The city of Blairsville was perfect for our little mountain getaway!…read more Blairsville or "City of Mountains" is located in North Georgia (Union County) near Chattahoochee National Forest, and Vogel State Park. There's so much fun stuff to do around here such as renting a cabin, hiking, camping, fishing, paddle boating and so much more. Some of the places we visited while staying here: - Blairsville Downtown - Sleepy Hollow Enterprises - Vogel State Park - Helton Creek Falls - Blairsville Seafood Market "Mike's" - Brasstown Bald - Bell Mountain All of those destinations were 15-20 min away from each other at the most and all the activities, and views were absolutely worth it! I totally recommend staying in Blairsville and visiting all of those places. Also, don't miss Blairsville Downtown! It's a cute, small town but it's full with happy people ready to welcome you! The restaurants around it are great as well! ESPAÑOL ¡La ciudad de Blairsville fue perfecta para nuestra pequeña escapada a la montaña!   Blairsville o "City of Mountains" se encuentra en el norte de Georgia (Condado de Union) cerca del bosque nacional Chattahoochee y el parque estatal Vogel.   Hay muchas cosas divertidas que hacer por aquí, como alquilar una cabaña, ir de excursión, acampar, pescar, remar en bote y mucho más.   Algunos de los lugares que visitamos durante su estancia aquí:   - Blairsville Downtown   - Sleepy Hollow Enterprises   - Parque Estatal Vogel   - Helton Creek Falls   - Blairsville Seafood Market "Mike's"   - Brasstown Bald   - Bell Mountain   Todos esos destinos estaban a 15-20 minutos el uno del otro como máximo y todas las actividades, y las vistas valieron la pena! Recomiendo totalmente alojarse en Blairsville y visitar todos esos lugares.   Además, ¡no te pierdas el centro de Blairsville! ¡Es un pueblo pequeño y lindo, pero está lleno de gente feliz lista para darte la bienvenida! Los restaurantes a su alrededor también son geniales.

SMALL TOWN CHARM IN A NEAT LITTLE PACKAGE!…read more Blairsville is a small town located straight up 400/19 in Union County. It is located near the Chattahoochee Forest and Vogel Park and has spectacular views and vistas. Town Square is at the center of town and where you will find restaurants and the historical court house which is now the site of the Historical Society Museum. It is a true gem and deserves its own review. It is a great little "get away" and a great place to go and re-acquaint yourself with nature, history and wonderful people. The town plays host to several festivals and community activities, (Friday night concerts) throughout the year. Although we were in town for the Mountain Heritage Festival, we wandered into town for breakfast and to see the historic courthouse which literally sits in the center of town where you can't miss it. A traffic circle directs you around the building. This town seems to be run by volunteers who love their town and its history. They were throughout the various venues and just full of useful information. We had such a nice visit, that we are considering returning to the fall festival when the weather is cooler and we are able to see the trees change color. If you come for a festival, you must have a meal downtown and take a look around. There is plenty of convenient public parking available. When you are traveling to Blairsville, you will encounter long winding roads that can appear to be a bit precarious. However just hang in there and you will be fine. These roads are very popular with cyclists, drivers of sport cars, and motorcyclists so you must be cautious and TAKE YOUR TIME. We actually were stuck behind a group of cyclists, so we simply put our hazard lights on and hunkered down while staying about two car lengths back. It is simply not safe to pass on these challenging roads. If you have ever ridden a bike on the street, you can appreciate how scary it must be to be on a winding mountain road and have an aggressive driver on your tail. Just be kind! The sorghum festival will be taking place during the first weekend in October, so make a plan!

Came to Brasstown Bald Observation Tower for the views and it was a sight to see! It's not everyday…read more(at least where I live) that you can stand in such a high place and be able to see mountains spanning across 4 different states. The entry fee was 8 per adult (kids are free) which also includes a van ride to the overlook. Or you can choose to hike which wasn't a long hike but steep from what I saw. A must do for anyone visiting the area! Ohh... and make sure you watch the little movie at the top, it's very cool to see how one place is its own little world in different seasons and the history behind the place.

The current Brasstown Bald observation tower was built in 1965, replacing an earlier stone tower…read morethat was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935. The original 1935 stone tower was torn down in 1947 and replaced with a steel tower before the current structure was built - we'll folks looks like it's time to build another tower this one is in a state of disrepair. I came here to observe 4 states from the highest point in Georgia, but apparently the observation tower is in such bad shape that it is now closed to the public and your adventure will end after climbing a few flights of stairs ending at the base of the observation deck yeah there's a view from the lower level but in my opinion not worth the price of admission. Thankfully there's a shuttle van that takes you from the parking lot level to the top it runs about ever 10 minutes, our driver was very friendly and tried his best to entertain us during the short drive to the top but there's not much to say - the museum at the top is okay and takes about 2 minutes to tour it then time you walk the lower deck and wait for the shuttle back down - I purchased a refrigerator magnet for the RV from the gift shop and headed for the truck. I guess I am fortunate that I came and saw this, although it was never on my bucket list, I'm still trying to figure out why there's an old train engine in the museum it's quite the anachronism...

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD…read more The Union County Historical Society is housed in the local historic court house building which was built in 1899. My absolute favorite part of this building was the top floor which housed the courtroom. I felt as if I was stepping into a scene from "To kill A Mockingbird" because this room reminded me of the courtroom scene from the movie. It was so cool, that words cannot express how it felt to be transported back in time. I experienced this room from every possible position, the audience, the jury, the defendant, the jury and even the Judge's chair. When you yell guilty!, there is a nice echo! Love it! This courthouse was super simple, besides the main room there were two smaller rooms used for jury deliberations and as the judge's chamber. This space is now used for Friday night concerts where you can hear Bluegrass, gospel and other forms of music. On the lower level is the main office and several rooms that reflect the towns history. The specific rooms reflect sports, religion, education, local politics, and military history. You will also find some interesting artifacts in the main hallway. I was surprised that there wasn't any information on the civil war just later wars. You must step outside and view the front of this building from a distance as it is truly breathtaking. I am so glad that a group of passionate citizens decided to fight the planned destruction of this building and its contents. It was absolutely worth being saved and is now the pride of this community. This courthouse is an absolute must see on your visit to the area!.

The views from the top of Bell Mountain are spectacular! The drive up the mountain is not for the…read moreweak either. My husband and I took some great photos, but at the very top deck I could barely stand still due to all of the gnats flying around!! (Nov 1)

Bell Mountain has some incredible views, but unfortunately this has to be one of the most…read moredisturbing examples of society today. The amount of graffiti and trash is absolutely disgusting and shows a complete lack of respect for the land, the scenery, and the people around you. Nearly every inch of rock is covered in graffiti, including the platforms that taxpayers paid to build so visitors could enjoy the view. The entire place feels reminiscent of movies that depict the breakdown of society and the end of the world--where chaos takes over and respect, responsibility, and common decency no longer exist. This is not artistic expression; it's vandalism and selfishness. Instead of appreciating the beauty of nature, visitors are forced to look at layer after layer of damage left behind by people who clearly have no regard for preserving anything for others to enjoy. It's honestly sad to see such a beautiful place ruined this way.

I was enjoying a walk at the botanical gardens and saw the sign near where I'd parked. It's a…read moresteady, mild incline 1/2 mile up and down a gravel road to the viewpoints. Not by any means the prettiest trek, but lovely views at the top of course. I did encounter sections of monster mosquitos about 3/4 the way up and around the rocky viewing areas. I didn't arrive at sunset or rise, so I can't account for that aspect. But I found some of the other viewpoints in the area equally pretty, so I probably wouldn't go out of my way for these. And, I enjoyed the setting of the botanical preserve trails below much better. Still yet, I'm sure it would've been a different experience during the right time of day.

Loved this place! It's a half mile walk in a gravel road but to be able to watch the sunset was so…read morebeautiful!! Will definitely be back.

Review is for the last trail of the Appalachian Mountain in GA to NC. Blue Ridge Gap to Bly Gap…read more You could check out the YouTube video to visually see more about the trail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDavhW82d-I Note - GPS pin is 34.9512103, -83.6261231 but that is not the beginning of the trail. It is for church that is 2 miles down the road. You will need a Four Wheeler or truck to make it to the trail head. Or you could definitely walk there. Lots of boulders on this trail once you are off the main road, it's an incline going up. I was fortunate to adventure on this trail with my job. Collaborating with Vestigo has helped me learn about the Appalachian Trails. This is supposed to be the easiest one on the trail. Believe me, it is not "easy." I would rate it moderate with the inclines, especially in the beginning of the trail. Most of the trail is dirt with not many tree roots. You will see a sign for GA/NC border. Once you get there, it will not be far to reach Bly Gap. You know you are at Bly Gap when you see a big tree. Behind there, the trail continues to take you farther up north, all the way to ME if you would like. There is no parking or accessible way to get to Bly Gap on car. From Blue Ridge Gap to Bly Gap is 3.2 miles so round trip is almost at 6.5 miles. Plan accordingly. 116/2017

The Hiwassee Dam is a little bit of a detour from Murphy, NC. But I highly recommend a stop. The…read moredam is hydroelectric and is remarkable to see just the size of it. You can drive over it too. I wasn't sure at the time if I could take a walk on it so I behaved myself this time. There appeared to be sidewalks on both sides in sections so I will do that next time. The dam is 307 feet high and holds 67 billion gallons of water. Hiwassee Lake is about 22 miles. The dam took 1600 men four years to build before being completed in 1940. At the time it cost $24 million to build. The dam generates enough electricity for 28,000 homes. The views are breathtaking here so if you are in the area this remarkable piece of work.

If you're in the Murphy area, or planning a trip out to the falls, and enjoy being outdoors, be…read moresure to take a quick detour and venture into easily accessible Hiwassee. Surrounded by the Nantahala and Cherokee National Forests - This cozy and colorful park has a lot to offer, including a rich habitat for deer, wild turkey and other animals. Have your camera ready to snap memorable moments, scenery and wildlife. Built in the 1940's, the Hiwassee Dam is largely known to locals as 1 of 32 dams built & planned to provide flood control, navigation and electricity for the region. Today, this piece of history is known as one of the top 5 things to do/points of interest for those visiting Murphy. Upstream from Apalachia Reservoir, the river stretches for 22 miles northwest to southeast. The Pros: - Great for picnics. - Free and easy to locate parking. - The area features a day-use park that provides access to boating, fishing and paths for exploring the Hiwassee Reservoir and its tributaries. - The area is isolated and not overloaded with people/tourists (even during season). On most occasions you will find yourself alone and have this stunning area all to yourself. It's well suited for canoeing & rafting. - The dam is close to Cherokee, the falls and many of Murphy's other "must-see" areas. Prior to your trip, consider these tips: - Check out & research the weather conditions prior to making your plans to venture out onto the roads, or into the water. The reservoir comes from deep below the surface and the water temperature is super chilly, even in the summer. - Keep an eye out for snakes! - If it's summer, be sure to pack bug spray and sun screen. Fun Facts: - The dam is known as a historical landmark used by the Navy Bureau of Ordnance for torpedo testing into the deep water, and the isolation provided by its mountainous environs. - The dam is currently operational and still providing electricity today.

Worth the drive to see and walk through the tunnel…read more Read the history, it's really a sad story. They call it the stolen highway

If you didn't know the history of this spot, you might not think it's a big deal but if you do know…read morethe history, it becomes more relevant. Yes, it literally is a road that ends in a very long, dark and wet tunnel. There are also several walking trails nearby. We drove back on the road a little bit and did one of the shorter hikes that leads to a section of the lake. There are other trails that are more strenuous. This is more of an oddity than anything else, but still an interesting place to visit.

Loved the falls. We are no longer able to climb 600 stairs, so the great people in the welcome…read morecenter told us about the paved walking trail to the falls that you can easily get to by car. It's the West Ridge Falls Access Trail. The trailhead parking area is woefully small, so you may not get a parking spot if you arrive during a busy time. Another advantage of the walking trial is going by an old crashed car from Prohibition on the side of the hill. There's a photo in the visitor's center if you miss it. It's cool to see the beginning of the Appalachian trail behind the visitor's center. There's a nice photo spot with a stone arch. We didn't stay at the lodge but went there after our hike for the famous view. Unfortunately it was foggy that day. Still, it's a cool lodge with a large window in the lobby and seating outside to enjoy the glorious view. There's a kickass map of the Appalachian trail on the lobby wall. The staff in the gift shop were pleasant and helpful.

A very special place to enjoy Mothers' Day, if you make an early reservation. It has spectacular…read moreviews, a gift shop, a cute front desk attendant with fur. Loads of sights to see and delicious buffet style foods. This was our first time we enjoyed this location and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a get away or just a day date. ( please make a reservation to dine, you need to respect the dinning process). The staff here is courteous and friendly. Great smokes and attitudes all the way around. We loved the buffet which had an assortment of delicious items. There's something here for everyone. Come on by the staff welcomed you.

Hardman Farm was a nice walk from my hotel. There is a gift shop however, they do not allow pets…read moreand walking I had my dog with me. So that was disappointing that I couldn't go in and explore. we could walk around the grounds and explore the barns and areas of the farm. There are some fantastic views. The main house is gorgeous. The barns are cool. I liked seeing the dairy barn. The land is one of my dreams. The walk back to the hotel was just as nice under the shade of trees following the river.

Stopped in on a whim and just caught a guided tour heading out...so glad we did. Faye was our tour…read moreguide and she moved at a good pace and had some interesting history to share. The house is preserved to it's original state as much as they could (they've added electric lighting, etc) and there's lots of art and personal items to check out. Great way to spend an hour or two if in the area on a nice day. You will walk outside for a good portion of the tour so dress appropriately! There is a lovely gift shop that I'll keep in mind if I'm ever in the area and need a little present or hostess gift :)