Billed as the largest piece of exposed granite, Stone Mountain Park, about 30 minutes East of Atlanta, hosts the largest bas relief sculpture in the world. The carved surface covers 3 acres and depicts Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis riding their horses. Work began on the carving in 1923 by Gutzon Borgium, but a dispute with the managing association, saw Borgium’s exit and ultimately the carving wasn’t completely finished until 1972. Side note: After leaving this project, Borgium went on to carve another pretty famous site – Mount Rushmore.

Within the park, there are numerous attractions, dining and shopping locations, exhibits, and shows. You could spend a full day here and still not see it all, but for those on a tight timeline, I recommend you take in the carving and a quick trip to the top of the mountain.

For a fantastic view of the surrounding area, there is a Swiss-build cable car that will provide a quick ride to the top. Passing very close to the carving, this is as close as you can get to the memorial without a repelling rope. On the top, you’ll find a lot of stone, stone pools, and great views of the Park and skyline of downtown Atlanta in the distance.

For those with a bit more adventurous side, there are trails allowing you to climb to the top of the granite goliath. Along the way, you will find numerous engravings and etchings from early visitors dating back to the 1800s. The hike is at times very steep and is over a mile in length, so another option is to ride the SkyRide up and walk down the the trail. Be aware however, that parking for the Skyride is not close to the start of the trail, which will result in an additional mile and a half walk (but on much more level ground).

SAS Score: 4