How to Get to Dukes Creek Falls Near Helen GA

Small Cascades at Dukes Creek Falls near Helen GA

[Updated September 21, 2021]  Anytime someone in our Blue Ridge Mountains Facebook groups asks about the best easy to moderate hiking trails in North Georgia, we recommend the waterfalls near Helen GA.   Anna Ruby Falls (.8 miles) and Helton Creek Falls (.3 miles) are both easy hikes that offer extraordinary payoff for minimal effort.   … Read more

The 20 Best Places to Live in the Georgia Mountains

Best Places to Live in the Georgia Mountains

As we’re exploring the North Georgia mountains for our Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide, we’re also empty nesters searching for places to live in the Georgia Mountains. When our outdoor adventures take us to the natural areas near some of the best small towns in Georgia, we’re also taking time to explore those towns for … Read more

Exploring the Schoolbus Graveyard, North GA’s Painted School Bus Attraction

Schoolbus Graveyard in the North Georgia Mountains

Located about an hour north of Atlanta in Habersham County, the Schoolbus Graveyard is arguably among the most unusual and intriguing roadside attractions in North Georgia. Surrounding Alonzo Wade Used Cars & Auto Partsโ€“ a 5-acre junkyard that has been in Walter Wade’s family for 60+ yearsโ€“ the colorful landmark embodies two classic clichรฉs. One … Read more

Review of The Sweet Shoppe Bakery in Blue Ridge GA

Interior of Sweet Shoppe Bakery in Blue Ridge GA

[Updated November 6, 2021] Growing up in a lower middle class family in Atlanta, I vividly recall the visceral excitement I felt every time I’d get some spending money from mowing my neighbor’s lawn. My buddies and I would hop on our 10-speed bikes and ride down to the neighborhood Milk Jug convenience store. There … Read more

How to Get to Helton Creek Falls in Blairsville GA

Couple relaxing on rocks at Helton Creek Falls near Helen, GA

[Updated September 21, 2021] From Anna Ruby and Amicalola Falls to Hemlock, Minnehaha, and Angel/Panther Falls, one of our favorite things about our 2020 staycations has been exploring many of the amazing waterfalls in North Georgia. But until recently we hadn’t made our way to the Richard B. Russell Scenic Hwy to hike the waterfalls … Read more

The Appalachian Culture & History of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Appalachian Culture at the Foxfire Museum in Clayton GA

If you’ve lived in the Southeast for a good portion of your life (as our team has), chances are you’ve been exploring Appalachia and the Blue Ridge range for years. Maybe you’ve visited state parks in North Georgia and North Carolina, hiked to various waterfalls, soaked in the scenery atop majestic mountains, or taken a road … Read more

Review of Rum Cake Lady Cuban Cafe in Blue Ridge, GA

Liz Correa, Owner of Rum Cake Lady in Blue Ridge & McCaysville, GA

[Updated November 6, 2021] When I was a young man working to pay my own way through college, I spent 5 years as a cook, manager, and delivery driver at a family-owned Italian restaurant in Atlanta. Those influential years at At’sa Pizza (which was owned by a similarly warm maternal figure) came rushing back to … Read more

30 Fascinating Blue Ridge Mountains Facts

Blue Ridge Mountains Georgia

Stretching north to south across the eastern United States, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains are truly an iconic American landscape. The Blue Ridge range encompasses over 34,000 square miles of gorgeous mountain terrain filled with towering summits, meandering rivers, lush national forests, gleaming lakes, and cascading waterfalls. So there is no shortage of breathtaking scenery … Read more

How to Get to Minnehaha Falls, GA at Lake Rabun

Minnehaha Falls, Georgia

[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

How to Get to Hemlock Falls at Moccasin Creek State Park, Georgia

Hemlock Falls, GA near Moccasin Creek State Park

[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