Dekalb reveals different facets along its trails: Stone Mountain Park has 15 miles of wooded hiking and walking trails. The Arabia PATH network includes more than 30 miles of paved trails through rock outcrops, flower fields, and streams. Wooded character on one hand, paved routes with changing landscape features on the other—these differences provide practical guidance for choosing your own trail.
Trails, Rock, and Wetlands
Stone Mountain Park is located within 3,200 acres of natural beauty. The Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve offers a different landscape: this 2,500-acre protected area includes mixed forest, rock outcrops, a stream, lakes, and a historic structure. For a walk through a wetland, visit Constitution Lakes Park. The 125-acre wildlife refuge has paved trails and a boardwalk; its wetlands provide habitat for birds, fish, and other wildlife, as well as a diverse range of plants.
Beyond these individual areas, DeKalb County's trail network extends for more than 120 miles. It connects residential neighborhoods, parks, and historic sites across the region. Trails thus serve not only as a way to experience nature, but also as links between green spaces and places with a history.
Museums and Regional History
The Michael C. Carlos Museum's permanent collection spans a broad range of cultures: it includes art and history from Africa, the Americas, ancient Egypt, Nubia, the Middle East, ancient Greece and Rome, and South Asia. The museum also offers innovative programs for visitors of all ages.
The DeKalb History Center has its museum and archives on the ground floor of the historic DeKalb County Courthouse. Buildings maintained by the Center include the Benjamin Swanton House, the Biffle Cabin, and the Barber Cabin on West Trinity Place in Decatur; all three are antebellum structures. The Flat Rock Archive also includes the Historic Flat Rock Cemetery, with burials dating back to the era of enslavement. Confirm visiting arrangements for the cemetery before you arrive.
The Waffle House Museum recreates the interior of the original restaurant, which opened in Avondale Estates over Labor Day weekend in 1955. The exhibit level features the menu and uniforms, along with a jukebox and the Waffle House Index. Alongside the recreated interior, objects and themes from the restaurant's history are also a focus.
Science, Nature, and Discovery
At the Fernbank Museum, you'll encounter dinosaurs, live animals, ancient fossils, prehistoric cultures, and new scientific discoveries. The Giant Screen Theater offers a different focus: its immersive, four-story screen shows documentaries about science and nature. WildWoods adds an elevated walkway leading from the museum terrace into the treetops, as well as immersive and interactive exhibits for younger children and tweens. Exhibitions may change, and weather conditions may also affect access to the walkway.
At the David J. Sencer CDC Museum, award-winning exhibitions and innovative programs demonstrate the value of public health. The permanent exhibition The Story of CDC traces the CDC's origins and early history through its development into a public health agency that emphasizes prevention programs. Gallery content may evolve. For current astronomy, the Jim Cherry Memorial Planetarium also offers programs for school groups, adults, and children. Check the schedule before you arrive.
Local Cuisine and Getting Around
The Buford Highway International Corridor is a seven-mile dining district. Its culinary offerings include lengua tacos, pho, banh mi, and dim sum. This selection adds a distinctive culinary dimension to your explorations of the area's landscapes and museums.
DeKalb has MARTA rail and bus services, as well as rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft. Check current routes and services for your travel date.
Discover more destinations: Stone Mountain, Decatur, Lithonia, Tucker, Chamblee, Greene, Pike County, Cook.
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