My name is Lisa, and I write for Connecticut, Georgia, and Kansas here at OnlyInYourState. I was born and raised in Georgia and am lucky enough to still call the Peach State home today. I love getting out and exploring all that this great state has to offer. There is honestly so much to do and see in Georgia that it feels like it could take a lifetime! Welcome to OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers, a series of travel articles from local experts exploring their nearby surroundings.

There are some fantastic parks in Georgia, and I've been fortunate enough to have visited many of them throughout my life. Sometimes, it feels like it's the closest places to us that we've explored the least, and that's definitely true for me. I've lived in or near Athens, Georgia for the last decade. There are some phenomenal parks within half an hour of the Classic City, but it's easy for nearby spots to fall by the wayside in favor of lengthy, far-off exotic locales. I recently took a visit to Sandy Creek Park, one of the best parks in Athens. This spot is a natural wonderland that's only about 10 minutes from campus and downtown. There's so much to see and do here that you could easily spend all day enjoying the amenities, and it's a great destination for solo travelers, friends, or families of any age.

At 782 acres, Sandy Creek Park is larger than some state parks. You'll find a variety of attractions here, including a sandy beach and opportunities for water fun on the 216-acre Lake Chapman.

There's a small admission fee ($2 per adult), but with so much to do here, it's definitely worth the low cost. Athens-Clarke County residents can purchase an annual pass that allows free admission for a year.

Immediately upon entering, you'll be greeted by a cute little butterfly garden.

I visited in late May and many of the plants were already out of bloom, but it was still an adorable spot complete with a bench to sit and relax.

Disc golf is a popular attraction here. It's not included with park admission, but is only $1 extra.

I was traveling alone with my dog, Cece, so we stopped by the dog park first. Sandy Creek Park has one of the best dog parks in Athens. The public dog park is 2.5 acres.

There are also several private parks you can reserve for $1 an hour, but Cece is fine with other dogs, so we just went to the public one. There's a big line of trees with open land on either side. Cece mostly just wanted to walk around and occasionally greet other dogs. The fenced-in area is so big that it stays pretty calm for a dog park, with most dogs opting to hang out with their owners or in small groups.

Several picnic shelters are available for rent throughout the park, each including sheltered tables and a grill.

There are three great trails at the park, ranging from 5 miles to 8.5 miles. Each is made from compacted earth and considered moderate difficulty.

All three trails allow leashed dogs and one of them allows horseback riding.

We walked about half a mile down the Lakeside Trail. I had never actually been on any of the trails in the park before and was pleasantly surprised.

I'm a wimp when it comes to the heat and it was starting to get warm in the rest of the park, but it was a good 20 degrees cooler on the trail. It was shaded throughout and very well-maintained.

Throughout the trail, you will discover phenomenal views of Lake Chapman!

I was surprised at how secluded and peaceful the trails were. It was Memorial Day weekend and the park was somewhat crowded, but even so, I felt like I was all alone in the woods. I only passed a few other people on the trail, and could only intermittently hear noises from the nearby beach.

Along the trail, I came across a big group shelter called the Crow's Nest. It was a pretty neat structure that would be a great spot for a party or family reunion.

I found out later it can hold up to 60 people and can be rented in 4-hour or 8-hour blocks. We turned around not long after the Crow's Nest because Cece was getting pretty tired, but the trail was so well-marked and maintained that it was easy to make our way back to the car.

The beach doesn't allow dogs, so I couldn't spend any time there. There's a little area roped off for shallow swimming that's great fun for kids, and a small sandy beach where you can lounge in the sand.

Even when the beach is relatively crowded, people tend to be respectful and give you lots of space. The water is usually full of kids playing and having a good time, but if you're looking to relax in the sand, you will have plenty of room.

It's certainly nothing like the ocean beaches in South Georgia, but for its small size and location, it's a nice day in the sand!

Sandy Creek is one of the most popular spots in the area for heading out for a day on the water.

On weekends, you can rent a kayak or canoe for just $8 an hour (2 hours max), or bring your own and boat for free. I took an inflatable kayak out one day last summer and it was a blast.

Have you ever visited Sandy Creek Park in Georgia? Or do you have another favorite park in Georgia you think we should explore? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

To discover more incredible boots-on-the-ground adventures across America from our team of local travel experts, check out all of the articles in OnlyInYourState’s Everyday Explorers series. What destinations would you like to see featured next? Tell us where we should go on our nominations page.