Chewacla State Park
Auburn, Ala.
Story and photos
by Sarah Young
A tank of gas, swimsuit, cooler, sack
lunch, tennis shoes and Frisbee are all you
need for a fun-filled afternoon at Chewacla
State Park in Auburn. An inexpensive day of
play is a guarantee when visiting this beautifully
preserved piece of property. After
entering the park, you’ll drive up a winding
road. Wildflowers, trees and wildlife will be
the sights you see as you drive up this
mountain-like pass. The songs of birds are
much more relaxing than the tunes from
your radio, so roll down the window and
enjoy the sounds of nature.
When you come to the top of the hill,
there is a grassy field to your left and a
pavilion. This is the ideal place for a picnic
and a game of Frisbee or football. Take a
blanket or some folding chairs and enjoy an
outdoor lunch with your family. The kids
will enjoy the open area where they can play
toss or blow bubbles. After you’ve enjoyed
a peaceful picnic, there are lots more places
to play.
Across the road from the pavilion and
field, there is a hiking trail down through the
woods. The path is steep, but when you
make it to the bottom, the scenery is worth
the trip. You will feel as though you’ve left
the plains and taken a trip to the mountains.
A rocky creek flows down from a waterfall,
and this is a beautiful place to let the kids
play. Make sure you’re wearing a swimsuit
or play clothes, because the kids will want
to skip rocks and get their toes wet. This is
a perfect place to snap some pictures of
your children doing what they do best—
being children.
After you’ve had enough playtime down
by the waterfall, you can walk back to the
car and drive to the next area of the park.
If you drive down the hill, there is another
spot to stop for photos. There is an area on
the right side of the road where the view
is exquisite—and you’ll wonder if you’ve
ended up in the mountains of North
Georgia. After snapping some pictures, hop
back in the car and continue your trip.
Remember to pay attention to the woods
around you. You’ll probably see some
wildlife. Hawks, deer and turkeys are often
sighted in the park.
If you’re a family of athletes, the tennis
courts might be your next stop. There is also
a playground where the kids can climb,
swing and run. But if it’s too hot to be outside
without water nearby, there’s a place to
swim near the entrance. Chewacla State
Park has a 26-acre lake with a lakefront
beach designated just for swimming. In the
middle of the lake, there’s a floating diving
board. If your kids are swimmers, they’re
sure to enjoy jumping repeatedly. There are
restrooms with a changing area, so that you
and your children can change into dry
clothes before heading home. Along the shore, there is another swing set. This is a
perfect place for your little ones to play
while the older children swim. Picnic tables
and shady places to sit are nearby, too.
Fishing and canoeing are popular activities
in the park, so if you decide not to swim,
you can still enjoy the lake.
On the weekends, it is $3 for adults and
$1 for children to enter the park. This is an affordable place to get away and have a day
of outdoor fun. Pack a bag of outside toys
and take the kids to release some energy.
They will sleep soundly after a day of nonstop
outdoor fun. With all that this park
offers, your children won’t want to leave until
the sun goes down. This is a perfect day trip
to take on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
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Hours:10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. EST
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