Vacation Guide in the Mountains - Fall Edition - 17.4
Making memories is what life is all about! North Georgia offers so many things to do regardless of the season! Book your getaway in one of our beautiful cabins, many on streams, rivers, lakes and discover nature at a whole new level. Hike one of our beautiful trails, go horseback riding, take the kids to one of the apple houses and experience picking your own apples or strawberries, visit one of our fabulous wineries, enjoy a delicious meal at one or our local restaurants, check out some of the many stores, antiques and boutiques for a unique shopping experience and don't forget to take the kids to the wellknown "Big Foot Expedition", that all ages enjoy! Take memory photos and share them with us!
Your Local Guide to the North Georgia Mountains. Let the Vacation Guide in the Mountains help you find Events, Festivals, and Recreational Activities. Find the best local places to Eat, Shop, and lodge with handy Maps to make getting around easy.
Just find the # - for the advertiser’s location on the Local City Map or Centerfold Area Map.
Every Issue we will feature a Community Spotlight and point you in the right direction of Hiking Trails, Waterfalls, or Scenic Road Trips in our area.
View our website at www.MountainLakeGuide.com to find everything Online & Links to find more about our Restaurants, Shopping, Lodging, and Area Recreation. Tell them you “Found them in the Vacation Guide” And remember
on Ellijay
Efor your Fall Getaway Pick ELLIJAY
llijay, which is located in Gilmer County is the idyllic peaceful valley that is surrounded by majestic Blue Ridge Mountains. Every Fall it is “The Pick” for everyone to enjoy being the “Apple Capital” of Georgia, providing more than 600,000 bushels of delicious mountain grown apples each year.
What makes Ellijay more unique is the variety of outdoor recreational opportunities that makes it a great place for playing in wide open spaces.
One hundred plus miles of single-track mountain biking trails have earned Gilmer County the official designation as Georgia’s “Mountain Biking Capital” No off season here, with maintained year-round trails that are kept by volunteers and biking associations. Trails
like Bear Creek or Pinhoti offer six to ten mile rides for intermediate to advanced riders.
The beautiful waterways of the Cartecay Rivers as they come together to form the Coosawattee River. Smaller creeks like Turniptown and Mountaintown offer outdoor enthusiasts another scenic backdrop. The Cartecay’s natural progression form flat-water to Class III rapids and many of the waterways have plenty of play spots for paddlers, kayaks, canoeing, or tubing.
Nearby Carters Lake is one of the deepest reservoir lakes in the North Georgia Mountains, at a depth of 450 ft., surface area of 3,200 acres and 62 miles around the shore. The lake is fed by the Coosawattee River out of Ellijay and is located in both Gilmer and Murray Counties. The sparkling waters offer a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities including camping, hiking, bird watching, boating, mountain biking, fishing, hunting and picnicking.
Several campgrounds with many amenities are located around Carters Lake including Doll Mountain, Woodring Branch, and Harris Branch Beach. Hiking and biking trails are located in various areas around the lake.
Kids of all ages will enjoy the River Park on the banks of the Coosawattee River, which offers
picnic areas, tennis courts and walking trails along the river. Whitepath offers an 18-hole golf course with driving range and practice green.
If you like to explore the wilderness you will find miles of trails for hiking, biking, backpacking, camping and horseback riding including nearby Amicalola Falls and Fort Mountain State Park to experience this natural wonderland.
Local Agra-culture includes over six wineries in the Gilmer County area and each year the Winegrowers Association of Georgia hosts a Wine Highway Weekend. Fall brings Corn Mazes, Pumpkin Patches, and the many apple orchards that open to the public. The picturesque valley along State Hwy. 52 East, known to locals as “Apple Alley”. Other apple orchards are located on Hwy. 76 North / S.R. 282 and Hwy. 515. They offer a year-round selection of baked goods, including apple pies, fritters, cookies, breads and local crafts. Orchard houses also include fresh grown local peaches, nectarines, produce, jams, ciders and juice. Several orchards feature “Pick Your Own Apples” and give you the full experience of the beauty and taste fresh from the tree.
Discover the simple pleasures of small town life as Ellijay is a true “ Main Street” community where you’ll find the town square beautifully accented with brick-lined sidewalks and a round-a-bout traffic circle by the courthouse. Quaint shops fill the downtown with antiques, art galleries and unique restaurants.
Just behind the Courthouse on Spring Street is the Tabor House Museum which is a Victorian styled home built in 1870 is home to Gilmer County Historical Society. View artifacts from Cherokee Indians, early settlers, Civil War and military history. Open 11-3 on Thurs., Friday & most Saturdays.
Whether you are on vacation or a weekend getaway destination, “Pick” Ellijay to get a taste of mountain trails, beautiful waterways, and wide open spaces of recreational activities that will keep you coming back.
Or for more information about Ellijay, call 706-334-2248 or visit www.GilmerChamber.com for your visit to Ellijay and surrounding areas.
Photo by: Chris Hefferen
Tallulah Falls
Rated as one of America’s 20 Best State Parks by Adventure Journal and one of Georgia’s seven wonders, Tallulah Gorge draws admirers as one of the most breathtaking sites.
The Niagara Falls of the Southeast is a 1,000-foot gash in Tallulah Dome that drops the Tallulah River over six waterfalls in one mile. Mountain biking and hiking are popular here, as well as some serious multipitch rock climbing. But the real deal here is boating, rafting and kayaking the Tallulah when the upstream Georgia Power Company opens its dam, a few times a year.
Said to be one of the oldest geological features in North America, Tallulah Gorge has been forming for thousands of years. Prehistoric Indians discovered the canyon and hunted both along its rim and in its deep bottom. When the first European settlers arrived in the region during the 1820s, the word of the magnificence of the canyon and falls spread. The Tallulah Hotel opened in 1840 and with the completion of the railroad in 1882, connecting Atlanta to Tallulah Falls, people flooded to see the remarkable natural scenes and it became a major tourist attraction.
At the peak, there were seventeen hotels and boarding houses in and around the town that rented riding horses, offered billiards, tennis, and music for dancing in the major hotels. In 1883, tightrope walker Professor Leon crossed the gorge as part of a publicity stunt for one hotel. Then in July 18, 1970, Karl Wallenda became the second man to walk across the gorge on a tightrope.
Just as the tourism boom reached its height, however, Georgia Power wanted to dam the Tallulah River to produce electricity and opposition of the natural setting was led by Helen Dortch Longstreet, the widow of Confederate general James Longstreet, in which the park’s trail system is named after. In 1992 Governor Zell Miller joined with officials of Georgia Power Company to announce a remarkable joint partnership to create Tallulah Gorge State Park. Visitors can now enjoy the spectacular 1,739 acres of wilderness with recreational opportunities and guides from Georgia’s State Parks.
Highlights of Tallulah Falls include:
The Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center that highlights the rich history of this Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem of the area. Additionally, an award-winning film takes viewers on a dramatic journey through the gorge.
Tallulah Falls School Founded in 1909 by the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs, providing comprehensive college preparatory education.
Arts & Crafts Galleries which feature local fine Southern art, folk art, original paintings and prints, pottery, photography, woodcraft, jewelry and hand blown glass. Shop for unique Native American Crafts, chainsaw art, gems, and many inspirational scenic paintings from the area.
Stay for the weekend in Cabin Lodging, or one of the many camping sites in the area. Enjoy this peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, where you can hear the crickets chirp at night. Just bring your lawn chair and listen to Music on Bluegrass Square; located at the outdoor Tallulah Falls Opry House on Main Street. Bonfire, marshmallow roasting, and grilled hot dogs provided!
Recreation abounds with picnic areas, campgrounds, overlooks, 6 Hiking trails, stairs leading down into the gorge and even a suspension bridge that crosses the canyon 80 feet above its bottom. There is shore and boat fishing on all 3 lakes: Tallulah, Tugalo, & Yonah. Spend the afternoon picnicking at Terrora Beach, or play on the tennis courts. There is a public beach for swimming on Tallulah Lake & public playground located at the day use area of Tallulah Gorge State Park.
Tallulah Gorge State Park is open daily from 8 a.m. until dark. There is a $5 parking fee. The entrance is on U.S. 441 in Tallulah Falls, GA. Access to the canyon bottom is by permit only. Permits are free and can be obtained at the interpretive center, but note that ONLY 100 permits are issued per day. The park is extremely popular and the quota of permits is often filled first thing in the morning.
For more information call 706-754-7981 or visit www.gastateparks.org/TallulahGorge.
Nona Stephens
HAYESVILLE
Wildewood
Morganton’s Cutest Gift Shop
Shop for great vintage & antiques plus home decor. We carry local soaps, honey, jewelry, and many gift items. We have a great holiday gift selection of the world’s softest socks, candles, Myra bags, plus so much more!
Google 5-Star Review from Amy R: “This was the cutest little shop in Blue Ridge. The ladies were very sweet and helpful! There is something here for everyone!” 10777 Lakewood Hwy - just minutes from downtown Blue Ridge Open 7 Days a Week - Google us!
The North Georgia Mountains: a TOP-RATED travel destination!
As Randy and Robin visited the Blue Ridge area, they immediately fell in love and made plans to build a retirement home. Their new dream house was completed in 2023 and even though they visit as often as they can, they were not quite ready to retire.
They considered renting out their new home when they were not here to offset home expenses. Although, after interviewing some local property management companies, they had sticker shock.
Both Robin and Randy have over forty years of experience in the Vacation Rental business and expected similar commissions to what they charged in Long Beach, New Jersey.
They considered just utilizing the online travel agencies like VRBO and Airbnb, but they “double- dipped” charging fees to the property owner or manager and the guest, as well. During their home construction, they used a VRBO to rent a home nearby and found that when we went to check out, the total price was far greater than the quoted rental rate.
The option for an area website, that showed real time affordable rates to homeowner was practically non-existent; so they sketched out a website that had easy search features while keeping the site affordable. They hired their rental software developer to create a VR listing site that would be subscription based with no booking fees. The result was Vacation rentals on Blue Ridge, VRBR.com.
Blue Ridge area homeowners are now being offered a special incentive for early participation in their “soft launch” mode to help them list rental property and give renters a simple booking experience with no hidden fees. VRBR.com is a new Blue Ridge area Vacation Rental network where homeowners can list their property for a full year and pay one set price for unlimited bookings. VRBR guests will be able to get the best rental rate by dealing directly with the owner.
Randy and Robin have helped thousands of homeowners over the past four decades and invite you to tap into the transparent, user-friendly platform of VRBR.com without booking fees to connect local homeowners with guests to enjoy all the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains!
Fall calendar of Events
Please verify Event Dates in case of Rescheduling
Blairsville
September 6, 13, 20, & 27
Friday Night Concert
Downtown Blairsville
September 14
Vogel Mountain
Music Day Festival
Vogel State Park
October 4, 11, 18, & 25
Friday Night Concert
Downtown Blairsville
October 12–13 & 19–20
55th Annual
Sorghum Festival
Meeks Park
October 26
Vogel’s Fall Festival
Vogel State Park
October 31
Blairsville Boo Bash
Downtown Blairsville
Hallo-Wine Celebration
Paradise Hills Resort & Winery
Blue Ridge
August 31 – October 13
October 18–20
Blue Ridge Mountains Parade of Homes
Downtown Blue Ridge
October 19
Paws in the Park
Downtown Blue Ridge City Park
October 19–27
Harvest Sale of Blue Ridge
Downtown Blue Ridge
October 31
Halloween Safe Zone Trick or Treat
Downtown Blue Ridge
October 31 – November 3
Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein Blue Ridge Community Theater
Brasstown
October 5–6
Folk School 48th Annual Fall Festival
John C. Campbell Folk School
October 19–20
Fall calendar of Events
Please verify Event Dates in case of Rescheduling
October 31
Downtown Trick or Treating
Downtown Cornelia
November 1–3
North Georgia Arts Tour
Various Locations
Dahlonega
September 6
First Friday Concerts
Hancock Park
October 4
First Friday Concerts
Hancock Park
October 19–20
Gold Rush Days Festival
Downtown Dahlonega
November 1–3
North Georgia Arts Tour
Various Locations
Demorest
September 14
Parton Me! A Tribute to Dolly w/Katie Deal & her Nashville Band
