Staycation in the North Georgia Mountains

Calling all you folks around the North Georgia area! Whether you live in Atlanta, Athens, Savannah, or from parts of the area within 150 miles, we have a great staycation waiting for you. But first, what exactly IS a staycation?

Well, a staycation is a vacation spent close to home and is just as relaxing & rejuvenating as a traditional vacation. Families spend quality time together, saving money & helping the local economy! Staycations avoid the hassle of travel, being held to an itinerary, and waiting in lines for planes, luggage, and automobiles. You won’t need a vacation after your vacation with your staycation! Hassle free time off of work with rest and relaxation are the key ingredients.

Creating the feel of a ‘real vacation’ is the essential piece of the staycation puzzle. The best staycations are created like a ‘real’ vacation by planning ahead of time, taking care of the household prior to the trip, and unplugging you & your family. sure to schedule start and end dates just like a ‘real’ vacation. Also further plan the staycation with activities and fun events. Take staycation photos and videos just like you would a ‘real’ vacation. And most importantly, make sure to unplug! Unplug from chores, phones, computers, and work.

So, about this staycation in the North Georgia area…right here are the details you need. First off, The Villas at Coosawattee River Resort is offering a “Staycation 3 Night Special" where you are invited to stay 3 nights for the price of 2 when staycationing Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday OR Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday during the months of August and September 2009. When calling to make your reservation use the code words "3 for 2 Staycation Special" to receive the extra night at no additional cost.

The Villas at Coosawattee River Resort is perfect place to take a staycation. The resort offers a vast array of activities included in the price of the rental. The Recreation Center boasts an Olympic sized heated indoor pool, tennis courts, putt putt golf, arcade games, and a work-out gym with updated equipment. The Teen Center and Pool II are two outdoor pools, and the resort features six gorgeous parks where visitors can engage in activities ranging from fishing, camping, picnicking and grilling, horseshoes, and so much more. At the Eagle Mountain General Store, kayaking and tubing are huge attractions. The location also serves up breakfast and lunch and has many seasonal events on its porch. Check The Villas at Coosawattee’s website for more information.

While staying at The Villas at Coosawattee, the surrounding area has so many exciting and different attractions. But before we get to that, maybe the villa is so perfect you don’t want to leave. Well, call in Chef Douglas from Cabin Cuisine to whip you up a delectable brunch, gourmet meal, or dinner. Or perhaps a massage is in store. Contact Mountain Retreat Massage for a cabin call. Lorraine Baumann, L.M.T specializes in various types of massage (light to deep, medical), hot stones, and hot wax paraffin hand & foot therapy.

In regard to the surrounding attractions, several locations can give you a piece of the great outdoors with a dose of the wild. The Kangaroo Conservation Center exhibits hundreds of kangaroos of 9 species, and the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve has over 100 animals onsite with many different species. Amicalola Falls features 729 foot falls, the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. An 8.5 mile approach trail leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern end of the 2,135-mile Appalachian Trail with numerous other trails for shorter journeys.

For more of indoor type fun, take a trip on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad through the beautiful Toccoa River area in a vintage climate controlled or open air railcar. Check out the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, which has free admission and loads of cars on display. The Misty Mountain Train Museum is another place to immerse yourself, which features America's largest O-gauge train display: 3,400 sq. ft. layout with 14 O-gauge trains traveling on a mile of track over 12 bridges and 4 trestles and through 15 tunnels.

For the adventuresome staycationer, pan for some gold at the Crisson Gold Mine which actually was a pit gold mine that was established in 1847 and worked commercially until the early 1980s. Maybe wine tasting is your adventure. You could spend an entire staycation in wine-tasting at Sharp Mountain Wineries, Corks and Crumbs, Chateau Elan, Three Sisters, Wolf Mountain, Frogtown Cellars, and Crane Creek—to name a few.

Saving money and staying close to home don’t mean not having fun. Discover what the North Georgia Mountains has to offer while taking a staycation. You and your entourage will discover a whole world of adventure and excitement right in your own backyard.