Georgia is a popular tourist destination because there’s so much to see and do, and locals are lucky to have access to these spots close to home. A break from work and school has many benefits, and you don’t have to visit a far-off destination to reap the rewards. If that sounds good to you, here are the spots we recommend for a family staycation near Alpharetta.

Red Top Mountain State Park

There are many reasons families opt for a staycation, from time or budget constraints to less preparation, and one of our favorite places to go is the Red Top Mountain State Park. It’s one of the best parks in the area and is just 28 miles from Alpharetta. This popular spot lies on the shores of 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona and offers many outdoor recreationalactivities, making it a terrific place to reconnect with nature.

Stay overnight — or longer — with the park’s various accommodations, including two and three-bedroom cottages, six yurts that sleep four people, and a spacious campground. Pick from one of 93 tent, trailer, and RV campsites that offer 30 or 50-amp electric service. Most spots also have a picnic table, and firewood and ice are available at the visitor center.

During your stay, you can take in the scenery while you go hiking on 15 miles of trails or explore the short, paved path behind the park office. The family can go swimming, fishing, or floating around the lake. Water skiing is another popular activity that many campers enjoy. You can bring your own boat or rent one from a nearby marina. History buffs will also want to explore the Allatoona Pass Battlefield and the reconstructed 1860s homestead on the park grounds.

• Location: 50 Lodge Road S.E. in Acworth.
• Park Hours: 7 a.m. to dark.
• Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

White Oak Pastures

Who doesn’t love a farm? We do, that’s for sure, and what better place to spend your staycation than on a real working ranch? White Oak Pastures offers an immersive agricultural experience that your family will never forget. Since 1866, the farmers here have upheld their core values of animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

Spend the night in one of the rustic accommodations. You won’t find a TV or WiFi here, but you will find a place to digitally detox from your busy everyday life. Book one of five cabins, or bring your trailer and set it up in the RV park. The pull-through spots range from 40 to 70 feet and include 30- or 50-amp service. We love The Pond House. This charming cabin sits on the peninsula of a 15-acre pond and offers a boat dock and scenic views.

When you stay at White Oak Pastures, you can rent camping and fishing gear, go on a horseback ride, and take a self-guided tour of the property. The kids will learn where their food comes from and all about the natural way to raise animals, like the resident cow, sheep, chickens, goats, turkeys, ducks, and pigs.

The on-site, open-air restaurant serves yummy meals made with ingredients from the farm for lunch and dinner. Stop by the market before you head home and pick up various items, like homemade preserves, pasture-raised eggs, hand-made cheese, and seasonal sausage.

• Location: 22775 Hwy. 27 in Bluffton.
• Hours: Check-in is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Check-out is at 11 a.m. daily.

Treetop Hideaways

Our next pick for a family-friendly staycation near Alpharetta is in Chattanooga. This destination will take just two hours to drive there, and it’s well worth the effort. Tell the kids you’re going to stay in a luxury treehouse and watch how fast they load up in the car.

Treetop Hideaways offerstwo treetop rentals within Lookout Mountain’s old-growth forest. They’re everything you imagine a treehouse should be, plus they offer the efficiency of a home and the amenities of a boutique hotel. Each property includes a kitchenette with drinks and snacks, a complimentary bottle of wine, and a fire pit for making s’mores.

Owners built each one primarily from reclaimed wood and other materials. You’ll notice stunning unique features that you won’t find anywhere, like a glassed-in tree, a whiskey barrel shower, and floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll love this retreat so much that you and the kids will want to stay forever.

• Location: 576 Chattanooga Valley Road in Flintstone.

Embassy Suites by Hilton

Traveling with children in tow can be tricky sometimes. That’s why we recommend a staycation at The Embassy Suites. It’s the perfect solution for a family because it offers spacious connecting suites that comfortably accommodate everyone. Book your private room with a king bed and a living area with a couch, armchair, microwave, and mini fridge, while the kids can share a room with two queens and their own 32-inch TV.

Everyone in the family will enjoy the free made-to-order breakfast, and there’s an evening reception with cocktails for parents. Check out this hotel’s indoor pool, then fill up with a delicious meal. Cascades, the on-site restaurant, is a terrific place to fill up after a day of sightseeing. Its menu is filled with carefully considered Southern cuisine, like crab cakes, Surf & Turf dinner, and specialty Angus burgers.

This hotel is close to everything, like the North Point Mall, Fairway Social, The Main Event, and Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, so you can experience everything the city has to offer. Catch a live concert or shop until you drop without the fuss. The hotel also offers free parking, a business center, pet-friendly rooms, and a fitness center.

• Location: 5955 North Point Pkwy in Alpharetta.
• Hours: Check-in is at 4 p.m., and check-out is at 11 a.m.

Well, there you go. The staff at Crème de la Crème of Alpharetta (Haynes Bridge Road) put together this list of family-friendly staycation destinations in Georgia. Where does your family like to go that’s close to home? Share your ideas with us so we can pass them on to other local parents. Drop us a line right now.