Georgia Mountains

A few weekends ago we had the pleasure of a trip to the Georgia Mountains.  We had been looking forward to some hikes but unfortunately it rained the whole time.  However, the nearby towns provided plenty of interest and it was quite an enjoyable weekend over all.

 We visited Dahlonega, GA.

 15 years ago, a bear walked through downtown Dahlonega.  15 years later, they're still talking about it.  That should give you an idea of the pace of life in Dahlonega.

 The downtown was ridiculously cute.

 The locals were proud of their southern heritage.

We had fried gator, crawfish, and oysters at The Bourbon Street Grill.

We also stopped in Helen, GA which is weirdly a recreation of a German alpine village.  Everything was closed on Sunday, but we were able to get a good sense of the place.

 The person in a cap is not a reenactor.
 

Between Helen, GA and Sautee Nacoochee, GA was a small retail area with a fabulous antique store set in an old haunted house.  I didn't take any pictures, but there were definitely some good steals to be found.   Across the street from the antique store is the Nora Mill Granary which features a mill dating back to the 19th century (with the original grindstones) that sells grits and porridge among other delicious things.

For a short weekend, the Helen area was great!  Just 2 hours away from Atlanta, scenic, and with a lot of character.