Georgia Mountain Vacations

Twenty years before settlers made their way west to get rich in the California Gold Rush, a lone deer hunter in the North Georgia mountains stumbled upon the largest gold mine east of the Mississippi. By 1829, 15,000 miners made their way to the tiny hamlet of Dahlonega. Today, history, outdoor adventure, gold, and wineries attract visitors to this beautiful area.

The aptly-named highest city in Georgia is everything that one would hope for on an alpine vacation. Elevations between 3100 and 4200ft above sea level deliver gorgeous views of the natural beauty that characterises this area on the Georgia/North Carolina border.

Home to Georgia's Annual Apple Festival, Ellijay is one of the most widely visited cities in the mountains. Outdoor adventurers will find miles of hiking and biking trails, prime fishing, wildlife protection areas, and epic whitewater kayaking.

North Georgia mountain vacations in Dawsonville are ideal for anyone looking for a quick getaway from Atlanta, which is less than an hour's drive away. River escapades, the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, and the southern entrance to the Appalachian Trail attract visitors to this quaint mountain town.

Folk art, bluegrass music, dancing, and Native American history are the main draws for visitors to this beautiful town nestled into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.

Wine connoisseurs know that Georgia is slowly but surely making its mark on the wine industry. At the heart of this movement is Dahlonega, where a majority of Georgia's wineries and tasting rooms are located. Five wineries offer daily tours, 12 tasting rooms, and a selection of festivals year-round. Maps and information about Georgia's wine country can be found at the Visitor's Center in the lovely downtown area of Dahlonega.

Crisp mountain air and a temperate climate make Sky Valley Country Club an ideal spot for golfers to hit the course year-round. As a semi-private course, the club is open to the public for golfing only, but the 18-hole championship course is a must-play for avid golfers. Visitors cite the impeccable views and expertly manicured bent grass greens and fairways for returning to the area for golf outings year after year.

Georgia residents pride themselves on having respect for the amazing native wildlife in their state. In the mountains, where treasured wildlife like black bears, panthers, cougars, lynx, birds of prey, and others reside is a world-renowned animal rescue and rehab center. The goal of The Wildlife Sanctuary is to rehabilitate injured animals and release them back into their habitat. Often animals come to the center with life-threatening injuries and their recovery will never be such that they can integrate back into the wild. These animals are then given permanent homes at the sanctuary where tours and programs educate the public about the significance of the indigenous creatures of the Georgia mountains.

More racers from Dawsonville have won at Daytona than from any other town in America. That's right - five world-class drivers have emerged from this tiny mountain town and folks there take racing and its history very seriously. Nowhere is that feeling more evident than at Gordon Pirkle's Dawsonville Pool Room, which is half burger joint and half Nascar fan paradise. Memorabilia from the early days of Daytona beach racing right up until today covers every inch of this racing history-themed entertainment center.

This is a place that celebrates the creative arts, artisans, musicians, and performing artists of the North Georgia mountains with exhibits, classes, and performances throughout the year. In its nearly forty years of community engagement, the center has grown to include not only a focul point for local arts, but also regional history, and community education and outreach. Promising something for everyone, the center features the African American Heritage Site and History Museum, the Folk Pottery Museum, as well as galleries and regular performance art events.