Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Dahlonega, Georgia has plenty to offer any visitor. It's just a little over an hour from Atlanta, Georgia in the Northeastern area of Georgia. Spend a day at one of its local vineyards, go gold panning at its historic mine, or spend some time hiking in the surrounding countryside. There's plenty to see and do in this beautiful town!
Gold Panning
Dahlonega Georgia is the home to the first gold rush of the USA, that started in 1828. When the gold rush hit in California 20 years later, many left to seek there fortunes in the west.
Every year they have a gold rush festival in downtown Dahlonega. I went there in the Fall of 2021 by chance.
Gold panning is a fun activity for all ages and it is a great way to learn about the history of gold mining. There are several places to pan for gold in Dahlonega.
Consolidated Gold Mine
The Consolidated Gold Mine is my personal favorite. Here they have underground tours, gem mining, gold panning, and a gem studio along with offering group tours. For a family, it's an easy afternoon of family fun.
The consolidated mines are located at: 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Road Dahlonega, GA 30533
If you want to rent equipment and try your hand at finding some gold yourself, this is an excellent place to do so! The process isn't complicated at all and most people find that they enjoy it more than they thought they would.
Wine Tasting
The winery scene in Dahlonega is on the upswing, with 12 wine tasting rooms and 8 wineries. There are plenty of places to explore what Georgia mountain town has to offer.
The history of wine in Dahlonega goes back over 200 years, when it was first planted in 1821 by German immigrants. Many of the wineries have received hundreds of rewards over the years.
If you're not up to traveling to the wineries yourself, try a winery tour that will leave you worry free.
If time is not on your side, there are many places to sample wines the one of the many Dahlonega tasting rooms.
Foods
There is a variety of cuisines within Dahlonega, GA.
Hiking to Nearby Waterfalls
While you're in Dahlonega, you can hike to nearby waterfalls. There are 12 easily accessible waterfalls within 25 mile radius of downtown Dahlonega.
If possible, bring: water, bug spray, sunscreen, sneakers or hiking boots (the latter being required if hiking up Burnt Mountain)
If you're looking for a way to get outside and enjoy the natural wonders of Dahlonega, Georgia, consider kayaking on the Chestatee River. It's about a 15-minute drive from downtown Dahlonega, GA. Once there, follow signs leading to put-in points. You'll need your own boat and gear; rentals are not available at this time.
Depending on how much experience you have with kayaking and what type of water conditions are present when you go out into the river, it'll take anywhere between 1 hour and 3 hours to complete your trip downriver (and back).
Because public parking is limited near put-ins points along Highway 400—and because they fill up quickly during warmer months when more people are enjoying themselves outdoors—it's best if everyone carpools together before setting out on their adventure!
Dahlonega is rich in adventure, culture and charm.
Dahlonega is rich in adventure, culture and charm.
It is a great place to go for a weekend getaway, vacation or even just for day trip. There are many things to do in Dahlonega Georgia that will make your visit memorable.
Conclusion
You may need at least three days to enjoy the area, but if you have more time, then you can spend the extra day hiking to nearby waterfalls or kayaking down the Chestatee River.
Day trips like this are how I reset between projects. I work in digital marketing and eCommerce strategy. If you need that kind of focus applied to your business, take a look at what I do.
The Tennessee Valley is a beautiful place to visit and can provide a great escape for families, couples, or as a solo trip looking for some adventure. It's nestled in between mountains and offers plenty of things to do indoors and outdoors.
One thing you may not know, however, is that Tennessee offers off the beaten path attractions that go beyond the Chattanooga city limits.
Rock City Gardens
Rock City Gardens is a popular tourist attraction located in Lookout Mountain. It's a fun place to visit, especially for families with kids and couples who want to get out of town for the day.
The gardens offer beautiful views of the mountainside, as well as some stellar photo opportunities.
There are many trails throughout Rock City Gardens that lead you further into nature. At the top of the Rock City you can 7 states at one time.
Rock City Gardens is also known for Lover's Leap Falls and suspension bridge. These are 2 of the many famous attractions at this location.
Raccoon Mountain Walking Cave Tour
Raccoon Mountain Caverns offers walking tours through their cave system. They also offer guided caving tours as well at different difficulty levels and lengths in the cave system.
If you're looking for an activity that's family friendly, the Raccoon Mountain Walking Cave Tour is the best option. The tour lasts about an hour, and during that time you'll get to see the underground caves. As you walk through the cave, your guide will explain what you're seeing and tell stories about Chattanooga history.
The Raccoon Mountain Walking Cave Tour isn't as touristy as Ruby Falls—which means it's less crowded—and it also has some fun features like sitting at a table in front of a mirror so that you can pretend to be sitting right next to yourself!
Sewanee Natural Bridge
This is a very short trail from the parking lot and very unique. When I think of a natural bridge I think of Utah not the Southeast states of US.
Foster Falls
This has a steep path with a suspension bridge crossing. Foster Falls is near Monteagle, TN and is 75 feet tall.
Denny Cove Falls
This trail was a flop. On the way down there was a couple coming back up.
They said there were some fallen trees and the path after that was hard to follow. They turned around and didn’t see the waterfall.
They passed and continued. After a few minutes we decided to turn around and call it a day.
Sunset at Lookout Mountain
The sunset was beautiful. The parking was hard to come by and the trail there was a bit sketchy especially in the dark.
Buc-ee's
I live in the Atlanta area and couldn't pass up a stop at Buc-ee's in Adairsville, GA.
This time I stopped, I grabbed a BBQ Sandwich and a side of their potato wedges. I've heard great things of them. I was not disappointed.
Chattanooga is a great place for for a short getaway.
If I could do it over again, I would leave earlier in the day. There was a lot packed in considering the drive times.
It has some really cool attractions, like the Tennessee Aquarium and Rock City, which are both awesome places.
There are also plenty of options for activities that a solo traveler or group can enjoy: kayaking on the river, hiking up Signal Mountain or driving through Lookout Mountain Caverns. There's something here for everyone!
Hope you have a wonderful time when you get there!
I stopped to get gas on the way to Stone Mountain, there was an issue with the gas pump.
The next day when I went kayaking, we had to wait out a storm that was passing through.
And lash when I was trying to charge my phone, the charging port had gotten wet. The last of the three delays.
I had even mentioned the 3’s delays to the cashier guy at the gas station. He was there when the gas pump issue happened. He still felt so bad but had a good laugh at the 3’s.
The Stone Mountain trip ended up being worth the gas pump detour. Here is that day.
This is another weekday outing, the day after Stone Mountain. This kayak trip was planned a few weeks ago, but canceled because of storms that evening.
At the start there was a small storm that passed over us. We waited it out and it prevented us going up one of the creeks that feed into Lake Acworth.
On the other side of the tunnel, it seems like a different place. At the end, it was alive with wildlife. A fellow kayaker that was in the front of the group said there were a few deer that scurried away when they were spotted.
Cathy Gray is an eCommerce and digital marketing professional based in Atlanta, GA, with nearly a decade of experience helping B2B businesses sell more online. Outside of work she's chasing waterfalls, kayaking rivers, and finding dark skies to camp under.
