Drag racing, glow skating, and sleeping in trees–evening activities shine bright in this close-to-Atlanta destination
Adventures continue into the evening in Henry County, Georgia, only 30 minutes south of Atlanta. From a sunset hike to a new take on camping, glow skating to drag racing, the good times roll after dark in this must-visit destination.
Catch ZZZ’s in the trees
Sleeping under the stars is one thing–but Panola Mountain State Park takes camping to another level, literally! Spend a tranquil night in the canopy as you lay in your “tree-boat,” viewing stars through shimmering branches. A treetop camp will be established in a secluded climbing tree for an overnight experience. Participants should bring dinner, breakfast and a sleeping bag. Non-climbers are allowed to camp. Register in advance, space is very limited. Cost is $90 per person. Parking is $5. Call 770-389-7801 to register.
The park after dark
End the day on a beautiful note with a moderately strenuous, 1.5-mile ranger-led hike up Panola Mountain and savor the sunset over Atlanta. The moonlight will guide hikers down to a lakeside campfire, where finger-lickin’ s’mores reward hikers. Bring flashlights, bug spray, hiking boots and water. Groups of 10 or more must register for a private hike. Reservations are nonrefundable. Ages 10 and up. Space is limited. Cost is $15 per person. Parking is $5. Call 770-389-7801 to register. For more outdoor evening events like Cosmic Archery and Astronomy Hikes, visit: GaStateParks.org/PanolaMountain.
Dinner hour power
End the day on a tasty note. From teens to adults, hone skills with cooking classes at Olive in a Bottle. The price includes a meal, recipe and a sample-sized bottle of olive oil or balsamic vinegar. Classes are usually available once a month. 3836 Highway 42, Locust Grove, Georgia
Get your glow on
Black lights, lasers, music, face painting, GLOW dodge ball, light shows and more take trampoline fun to another level at SkyZone McDonough during Glow Nights, 9-11 p.m., Friday and Saturdays. For ages 6 and up. 165 Mill Road, McDonough
Ongoing summer events at Starlite Family Fun Center keep the good times rolling. Skate your way through Minion Glow Skate and Troll Roll Glow Nights ($15) when the main lights are off in the rink and the walls glow. Bring your own hover board to Hover Board Night ($6), when boards are allowed on the skate floor. Two locations: McDonough, 425 Plaza Parkway, McDonough and Stockbridge, 3710 N Henry Boulevard, Stockbridge
Me-wow!
Schedule a Big Cat Feeding Tour, 6 to 7:30 p.m., during summer months, at Noah’s Ark. Guests witness first-hand the feeding of the Big Cats. This professionally-guided tour is educational, while sparking the spirit of discovery. Get up close and personal with the felines and watch the antics of Golden, one of the tigers, or Liberty, the park’s adorable lioness. 712 L G Griffin Rd., Locust Grove
Free your imaginative spirit at Creativity Café where, after 6 p.m., guests can “free paint.” Translation: you can bring your own wine or adult beverage! While there is not an instructor to guide you step-by-step through the process, you can still pick a design out of a book and have it stenciled on a canvas. Or, let the wine serve as creative juice and create your own masterpiece on canvas. Pottery painting and jewelry making are available, too; but, visitors may want to stick to canvas painting as these masterpieces can be taken with the artist without a waiting period for firing and other finishing processes. Creativity Café is open until 9 p.m. most evenings, 11 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, and until 6 p.m., Sundays. 2005 Jonesboro Rd., McDonough
Live music and trivia
Enjoy bites, brews, tunes and trivia at these local haunts:
Graffiti’s Pizza: A Greek Taverna
Offering Thirsty Thursday draft specials featuring Graffiti’s House Brew $1 drafts and half price wines 3-9:00 p.m. The free General Trivia Challenge starts at 7:30 p.m. with a chance to win Graffiti’s Pizza dough. 1170 GA-155 S, McDonough
Tierra Mia
Gather a group for Winedown Sip & Paint. Enjoy an entertaining and relaxing evening out with friends or co-workers. Draw, paint and sip. Perfect for a birthday celebration, team-building, meet-up gatherings, couples’ night and girlfriends’ hangout or just fun artistic entertainment, all happening in Downtown Hampton. Each session includes a two-and-a-half hour, step-by-step mobile art class on how to create a painting on canvas, use of art supplies, aprons, easels and a 16 x 20 canvas. 14 E Main St N, Hampton
Rev your engine
Atlanta Motor Speedway offers several opportunities to express your need for speed.
May through August, O’Reilly Auto Parts Friday Night Drags is a heads up, street-style drag racing series on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s eighth-mile pit road. The popular event averages 225 drag racers and 90 show cars in front of nearly 5,000 fans nightly. Drag racing action is open to any automobile and any driver possessing a valid driver’s license. In addition to the on-track drag racing action, a Show-N-Shine car show also takes place each Friday night. All vehicles are welcome to enter and awards are given for the top three finishers in each class. Pit gates open at 6 p.m. for competitors and grandstand gates open at 6:30 p.m. for fans. Show-N-Shine entries are accepted until 7:15 p.m. and a mandatory drivers’ meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. Spectator entry is $10. Competitors pay $20 to drag race or enter the Show-N-Shine, or a combo-ticket to enter both can be purchased for $30.
Also at Atlanta Motor Speedway, heat up summer nights with Thursday Thunder, every Thursday night, May 31-August 4. Drivers as young as eight-years-old come from all over the nation to battle each night across eight different classes for the right to be called champions. Join in a smorgasbord of games, contests, giveaways and hot on-track racing excitement. Grandstand tickets are $5 for adults and ages 5 and under are admitted free for each evening of fun and grass-roots racing on the paved quarter-mile track. Gates open at 6 p.m. and feature races start at 7:30 p.m. 1500 Tara Place, Hampton
Score!
Winter through early spring, cheer on the Georgia Revolution FC, a minor league soccer team playing in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), which operates in the fourth division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. As an NPSL team, this minor league team can participate in the U.S. Open Cup. For around $10 a ticket, catch a home game at Henry County High School, 401 East Tomlinson Street, McDonough.
At the same location, the Georgia Reserves, part of the Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League, showcase their foot skills and admission to games is free.
If you go
Visitors can rest easy, choosing from a variety of lodging options, including name brand hotels or sleeping under the stars at one of the beautiful campsites in the area. Whether looking for an adventure-packed trip or an easy-going escape, visitors will leave with lasting memories. www.VisitHenryCountyGeorgia.com