How do you celebrate a marriage milestone, within driving range, on an affordable budget and create lifelong memories?
1) One-day road trip (450 miles);
2) Private wood cabin with Jacuzzi;
3) Plenty of hiking trails;
4) Gold mining and wineries a plus;
5) Exploration within an hour’s drive;
) End in an exclusive B&B for some pampering;
7) Drive home safely.
We have been doing the ‘island thing’ for many years and decided to head for the mountains for a change. But mountains and Florida are not quite synonymous. The nearest was either South Carolina or northern Georgia. The Appalachian Trail has always held mystique since meeting a through hiker many years ago. So we headed to Georgia and Mile 1 (or Miles 1,146 pending where you start).
Dahlonega, GA is an old mining town in the mountains and a perfect setting to make it our base camp for a few days. Forest Hills Resort, 13 miles out of town is a large farm with individual log cabins that can be rented. Ours featured a hot tub, fire place, wrap-around porch and beautiful views of mountain forest. Horse riding, wagon trails and a intimate chapel are all perks of Forest Hills but we opted for the hiking trials instead. Breakfast is included but dinners can be reserved. Well worth saving yourself from cooking as a personal chef prepares the most fantastic southern meals.
Greater Dahlonega boasts a number of wineries and we visited Monteluce Estate & Winery. The whole farm has an Italian theme and La Vigne is a 25,000 sq. ft. restaurant above the wine press room. They produce excellent wines and a menu to match. A great place to celebrate a special occasion or to stop by just because. A quick drive will take you to Helen, a German-themed town. Too touristy for us but Betty’s General Store is a must. Walk to the back for fresh soup and sandwiches.
Two active gold mines are situated in Dahlonega and a tour is a must. Learn to pan and make some of the entrance fee back in real gold. I even bought a gold pan – just in case the opportunity arises again. One never knows…
After 4 days we headed to the town of Blue Ridge but stopped at the famed Amicalola Falls – 3rd highest in the USA and the start/end of the Appalachian Trail. And then hiked from the visitor center to the falls and back on two different trials. Maybe 3 miles or 1/1,000th of the famed Trail. Like spending 10 minutes at the Grand Canyon!
And then we discovered the boutique town of Blue Ridge where the new money from Atlanta hangs out over weekends and holidays. Great shopping and the start of the Blue Ridge railway line. Our choice was the #1 B&B on most travel sites: Aska Lodge. The owners, Ric and Janet deserve the accolades as Aska Lodge lives up to it’s reputation. Terrycloth robes, bamboo linen, specialist breakfasts and incredible hosts made it an unforgettable experience.
And so we headed back, filled with fresh mountain air, southern hospitality and life long friends from as far as Germany. All in a week.