Is the mid-summer, sweltering heat making you want to retreat to the cool mountains? Cool off in the mountains this summer with an inexpensive vacation before the kids go back to school. Take a staycation in the North Georgia Mountains at The Villas at Coosawattee with resort amenities and activities, playing around Ellijay, heading to the local day-spa, engaging in wine-tasting, getting some thrills golf mountain-side, as well as exploring Blue Ridge, Blairsville, & Dawsonville.
Calling all you folks around the North Georgia area! Is that mid-summer sweltering-hot heat making you want to retreat to the cool mountains? Need to take a little vacation before the kids head back to school? Is the economy getting you down with gas prices soaring? Well, we have the perfect solution for you-- a staycation in the North Georgia Mountains ! Whether you live in Atlanta , Athens , Savannah , or from parts of the area within 150 miles of Ellijay, we have a great staycation waiting for you.
First off, The Villas at Coosawattee River Resort is the perfect place to take a staycation. The resort offers a vast array of activities included in the price of the rental (starting around $105 per night). The Recreation Center boasts a Junior 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. And a huge attraction is The General Store’s kayaking and tubing down the Coosawattee River . The location also serves up breakfast and lunch and has many seasonal events such as summer-time Pickin’ on the Porch.
Now for the adventure and fun: head over to The Alley in Ellijay for lots of cool, indoor adventure. Bowling, laser tag, bouncers, build-a-bear shop, arcade games, and a snack bar are all under one roof, making for a complete afternoon or evening of fun. Visit Mini Huck’s next to Wal-Mart for some wet and wild fun with a giant water slide, carousel swings, water balls, jumping pillow, bouncer, and more. Or catch a movie at the quaint East Towne Cinema which features special matinees as well as evening 7pm and 9pm shows.
With a short drive north, take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railroad through the beautiful Toccoa River area in a vintage climate controlled or open air railcar. And while you’re in Blue Ridge , be sure to stroll the shopping and dining district for all sorts of gems, treasures, and delicacies. Then further north in Blairsville, The Misty Mountain Train Museum 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. Or over in Dawsonville, check out the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, which has free admission and loads of cars on display. Dawsonville also has The North Georgia Premium Outlets where you can find impressive savings at designer, specialty, and name-brand stores.
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 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.
And don’t forget to take some time to pamper yourself and relax. Spend some time wine tasting, which you could spend an entire staycation in wine-tasting at Sharp Mountain Wineries, Three Sisters, Wolf Mountain, Frogtown Cellars, and Crane Creek—to name a few. Or make some reservations at Spectra Hair & Dayspa for massages, facials, pedicures, and more. And experience the thrill of golfing with one of the best courses in the northwest Georgia area. White Path Golf Course features 18 holes on a beautiful and challenging mountain golf course, with a driving range and practice green available. The golf course is open to the public.
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 at The Villas at Cooswattee and exploring the North Georgia Mountains. You and your entourage will discover a whole world of adventure and excitement right in your own backyard.
