Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

Most guests don’t expect a forest this close to the house. Cascade Springs has a network of easy trails through hardwood forest, a stone spring house from the 1920s, and a waterfall you can reach in about 20 minutes on foot.

It’s flat enough for strollers on the main loop and shaded enough for July. There’s a small parking lot at the entrance, and it’s free.

Good for an early-morning walk with the dog before the rest of the group is up, or a quiet hour when the house gets loud.

Drive from the Volta homes: 10-minute walk from Cascade Oasis

The waterfall at Cascade Springs Nature Preserve in southwest Atlanta, Georgia