilee. The drive was very scenic as we passed pumpkin patches, cows and horses in anticipation of our full day planned at Hillcrest. We arrived just in time to find great seats for the pig race! My daughter and several other children were selected to go up on stage to cheer the pigs by waving flags. There were even trophies for the child with the winning pig and participation ribbons for everyone. Next, we took the short walk to the petting zoo. “So much fun!” my daughter kept repeating as she held the baby chicks and kittens. She was brave enough to pet the little calf but kept her distance from the goats. Later, we took a wagon ride to see more of the farm, which includes a miniature golf course, pony rides and a huge playground. When my daughter saw the ponies she was sold. We hopped off the wagon and ended up riding the pony two times! This farm gave us the opportunity to really enjoy so many things that you cannot enjoy in the city. We took advantage of everything that the farm had to offer, including the jumpy inflatable pillow, gigantic slide, playground and the little trikes. We topped off our amazing adventure with apple picking from the “dwarf” apple trees and we milked Buttercup, a real cow! Micah kept saying “this is the best place ever”! On our way out, we stopped by the gift shop to pick up some apple cider slush, a sweet end to a great day! – Caren Davis Lightfoot
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e went on the Full Moon Hike at Panola Mountain State Park with our twin 11-yearold girls. The 1.5 mile hike began just before sunset and was led by a state park ranger, who shared stories of the land’s history along with facts about the ecosystem and plant life along the way (we saw resurrection moss in action!) Our group hiked to a pristine lake that in itself was worth the trip. Then we began the ascent up the mountain, being careful to not step on the various forms of lichen that the ranger said took hundreds of years to form. Minutes later, we saw the most incredible, unobstructed view of the Atlanta skyline and sat down on the granite to watch a magnificent sunset. We heard only the sounds of crickets and cicadas, as well as the “oohs” and “aahs” from the hikers around us. It was hard to believe we were only 18 miles from downtown Atlanta. We continued climbing to another vantage point, where we saw both Stone Mountain and Arabia Mountain at dusk. By the time we reached the summit, the moon had risen over the horizon and it was nighttime. Then came the fun part – we had to descend the short, but steep path down the mountain with flashlights. Fortunately, there were numerous footholds in the granite and it wasn’t difficult. As we neared the end of the 90-minute hike, one of my daughters said, “I loved it! When are we coming back?” – Rebecca R. Leffler
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Full Moon Hike at Panola Mountain State Park 2600 Hwy 155 SW, Stockbridge 770-389-7801; gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain Cost: $7 per person, $5 parking per car Open: Advance registration required; Upcoming dates Oct. 19 and Nov. 16.
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atlantaparent.com
Family Fun Guide
October 2013 Atlanta Parent 51