Before you know it, spring will be upon us. Creeping quickly behind it will be the humidity South Georgia never seems to escape for very long.  It will be time to head to mountains and avoid the stifling heat. At a little over 4 hours from Statesboro, Dahlonega sits near the Chattahoochee National Forest. It offers a wide variety of activities for the avid adventure seeker, as well as, wine lovers seeking a low-key weekend. Yes, the kids will love it, too! Providing a long history of gold mining, the family can explore an underground gold mine and have a turn panning for this precious metal! A historic building itself, the museum offers a rich history about our nation’s first major gold rush.

As you meander your way downtown, you are surrounded by antique stores and art galleries. You can even stop in a wine tasting room from one of the many locally owned and operated wineries in the area.

Considered the “Heart of Georgia’s Wine Country,” there are seven downtown tasting rooms. They offer a comfortable wine and food experience in the cool mountain air. If you would rather not hike in the woods for the weekend, the wineries have their own map you can follow!

If you do want to stay outside, springtime is the best part of the year to enjoy the waterfalls around the foothills of northern Georgia. The snow is melting and the rivers are running higher. Although more cascades than waterfalls, Cane Creek Falls and Clay Creek Falls are the closest to Dahlonega.  Dropping approximately 200 feet, Dukes Creek Falls is a beautiful drive at about 23 miles away. If you would like to enjoy an easy hike with a waterfall destination, DeSoto Falls Trail is accessible year-round. About a 30-minute drive from town, it is approximately a 1.9-mile out and back hike so it works well as a family-friendly outing. Dogs are allowed so don’t leave your fur baby behind! More detailed information about the area trails can found at: https://www.alltrails.com/.

If you’re interested in planning a trip to tour waterfalls, you could start by visiting Atlanta Trails’ website to get more detailed information.

There are plenty of amenities if you decide to stay a night or two. There are a campgrounds, bed and breakfast options, and my favorite, cabins. My visits returned me to Cavender Creek Cabins. A unique cluster of cabins offering an affordable and comfortable stay near Dahlonega.  There are many options depending on your interests and needs. From simple and rustic to luxury standards. The visitors’ center provides a list of cabins on their website:

http://business.dahlonega.org/list/category/cabins-cottages-424.

It’s a treat that Bulloch County is only a few hours from the beautiful foothills of the Smoky Mountains. They are close enough to get on the road early, and be on a trail or exploring a mountain town by 10 a.m. and still return home for a fun day trip. If you decide to make it a two-day trip, the rural areas provide stress-free, affordable options along with fun activities.

Dahlonega Gold Museum
Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 .p.m

Admission:
Adults: $8.50

Ages 7 – 17: $4, Children under 6, free

1 Public Square
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(706) 964-2257
https://gastateparks.org/DahlonegaGoldMuseum

Dahlonega Visitors Center
13 South Park Street
Dahlonega, GA 30533
(706) 864-3711 or (800) 231-5543.
http://dahlonega.org/