This sounds foolhardy, but the rewards are spectacular. Choose a morning when the sun rises after seven—after daylight saving time begins on March 14, for example—and go to the west side of the mountain. Bring warmer clothes than you think you’ll need, because the wind at the top is merciless. You can park for free in the MARTA lot off Fourth Street and walk down Mountain Street. Go through the park gates when they open at six. Follow the pedestrian trail up the mountain. Watch out for puddles. The granite is surprisingly bright in the dark, and reasonably fit adults should be able to finish the trek in about half an hour. Then you’ll see the sky go from black to violet, with blood red becoming cantaloupe orange on the eastern horizon and a blinding wheel coming over the rim. stonemountainpark.com
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