Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains about 25 miles southwest of Helen, Dahlonega is one of the oldest mountain towns in North Georgia. The small town of around 7,500 residents is best known as the site of the 1828 Georgia gold rush, which predated the California gold rush by 21 years and … Read more
Back in 1828 (21 years before the famed California gold rush), thousands of prospectors descended upon the town of Dahlonega, Georgia in search of their fortune. Located in the heart of North Georgia’s Cherokee Indian territory, Dahlonega grew like wildfire in the wake of this frenzied mining activity. A U.S. Branch Mint opened in Dahlonega … Read more
While there truly is no place like home for the holidays, there’s also plenty of time between Thanksgiving and December 24 to celebrate the season in one of the many festive Christmas towns in Georgia. At this time of year, many of our favorite North Georgia towns get all dressed up in their holiday best, adorning … Read more
[Updated 12/3/21] There’s nothing quite like rounding up the whole family and setting out on the adventure of going to one of the many Georgia Christmas tree farms to bring home the perfect real tree after the Fall Colors in North Georgia Mountains have faded. As you explore rows and rows of bright green trees … Read more
Looking for something new to do for the Christmas holidays this year? Why not check out Christmas in Helen GA, which was recently rated the “Top Christmas Town in America” by MSN.com and one of Southern Living‘s Best Christmas Towns in the USA. It’s not difficult to understand why this tiny North Georgia mountain town … Read more
[Updated December 1, 2021] Although my wife Mary and I have been working as a travel writer/photographer team for over a decade now, we always make sure we’re home in time to spend Christmas in Georgia. Growing up in Atlanta, with extended family who lived far north of the city, I was blessed with … Read more
It’s been 11 years since the first Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. And over time, the Atlanta Botanical Garden Christmas lights have grown into one of our favorite things to do in North Georgia. Located next to Piedmont Park in Midtown, the 30-acre garden has been a popular Atlanta attraction for decades thanks to its … Read more
As the metro Atlanta population continues to grow and expand, more and more people are heading for the wide open vistas of the North Georgia mountains. And it’s not difficult to understand why. With lots of charming towns surrounded by scenic summits and the wilderness of the Chattahoochee National Forest (with its array of hiking … Read more
When the “most wonderful time of the year” finally arrives, nothing gets us in the holiday spirit quite like watching millions of colorful twinkling lights. Whether we’re driving through an epic 5-mile attraction or strolling along on foot while enjoying a cup of hot cocoa, looking at Georgia Christmas lights is one of our favorite … Read more
[Updated November 1, 2021] Widely known as “Georgia’s Alpine Village,” Helen is a former mining town nestled near the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains range. The tiny Georgia mountain town (population: 582) resurrected itself in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a quaint re-creation of a traditional Bavarian village, providing a taste … Read more