Though it may not be as well-known as California’s Napa Valley, the climate and geography of the Blue Ridge Mountains offers great conditions for growing grapes and producing wines. Wine grapes have been growing in the state of Georgia for hundreds of years, and there are countless respected wineries near mountain towns like Dahlonega, Ellijay, … Read more
[Updated November 26, 2021] Cities like Blue Ridge, Ellijay, Helen, and Dahlonega GA have all earned accolades among the most beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain towns in GA. But after our visits to the city of Clayton, Georgia, we believe this gem of Northeast Georgia also deserves a place near the top of that list. The extensive … Read more
[Updated on November 26, 2021] After becoming empty nesters in 2019, my lady and I decided that we wanted to start the process of looking for our future home. I’d grown up hiking in the North Georgia mountains with my family, spending many a memorable summer day at my grandparents’ humble cabin on Lake Hartwell. … Read more
[Updated November 26, 2021] If you spend much time exploring outdoor attractions in my native state, you’ve gotta wonder who’s responsible for naming the countless waterfalls in Georgia. And more importantly, why aren’t their names more distinctive? For instance, the Angel Falls Trail leads to one of our favorite waterfalls in Rabun County GA. But … Read more
Although I’ve been exploring the North Georgia State Parks, waterfalls, and hiking trails near Blue Ridge and Helen since I was a boy, for some reason the town of Clayton never really popped up on my family’s radar. It wasn’t until late 2020 that we finally explored northeast Georgia’s Rabun County in depth, and we were … Read more
[Updated on 7/16/21] From Amicalola Falls and Red Top Mountain to Unicoi and Vogel, we’ve explored quite a few of the state parks in Georgia in the 12 years we’ve been traveling together. But our trip to Black Rock Mountain State Park last September firmly established the 1743-acre park near Clayton GA as our favorite. … Read more
[Updated September 21, 2021] From Amicalola Falls and Anna Ruby Falls to Raven Cliff Falls and Panther Creek Falls, the Blue Ridge mountains offer an excellent array of North Georgia waterfall hikes. But of all the waterfalls in Georgia, few offer quite as much of a picturesque bang for your buck as Minnehaha Falls, GA. … Read more
[Updated September 24, 2021] More than 20 years ago, I practiced my budding photography skills while exploring many of the hiking trails with waterfalls in Georgia. From Amicalola Falls and Anna Ruby Falls to Tallulah Falls and Panther Creek Falls, these North Georgia waterfall hikes tapped into my lifelong love of nature and eventually inspired me … Read more
