Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

There's a whole world of life underfoot. As you step outside this weekend, keep an eye out for the plant life that calls the rock outcrop home. This sandwort (the white flower) and diamorpha (red succulent) thrive in the patches of sand and mud found at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Panola Mountain State Park and other sites around the NHA. Make sure to step around these beautiful plants as you hike! Photos: Ed Williams. Thanks Ed!

As we head into this weekend, check out some of the NHA's trails less travelled! Get some outdoor excursion ideas from this post from Explore Georgia:

We have our First to Finish prize winners for Monadnock Madness! Congrats to Katie V. and family for being the first group to hike Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Panola Mountain State Park and Stone Mountain Park as part of this year's hiking extravaganza. Way to go guys! You can start your own hiking adventure - and earn a prize - by heading over to monadnockmadness.com. And don't forget to earn an extra prize by hiking Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.

Looking for some music to accompany you on your rainy day? Check out this playlist of musicians who performed at the Lithonia Country Club! The Lithonia Country Club was a venue located north of historic downtown Lithonia, Georgia that was a gathering place for Black people from across the Atlanta area during the mid-20th century. American music greats including Ella Fitzgerald, BB King and more, played here!

Here's a glimpse into the work that Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE) does year 'round - check out their rescue and rehabilitation of an egret! You can support AWARE by signing up to run in the Nite Owl 5K, a FUNdraiser for the Wildlife center! Learn more here: https://www.awarewildlife.org/nightowl5k.

Did you see the Monastery of the Holy Spirit on Georgia Public Broadcasting? The monks recently got their vaccines to protect them against COVID-19. Check it out!

COVID-19 Update: Public health is of central importance to the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area and we are taking the COVID-19 very seriously. Some sites within the National Heritage Area remain open, while many are now closed to the public. This situation is changing rapidly and this list will be changed in accordance with the most recent information. Details about which sites are and are not open are listed below, with links included where relevant: Atlanta Wild Anima...l Rescue Effort (AWARE) - CLOSED. http://www.awarewildlife.org/aware-and-covid-19 Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve - Public programs are cancelled and Nature Center is closed; park remains open. https://arabiaalliance.org/fiel/parking-at-arabia-mountain/ Flat Rock Archives of Stonecrest, Georgia - CLOSED. Monastery of the Holy Spirit - Abbey Church and Monastic Heritage Area are CLOSED; grounds and trailhead are open. https://www.trappist.net/news/coronavirus-response Panola Mountain State Park - Park remains open, with some public progams (such as hikes) available. https://gastateparks.org/PanolaMountain This post will be updated as the situation changes. We urge you to follow the CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by maintaining safe distances between yourself and others, washing your hands often with soap and water, and staying at home if you are sick.

Have you gotten your park prescription lately? Being outdoors is good for your mental & physical health, so make sure to step outside this weekend

Planning a trip to the NHA? Check out our trails page as you plan your hike!

Have you tried out geocaching? Don't miss out on this high-tech adventure, another exciting way to explore the NHA. All you need is your smartphone or a GPS and you can find treasures - called "caches" - hidden across the landscape. Get started here: https://arabiaalliance.org/activities/geocaching/.

Have you explored the South River? Follow South River Watershed Alliance for updates about recreation on this beautiful waterway.

Happy Friday! Diamorpha and other wintertime plants are back at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, Panola Mountain State Park and other parts of the National Heritage Area. As you hike, keep an eye out for the fragile plant life that lives in the shallow depressions (called "solution pits") on the rock face. Happy hiking! Photos: Jo Thornton Hancock & Katherine McGuire

Thanks Ms. Harper for your help with this blog! Check it out and then try the recipes

Did you know that today is the winter solstice? That means it's the shortest day of the year - and, after today, the days will start to get longer again. Photo: Riley Golden IV

#tbt to warm springtime days on the South River! South River Watershed Alliance's river paddles are done for the year, but there's more to come in the future - follow the South River Watershed Alliance for more updates in the future. In the meantime, you can still enjoy the South River by hiking or biking the trails at Panola Shoals , DeCastro, or Lorainne Trailheads. Plan your trip here: https://arabiaalliance.org/tra/arabia-mountain-path-trails/.

Even in the cold, we can still get out and enjoy nature. In the solution pits at Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve and Panola Mountain State Park, plants like Diamorpha are beginning to grow. As you enjoy the trails, keep an eye out for the innocuous sandy patches and puddles underfoot - that's where these are plants live! Photos: Virginia Dick

Exciting news from Atlanta Wild Animal Rescue Effort (AWARE)!

Have you seen Welcome to Atlanta's DeKalb County's December DeKalb guide? You might recognize one of the attractions - check it out!

We've received a few questions about the holidays and visiting the National Heritage Area. Here's a breakdown: