Community spotlight
Dahlonega
A Rich Experience
Dahlonega, Georgia is a charming town rich with history, art and adventure. Originally Dahlonega was known for the Cherokee word meaning “yellow money” and was the site of the first major U.S. Gold rush in 1828, which was 21 years before California’s rush and is home today to the artifactrich Dahlonega Gold Museum. The Historic 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse is the home to the Dahlonega Gold Museum where visitors can see rare gold coins, artifacts, and history of the area. There is more to this town than it’s “golden history”, as Dahlonega has the greatest concentration of wineries in all of Georgia. Its fertile, mineralrich soil produces amazingly versatile lines of European, French hybrids, and American wine grapes used in the making of many award-winning wines. Dahlonega’s restaurants range from cozy bistros to friendly cafés to metropolitan-chic delights. The downtown square also offers plenty of shopping including one of a kind boutiques, art galleries, historic tours & attractions, concerts in the park, and local wine tasting rooms.
4 | vACATION GUIDE in the Mountains
Festivals are an integral part of Dahlonega’s heritage and are perfect ways to take in the beauty of the outdoors. During the holiday’s, an Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration is held in December with lighting of luminaries, festivities, carolers, and Santa on the Square. Surrounding the area are a host of outdoor activities including Amicola State Park which is located just outside of Dahlonega on GA Hwy 52. The park was named “Amicalola” which means ‘tumbling waters’ by the Cherokee Indians for its spectacular waterfall, that is the highest waterfall in the Eastern U.S. at an awe-inspiring 729 feet. Dahlonega is home to the beginning of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,100 plus mile hiking trail that extends up the eastern United States from Georgia to Maine. The famous trail starts on Springer Mountain which is located just a few miles from the in Amicalola State Park & Lodge. The resort offers a variety of activities including hiking, camping, picnic, trout fishing, geocaching, conference center, lodging, and restaurant facility. www.mountainlakeguide.com | Holiday 2023
