CATERSVILLE, GA - Join rangers from several parks and natural areas in Georgia for a meet and greet from 1-4 p.m., Sunday, January 20, at Red Top Mountain State Park and Lodge, 50 Lodge Road, located 45 minutes north of Atlanta near Cartersville, 1.5 miles east of I-75, exit #285.

Flyers and maps related to all 63 state parks and historic sites will be available Play games and make a craft while learning about the opportunities just around the bend. Parking is $3. For more information, contact 770-975-4227.

The park boat ramps are closed due to drought. This park on 12,000-acre Lake Allatoona is ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. Visitors can bring their own boats or rent from Park Marine. Twelve miles of hiking trails wind through the park, providing opportunities for exercise and to explore a reconstructed 1860s log cabin (open and staffed on Saturdays). The park’s lodge, restaurant and meeting facilities make Red Top a getaway for family reunions and business groups. A 3/4-mile paved trail behind the restaurant is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Named for the soil’s rich red color caused by high iron-ore content, Red Top Mountain was once a mining area for iron.