When you hear someone talk about the state of Georgia, forest and waterfalls are probably not the first thing that come to mind. Georgia however which is home to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the southern part of the Appalachian Trail and stretches from mountains to seashore and marshland to forest has some amazing wildlife preserves. The state has 48 state parks, 15 historic sites and numerous preserves and National Monuments.  

Just ninety minutes north of Atlanta is one of the state's most popular parks, Amicalola State Park. Part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, the park protects more than 800 acres of forest. Home to many hiking trails it is the ending/starting point for the Appalachian Trail and boasts a guest lodge, camping areas, cabins, restaurant and hike in hotel all within its boundaries. You can also fish, zipline and see Georgia's tallest waterfall. 

With so many miles of coastline California has no shortage of beaches and the city of Los Angeles is no exception. Family fun, seclusion, water sports, biking, blading, arcade games, restaurants, roller coasters, bonfires and sand castles; LA's beaches have a little something for everyone.  Here is a list of some of our favorite beaches in and around Los Angeles County. 

Dockweiler State beach 
Address: 12000 Vista del Mar Playa del Rey, CA 90293
Best Known For: Fire Pits 
Dockweiler is a favorite among locals and adventurers. Located on the back side of the Los Angeles Airport you can both learn to hang glide here or spend the night roasting marshmallows at one of the beaches fire rings. The beach is quite expansive with more than 3.5 miles of beach. With ample parking and more than 100 full RV hookup sites this beach can get quite busy especially in the summer months and evenings. Its proximity to the airport makes it a little noisy, but all that is forgotten when you're watching the sunset at your fire pit. Several days a week you can also learn to hang glide on the beach for a nominal fee.

Even the most avid travelers enjoy a beach vacation from time to time. Few things are better for kicking back and forgetting your worldly worries. And, isn’t that what getting away is all about? Aside from getting a badass tan, spending time by the beach can be meditative and refreshing. It also provides the opportunity to catch up on those books you never get a chance to read.

The only trouble is, when most of us think about beach destinations, we consider places like the Bahamas. You know what we’re talking about; it’s all white sand beaches and blazing sunshine. You could even drink from coconut skins and find shade in those iconic beach huts. The trouble is, of course, that the Bahamas is a mean 1,362 miles from our shores. Depending on where you are located this can be a stretch of time and money. 

But, all hope is not lost. In truth, there are some killer beaches closer to home which you could make the most of. We have some fantastic beach resorts here in the U.S., including the iconic Miami beach. And, of course, we have destinations like North Carolina’s Outer Banks on our doorsteps. ​