Growing up in Georgia, long before country singer Alan Jackson made the Chattahoochee River famous, “shooting the ‘hooch” on an inner tube was basically a rite of passage. Tubing in North Georgia has only grown more popular since then. For us, it ranks right alongside lazy days at our local lakes among our favorite ways to … Read more
Occupying a huge swath of North Carolina just south of Bryson City, the Nantahala National Forest encompasses over a half-million acres of wilderness, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to more than 5,000 feet. The Nantahala National Forest is the largest national forest in the state of North Carolina. It’s bigger than the more famous Pisgah National … Read more
Have you ever dreamed of being a cowgirl or cowboy, spending your days riding horses while enjoying beautiful vistas and the sounds of nature? While it may not be a practical choice for a full-time career, it’s easy to get a taste of ranch life within an hour or two from metro Atlanta. The state … Read more
[Updated May 8, 2022] When you explore the enchanting Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia, you’re bound to run across stunning waterfalls tucked away in remote parts of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Tumbling over massive rock outcrops and spilling into meandering streams lined with towering trees, mossy boulders, and beautiful wildflowers, these natural wonders are … Read more
Encompassing over 3,000 acres in Chatsworth and Ellijay GA, with 62 miles of shoreline, Carters Lake is a popular destination for boating, camping, fishing, hiking, and myriad other forms of outdoor recreation. Located about halfway between Atlanta and Chattanooga in the North Georgia Mountains, Carters Lake is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There are … Read more
As a longtime member of a few Blairsville-related Facebook groups, I’d read numerous complaints about the lack of diversity of non-chain restaurants in the tiny North Georgia mountain town. With a population of just over 600 and an economy that isn’t nearly as tourism-based as nearby hotspots such as Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, and Helen, we … Read more
The 10 Best Apps for Hikers and Backpackers, all of which are free on the App Store (with paid subscriptions for guides or offline content).
All across the North Georgia mountains, you can find rolling hills, lush forest, and an outstanding assortment of eye-catching waterfalls. To some people’s surprise, you can also find an array of superb vineyards and wineries, many of which are less than an hour from metro Atlanta. Thanks to the region’s unique climate and geography, wine … Read more
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians strongly resisted the Indian Removal Act of 1830, even as many other Native American tribes were forced westward and out of their own established lands. After the signing of the Treaty of New Echota, thousands of the Cherokee people who walked the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma died. The rest resettled … Read more
In terms of outdoor recreation, my native state of Georgia is home to 50+ state parks and historic sites and more than a dozen national parks and forests. Our plethora of options to explore includes majestic mountains, ancient geological formations, canyons carved out over the course of time, wild and scenic rivers, and a seemingly endless array of … Read more