Gifts from Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites make perfect holiday stocking stuffers

ATLANTA — Georgia’s State Parks & Historic Sites make holiday shopping easy by providing gift ideas that are practical while helping protect Georgia’s natural and historic resources. Whether your loved ones enjoy camping, hiking and mountain biking or just like to hit the golf course on the weekend, a gift from Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites is one that easily encompasses the outdoor adventurers on your shopping list and can be enjoyed well after the holidays are past.



Annual ParkPass

Perfect for friends that enjoy park hopping, the Annual ParkPass provides access to all 48 state parks without having to worry about paying parking fees for each visit. Normally parking fees are $5. Give your special loved one unlimited access to miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, kayaking and canoeing waterways, lakeside beaches and breathtaking mountain vistas. The Annual ParkPass costs $50 or $25 for seniors 62 and older. To purchase, call 770-389-7401.



Membership to Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites

For those “green” friends who have a serious love for protecting Georgia’s natural resources, a “Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites” membership is the perfect gift. In addition to enjoying the benefits of a free Annual ParkPass, Historic Site passes, a free night of camping or round of golf, and many additional perks, a Friends membership helps protect Georgia’s natural and historic resources. Membership levels begin at $45 for an individual and $70 per family. Friends members support state parks and historic sites in a variety of avenues, including volunteering, contributing financially or seeking legislative support. To join, visit www.friendsofgastateparks.org or call 1-888-948-2092.



Golf Escapes

Golf lovers on your holiday list will enjoy the diversity and affordability of Georgia Sate Parks’s eight golf courses. Packages include greens fees, carts, and accommodations in hotel-style lodge rooms or cottages. Prices begin at $65. Natural scenery and quality courses combined with affordability make Georgia’s state park golf packages a practical gift. To order packages, visit www.golfgeorgia.com or call 1-800-434-0982.



Historic Site Annual Pass

Have a grandfather that loves to reminisce about days past? A Georgia Historic Site Pass is sure to offer him a year’s worth of enjoyment with unlimited admission to all of Georgia’s state historic sites. Visit Georgia’s Civil War battlefields, picturesque plantations, ancient Indian mounds, Revolutionary War forts, and Native American and presidential homes. The pass is $35 per family, $20 per adult and $15 per child (17 and younger). Passes can be purchased at the historic sites, which can be found on www.GeorgiaStateParks.org.



For help in planning a holiday staycation, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org or call 1-800-864-PARK (7275). Ask about lower Lodge-ical Rates starting at $59 per night. Georgia’s 63 state parks and historic sites are operated by the Department of Natural Resources.