Don’t let the name fool you, Georgia’s Lake Country has a plethora of experiences to offer beyond the lakes of Oconee and Sinclair. Whether you’re looking for exercise, sunshine, or simply to enjoy nature, we’ve got you covered.

Discover our four communities’ favorite ways to go beyond the lakes in four days in Georgia’s Lake Country.

1. Madison

Animal Adventures: Excited to do more off the lake? There’s no need to hold your horses, because there is a lot to explore in Madison such as Southern Cross Guest Ranch and Georgia Safari Conservation Park . Southern Cross Guest Ranch offers an authentic dude ranch experience featuring morning and afternoon rides to visitors and overnight guests every day. Bring your own horse or saddle up one of theirs and enjoy miles of trails. And for visitors looking to explore more of their wild side, Georgia Safari Conservation Park invites explorers into the wilds of Africa with guided safari game drives and up-close animal encounters.

Madison-Morgan Meander’s Farm Route: Grab your bike or car keys to embark on the farmland around Madison with the Madison-Morgan Meander. The Meander gives visitors a chance to explore more by terrain challenge or interest. One of our favorites is the Farm Route, where cyclists pedal past historic farmland and have the opportunity to stop and enjoy beloved farm locations.  People may even choose to stop to enjoy a seasonal u-pick experience at CJ Orchards or Sweets Berry Farm. 

2. Greensboro

Golf at Reynolds Lake Oconee: The golf experiences at Reynolds Lake Oconee combine variety, challenge and pure joy with a rare collection of courses that reflects each architect’s passion and character. Together, these iconic figures form a “Mount Rushmore” of golf architects, with their creative likenesses molded into every fairway, bunker and green at Reynolds.

Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds: Woven into 100 acres of beautiful countryside, the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds encompasses an unmatched, multi-faceted selection of shooting challenges and sporting endeavors. An adventure for all ages, this luxurious sporting facility features a twenty-station sporting clays course, a five-stand shooting range, a sporting clays instructional and games area, an air rifle range and an archery range. If you’re not a shooter, no problem. There’s an endless list of exciting outdoor activities, including fishing, kayaking, canoeing and hiking. 

Reynolds Lake Oconee has recently added two exciting new amenities—an aerial adventure course and a falconry experience—to its offerings available at Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds. The Aerial Adventure course features 24 unique challenges and elements and allows guests to “choose their own adventure” from beginner, intermediate, and advanced routes. All platforms and ropes are attached to existing trees on the course, which covers 3.75 acres with 6,300 feet of cable. The Falconry Experience is under the direction of Linda Spence, a Master Falconer of birds of prey for over 15 years. Guided by Linda, Members and resort guests can interact with and experience the thrill of handling trained birds of prey, including an Aplomado Falcon, two Harris Hawks, and a Eurasian Eagle Owl. She explains the program as “take a hawk for a walk,” with guests receiving an introduction to the ancient sport of falconry before taking to the trails along the lake at Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds. During the walk, the birds look for prey and do what comes naturally as they hunt for food. Linda will also demonstrate the talents of these birds and their native instincts along the walk.

3. Eatonton

Butterflies and Blooms in the Briar Patch: Located just outside of historic downtown Eatonton, Butterflies and Blooms in the Briarpatch features five acres of green space for a variety of flowers (both perennials and annuals), plants, and various unique insects who call the park home. There is a quarter-mile soft walking track around the gardens that provides visitors of all ages the opportunity to take a peaceful walk around multiple water features and natural boggy areas. Community volunteers maintain the park and the programs that periodically occur on the grounds.

Rock Eagle: Rock Eagle 4-H Center, a property operated by the University of Georgia, offers extensive outdoor education programs that provide team building and learning opportunities to thousands of regional campers each year. The services at the expansive Rock Eagle 4-H Center complex range from interactive historic exhibitions to a high ropes course on the property.

4. Milledgeville

Lockerly Arboretum: Whether you are interested in horticulture, botany, or simply enjoy being in nature, walking at Lockerly Arboretum offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It’s a chance to connect with the outdoors, appreciate the beauty of carefully curated gardens, and enjoy a peaceful stroll through a lovely landscape in Milledgeville, Georgia. The mile-long trail is completely paved and visitors can drive the loop or walk it. There are restrooms on-site as well as a picnic area near the pond in the center of the trail.  Looking for more trails in Milledgeville? See the full list. 

Disc Golf at Walter B. Williams Park: Play disc golf in Milledgeville! Walter B. Williams Park has a modern state-of-the-art 18-hole disc golf course. The course features a variety of holes weaving in and out of forests, near a pond, and through open fields.  The course is 15 minutes from the lake area and only a short drive to downtown Milledgeville where you can grab a bite to eat and relax after a match.