Outdoor Experiences
Retreats
Weddings
Outdoor Experiences
Retreats
Weddings
Need help planning your North Georgia vacation itinerary? You’ve come to right place! North Georgia gets short shrift compared to nearby destinations like West North Carolina and East Tennessee. However, this underrated gem shares many of the same appeals as its vacation-destination neighbors to the north, including arresting Blue Ridge Mountain views, endless outdoor recreation opportunities, and charming small towns. However, don’t get the wrong idea; North Georgia has plenty to recommend it on its own merits as well. From an immersive folk-art paradise to U-Pick apple orchards, to the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi, the North Georgia area is packed with unique attractions you can’t experience anywhere else. Ready to start planning your vacation? Come along as we count down the top 10 things to do in North Georgia!
Located in Cartersville, the Booth Western Art Museum is a Smithsonian-affiliated museum showcasing art of the Western United States. Along with the Museum of Western and Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg, FL, it is one of only two such museums in the southeastern United States. The museum houses an expansive gallery of paintings by early Western artists and contemporary painters. Other exhibits include a sculpture garden, indigenous artifacts, and an interactive ranch-hand experience for kids.
North Georgia might not be the first place you’d think to find a sprawling Hindu temple. However, just outside Atlanta, you’ll find one of the largest Mandirs (Hindi for “temple”) outside of India. Built in accordance with ancient Hindu architectural scripture, it comprises over 34,000 pieces of hand-carved limestone, marble, and pink sandstone. While you can take pictures of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir’s exterior, photos are not allowed inside the building, encouraging visitors to be in the moment and enjoy this spectacular example of Shilpa shastra architecture unmediated by technology.
This thousand-year-old archeological site is considered the “most intact Mississippian Culture site in the Southeast.” While Native American mounds are most commonly associated with burial rituals, Mississippian societies constructed earthwork mounds for a variety of reasons. In fact, only one of the three main mounds at the site is a burial mound. The other two are “platform mounds,” atop which sat the chief’s and priest’s quarters. The site is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is just $6!
At more than 700 feet tall, Amicalola Falls is the highest waterfall in Georgia and the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi. Seven distinct tiers make this waterfall as picturesque as it is imposing, and there are around 14 different landings and a bridge from which you can stop and take pictures as you ascend the stairs from the base of the falls. Amicalola Falls is the centerpiece of Amicalola Falls State Park, where you’ll find multiple hiking trails leading to the waterfall.
Located in Northwest Georgia, Cloudland Canyon State Park Waterfall Trail gives you three waterfalls for the price of one! The Waterfall Trail descends into a deep gorge, passing Hemlock Falls, Sitton’s Gulch Waterfall, and Cherokee Falls in less than three miles. Cherokee Falls, the largest and most impressive of the three waterfalls, terminates in a peaceful plunge pool surrounded by boulders, making it an ideal spot for sitting and enjoying a picnic while listening to the falling water.
Did you know that North Georgia is one of the top apple-producing regions in the United States? From BJ Reece Orchards and the Red Apple Barn to Hillcrest Orchard and Farms and R&A Orchards, Ellijay, the “Apple Capital of Georgia,” hosts 11 orchards alone. Other popular apple orchards in North Georgia include Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge and The Folk Collaborative in McCaysville. Moreover, all of the orchards named above are U-Pick orchards, meaning you can pick your own apples right off the trees. Need more apple action? During the second and third full weekends in October, Ellijay hosts the annual Georgia Apple Festival. This long-standing event boasts more than 300 vendors and exhibitions. It features everything from apple-based treats to artisan candles, to glass-blowing demonstrations, and more!
The Appalachian Trail (AT) is over 2,000 miles long, stretching from Georgia to Maine. But of course, you don’t have to hike the whole thing to say you hiked the Appalachian Trail. The hike to the summit of Springer Mountain will take you to the official southern terminus of the AT, where you can snap an obligatory photo with the trailhead, take in the spectacular views, and call it a day.
Once a failing logging town, Helen was revived when Atlanta artist John Kollock suggested the town be made over to look like a German Bavarian alpine village. Today, zoning laws mandate that every building in Helen, including the small number of national franchises, adhere to classic southern German design. This North Georgia mountain town is home to numerous German-inspired shops and eateries, including a shop where you can buy hand-carved wooden toys, specialty hat and sock shops, an authentic German bakery, and several Christmas stores. The Chattahoochee River runs alongside Helen, adding to the town’s quaint and picturesque feel.
If Helen is North Georgia’s answer to Bavaria, Germany, Tallulah Gorge is its answer to the Grand Canyon. Formed by the action of the Tallulah River, the gorge for which the park is named measures nearly 1,000 feet deep and approximately two miles long. Due to variations in moisture, sunlight, and shade created by the canyon walls, several different ecosystems thrive in the gorge, providing habitats for rare species like the persistent trillium, an endangered flower found in few other places in the world. As well as scenic views from the gorge overlooks, Tallulah Gorge State Park boasts six waterfalls, multiple hiking trails, whitewater rafting (best between Memorial Day and Labor Day), a swinging bridge, a gift shop, and more!
Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden is an immersive art environment where art lovers and lovers of all things weird and wonderful can step into the mind of this celebrated folk artist. Once his private home and studio, the half-acre garden boasts sculptures, installations, found art, inventions, and Finster’s opus, the wedding cake-inspired World Folk Art Chapel, from which you can enjoy fantastic views of the Garden. In addition to Finster’s art, Paradise Garden offers workshops, camps, art education, guided tours, a visitor center, and more!
Didn’t see what you were looking for? From the highest point in Georgia to a scenic railway, here are some other fun activities that would make a great addition to your North Georgia vacation itinerary!
So, now you know what to do in North Georgia. But where will you stay? If you’re looking for lodging where you can appreciate North Georgia’s natural beauty, look no further than Dunya Camp!
Located in Summerville, Dunya Camp is a luxury glamping retreat where the beauty of North Georgia takes center stage. Choose from a safari-style Sunset or Grand Sunset Tent, and enjoy home-like amenities such as electricity, a kitchenette, and a soaking tub, as well as breathtaking views of the surrounding 42 acres from your private deck. The Grand Sunset Tent also boasts a second deck with a barrel sauna and more expansive views. With a focus on wellness, Dunya Camp offers a range of luxury amenities designed to leave you feeling rested and rejuvenated, including miles of private hiking trails, a labyrinth, massage services, private-chef-cooked meals, and more!
Still not sold on North Georgia? No problem! Our curated collection of outdoor accommodations can take you where you want to go, from the beaches of Hawaii to the mountains of upstate New York. Click the link below to explore more outdoor accommodations with Nook Outdoors!
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