Dahlonega and North Georgia Mountain Area Guide
Food scene
Capers on the Square
84 Public Square NLove the food, service and location. It's a "go to" for us.
Great German food, local favorite. Casual and delicious. Why go to Helen?
17 locals recommend
Bratzeit
77 Memorial DrGreat German food, local favorite. Casual and delicious. Why go to Helen?
Dahlonega Resort and Vineyard
400 Blueberry HillExpansive grounds, great food in a scenic setting
Take a ride up to the top of Blood Mountain / Vogel State Park area, stop at Jim's on Thursday, Friday or Saturday for great BBQ .
42 locals recommend
Jim's Smokin' Que
4971 Gainesville HwyTake a ride up to the top of Blood Mountain / Vogel State Park area, stop at Jim's on Thursday, Friday or Saturday for great BBQ .
Two great reasons to ride here. Route 60 out of Suches to Morgantown is a stellar ride. Two, the BBQ here is smokin'
6 locals recommend
Wildcat BBQ & Store
7475 GA-60Two great reasons to ride here. Route 60 out of Suches to Morgantown is a stellar ride. Two, the BBQ here is smokin'
Relaxing excellent coffee, baked goods, great vibe. Wifi. Just off the square.
12 locals recommend
Jethro’s Coffee & Public House
21 North Grove StreetRelaxing excellent coffee, baked goods, great vibe. Wifi. Just off the square.
Picnic Cafe and Dessertery
30 Public SquareGreat breakfasts, coffee and sweets.
Good Italian food, just off the square. Local favorite.
15 locals recommend
GrapeVine's Casual Italian Dining
51 N Grove StGood Italian food, just off the square. Local favorite.
The Branding Iron
70 Public Square NLive music nightly, food and full bar
Riverfront pub, great for German or pub lunch while watching waves of tubers float by... craft or import beers
32 locals recommend
The Troll Tavern
8590 N Main StRiverfront pub, great for German or pub lunch while watching waves of tubers float by... craft or import beers
Southern cookin' at it's finest. Family style. Just off the Dahlonega square.
25 locals recommend
The Smith House
84 S Chestatee StSouthern cookin' at it's finest. Family style. Just off the Dahlonega square.
Great food in a very nice atmosphere. A hidden gem in Dawsonville. They are very pationate about their food and service.
15 locals recommend
The Blue Bicycle A Bistro
30 Industrial Park RdGreat food in a very nice atmosphere. A hidden gem in Dawsonville. They are very pationate about their food and service.
In the Big Canoe area, great food with an expansive wine list. Gorgeous restaurant that is well worth the drive.
30 locals recommend
Sourwood
60 N Gate Station DrIn the Big Canoe area, great food with an expansive wine list. Gorgeous restaurant that is well worth the drive.
Here's a road trip favorite. Take a ride to Ball Ground, GA for lunch. All homemade on site. They are typically grilling fresh sausages out front.... yum
7 locals recommend
Frankfurt Döner & Meats
250 Gilmer Ferry RdHere's a road trip favorite. Take a ride to Ball Ground, GA for lunch. All homemade on site. They are typically grilling fresh sausages out front.... yum
Take a nice ride through Unicoi State Park, stop at Mark of the Potter in Batesville (a refurbished roadside mill on the river) and drive up to Lake Burton area. to have an excellent New Orleans style meal. Great eats, and well known.
22 locals recommend
Bleu Canoe
115 Sweetwater CirTake a nice ride through Unicoi State Park, stop at Mark of the Potter in Batesville (a refurbished roadside mill on the river) and drive up to Lake Burton area. to have an excellent New Orleans style meal. Great eats, and well known.
Excellent pizza, salads with a full bar on Dahlonega Square. Save room for dessert as Kilwins is a few doors down.
36 locals recommend
Gustavo's
16 Public SquareExcellent pizza, salads with a full bar on Dahlonega Square. Save room for dessert as Kilwins is a few doors down.
Connie's Ice Cream Parlor
18 N Park StOld fashioned ice cream parlor on Dahlonega Square.
Wineries and Vineyards
Just around the corner. Live music on the weekends out on the lawn.
80 locals recommend
Cavender Creek Vineyards
3610 Cavender Creek RdJust around the corner. Live music on the weekends out on the lawn.
Gorgeous views from the patio, live music on the weekends. Finger foods, Paninis and their wine selections
100 locals recommend
Kaya Vineyard & Winery
5400 Town Creek RdGorgeous views from the patio, live music on the weekends. Finger foods, Paninis and their wine selections
Frogtown Cellars
700 Ridge Point DrGorgeous views - a must see on the Vineyard tour
Napa wine competition winner, great brunch., gorgeous setting. Need we say more?
139 locals recommend
Wolf Mountain Vineyards
180 Wolf Mountain TrailNapa wine competition winner, great brunch., gorgeous setting. Need we say more?
European flavor, gorgeous property with a popular Trattoria. Wood fired oven specialties and full bar.
108 locals recommend
Montaluce Winery and Restaurant
501 Hightower Church RdEuropean flavor, gorgeous property with a popular Trattoria. Wood fired oven specialties and full bar.
City/town information
First gold mining town on the Eastern United States. Rich history, fun attractions, great town square with plenty do.
200 locals recommend
Dahlonega
First gold mining town on the Eastern United States. Rich history, fun attractions, great town square with plenty do.
Helen
Bavarian Alpine town in the N. Ga mountains.
Sightseeing
Gorgeous views, hiking, great spot for a box lunch picnic in the mountains
24 locals recommend
Woody Gap / Appalachian Trail
Georgia 60Gorgeous views, hiking, great spot for a box lunch picnic in the mountains
Fantastic views at altitude. Hiking, biking, motorcycle or car - Host favorite - technical road. Well w orth the ride.
Russell–Brasstown Scenic Byway
Fantastic views at altitude. Hiking, biking, motorcycle or car - Host favorite - technical road. Well w orth the ride.
Waterfalls, hiking, zip line, nice restaurant in Lodge. Lots to do and close to Helen.
75 locals recommend
Unicoi State Park & Lodge
1788 GA-356Waterfalls, hiking, zip line, nice restaurant in Lodge. Lots to do and close to Helen.
Amicalola Falls State Park
418 Amicalola Falls State Park RdGreat state park in the heart of N Ga apple country.
Great views at the top. Appalachian Trail access.
Good hiking and trail gear shop. Great road for experienced riders.
86 locals recommend
Blood Mountain Overlook
Appalachian National Scenic TrailGreat views at the top. Appalachian Trail access.
Good hiking and trail gear shop. Great road for experienced riders.
Park has the highest overlook in the N. Ga mountains. Great spot to bring a picnic lunch.
288 locals recommend
Brasstown Bald Visitors Center
2941 GA-180 SpurPark has the highest overlook in the N. Ga mountains. Great spot to bring a picnic lunch.
Fantastic views of Hiawassee and Lake Chatuge. Interesting steep ride up to the overlook. Look for Shake Rag Road off 76. Recently repaved surface.
138 locals recommend
Bell Mountain
220 Shake Rag RdFantastic views of Hiawassee and Lake Chatuge. Interesting steep ride up to the overlook. Look for Shake Rag Road off 76. Recently repaved surface.
Motorsports
High speed kart rentals on a stellar track. Road course for cars and motorcycles runs regular events and track days.
18 locals recommend
Atlanta Motorsports Park
20 Duck Thurmond RdHigh speed kart rentals on a stellar track. Road course for cars and motorcycles runs regular events and track days.
Host fave for excellent riding. I recommend it over "The Tail of the Dragon", which in my opinion, is highly overrated (and too crowded on the weekends).
6 locals recommend
Cherohala skyway
225 Massey Branch RdHost fave for excellent riding. I recommend it over "The Tail of the Dragon", which in my opinion, is highly overrated (and too crowded on the weekends).
Wayah Road from the Nantahala River (74) to Franklin (64). Great technical and fun scenic road. Gorgeous scenery. I can provide numerous routes.
86 locals recommend
Wayah Bald
4419 Wayah Bald RdWayah Road from the Nantahala River (74) to Franklin (64). Great technical and fun scenic road. Gorgeous scenery. I can provide numerous routes.
Great weekend riding destination in nearby Suches. Breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. MotoGP racing on the big screen Sunday am. Route 60 and Wolf Pen Gap Roads are not to be missed.
8 locals recommend
Two Wheels of Suches
1915 GA-60Great weekend riding destination in nearby Suches. Breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. MotoGP racing on the big screen Sunday am. Route 60 and Wolf Pen Gap Roads are not to be missed.
Expansive 4300 acre ATV, 4x4 and MX park with over 150 trails. Great facility that has 4 and 6 seat Can Am ATV rentals.
Plenty of off road fun for the family.
26 locals recommend
Iron Mountain Park
116 Iron Mountain ParkwayExpansive 4300 acre ATV, 4x4 and MX park with over 150 trails. Great facility that has 4 and 6 seat Can Am ATV rentals.
Plenty of off road fun for the family.
Local Flavor
For those looking for something different, the Lavender Farms are popular.
15 locals recommend
Red Oak Lavender
2882 Red Oak Flats RdFor those looking for something different, the Lavender Farms are popular.
Who would have thought.....a zoo in the North Georgia mountains.
28 locals recommend
Chestatee Wildlife Preserve & Zoo
469 Old Dahlonega HwyWho would have thought.....a zoo in the North Georgia mountains.
Relax floating in an inner tube down the river at the foot of Dahlonega.....
17 locals recommend
Chestatee River Adventures
2718 S ChestateeRelax floating in an inner tube down the river at the foot of Dahlonega.....
Cane Creek Falls
Close by, gorgeous falls near town.
Multiple local potters and ceramic artists display their work in a gorgeous restored mill on the river. Incredible location, overlooking waterfalls and pools below filled with large trout. Always a stop for us when out on route 197. Considered Georgia's most beautiful highway, it's a beautiful ride up around Lake Burton with twisty roads ultimately connecting with Hwy 76.
33 locals recommend
Mark Of The Potter
North StreetMultiple local potters and ceramic artists display their work in a gorgeous restored mill on the river. Incredible location, overlooking waterfalls and pools below filled with large trout. Always a stop for us when out on route 197. Considered Georgia's most beautiful highway, it's a beautiful ride up around Lake Burton with twisty roads ultimately connecting with Hwy 76.
City advice
Don't miss
Night Skywatching
https://www.space.com/skywatching
The Venus / Jupiter / Moon Conjunction last month was spectacular. Check the attached link for monthly skywatching opportunities.
Don't miss
More Night Sky Watching Tips
Check out the Old Farmer's Almanac https://www.almanac.com/ and Sky and Telescope https://skyandtelescope.org/
"All five naked-eye planets will line up in the dawn sky in June. Not only that, they’ll also be in their proper order from the Sun."
Great stuff visible in the night sky up here.
Don't miss
Leaf Peeping Season!
The end of October has been just gorgeous both in temps and color. The views are just amazing. Best we've seen in quite a few years. Check out Discover Dahlonega online for great pics taken from across the area over the past week.