Do You Know Much About History?

APEX MUSEUM The African-American Panoramic Experience highlights African-American contributions to world and Atlanta history. Artifacts, photography, and multimedia presentations on the African-American cultural experience from past to present. $3-$4. Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m., Feb., June, July, August only. 135 Auburn Ave. 404-523-2739. www.apexmuseum.org.

ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER Includes Atlanta History Museum, featuring signature and traveling exhibitions; 1845 Tullie Smith Farm; 1928 Swan House mansion; and research archives/special libraries. $10-$12. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sun., noon-5:30 p.m. 130 W. Paces Ferry Road. 404-814-4000. www.atlantahistorycenter.com

ATLANTA PRESERVATION CENTER Independent advocate for historic preservation offers guided tours of idowntown, Fox Theatre, Sweet Auburn, Miss Daisy´s Druid Hills and more. $5-$10. 327 St. Paul Ave. 404-688-3350. www.preserveatlanta.com.

CYCLORAMA AND CIVIL WAR HISTORY MUSEUM Painting-in-the-round depicts the Battle of Atlanta. Light/sound effects, 3-D figures, narration. $5-$7. Daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 800 Cherokee Ave. 404-624-1071. www.atlantanation.com/cyclorama.html.

GEORGIA STATE CAPITOL Legislative chambers, governor´s office, secretary of state´s office, small natural-history museum. Free tours year-round; reservation suggested. Mon.-Fri., 10 and 11 a.m., 1 and 2 p.m. Capitol Hill at Washington Street. 404-656-2844. www.sos.state.ga.us/tours/default.htm.

1 GOVERNOR´S MANSION 1968 Greek revival mansion features antiques from the first half of the 19th century. Free tours. Tues.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. 391 W. Paces Ferry Road. 404-261-1776. www.gov.state.ga.us/about_mansion.shtml.

HERNDON HOME 1910 residence of Alonzo Franklin Herndon, a slave-born Georgian who founded Atlanta Life Insurance Company. Tours by appointment only. $3-$5. 587 University Place. Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 404-581-9813. www.herndonhome.org.

JIMMY CARTER LIBRARY AND MUSEUM The research library and museum highlights presidential memorabilia as well as a changing roster of exhibitions often focused on art with a global reach, from Chinese embroidery to 9/11. $5-$7. Museum: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m.; Sun., noon-4:45 p.m. Library: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4:45. 441 Freedom Parkway. 404-865-7100, www.jimmycarterlibrary.org.

KENNESAW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Civil War battle fought June 18- July 2, 1864; Sherman had 100,000 men, Johnston had 63,000. Seventeen miles of walking trails, interspersed with cannons, earthworks and interpretive signs. $1-$2. Daily, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Old Highway 41, Marietta. 770-427-4686. www.nps.gov/kemo/index.htm.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Tours conducted daily by rangers. Civil Rights museum. Points of interest include MLK´s birth home, Ebenezer Baptist Church and Fire Station No. 6. King´s crypt is nearby in the reflecting pool of the separate King Center. Free. Daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; June 15-Aug. 15, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. 450 Auburn Ave. 404-526-8923. www.nps.gov/malu/.

OAKLAND CEMETERY Historical graves from early Atlanta builders to Civil War soldiers to leaders of industry to Civil Rights pioneers. First six acres of cemetery were purchased by the city in 1850. Open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. Free. 248 Oakland Ave. 404-688-2107. Check www.oaklandcemetery.com guided tour dates.

MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE AND MUSEUM Apartment building where Mitchell wrote much of Gone with the Wind has been moved, burned, restored, burned again and restored again. Tours. Also hosts lecture series featuring notable writers and journalists. $5-$12. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 990 Peachtree St. 404-249-7015. www.gwtw.org.

2WREN´S NEST Home of author and journalist Joel Chandler Harris.Tours, field trips and special programs. $4-$7. Tues.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 1050 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd. 404-753-7735.

One Big, Happy FamilyHere are eight of the area's most popular entertainment venues for Mom, Pop and the kids.

AMERICAN ADVENTURES Family amusement park designed for children under 12. Includes mini-golf course, go-carts, rides, the Foam Factory and Fun Forest. $5-$15. 250 N. Cobb Parkway, Marietta. 770-948-9290. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

3CENTENNIAL OLYMPIC PARK Twenty-one acre park hosts variety of events, including On the Bricks concert series. Site of the Fountain of Rings, commermorating 1996 Olympics. Marietta Street at Techwood Drive. 404-223-4412.

LAKE LANIER ISLANDS Year-round resort with lake houses, golf, rental boats, summertime Beach & Waterpark and Equestrian Center. Holiday Road, Buford. 770-932-7200.

SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA Largest theme park in Georgia with roller coasters, family rides, live performances and other attractions. $26.99-$43.99. 7561 Six Flags Parkway, Austell. 770-948-9290.

SIX FLAGS WHITE WATER South´s largest water park, featuring water slides, wave pool and Cliffhanger, one of the tallest freefalls in the world. $21.99-$31.99. 250 N. Cobb Parkway, Austell. 770-948-9290. Open daily May 14-Aug. 8.

STONE MOUNTAIN PARK The park surrounding the world´s largest mass of exposed granite features a railroad, sky lift, antebellum plantation, riverboat, Antique Car and Treasure Museum, golf, tennis, campground, swimming, petting farm, pedal boats. Crossroads, a mock 1870s rural Southern town with activities and featured events like the Tall Tales of the South 4-D Theater and the Great Barn. Laser show nightly during the summer. $8 park admission. Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690. Daily, 6 a.m.-midnight.

4SUN VALLEY BEACH The largest swimming pool in the South with 1-1/2 acres of water surrounded by sandy beaches, water slides, log rolls, and diving platforms. $14-$16. 5350 Holloman Road, Powder Springs. 770-943-5900. April 30-May 15, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Starting May 16, daily 11-6 p.m.; starting May 21, daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

WORLD OF COCA-COLA Traces the history of Coca-Cola using state of the art technology. Also, a futuristic soda fountain and a TradeMart. 55 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. 404-676-5151.

Science Is Fun!While everyone awaits next fall's opening of the huge Georgia Aquarium, they can still bone up on their botany and biology by visiting these fine local institutions.

ATLANTA BOTANICAL GARDEN Displays of unusual regional flora with endangered plants from around the world in the Dorothy Chapman Fuqua Conservatory. Also, interactive children´s garden, year-round classes, exhibits and plant shows. $7-$12. Tues.-Sun., 9 a.m.-7 p.m., April-Sept.; or Tues.-Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Oct.-March. 1345 Piedmont Ave. 404-876-5859. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION´S GLOBAL HEALTH ODYSSEY Interactive educational facility to teach visitors about the CDC, public health and disease prevention. Appointment required. Free. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 1600 Clifton Road. 404-639-0830. www.cdc.gov/global.

CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER Natural science exhibits, activities and trails on 127 acres of forest and marsh on banks of the Chattahoochee River. Guided walks Sat.-Sun., 1 and 3 p.m. $3-$5. Guided canoe trips for ages 6 and up, Thurs.-Sat., 6 p.m.-dusk, May-Sept. 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell. 770-992-2055. www.chattnaturecenter.com.

5FERNBANK MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Dinosaurs and frogs and fossils, oh my. Classic rainy day destination for children and their parents, Fernbank features an IMAX theater, traveling shows, interactive science exhibitions and an array of educational opportunities. Mon.-Sat., 10-5 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. $10-$12. 767 Clifton Road. 404-929-6300. www.fernbank.edu/museum.

FERNBANK SCIENCE CENTER Planetarium, permanent and special exhibitions, reference library, observatory, forest walks, gardens, birding, recycling demos. Not to be confused with natural history museum (above). Mon., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tues.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. 156 Heaton Park Drive. 678-874-7102. www.fernbanksciencecenter.org/.

6ZOO ATLANTA Houses more than 1,000 animals including giant pandas, elephants, Sumatran tigers, black rhinos, zebras and Chantek, the first orangutan to use sign language. $12-$17. Daily, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 800 Cherokee Ave. 404-624-5600. www.zooatlanta.org.

Nature NearbyThe sprawl of malls and highways is rapidly overtaking Atlanta's reputation as a tree-blessed city. But greenery still has a toehold in a few spots. Here are nine of our favorites.

CASCADE SPRINGS NATURE PRESERVE A good place for quiet walks in the city, the 120-acre preserve includes a quarry, nursery, and hiking trails leading past a creek. It offers a trail accessible to handicapped visitors. 2852 Cascade Road.

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Walking trails, fishing and boating along a 48-mile stretch of the Chattahoochee River. Palisades section near Atlanta is particularly spectacular and has some whitewater. But pleasant hiking can be found on all the parcels of parkland that form a ¨string of pearls¨ along the river downstream from Buford Highway to Peachtree Creek, and the entire stretch is pleasant for canoes and rafts. Open daily, dawn to dusk. $2 parking fee. www.nps.gov/chat. Units throughout north Fulton and Gwinnett.

7COCHRAN MILL NATURE PRESERVE AND PARK Trails for hiking, jogging and horseback riding in south Fulton´s ¨Chattahoochee Hill Country.¨ Ropes course, wildlife habit, camping, playground, picnics. 6875 Cochran Mill Road, Palmetto. Nature preserve, 770-306-0914; park, 770-463-6303.

FREEDOM PARK Park near Little Five Points forms backbone of bike path from downtown to Stone Mountain. Park was created after residents defeated a Department of Transportation plan to cut through more neighborhoods with a highway. Near Moreland Avenue and North Avenue. Path maps can be viewed at PATH Foundation website, www.pathfoundation.org.

LITTLE MULBERRY PARK Phase one of three in 890-acre park has been completed. Trails include two one-mile paved multipurpose trails, handicap-accessible trail around pond, and more than two miles of woodland trails. Picnic facilities, playground, observation terrace on West Meadow – one of the highest elevations in Gwinnett County. 3855 Fence Road, Auburn.

8MOUNT ARABIA AND PANOLA MOUNTAIN Two granite behemoths, much like Stone Mountain, but less developed. Hiking trails, rare plants, and vistas on unusual landscape. New bike trail goes through 2,000-acre Mount Arabia Nature Preserve in DeKalb County. Hiking and biking links planned to nearby 1,000-acre Panola Mountain State Park in Henry County. Some trails require scheduled guided tours. Mount Arabia: Free. 7 a.m. to sunset. 3787 Klondike Road, Lithonia. 770-484-3060. arabiaalliance.org. Panola Mountain: 7 a.m. to dark. $2 parking fee. 770-389-7801. gastateparks.org/info/panolamt.

TRIBBLE MILL PARK A 108-acre recreation lake and a 40-acre fishing lake on 700 acres. Group camping area, generous passive open space in Ozora Meadows, lakeside pavilions; 3.4 miles of trails for walking, jogging, horseback and mountain biking. Picnic pavilion, playground, and boat ramp for the large lake. 7 a.m.-sunset. 2125 Tribble Mill Parkway, Grayson. 770-932-4460.

SWEETWATER CREEK STATE PARK Civil War-era mill ruins, nine miles of hiking, lake with stream fishing are highlights. Canoe and fishing boat rentals, 11 picnic shelters, and campgrounds. After heavy rains, there´s a short, challenging whitewater run, but the water can be filthy. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Mt. Vernon Road off Blairs Bridge Road. 770-732-5871. gastateparks.org/info/sweetwater.

9YELLOW RIVER PARK Metro area´s most popular mountain-biking park. More than 500 acres. Forested with upland deciduous, riverine hardwoods, and transitional pines. Bike path along river – the ¨lower¨ part – is relatively easy, while ¨upper¨ part, across parking lot from Juhan Road, is more difficult. 3232 Juhan Road, Stone Mountain. 770-822-5414.