Visiting Dahlonega, GA
Ideas for exploring this cute Georgia mountain town
April 15, 2022
If you’re looking for a mountain escape in north Georgia, be sure to check out the eclectic town of Dahlonega. Located just a little over an hour from Atlanta, Dahlonega has a variety of things to do for people of all ages. I decided to take a day to trip Dahlonega but you could easily spend several days here and have plenty of activities to keep you busy.
My first stop of the day was to visit Amicalola Falls State Park, located just outside of downtown Dahlonega. This park is very popular on the weekends for folks living in metro Atlanta so I highly recommend getting there early, as parking becomes more difficult during prime times. It only costs $5 to get into the park- you can pay in cash at the booth when you first enter or by credit card in the visitors center. I decided to start my hike by taking the Creek Trail, which begins just outside of the visitors center and follows the river until you arrive at the famous waterfalls and stairs. Hiking up the stairs (604 of them, to be exact) is no joke and I highly recommend taking it slow if you aren’t in shape…this allows for more time to enjoy the waterfalls, which you will want to do anyhow.
They do offer a less strenuous option now and you can actually take a ramp for part of the hike, which is nice. Once I got to the top, I took the East Ridge Trail back down. I was only there for a few hours but there are a lot of options of things to do while you’re there, including camping, zip lining and archery. The Len Foote Hike Inn is also accessible from the top of Amicalola Falls and is a 5 mile hike to the Inn, where you can go to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
After I burned some calories hiking, I decided it was time to go grab some lunch in downtown Dahlonega. There are many dining options but I was in the mood for a sandwich and really enjoyed my lunch at the Corner Kitchen. Then I decided to make my way over to the Red Oak Lavender Farm. This precious farm/shop is the largest and oldest lavender farm in Georgia and has 4,000 lavender plants. I wasn’t able to go when the plants were in full bloom but I was told that happens in the middle of June, so plan your trip accordingly so you can get those cool Instagram-worthy pictures. Their shop was wonderful and had a variety of lavender items, all of which are made in house- I ended up getting some bath salts which I can’t wait to use.
I really enjoyed exploring all of the shops in downtown Dahlonega- they have everything from chocolate shops to vintage stores and even a general store. My favorite place though was Canopy + the Roots…it’s a coffee shop, yoga studio and a music venue all in one. I can’t wait to go back for a show one evening, as the music venue had a very unique vibe. Be sure to check out their website for upcoming shows: canopyandtheroots.com.
Dahlonega is a former mining town, so I knew I had to visit one of the mines. I made my way to the Consolidated Gold Mine for an underground tour. After the tour is over, you can even pan for gold…I found two small flakes of gold so I’m basically a gabillionaire now. :)
One of the things that Dahlonega has been known for in recent years are their wineries. They now have 12 tasting rooms and 8 wineries, all of which have their own unique vibe. I have been to a few others in the past, so this time I tried a new one called Cavendar Creek Vineyards. It was very cute and was packed with everyone from bachelorette parties to family groups. One thing to note is that you should check the hours of the wineries- some of them close fairly early in the afternoon on the weekends. For more information on all of the wineries, visit: dahlonega.org/wineries. I also stopped by the Etowah Meadery to try some mead, which is made by fermenting honey mixed with water/spices.
After a long day of exploring, my last stop was to go by Lake Zwerner, which is located just outside of downtown Dahlonega. If you have some time, I recommend hiking the 3 mile loop that goes around the lake. It’s a great way to catch a sunset and think about the fun day you’ve had.
Amicalola Falls State Park: amicalolafallslodge.com
Red Oak Lavender Farm & Shop: redoaklavender.com
Canopy + the Roots: canopyandtheroots.com
Consolidated Gold Mine: consolidatedgoldmine.com
Cavendar Creek Vineyards: cavendercreekvineyards.com
Etowah Meadery: etowahmeadery.com
Discover Dahlonega: dahlonega.org
