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North Georgia Recommendations
Posted on 2/8/26 at 9:37 pm
Posted on 2/8/26 at 9:37 pm
Have a meeting in Atlanta Wednesday morning, decided to bring the better half along and rented a cabin up around Cleveland Georgia for stay through Sunday. Any recommendations for the area, done a little research. Things I've seen so far, hiking Tallulah Gorge Park, drinks at Sky Bar at the Valhalla Resort, Touring the town of Helen. Valentines Dinner at either Harvest Habersham or Caledonia, any opinions of either or another to look at? Thought about taking a day and going to GSMNP but it appears there are quite a few road closures in the park so probably won't make that drive. Weather is looking iffy, pretty good rain chances at end of week so might be more indoor activities which is fine by me. Thanks for any help.
7
Posted on 2/8/26 at 11:33 pm to TxWadingFool
Go to Toccoa and check out the Currahee Military Museum for a good rainy day activity
Posted on 2/9/26 at 11:38 am to TxWadingFool
Weather can always be a factor, so it'd depend. Winter road closures could make it a gamble. With everything clustered close to Cleveland, you’ll get more out of staying local.
But, if the weather's good:
If I had to pick one best recommendation for your whole trip — go to Tallulah Gorge State Park and do the rim walk and overlook views.
Also, Unicoi State Park (and Unicoi Lake area) is a beautiful state park with a mix of outdoor activities.
I'd skip Helen. Too touristy for me.
Trip Advisor Suggestions
But, if the weather's good:
If I had to pick one best recommendation for your whole trip — go to Tallulah Gorge State Park and do the rim walk and overlook views.
Also, Unicoi State Park (and Unicoi Lake area) is a beautiful state park with a mix of outdoor activities.
I'd skip Helen. Too touristy for me.
Trip Advisor Suggestions
Posted on 2/9/26 at 12:41 pm to Nole Man
quote:
I'd skip Helen. Too touristy for me.
That is not the first time I've read that, we may just do a drive by to see the architecture. I looked at the same Trip Advisor page
Thanks for the suggestions.
This post was edited on 2/9/26 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 2/9/26 at 12:53 pm to TxWadingFool
I mean you’d have fun there. But wouldn’t be a priority compared to all the other beautiful places in the area!
Posted on 2/9/26 at 2:22 pm to TxWadingFool
quote:
That is not the first time I've read that, we may just do a drive by to see the architecture. I looked at the same Trip Advisor page
The tornado damage made everything rebuild to cater to trashy biker crap.
Posted on 2/9/26 at 4:52 pm to TxWadingFool
We did Helen once. It’s touristy and very kitschy. Entirely too many people. Glad we spent a few hours there but never again.
Posted on 2/9/26 at 5:09 pm to TxWadingFool
If you are around Helen I would suggest a stop at Anna Ruby Falls. It is a part of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest but sits inside Unicoi state park. If you are going only to Anna Ruby I believe you don't have to pay the state park entry fee.
If your wife is nostalgic for things from childhood the Babyland General Hospital (home of Cabbage Patch Kids) is in Cleveland.
If the weather is nicer than expected and you don't mind a bit of a drive, Brasstown Bald (highest point in the state) is about 39 minutes one way from Cleveland. Amicalola Falls state park is about 45 minutes away.
If your wife is nostalgic for things from childhood the Babyland General Hospital (home of Cabbage Patch Kids) is in Cleveland.
If the weather is nicer than expected and you don't mind a bit of a drive, Brasstown Bald (highest point in the state) is about 39 minutes one way from Cleveland. Amicalola Falls state park is about 45 minutes away.
Posted on 2/9/26 at 9:08 pm to TxWadingFool
Helen is awful. Like a really cheap Epcot attraction. We stayed maybe an hour. But the falls were beautiful! We hiked it in the summer & still needed a light jacket.
Posted on 2/9/26 at 9:11 pm to Nole Man
quote:we did this on Sunday highly recommend
If I had to pick one best recommendation for your whole trip — go to Tallulah Gorge State Park and do the rim walk and overlook views.
Posted on 2/9/26 at 9:47 pm to cgrand
It appears Thursday will be our best weather day so we will headed there then, Friday is looking up now as well. Saturday and Sunday look to be a wash. Thanks everyone for the recommendations, keep them coming.
Posted on 2/10/26 at 8:22 am to TxWadingFool
I've been to Helen 3 times and the only time I had a lot of fun was during Oktoberfest. Because beer. It's fun to see once, get out and walk around. If you or your partner like to shop there are several local artist and apparel stores. Do not order the German Cold Cut sandwich from anywhere; $15-$20 for fancy bologna and ham.
As mentioned, Anna Ruby Falls, Tallulah Gorge, Toccoa are all worth visiting. Dahlonega is peak at Christmas time, but I like the town a lot.
If the weather is forcing you indoors, the Mall of Georgia is only an hour from Cleveland. As far as mega malls go, it's easy to park and is one of the nicer ones.
As mentioned, Anna Ruby Falls, Tallulah Gorge, Toccoa are all worth visiting. Dahlonega is peak at Christmas time, but I like the town a lot.
If the weather is forcing you indoors, the Mall of Georgia is only an hour from Cleveland. As far as mega malls go, it's easy to park and is one of the nicer ones.
Posted on 2/10/26 at 1:00 pm to Donkus
quote:
Mall of Georgia
Just be prepared to hear several different languages being spoken by the patrons; Gwinnett is one of the most diverse counties in the state.
Dawsonville (45 minutes from Cleveland) is the home of NASCAR driver Bill Elliott and was one of the hubs of moonshine back when it was still super rural (they'd run shine into Atlanta via Hwy 9). There's a small Georgia Auto Racing Hall of Fame Museum in the town that focuses on the old days and some of the NASCAR pioneers from the area.
There's other stuff that you could do in the Blue Ridge/Ellijay area but then you are looking at close to 90 minutes one way.
Posted on 2/10/26 at 9:29 pm to TxWadingFool
It’s definitely worth taking the drive up 400, vs slogging it up I-85. Dahlonega is a Hallmark movie town and is worth taking an hour to walk around the square. There’s a few good wineries as well, Kaya is a solid spot.
Do you like hiking? Looks like clear weather on Thursday and Friday. Mt Yonah is very close to Cleveland and has incredible cliffside views of the whole GA Blue Ridge. Plenty of shorter hikes off the AT and waterfalls as well. If you’d rather take it easy, you can drive almost to the top of Brasstown Bald. There’s a shuttle to the summit.
The drive over the mountains on the Richard B. Russell Parkway is beautiful with tons of views. Sunrise Grocery is close to the parkway and has killer boiled peanuts.
Do you like hiking? Looks like clear weather on Thursday and Friday. Mt Yonah is very close to Cleveland and has incredible cliffside views of the whole GA Blue Ridge. Plenty of shorter hikes off the AT and waterfalls as well. If you’d rather take it easy, you can drive almost to the top of Brasstown Bald. There’s a shuttle to the summit.
The drive over the mountains on the Richard B. Russell Parkway is beautiful with tons of views. Sunrise Grocery is close to the parkway and has killer boiled peanuts.
Posted on 2/11/26 at 1:39 pm to TxWadingFool
The north GA area is great. As mentioned, Dahlonega is a neat town to visit and walk around the square. His and Hers was filmed there. You would only need about half a day.
Amicalola Falls State Park is great, but make sure the roads are open. The hotel at the top has million-dollar views, and there is a paved hike to a beautiful waterfall.
Wolf Mountain Vineyards is a nice place to grab a glass of wine if that is your thing, with spectacular views.
Helen is not really worth the trip in my opinion, it is a tourist trap with numerous shops and few below average restuarants and bars.
Amicalola Falls State Park is great, but make sure the roads are open. The hotel at the top has million-dollar views, and there is a paved hike to a beautiful waterfall.
Wolf Mountain Vineyards is a nice place to grab a glass of wine if that is your thing, with spectacular views.
Helen is not really worth the trip in my opinion, it is a tourist trap with numerous shops and few below average restuarants and bars.
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