Holy smokes that is right in my wheelhouse. Just returned from Lake Burton and Helen and all points between. I'm up there all the time. Always cooler than ATL. See my fotos on H&F for the past few weekends-I've posted some from the past few weekends of biking. Feel free to ask staff to shoot me your email (I've done this before). You have to get up to Highlands NC as well. My wife made a thread eons ago I could email you about a lot of the things to do in Rabun County. I'd press further north than Dahlonega if I were you. You've looked at Clayton GA?? Kids in tow? Check out Dillard House.
Dillard House Hotel
Just you and The Mrs.? Beechwood in Clayton.
Beechwood Inn Clayton

I believe the Tiger drive-in theater has opened up, kinda cool vibe there. If you're rich, stay at Old Edwards Inn in Highlands NC, not too much further "up the street". Make sure you get a pass to go to the bottom of Tallulah Falls if available now with COVID and all.
Tallulah Gorge State Park
And get this book:



Hogpen Gap just north of Helen


Lake Burton from LaPrades Marina



Jeez I almost forgot. Raft the Wild and Scenic Chattooga River, site (along with Tallulah Falls) of the filming of the most horrible film in history, Deliverance. Last month photo on our trip below. We used Southeastern Expeditions, I've probably used them three times. Very close to Clayton, GA.
Southeastern Expeditions White Water Rafting



For hiking, there are tons of options. Check out Rabun Bald and the Bartram Trail.
Rabun Bald Hiking
For lodging, check out Len Foote Hike-Inn and the Inn at Amicalola Falls, both close to Dahlonega. The former is a very unique hike-in lodging, the latter more of a normal hotel in a state park but situated in atop a beautiful waterfall. Both are walking distance to the Appalachian Trail.
Len Foote Hike-Inn
Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge

Admittedly, I'm not that knowledgeable about housing in the area as I always have access by Lake Burton. When are you planning a trip?

I don't really think all that much of going to Dahlonega, perhaps that's a recommendation from your friends. There's a nice little town square with a general store and a nice sandwich and soup shop next to it, otherwise it doesn't offer all that much, it's close to Atlanta, and it's not at all that much elevation so the temps won't be that different. And in my mind, it doesn't really give you all that much of a flavor of North Georgia.
Elijay might be another option you would want to look at.
However, I strongly recommend Rabun County if you want to get higher up, see beautiful scenery, and be close to both Tallulah Gorge and to the Chattooga River for rafting.

My wife had said that Old Edwards Inn had bought a property in downtown Clayton, and that they were building a hotel. I am not sure they finished it or not. You might want to use the Google machine to look for places to stay in or around Clayton, other than what I wrote in my previous post.
Lots of nice places to eat in Clayton. However, you need to get your redneck on and experience some real Southern eating while you're up here. You could have a really nice meal some time at Waterfall just off of Clayton. It used to be only private, but I understand you can get a meal there now even if you don't "belong". Check out the view! Update: The Farmhouse is a farm to table restaurant that recently moved into the Waterfall Country Club. It is open to the public and the chef is great. You could probably go to the Farmhouse and then go up to Waterfall afterwards and just check out the view.
The Farmhouse at Waterfall Club
Dining at Waterfall Club Lake Burton
My pics from Farmhouse Restaurant:


Signature Par 3 at Waterfall Club, 210-foot drop that goes over a waterfall, a slice of Lake Burton and surrounding mountains in background. Picture doesn't do it justice



18th hole at Waterfall with beautiful Lake Burton in background

Pics (not mine, I was eating at the restaurant up top) of the Lake Burton 100th birthday celebration fireworks from Waterfall Club:





The guy who runs The Farmhouse also has a great take-out restaurant just across Hwy 76 and up a bit. If you want to have something tasty to take home, I would strongly recommend it. His BBQ is also supposed to be excellent.
The Farmhouse Market Lake Burton
Another good artery clogger is a bit further down on the south side of Lake Burton at Batesville General Store. You can get some definite biscuit poisoning there. It's a good mix of locals and visitors.
http://www.scenic197.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=74
I would also go to LaPrade's marina and dine upstairs on the open air deck, especially if they have music playing on a Friday or a Saturday evening. Alternatively, go next door to Milton Park Pizza and either eat on the picnic table or drag your pizza and excellent (but pricey) salad next door and sit out on the deck at LaPrade's.
LaPrade's Marina
My pic from LaPrades upper deck:



Don't bother with eating indoors at the Chophouse restaurant upstairs.
One of my buddies who is retired and lives on the lake part time really likes TB & J's on 197, named for Tyler Boone and his wife Jessica. "Really nice people and excellent BBQ". Right across the street from Mr. Bud's Campground. Got the flavor?
My wife and son and my friend also like Fortify Pi in Clayton.
I have eaten there once, I thought it was reasonable.
Fortify Pi
For Pizza I prefer, as above:
Milton Park Pizza
Another very quaint spot to grab a sandwich and some minnows and an ice cream bar is Anchorage Marina. My photo from yesterday in the H&F forum was from the dock there.
Anchorage Marina Lake Burton
Rent a boat from either Marina and check out how the multimillionaires' vacation (including Nick Saban and my Residency roommate, etc.)
The water in the lake is really clean. Family reunion pic:



There are tons of dining experiences in Clayton now. It is becoming a bit of a retirement spot. The only one we used to go to was Grapes and Beans for lunch/brunch.
Grapes and Beans
Whether or not you stay there, it is fun and interesting to have a family-style meal at the Dillard House, as in the post above. I think you've got a few choices there.

Let me know what other questions you have, I will come up with more. No reason to eat at a chain restaurant up there.

Man, OP you lucked out having Kool jump on this thread!

Yes base out of Clayton - incredible trip - One of our favorite -outdoor paradise.

Do yourself a favor and take a half day to rent a boat from LaPrades or Anchorage and explore Lake Burton It's stunning. I'll try to dig up a few photos. And let me know what type of biking and how strenuous you want. You can get really nasty hills in North GA or just pedal along Murray Cove road (brand new pavement in some parts) and a few others and enjoy the scenery. Tough mountain bike rides just off of Old 441. And scenic mountain or gravel biking along the Tallulah River all the way up past Tate City and into North Carolina
One of my biking friends on a single track route we did just outside of Clayton

Looking north from Hogpen Gap just north of Helen

Dragging kids along the lake

Simple folks' church, middle of nowhere

Years ago at Burton, before he became a straight up thug. Miss those days. Water is so clean, though

Blairesville is a bit of a hike from Tallulah Gorge and the Chattooga River. It wouldn't be my favorite, and would be a long way (by drive) from most of the places I outlined. If you stayed there and wanted to whitewater raft, you'd be better off going to the Nantahalla River, which has lower class rapids. Or even to the Ocoee in Tennessee, which is great (where the Olympic Whitewater Rafting was done for the Atlanta Olympics). Southestern Expeditions, above, also does the Ocoee.

Sky Valley puts you very close to Highlands, which you may want to see again, as well as hiking in Rabun Bald. And the elevation is over 3,000 feet, so you'll have very nice, cool weather. There is also a nice zip line course which is very close by but is technically in Highlands (it goes back and forth between Georgia and North Carolina on the course) if you want to do that.
Highlands Aerial Park

As you can see, I am HIGHLY opinionated about North GA, good or bad.

I just wanted to say how much I am glad we are getting info like this when we post about an area. Tahullah Gorge is one the most hidden gems in America and Georgia Itself is honestly under appreciated

There are so many pockets of things to go in every area of Georgia itself. Some of the best small town Christmas places are found in Georgia rather than in more snowy areas in the northern USA

Shhhhh

heading to Cashiers on Saturday for a few weeks at a minimum. %A0Forecast is highs in the low 70's late next week. %A0Can't wait, and hope that forecast holds.

Follow up question

What would be the best month to visit Georgia if you could work remotely for say the next six months.

Weather and activities would be the main things to look at to decide but also with social distancing

April and October are my two favorites. Spring in Georgia is great (there's a reason the Masters is played in early April in non-pandemic years) and there is a very good mix of hardwoods especially in North Georgia to give som nice fall color.

About 10 miles up the road from Dahlonega is the Army Mountain Ranger Camp. They do a lot of outdoorsy woodsy stuff up there. Check in for some recommendations!

WhoopRAB said:

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Thanks Kool, your input is very appreciated!

We ended up booking a VRBO West of 23 between Wiley & Lakemont. Planning a SE Expeditions raft trip.

Printing out the entire thread.

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Nice, good for you. You'll be very close to Tallulah Falls. Make sure to call ahead and get the "skinny" on passes to the bottom, if they are even giving them now. Kids will be in "school", so if you go on a weekday it'll be very quiet. Regardless, going through the visitor's center and down the walkways they have will be nice.

It will be very quiet while you are there after Labor Day, especially during the week. You'll be sort of on the eastern edge of a lot of the beauty of the county, so keep that in mind. There are some beautiful roads and hills, valleys, and mountains on to your west, southwest, and north. A good Explore Rabun County website and a Waterfalls website:
Explore Rabun County
Nearby waterfalls

You'll be very close to Clayton as well as to Lake Rabun. Rabun isn't my favorite (Burton is), but it's a close second (OK, a distant second - I told you I was VERY biased). Check out Louie's on the Lake on Rabun, it's one of the only places you can get much of a view of the lake unless you are a homeowner or if you go over the dam. See if they still have the old map of the homesite owners there.
Louie's on the Lake

Then walk across the street and see this charming hotel, almost 100 years old. Maybe for your next trip to stay in:
Lake Rabun Hotel

You should be very close to Minnehaha Falls, a short "park and hike" off of the east side of Lake Rabun.
Great little link telling you exactly how to get there found here:
Minnehaha Falls - Georgia Trails.com

On the other side of Lake Burton are a couple nice trails with that go along streams with multiple small waterfalls all along. The first one is Hemlock Falls Trail. You can park in the small parking lot at the trail head just off of 197 or across the street near the Fish Hatchery.
Hemlock Falls Trail

If you do go to Hemlock Falls, make sure to head just across the street and walk to the tip of Moccasin Creek State Park, there's a nice view of one of the "fingers" of Lake Burton from the end by the playground. You can even rent a canoe or a kayak from the park rangers and voyage out onto the lake from there.
Moccasin Creek State Park

Just down the road a bit from Hemlock Falls and Moccasin Creek State Park is a treat not many find - Wildcat Creek and Sliding Rock. It's very close to LaPrade's Marina. Drive as far as you want, then park your car somewhere and walk around. The trail goes along a nice creek with multiple rushing falls that eventually goes into Lake Burton.
Wildcat Creek
Wildcat Creek

Make sure you either drive, bike, or walk along Lake Burton to get a flavor. If you got bikes, I could give you some great ideas. If you have a car, make sure you drive along Murray Cove Road, Timpson Cove Road (paved), or Meeting House Mountain and Moccasin Creek (not paved) and Blaylock Goldmine (partially paved) roads. If you want a nice little walk, park at Anchorage Marina and exit, go left for a while. Very pleasant.

The Tiger Theater is now open for outdoor movies, that should be very close to you
Tiger Drive-In Theater

And I would suggest a trip to the Foxfire Museum just up the road, to let you know what Appalachia used to be about before all of them (us) damn "city folk" discovered it.
Foxfire Museum

If you really enjoyed the scenery on the rafting trip, you can come back the same day or on your own time and visit Bull Sluice. You park on the South Carolina side (first turn just past the bridge over the river) and take a quick hike down to the water. Watch all the kayakers going over the falls just upriver of the main site, or jump in and freeze your nuts off before sunning on a rock on the opposite (Georgia) side of the river.
Bull Sluice and hiking thereabouts

The Tallulah River is on the north side of Lake Burton. There is a really pretty road that runs alongside it, with multiple campgrounds. The road runs all the way up into North Carolina. Lots of nice scenic spots along the way, people camping and fly fishing there.
Tallulah River Campground

If you go there, navigate back out to Rabun Gap School, and you will pass through some beautiful roads and valleys. It's one of my favorite bike paths.

Pick up a real estate brochure in Clayton and look at properties on the lake. If Mrs. Whoop takes a shine to one and you find at least an extra $1 million burning a hole in your pocket and purchase a lake home, don't forget your bestest buddy Kool.

When do you travel?

WhoopRAB said:

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Sept 7-11 in that area, preceding weekend in Marietta with relatives.

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Awesome. It'll be very quiet then up there. Get your picture taken with The Big Chicken in May-retta. Not much else to do there. If you're considering a boat rental, you probably have to take an online course first. At least LaPrade's marina used to mandate a safety course online and sign-off. Get a pic jumping off of Saban's dock. If you get bikes, I could give you a path to ride along.
I did email Staff to let them give you my email address if you wanted, not sure if they passed that along to you. Enjoy.

jp70 said:

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About 10 miles up the road from Dahlonega is the Army Mountain Ranger Camp. They do a lot of outdoorsy woodsy stuff up there. Check in for some recommendations!

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I visited this camp back in '88....do's - eat the blueberry pancakes; Don'ts - volunteer for gunner/assistant gunner or rto/assistant rto.....take plenty of socks...lodge complex severely lacking in modern conveniences, but only used them for a few nights.

can't comment on which trails offer the best views, only moved over them at night....

Going to post pics from Whoop RAB's trip, as he is unable to upload, then he can narrate
































Maybe he can do a play-by-play of the pics.

Kool said:

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Going to post pics from Whoop RAB's trip, as he is unable to upload, then he can narrate





The rafting on Chattooga River was the highlight of our trip. We used Southeastern Expeditions as recommended here. Only one outfitter company is allowed to schedule a section of river. It was scenic, private and thrilling! We were very comfortable with the safety precautions. Extra guides in kayaks would go first and then set up on the banks with throw lines. An all day trip that included lunch.

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I live in Augusta... Had no idea about any of this, thanks for all the great and detailed info, me and the family will definitely be planning a trip up there when able, it looks beautiful and secluded.