North Georgia Mountain Trip Report

 

The first pictures came from our dating anniversary trip.  It was fun but the real adventure would come next month with the birthday trips.  

10/16-

First stop was a campus tour of my alma mater at Clemson.  It was roughly 4.5 hours driving time but you lose an hour going east.  I experienced ups and downs during my time as a student but I'm proud that I went to school there.

From Clemson, it was only 1.5 hours to Helen, Georgia mostly via US-123.  It's a German themed town at the foothills of the mountains.  We had a nice dinner right on the Chattahoochee River.  Unfortunately, my stomach rejected it shortly thereafter.

 

10/17- Left Helen around 10:30 this morning and headed towards our destination, which was Amicalola Falls with a detour on a mountain road to Vogel State Park.  This was perhaps the best scenery of the trip.  I wish we had waited another 2 weeks for better foliage but our schedule wouldn't allow that.  

At any rate, after a quick lunch we arrived at the park around 2 then our room was ready shortly thereafter.  As for the resort, I have mixed reviews.  The view from the room was flat out beautiful and I had no issues with the room itself.  The food was a disappointment.  We thought there would be a full menu.  Instead, it was a rather mediocre buffet and the prices were way too high for what was offered.  With the nearest town being 10 miles away, it was really the only option.  

Viewing the falls required a strenuous hike of about 30 minutes each way up and down 475 stairs.  In my weakened condition, it was a struggle for me.  Cynthia passed on it and I don't blame her.  I survived a scare when I twisted my ankle on a pothole but fortunately my luck held.  It was slightly bruised but not swollen and I was able to run just 2 days later.  After dinner, we just chilled in the room and watched some college football.

10/18- Leisurely breakfast then checked out around 10.  We attempted to get to church but today was the town festival in Dahlonega.  Parking was impossible to find and our second choice for church met at a different location.  A for effort!  

The route back was US-19 to Atlanta then finally I-20 back to B'ham.  Atlanta traffic is never fun but I've done it enough and it's not intimidating anymore.  Good trip overall.