Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019 - 64

GEORGIA
2. White County (Helen, Cleveland)
Explore nature on hundreds of miles of
multi-use trails, support local artisans
with specialty shopping, and relax in the
evenings at the state's first and only Georgia Grown Agritourism brewery.
"Soothe your soul in White County,
where Mother Nature comes to play. Relax
and stay awhile," according to the White
County Chamber of Commerce website.

FIVE THINGS NOT
TO MISS:

LEFT: Rabun
County's
Tallulah Gorge
hosts a bounty
of rafters.
PHOTO BY PETER MCINTOSH

1. Rabun County (Clayton, Dillard,
Tallulah Falls, Sky Valley)
This location is the Farm to Table Capital
of Georgia, with five Best Chefs America
creating cuisine. Per capita, there are
more working farms and BCA chefs than
anywhere else in the state.
"Visitors are drawn to the natural
beauty here," says Teka Earnhardt, Rabun
County Tourism Development Authority
executive director. "We're 74 percent U.S.
Forest, state parks and Georgia Powerowned lakes. The views are incredible everywhere you go, and we cannot be overdeveloped. You feel the peacefulness and
tranquility."

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS:

* Three state parks: Tallulah Gorge SP, Black Rock
Mountain SP, Moccasin Creek SP - for camping,
hiking, birding, and fishing.
* Fifteen+ waterfalls, for viewing and swimming.
* Downtown Clayton Main Street, for dining,
shopping, nightlife, walking tour of 37 buildings.
* Three vineyards, two distilleries, each with
distinctive beverages and atmospheres.
* Dillard antique shopping: 40,000 square feet in a
two-block area.

BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

BELOW:
Alpine Helen
is home to a
Bavarian-style
townscape at
Helen Square.

* Valhalla Resort Hotel,
lodging in style.

* Tantrum Brewing
Company, Georgia's first
and only Georgia Grown
Agritourism brewery.
* Alpine Amusement
Park, with a gravity roller
coaster in the side of the
mountain.
* Yonah Preserve Trails , for
mountain biking.
* Waterfall tours and
Stovall Mill Covered
Bridge: multiple falls
with varying degrees of
difficulty; and the state's
shortest clear span.

SEAN PAVONE | STOCK ADOBE

3. Towns County (Hiawassee,
Young Harris)
Crystal-clear waters for fishing and swimming, and clear skies above for star gazing. This destination, sharing a border
with North Carolina, is two-thirds public lands and all about the outdoor life.
The Chattahoochee National Forest and
award-winning Lake Chatuge create an
idyllic environment.
"Our county is perfect for those who
like to hike, boat, or fish with plenty of
exploration mixed in," says Candace Lee,
Towns County Chamber of Commerce
president. "Then, at the end of the day,
there is nothing better than enjoying locally made wine or beer, catching a free
concert on the square or watching a show
at the O. Wayne Rollins Planetarium."

FIVE THINGS NOT TO MISS:

* Bell Mountain Historical Park, with a stunning
lake and mountain views, and paragliding.
* Brasstown Bald Mountain, one of the best
star-gazing spots in the country, and highest
mountain in Georgia.
* Hamilton Gardens (botanical) at Lake Chatuge,
with a rich diversity of native flora, and largest
collection of rhododendrons in the southeastern
U.S.
* Aqua Tiki at Lake Chatuge, with its fully equipped
"floating tiki bar" for celebrating on the lake.
* Crane Creek Vineyards, Hightower Creek
Vineyards: locally owned, relaxed atmosphere.

http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM

Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - July/August 2019