To distinguish the city of Stone Mountain from its adjacent park, locals often refer to it as Stone Mountain Village — and the Atlanta suburb has quite a draw of its own. Located in Dekalb County, the city has about 6,300 residents in its 1.7 square miles centered on a historic downtown area that was originally built around the Georgia Railroad in 1839. Formerly known as New Gibraltar, the village is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Stroll down Main Street, enjoying the area’s specialty shops and restaurants, and stop by the Red Caboose — which is now the Stone Mountain Visitor Center — as well as Stone Mountain Depot, which have appeared in several famous films.

Like nearby Atlanta, the weather in Stone Mountain alternates between hot and humid summers and mild but short winters. The most pleasant time to stay in a cabin here is during the spring sweet spot from late March to early June, when conditions are more pleasant, with highs in the upper 50s to low 80s Fahrenheit and lows in the lower 40s to lower 60s. The autumn season brings similar temperatures, but while rainy days are common in the spring, fall’s precipitation can be harsher with snow and rain, making it less popular for travelers. Winters are cold with snow and rain — highs are in the 50s and lows in the 30s.

Stone Mountain Park

This 3,200-acre park has a number of popular attractions, including a mini golf course, a dinosaur section with 20 life-sized figures, and a cable car soaring 825 feet to the mountaintop. At the Stone Mountain Scenic Railroad, a 1940s locomotive chugs on a five-mile route throughout the park in open-air cars, while Historic Square features original Georgia buildings from 1793 to 1875. You can also walk the mile-long Songbird Habitat and Trail to hear trills of the Eastern Bluebird, White-Breasted Nuthatch, and Northern Cardinal.

Stone Mountain Village

Explore the historic buildings, such as the 1830s Johnson House, the oldest building in town, which belonged to the city’s first mayor; and the Corner Arcade Building, part of which used to be the Golden Glow Tea Room. Also stop by the Freedom Bell, which is rung every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the Museum of Miniature Chairs, with a Guinness Book of World Records-setting collection of 3,000 little chairs.

Stone Mountain Cemetery

Granite entry pillars stand at the front of the cemetery, established around 1850, which has graves of the village’s settlers and Civil War veterans. The city’s nonprofit arts center, ART Station, also hosts ghost tours.