Top 15 Must-Do Activities in Brookhaven, Georgia

The city of Brookhaven, situated northeast of Atlanta, serves as a suburban extension of the state capital.

While officially incorporated as a city in 2012, its European settlement dates back to 1810 on land previously occupied by Native Americans, featuring structures that have stood since 1830.

As the area transitioned from farmland to residential neighborhoods, many residents of Atlanta began acquiring summer homes, remarkably close at less than 18 kilometers apart.

Offering a relaxed alternative to the bustling confines of Atlanta, Brookhaven presents an environment where visitors can choose to engage as actively or passively as they desire.

Below are some premier activities to experience in and around Brookhaven, Georgia.

1. Oglethorpe University Museum of Art

The Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, commonly referred to as OUMA, may be modest in size compared to larger national museums, yet it frequently showcases exhibitions of both national and international significance.

The museum boasts a permanent collection exceeding 700 items that collectively represent over seven centuries of history and culture.

With three primary gallery spaces, the collection encompasses masterpieces from notable nineteenth and twentieth-century artists, including Delacroix and Matisse.

Additionally, it houses a remarkable selection of Japanese porcelain that dates back four centuries.

A visit to the university campus is equally rewarding, with its Neogothic architecture serving as a picturesque backdrop for a range of public sculptures.

2. Murphey Candler Park

Covering 55 hectares, this park offers amenities such as tennis courts and a swimming pool, but its centerpiece is undoubtedly the lake.

The sizable freshwater lake supports various species of aquatic birds, alongside beavers and fish, making it attractive for fishing enthusiasts.

Among the park’s trails, the loop around the lake is especially popular, providing a scenic route through woodlands, wetlands, bridges, and picnic areas.

Overall, Murphey Candler Park features an ideal setting for outdoor activities without the need to venture far from Brookhaven.

3. Farmers Market

Operating throughout the principal growing seasons in Georgia, Brookhaven’s Farmers Market is more than just a shopping destination; it offers a chance to immerse oneself in the local ambiance every Saturday morning.

Visitors will discover an abundance of fresh produce and goods, with a primary focus on providing the community the healthiest and most flavorful food available.

Alongside a vivid selection of vegetables, one can find a generous assortment of fruits, including Georgia’s renowned peaches.

Furthermore, various vendors offer freshly baked bread and pastries, while others present an appealing breakfast option.

4. Chastain Park Golf Course

Located in nearby Buckhead, the Chastain Park Golf Course is an accessible public golf facility featuring 18 holes.

Acclaimed as one of the premier public courses in the Atlanta region, its gently rolling hills offer significant challenges while providing stunning views of the local skyline.

Established in 1937, the course was designed by prominent figures Chandler Egan, Walter Hagen, and the illustrious Bobby Jones, a notable golfer from Atlanta.

Affectionately known as North Fulton Golf Course, it has played host to prestigious events, including a pre-Masters PGA Tournament and the National Public Links Tournament.

5. Quickshot Shooting Range

The constitutional right to bear arms is a noteworthy aspect of American culture, particularly resonant in southern states such as Georgia.

While this right may prompt varying sentiments, it undeniably represents a significant cultural element.

Brookhaven’s Quickshot indoor shooting range offers a secure environment to delve into this aspect of culture.

The facility attracts a diverse clientele and provides comprehensive instruction on safe firearm usage.

6. Peachtree Creek Greenway

Established in 1999 to commemorate the new millennium, the Peachtree Creek Greenway is a versatile paved trail approximately 4 meters wide, extending nearly 12.5 miles.

The pathway connects the Atlanta BeltLine to Doraville, traversing through Brookhaven.

Accommodating cyclists, hikers, joggers, and dog-walkers, the greenway is available for year-round use.

The initiative led to the removal of 200 discarded tires and considerable debris, an astonishing transformation in light of the greenway’s current appeal.

7. Drepung Loseling Monastery

If the prospect of firearm usage at Quickshot Shooting Range is unappealing, the Drepung Loseling Monastery may be a more suitable destination.

This center for Tibetan Buddhism offers weekly sessions inviting newcomers to explore Tibetan Buddhist philosophy as imparted by the Dalai Lama and to learn the principles of meditation.

Through its outreach program, the monastery seeks to promote an understanding of Tibetan culture, encompassing its intricate artworks, some of which take years to complete.

8. Atlanta History Center

Situated in Buckhead, approximately 15 minutes from Brookhaven by car, the Atlanta History Center comprises a campus-like complex covering just over 13 hectares.

This center conserves several historical structures and exhibition spaces of significant importance.

Among these is Smith Farm, Atlanta’s oldest surviving farmhouse, which withstood the destruction team tactics of the Union Army during the Civil War.

In addition to housing one of the largest collections of Civil War artifacts in the country, the center is also home to the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum.

Here, the author crafted much of her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gone with the Wind, a literary classic that later earned multiple Academy Awards for its cinematic adaptation featuring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, as highlighted in the center’s exhibits.

9. Atlanta Memorial Park

Adjacent to the area, Atlanta Memorial Park spans 80 hectares of shaded woodlands and manicured lawns, serving as a memorial to those who perished during the Battle of Peachtree Creek.

Taking place in 1864 during the Civil War, the battle witnessed Union forces endeavoring to advance southward toward Atlanta, a stronghold for the Confederate states.

This park stands as the third largest in Atlanta and is particularly favored by the city’s middle and upper-class residents, who inhabit the neighboring upscale community.

10. Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Flowing just north of Brookhaven, the Chattahoochee River is easily accessible as part of a national recreation area that encompasses 15 individual sites along 48 miles of river.

The recreational zone, reachable by both land and water, was notably designated as the first National Water Trail in the United States.

Fishing enthusiasts can also partake in the opportunity to catch one of the 23 species of game fish inhabiting the river system, while additional facilities include a visitor center located at the Island Ford unit of the recreation area, just a few miles north of Brookhaven.

11. Archibald Smith Plantation Home

Located just 20 minutes north of Brookhaven along US-19, Roswell is home to the Archibald Smith Plantation Home.

Constructed in 1845, this historic residence belonged to one of the leading families in the area and gained recognition by being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, signifying its historical importance.

The home reflects the lifestyle of both the affluent white populace of Atlanta and its enslaved African American community prior to the Civil War’s transformative impact.

Interiors of the home retain numerous original architectural features and period furniture, while its grounds encompass slave quarters, a cookhouse, and a water well.

12. Zoo Atlanta

Acknowledged as one of the top ten zoos in the United States, Zoo Atlanta has its origins dating back to 1889 and currently hosts a diverse collection of approximately 220 species, amounting to 1,500 animals in total.

Among the variety of species are several endangered animals, including two giant pandas, making Zoo Atlanta one of the few locations in the U.S. to observe these rare creatures firsthand.

The zoo encompasses African savannah and rainforest exhibits while also emphasizing the conservation challenges facing wildlife today. The Trader Alley section, for instance, highlights wildlife trafficking issues and features Malayan sun bears among its residents.

13. Lake Lanier Islands

Approximately an hour’s drive north of Brookhaven lies Lake Lanier, one of the many artificial lakes surrounding the Atlanta region, recognized as one of Georgia’s most frequented attractions.

This locale features freshwater beaches with pristine white sands, reminiscent of those typically found in the Caribbean or on Indian Ocean islands.

The islands in the lake represent the peaks of hills that emerge from the water, collectively covering an area of around 485 hectares.

During the summer months, visitors can enjoy a water park and golf, while the colder months offer unique experiences such as snow tubing and Santa Claus visits.

14. Atlanta Botanical Garden

While not as expansive as Lake Lanier Islands, the Atlanta Botanical Garden situated in downtown Atlanta remains impressive.

The grounds are divided into several themed areas, including a formal garden featuring plants bordered by box hedges near the visitor center, as well as varied landscapes with naturalistic designs scattered throughout.

The garden complex also incorporates the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory and Orchid House, which sustain a plethora of tropical species that require specialized environmental conditions.

Children will particularly enjoy the 180-meter Canopy Walkway, which elevates visitors into the treetop canopy, reaching heights of up to 12 meters.

15. Delta Flight Museum

Delta Airlines, one of the notable multinational corporations based in the state capital, houses its museum in the original aircraft maintenance hangars dating back to the 1940s.

Numerous artifacts depicting Delta’s extensive flight history over eight decades are showcased, with the highlight being a 767 passenger jet entitled the Spirit of Delta.

Additionally, visitors have the unique opportunity to experience a Boeing 737-200 simulator, the only one available to the public in the United States.

The museum is located in Atlanta’s southern suburbs, roughly half an hour’s drive from Brookhaven.