Today Dahlonega is enjoying a renewed economic boom of another precious commodity....Wine! Dahlonega is part of the growing Wine Country region that's putting Georgia wines on the map. The region is rich in local wineries and vineyards that should be on your next vacation itinerary. Rolling fields of grapevines, and beautiful wineries will give you a taste of the "good life" as you relax and uncork your favorite fruit of the vine.
Dahalonega is located along the Georgia Wine Trail that will take the wine lover to wineries and vineyards, along with a plethora of outdoor activity including the Appalachian Trail. The new boom is Agri-Tourism, and it spells big bucks for the region that is climate perfect for grape growing for that perfect Georgia vintage. The agri-tourism boom also includes petting zoos and wildlife preserves for hiking and backpacking.
Outdoor lovers will find abundant opportunities from canoeing, tubing, kayaking, and world class fishing. Trails for hiking and biking abound, or you can saddle up and giddy up with horseback riding along the Appalachian Trail. Other outdoor activities include hiking and camping in the Chattahoochee National Forest. It's home to the highest waterfall east of the Mississippi River, and site of the annual Six Gap Century Bike Ride which attracts over 3,000 cyclists year for the competition.
Self guided tours include a trip through time in the historic "Old Town District" which is an architectural wonderland, and if ghosts get you going, there are haunted tours complete with ghostly stories as spirits are plentiful, as the area has a reputation for things that go bump in the night. It's not all ghosts and goblins, in fact, there are other tours of area attractions to take on foot, on bike or by family vehicle. To help guide you in your quest, there are historic markers along the way to give you descriptions of what you are seeing. For information on tour maps, drop into the Dahlonega Tourism Office located on South Park street or visit their website at www.dahlonega.org.
It's relaxing enough to be nestled in the Georgia mountains, but, you can really unwind at one of the day spas where you'll be pampered to perfection with body wraps, manicures and pedicures, facials and massage. You can also check into one of the healing arts or spa retreats such as the Dahlonega Spa Resort and Inn situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on 72 acres of wooded wonderland to get in touch with your inner self.
Wining and dining is a unique and diverse. Treat your palate to everything from seafood to thick, juicy steaks. For simpler fare, there are restaurants offering up brews and burgers, to the finest Italian cuisine to go with your favorite local wine, or kick back and enjoy the hometown Southern atmosphere at one of the many cozy cafes where you'll be made to feel like family.
There is plenty of outdoor activity to enjoy but Dahlonega also has a vibrant nightlife for the young and the young at heart. Many places offer live entertainment, including karaoke, and poker tables where you can try your luck. Don't forget to put on your best poker face.
Arts and culture go hand in hand in Dahlonega. The Holly Theater is home to the award winning Mountain Music and Medicine Show radio program. It's like having a front row seat at the Grand Old Opry, Georgia style. Juried arts and music get underway full tilt boogie at the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival held each April. Bluegrass music is king at the festival that attracts national acts who take to the stage along with local participants in the town square for two days of family fun, food and music, that includes a street dance and children's activities.
You don't want to miss the Dahlonega Spring Wine Highway Weekend, held in March. This is the wine lovers chance to discover award winning Georgia wines and to get up close and personal with local wine makers to ask questions, and sample their creations for a real mountain wine experience that you'll never forget.
Shopping in Dahlonega is unique. They offer everything from a chocolate store that caters to the sweet tooth, to the Outlaw Jerky and Grub store where the avid outdoors person can stock up on energy foods. Riders Hill is a bikers paradise. It's a motorcycle store that offers sales and rentals, along with apparel and gear for the Easy Rider who prefers two wheeled activity while touring the mountains and the highways of the open road.
If camping in the rough is not your idea of fun, try glamping instead. Glamping is glamor camping at it's best. Pampered luxury in an outdoor setting will make you feel like royalty, and not Daniel Boone sleeping in a hollowed out log. The camping times are a changing, especially in that wonderful wine region of Georgia. Camping can now be glamorous in a rustic setting where you can “rough it” in style with a corkscrew to open your favorite bottle of camping chardonnay. It appeals to those with a penchant for the outdoors but with a glass of your favorite in hand.
Cedar House Inn and Yurts, located six miles north of Dahlonega is a resort for the eco-minded awho enjoy creature comforts with the outdoor experience. (Yes they have Wi-Fi!) You can stay in one of the beautifully proportioned inn rooms, or if you get a yen for a yurt, you camp it up in style. Today’s yurt is a luxury structure similar to a tent that sits on a wooden platform with a view of the forest that surrounds you like a comforting visual blanket. It includes a full vegetarian breakfast. Linens are provided, (no sleeping bags or rocky ground to sleep on here) and comes complete with a mini fridge for your favorite cold beverages. There is also a common area at the inn where you can sit and socialize with other guests, and obtain information on local sights and activities. For more information visit their website at georgiamountaininn.com
There are more traditional lodging options, and you can go rustic at any of the campgrounds in the area, or the National Forest where you can pitch a tent and enjoy the rough it lifestyle, or check into a cozy knotty pine cabin for a taste of true Georgia ambiance. Got an RV? No problem! Pull it in and park it surrounded by idyllic forests in a mountain setting. Life doesn't get much better than that. Traditional chain and local motels are available, and for the Appalachian hiker who wants to pull off the trail for the night, check into the Hiker Hostel where you can get a bunk in a room for under twenty bucks.
For your next Southern vacation, head for the mountains in beautiful Dahlonega, where wine and cuisine are world class, along with many outdoor opportunities for hiking and biking in a mountain setting. Nightlife and shopping is second to none, and glamor camping is a pure pleasure with all the creature comforts. All you have to do is grab a corkscrew and get ready to uncork Georgia's Wine Country.