Exploring the Northeast Georgia Mountains
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As Atlanta natives, we often hear people say that they are headed to the mountains for the weekend. At this point, I often ask what part? Since the northern quarter of Georgia is made of mountains, you can have different experiences depending on which area of North Georgia that you visit.
Northeast Georgia
We frequently visit the Chattahoochee National Forest in the far northeastern corner of the state. Usually, we stay in Rabun County where we can easily travel to nearby towns and attractions.
Rabun County
We absolutely love Rabun County. The towns nestled along Highway 441, although often filled with tourists on Saturdays, are quaint and the citizens are hospitable. Rabun County is the only county in Georgia that has three state parks.
Nestled in Northeast Georgia near the North and South Carolina borders, the county is composed of many towns and attractions that we like to visit. Although this list is not comprehensive, we do highlight our favorites.
Clayton
The town of Clayton is a charming location. Downtown Clayton is dotted with shops and restaurants that can leave you wandering and shopping for hours.
I won’t lie, when we plan our trips to the mountains, the first place we stop to eat after arriving and probably my favorite meal of the entire trip comes from the Rusty Bike.
The Rusty Bike is a breakfast and lunch restaurant. Sean and I have the same favorite, the Blackbird. The Blackbird is a blackened and fried chicken sandwich, topped with the most spectacular pimento cheese (and I don’t like typical pimento cheese!).
I love the pimento so much that I ask for the house rusty sauce on the side because I want to savor the taste of the cheese. Along with the Blackbird, the Rusty Bike has delicious breakfast and lunch items, including French toast, hearty bacon and sausage, and fantastic hamburgers (my grandmother said that the Rusty Bike’s burgers are the best she’s had in 50 years).
A little note about why I love the Rusty Bike besides the pimento cheese… we visited twice on our last visit. I am not sure about the circumstance, but an elderly gentleman was dining on both occasions that we dined.
The waitress told the gentleman that she was paying for his meal. Regardless of why, my son and I heard the comment, and it touched both of our hearts. I was holding back the tears while trying to eat my dinner. This is the kind of place that my family is proud to sit and break bread.
Other notable dining establishments in the area include Oinkers, Fortify Pi, Mama G’s, the Clayton Cafe, and the Clayton Pharmacy Soda Shop.
Tiger
While touring Northeast Georgia towns, you will find many vineyards. Tiger Mountain Vineyards is nationally renowned for its grapes. Ask about their vast amount of award-winning wines while eating a bite at the Red Barn.
One of our favorite attractions in Tiger is the Drive-In. We have spent many evenings underneath the stars watching new movies and double features. If you are looking for a place to lodge with a little pizazz, the drive-in has two vintage campers on the property that can be rented through Airbnb. You can watch all the movies you want while sitting on your front porch!
Goats on the Roof has become another family favorite throughout the years. It is a great attraction for adults and children alike. Grab an ice cream, sandwich, or Amish-made jams and snacks while you feed actual goats on the roof.
Mountain City
Mountain City is the home of Blackrock Mountain State Park. Blackrock Mountain is the highest state park in Georgia. The visitor’s center lends itself to our favorite view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While at Blackrock Mountain, visit the Foxfire Heritage Museum, which teaches visitors about life in the southern Appalachian Mountains during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Cottages and a campground are available for lodging at the park. I will note that if you are thinking of camping, really do some research if your camper is more than 20’ long. The campground is at the top of the mountain, and there is no way we could have pulled our 26’ camper up those slopes, and we would not have pulled our previous 23’ camper either.
Sky Valley
Sky Valley is known in Northeast Georgia for its amazing temperatures. The town is the highest elevated city in the state, and for this reason, it is a cool and refreshing break from the summer heat. If you golf, the Sky Valley Golf Club has an excellent course. Whitewater rafting is also available in the area.
Lakemont
Lakemont has some great activities if you are passing through. One of our newly found favorites is the Blue Ridge Honey Company. You can taste and compare different types of honey. Stock up on your honey supply, body products, candy, and gifts while you are there. Supplies are also available for dipping beeswax candles and they have everything you need to raise bees and produce honey at home.
Lake Rabun Recreational Area is a beautiful place to spend some time relaxing, swimming, and fishing. The 835-acre lake is the third lake in a series that follows the course of the Tallulah River. A hotel is available for lodging on Lake Rabun.
River Falls at the Gorge is a great place to stay while visiting Rabun County and the surrounding areas. The campground is relatively new, and if you want to try camping, RV rentals are available. River Falls also has cabins and treehouses to lodge in overnight! We have stayed at River Falls, and we loved their amenities. Bring your innertubes and float down the river. Hiking, fishing, indoor and outdoor pools, and so much more is included in your stay at River Falls.
Tallulah Falls
Tallulah Falls is home to Tallulah Gorge State Park. The park is the jewel of the area. Located along the Habersham-Rabun County lines, the gorge, formed by the Tallulah River, runs three miles long and 1,000 feet deep. Within the gorge, there are six stunning waterfalls. Due to the waterfalls, there is a 500 feet drop of the river within a one-mile range. There are no words to express the beauty of the falls except gorge-ous.
One aspect that I love about visiting the gorge is that people of many ability levels can view it. The waterfall is located a short 100 yards from the visitor’s center or you can walk down 700+ steps for a different view. A campground is available at the park if that is of interest to you.
Rabun Gap
A must when visiting May through October is Osage Farms. Tomlin’s BBQ sits on the premises, so you can have a sandwich and a fresh strawberry milkshake before or after you shop. Osage has the best fresh produce. They also carry honey, jams, fresh sausage, fresh butter, fresh milk, homemade bread, and apple cider doughnuts. We love stocking up on fruits, vegetables, sausage, and jams before heading home.
If you are out and about on the weekends, stop by the Rabun Gap Flea Market. The open-air flea market’s hours are on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Find unique gifts, home essentials, and antiques while visiting.
A new RV Resort, Willow Valley, has opened in Rabun Gap. We recently stayed at Willow Valley. The campground has fabulous views and nice amenities.
Dillard
When visiting, we like to visit the antique stores in Dillard. They have a vast array of stores with great prices along Highway 441.
Another dining establishment that we never miss while in the area is the Cupboard Café. They have a wide array of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. Sean’s favorite biscuits are at the Cupboard. They are homemade, and are as big as cat heads!
Although we have not had the opportunity to stay yet, the River Vista RV Resort gets rave reviews on all of the RV sites. We have driven through the campground, and it looks fabulous with amazing views of the mountains. Cottages are also available for rent at River Vista.
Dillard is most famous for the 1917 Dillard House and Inn. Lodge in their inn, cottages, or chalets while visiting. The Dillard House Restaurant is a family-style restaurant that is iconic in the area. The menu changes each day. The price of lunch is around $20 per person, but the food is delicious and the views are breathtaking.
Clarkesville
Although the majority of Clarkesville is in neighboring Habersham County, a significant draw to the area, Lake Burton, is located in Rabun County with a Clarkesville address. Clarkesville is home to the famous 2,775-acre lake as well as Moccasin Creek State Park. At Lake Burton, visit the fish hatchery. The hatchery is run by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and is used to stock trout for mountain streams. Camping is available at Moccasin Creek.
Nearby Towns and Attractions
Although our center is Rabun County, we also have some surrounding towns and attractions that we like to visit.
Toccoa
Toccoa is a unique town in Northeast Georgia that borders South Carolina. We love visiting the Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site. Traveler’s Rest was built for stagecoach travelers to stop and rest, which is the foundation for the country’s first hotels. Constructed in 1815, and expanded in the 1830s, Traveler’s Rest has fascinating stories of the past and historic details.
We love visiting Toccoa Falls located on the Toccoa Falls College campus. The falls are maintained and operated by the college, and for a small $2 entrance fee, you can visit the beautiful falls and learn their history.
While visiting Toccoa, you must eat at Bell’s Drive-In, if for nothing more than the shock value of the prices. For example, on a recent visit with my grandmother, Sean, Jackson, Lucy, and myself, we ordered five meals and an extra vegetable plate for a sampler, five desserts, and four drinks (Lu had water). Our bill was $49.81. We all just sat in awe of the menu and the quality of the food.
Helen
A rather famous attraction in Northeast Georgia is the Alpine village of Helen. We like to ride over to Helen and enjoy Hansel and Gretel’s Candy Shop.
A short drive, just a few minutes out of town, is Anna Ruby Falls. Visiting Anna Ruby Falls is an interesting journey because although it is the property of the US Park Service, you must drive through Unicoi State Park to gain access.
Cleveland
We have visited Babyland General in Cleveland many times. Babyland General is the home of the Cabbage Patch Dolls, and this was a favorite of Lucy’s when she was younger. Read our article that mentions Cleveland and the surrounding areas by clicking here.
Highlands, North Carolina
When staying in Rabun County, we don’t miss a car ride through the Highlands in North Carolina. Visit the waterfalls while touring the area. Take a stop and walk underneath the waterfall at Dry Falls (which isn’t dry). While there, also take a peek in the bathroom, let’s just say it’s a long way down!
I do want to note that if you get carsick or vertigo easily, take precautions while traveling through Highlands. The roads have a lot of twists and turns, and I don’t want you having a bad vacation day due to car sickness!
Clermont
A tradition when heading home is to always stop at the Mountain Fresh Creamery in Clermont. There is nothing better than Mountain Fresh’s Dutch-processed chocolate milk. We actually tasted the chocolate milk at Dutch Monkey Donuts in Cumming, and it was so delicious, we sought out the creamery so that we could visit. Much to our surprise, it is along our route from Clayton to Atlanta.
Check out the cheeses and homemade spreads. On certain days of the week, you can even go on a farm tour and learn about the milking process.
If you want to experience the best milkshake in the world, head toward the silo ask for a chocolate milkshake made with chocolate ice cream and the Dutch-processed chocolate milk.
Alto
Another stop we like to make on the way home, especially in October, is Jaemor Farms. Jaemor Farms is a 500-acre farm that has fresh produce. Visit the large store and check for seasonal events. Each October, we love to visit and participate in corn mazes, apple shoots, hayrides, and so much more.
We love the mountains of Northeast Georgia, and believe that Rabun County and the surrounding areas are so unique. We hope that you will be inspired to visit this majestic area of Georgia. If there are any questions we can answer as you plan your trip, please let us know!
Interested in visiting Northeast Georgia? Check out Trip Advisor for fantastic lodging deals in the area! For additional information on nearby towns, click HERE.
Interested in dining at the Rusty Bike Cafe while in town? Click HERE.
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