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!
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.
Sometimes it's good to go during the week instead of waiting till the weekend.
I got invited to Stone Mountain yesterday after work. I met up with everybody and I was actually on time this time, go me. Before I went I was undecided if I wanted to take Sam with me or not. I ended up taking him with me. He was such a sport the entire way up.
Before I went, I got an annual pass online. I’ll have to make it a point to go kayaking there. I went with my HOE Adventure Group. HOE stands for Happiness Over Everything and not the ho ho.
I was a member for a while, but this was my first event with them. I don't consider the trip Kayaking to Florida the first, even though it technically was, as it was a collab event between 2 groups.
When I pulled into my parking space, I knew exactly where we would meet because there’s a big group of about 20 at the time when I pulled up. I think there were about 30 to 35 of us that went so it made it easy to spot the group.
Stormy started the group and also created the event. At her events, she does a friendship ring where everyone introduces themselves. I like the concept but it took quite a while with so many people.
On the trail up, someone suggested taking the service road up instead of the regular trail. It was much nicer on my knees, otherwise you’re stepping over rocks and bouldering a lot.
I haven’t been here in years, probably more than a decade.
It wasn’t really challenging this time around. Well one because of the service road and two Sam was not having the heat but we trekked it up to the top, one step at a time.
Of course the the dreaded top.
This is my initial thought and face on it, but it's right at the end.
Either way, one foot in front of the other and your there.
I’m glad I did go. I’ve been wanting to get more involved in summer hiking which I typically just do when it’s cooler. I consider this one of the first ones since it was in the mid 90s today and I also wanted to see a sunset from Stone Mountain. Going to the three granite rock mountains is on my list of things that I wanted to do, Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain.
We were wanting to see the strawberry moon when it came up but it was just too cloudy. But we did manage to see some fireworks. It wasn’t a show at all, I think they’re just doing some practice rounds. I know one thing it was sure as hell easier going down then was going back up.
I’ll upload some pics when my phone dries. It’s almost dead and I can’t charge it, since it got a little wet when I went kayaking today.
So that was the impromptu weekday fun adventures and tomorrow is or actually later today is my kayaking trip. A kayak jaunt really to Lake Acworth. It was supposed to be a few weeks ago but it was canceled due to weather. This one I’m definitely taking Sam on, and I did.
This kayaking trip was much better organized than the trip to Florida. There were about 43 or so yess’s on going. Not everyone showed up but it was still a good size crew. We were out on the lake for a little bit, but some clouds and lightning came through. We pulled back and waited it out before heading out again. It was very peaceful.
These are just some things that I have done while traveling solo throughout the years. These have worked for me. I'm not saying that I haven't been in sticky situations before, but it my experience it has always been closer to home. I am not sure why that is the case, perhaps being overly comfortable, just people in general, or a bit of both.
Keep Confident
The biggest advice that I can give is to be confident, even when you're scared you can still be confident. Your confidence will reflect in your body language.
You can be scared as hell inside, but still be confident at the same time.
The mindset shift that unlocked it for me: I told myself that doing things outside of your comfort zone is good for you, and that I could actually do it. That reframe changed everything. It stopped feeling like something I had to survive and started feeling like something I was choosing.
Get started
If you are uncomfortable with the idea, start with group activities. You don't have to travel there with someone that you know.
I wanted to get back into the outdoors, so I joined several outdoor groups on Facebook. From there I went with a group that was going to Stone Mountain to see the sunset and Strawberry Moon rise. Everyone within the group hiked the mile long trail at different paces. Sam and I joined the smaller crew that went up using the vehicle road. It made the overall distance shorter and easier to manage instead of going over the tall rocks and incline.
When it comes to finding a place to stay solo, look into HipCamp where you can read real reviews and contact the host directly. Knowing there's a real person on the other end: someone you can call or text if something goes wrong: makes a big difference. That safety net alone can take the edge off.
Tell Someone
A huge safety factor, no matter who you are, is letting people know where you're going.
At minimum, tell one person where you'll be and drop them a location pin. Then set a check-in window: if they haven't heard from you by a certain time, they call local authorities. It sounds extreme until you actually need it.
It doesn't have to be complicated. No reservations, no itinerary: just a location and a deadline.
My friend Manse sold everything and hit the road in an RV to travel the US. Throughout most of the trip he would check in with me and our mutual friend Sarah. He even kept a shared Google Sheet with his plans and routes that Sarah and I both had access to. Before heading to Glacier Park he and I had talked, but I didn't realize he'd be without cell service for a stretch. After about five days, Sarah and I started to worry.
The last I knew, he had been in some small town at a local dive bar. I tracked it down and called. The bartender remembered him and said that five days off the grid with what Manse was doing sounded about right. It helped a little, but the worry didn't go away until we actually heard from him.
About two days later he called. Said he heard both voicemails Sarah and I had left. He laughed it off, but I could hear it in his voice: he appreciated it more than he let on.
That's the whole point. Let someone know. It matters.
Solo travel doesn't have to start with a cross-country road trip or a week in the backcountry. Start small. A day hike, a local group meetup, a one-night camping trip close to home. The point is to just start. It gets easier every time, and you'll surprise yourself with what you're capable of.
Planning carefully and trusting your instincts are not just travel skills. They are professional ones too. I bring the same mindset to marketing work. Here is what I do.
Once you are ready to go, there is no shortage of trip ideas in the adventure section.
Cathy Gray is an eCommerce and digital marketing specialist 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. Her dog Sam is officially retired from adventures but still supervises from the couch. None of it happens without coffee.
