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Over the school’s October Break one year, we took a trip to North Georgia and did a day trip to South Carolina one day and Great Smoky Mountains National Park the next day. It was a busy trip, but we were able to visit four different states, with North and South Carolina being new states for Tyler & Ryan.
Getting There
The North Georgia area is pretty central on the East Coast of the United States. There are a few ways to get to the state of Georgia, depending on where you’re coming from and how you are traveling. We stayed on the outskirts of Clarkesville, Georgia, which is north of Atlanta and Athens, about 30 miles from Interstate 85.
The closest major airport is Hartsfield Jackson in Atlanta, about 100 miles away or 1.5 hours in a car. Chattanooga Airport is about 150 miles away but takes about 3 hours to drive because of the mountain roads. On the eastern side of the city, the Charlotte Douglas Airport is almost 200 miles away with a 2.5-hour drive.
Best Time to Go
There really isn’t a bad time to visit North Georgia! If you visit in the winter months, there is a chance that you’ll get to see the beauty of snow in the mountains and partake in some winter sports such as sledding.
Spring typically has chilly to mild temperatures making this a perfect place for spring break visits. The waterfalls and creeks will be at their peak due to the snowmelt coming down through the Appalachian Mountains.
The peak season for the park is during the summer when kids are out of school. Temperatures will sometimes get warm in these months, making the higher elevation places more popular.
Depending on when you go in the fall, you may have a chance to see the fall foliage within the park.
Day One
Fly to Atlanta Airport & Pick Up the Rental Car
Normally, for a trip that’s 15 hours of drive time or less, we would drive the distance. However, we had flight credits that we needed to use from the previous year. When Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida, we were supposed to fly to Orlando for the week of vacation. After my hometown neighborhood was flooded and all of my family needed help and supplies, we canceled the flights with their weather policy, filled up two vehicles full of supplies, and drove instead. Because of that, we had until the end of 2023 to use those flights and decided to take a vacation to North Georgia for the week off from school in October.
We were able to get direct flights on our preferred airline, United. With our credit card benefits and TSA precheck, getting through security and on the flight was a breeze. When we landed in Atlanta, we took the shuttle to the car pickup at Enterprise. Since my in-laws drove to the hotel, and my brother-in-law and his girlfriend were driving up from Florida, we only needed a small car.
Lunch from Publix
We had about an hour and a half in the car on the way to our hotel. On the road, we were all getting hungry. For a few miles, there weren’t any exits with food that we wanted. Finally, I saw an exit with a Publix and we decided to stop there. I can’t make a trip to the South without a stop at Publix! We got a few snacks for the road and went to the deli. Justin, Tyler, and I all got some Pub Subs and Ryan got a container of the popcorn chicken.
Tyler with his sandwich
PubSubs are the best!
Ryan opted for chicken tenders
Arrive at Hotel
We were staying at the Holiday Inn Vacation Club Apple Mountain Resort at the eastern edge of Clarkesville, Georgia. Justin’s parents have timeshare points with Holiday Inn so we decided to try out that hotel for a north Georgia mountains getaway.
When we got to the hotel, Justin and his dad went to the grocery store so his mom and I took the boys to explore the hotel grounds right near our rooms. There was a picnic area with horseshoe pits overlooking the mountains.
A majority of the amenities were near the main building of the resort. Once they got back from the store we went over there to go to the putt-putt course and check out the pool and hot tub.
View from the hotel
Playing horseshoes
Time for putt-putt golf
Day One Map
Day Two
When we started planning our trip to North Georgia, I wanted to throw in a day trip to South Carolina while we were there. Part of our travel goals is to take the boys to every state in the United States. Per our rules, we don’t have to sleep in the state, but we have to do something there whether that’s a trail, a state park, a museum, or a similar activity. We weren’t far from the border, so we planned out a day with our first stop in Toccoa Falls.
Toccoa Falls
As we looked at ideas in South Carolina and the things in between, we found Toccoa Falls right on our path. I’ve heard of Toccoa Falls, and have seen many photos. My parents attended a wedding there the previous year and told us how pretty the area is.
Getting to Toccoa Falls is pretty because you drive through a small mountain college campus. There’s a visitor center building for the waterfall entrance. Inside are some exhibits with the history of the fall and the area as well as a small gift shop.
It costs $2 per person to go back to view the waterfall. After paying the fee, visitors are directed through a back door that leads to a patio area. Just past that is a gravel path that meanders about 100 yards along the Toccoa River. The trail ends at a grouping of large boulders near the base of the 186-foot waterfall.
Toccoa Falls is one of the tallest free-falling waterfalls on the eastern side of the Mississippi River, taller even than Niagara Falls. The path is considered wheelchair accessible. Note that the falls close at 4PM every day for private events.
Taking a look at the falls
Tyler and Ryan like the big rocks
Toccoa Falls
Toccoa River
Our whole group in front of the fall
Stephanie and Justin with the falls
Family photo in front of Toccoa Falls
Waterfall through the trees
Stumphouse Tunnel
Our first sight in South Carolina for the day was the Stumphouse Tunnel. A friend who used to live in the Clarkesville, Georgia, area suggested it when I told her we were heading to that area of the state. She said her son likes to visit there because the tunnel is neat.
There was a very small unmanned payment kiosk that we actually drove past at first. When we parked, we realized what we missed and Justin drove back real quick to pay the $5 park fee.
We walked up the short path to the entrance of the tunnel. This tunnel was started in 1856 as a way to run the Blue Ridge Railroad on a more direct path from Charleston to the Ohio Valley. The George Collyer Company of London brought many Irish workers into the area to work on the tunnel. In 1859 the state of South Carolina decided they had put too much money into the tunnel and stopped work on it. At that time, only about 1600 feet of the proposed almost 6000 feet of tunnel was finished.
Now the tunnel is open for visitors to walk about one quarter of a mile into the tunnel. Thanks to being in the mountainside, the tunnel stays at a cool 50 degrees year-round. The tunnel ends for visitors at a metal barred-off area.
Exploring the train car near the tunnel
Historic information about the tunnel
Tyler & Ryan at the entrance of the tunnel
At the end of the tunnel
Using flashlights to look at the markings on the walls
Our group that went into the tunnel
Family photo in front of the tunnel sign
Family photo in front of the tunnel opening
Taking a break in the South Carolina forest
Climbing the mountain outside the tunnel
Climbing the mountain outside the tunnel
Issaqueena Falls
About one-quarter of a mile from the Stumphouse Tunnel is Issaqueena Falls. While we were in the area, we decided it was worth checking out. We drove over to the parking lot for the waterfall trail and had a picnic lunch at one of the tables.
After cleaning up from lunch and making sure everything was disposed of properly to protect the wildlife in the area, we started on the short 5-minute walk on the boardwalk to the Issaqueena Falls observation deck.
From the platform, we could see part of the waterfall through the trees, but it wasn’t the best view. Justin’s brother and his girlfriend decided to try to work their way down to the bottom of the waterfall. There wasn’t a well-worn path, so we told Tyler and Ryan they couldn’t go with them.
Once they made it down, they said there were a few tricky spots but it wasn’t too bad. So the rest of us started our way down the side of the hill. There were definitely a few places that were more challenging than others, and in a few spots, we had to help the boys since they didn’t have the same reach that we did. But we made it to the bottom of the path after about 10 minutes of scrambling.
When we reached the bottom it was a short distance to the base of the waterfall. We had to climb over a few rocks at the bottom of the river to get all the way up to the water as it came down the side of the mountain. It was a great place to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Climbing back up the side of the mountain towards the viewing platform was one of the fun outdoor activities we did on this trip. Tyler and Ryan especially loved this part of the day.
As we made our way back to the parking area, I made sure to look back over our shoulders. There are a few spots along the path where you can see gorgeous mountain views over and through the trees.
Sign for the Issaqueena Falls
View of the fall from the overlook
View of the mountains from the overlook
At the bottom of the waterfall
Ryan and Justin looking at the falls
Stephanie in front of the waterfall
More cascades
Justin and Stephanie at the base of the waterfall
Tallulah Gorge State Park
Our last stop on this full day of adventure was at Tallulah Gorge State Park to see Tallulah Falls. I remember coming here when I was younger because my parents used to have a house near Ellijay, the apple capital of Georgia. We would either go to Tallulah Falls or Amicalola Falls State Park. Tallulah Gorge State Park spans two different counties in Georgia and the park boundary is also the border between Georgia and South Carolina.
Tallulah Gorge is one of the most spectacular canyons east of the Mississippi River. The gorge is two miles long and almost 1,000 feet deep. There are trails to hike along the rim of the canyon and visitors can get a permit to hike into the bottom of the gorge. While we were there, we walked to a few of the viewpoints along the rim then took the steps down to the suspension bridge. The bridge is about 80 feet above the river with gorgeous views of the river and waterfalls.
The first walk we did was from the visitor center to Inspiration Point. From there, we turned around and walked along the North Rim Trail from points number one through four on the trail map. After that, we went on the Hurricane Trail which took us down over 300 steps to the suspension bridge. From the suspension Bridge, you can see Hurricane Falls to the east and the Tallulah River as it flows to the west.
After crossing the suspension bridge, there’s a trail that continues up to the rim on the south side of the gorge. At that point, we didn’t want to go up those stairs knowing we would eventually have to turn around and do all those stairs again. So we went back across the bridge and up to the visitor center again to return to the parking area and drove back to the hotel.
State Park Visitor Center
A look at the gorge
One of the many waterfalls
Ryan looking out at the gorge
Walking across the suspension bridge
Our group on the Tallula Gorge Suspension Bridge
Another vew of the water from the bridge
Walking on the suspension bridge
Crossing the bridge
Another view into the gorge
One of the cascades viewable from the top of the gorge
Day Two Map
Day Three
On our third day, we drove to the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest to the small town of Helen, Georgia. I had been here a few times before after horseback riding in North Georgia with my middle school friend who had moved to the area. All I remembered was the delicious caramel-covered apples from Hansel and Gretel so I knew we had to go there. Helen was only about a 30-minute scenic drive from our hotel.
Helen is a small German-style town in the mountains of North Georgia with Bavarian-style buildings. It’s along the Unicoi State Park with trails through Chattahoochee National Forest to the Anna Ruby Falls and Raven Cliff waterfalls.
Shopping
When we arrived in Helen, we parked in a paid parking area along the Chattahoochee River at 93 River Street. It was one of the best places we found to park near the middle of the cute downtown area. When we got up to the main street, Unicoi Highway, we walked across the street and around the Biergarten to the shops surrounding it.
Then we went back to the other side of the street to the shops at the Swiss-German Plaza Shopping Mall. The boys found some German hats to try on, they purchased a stuffed animal, and I bought a Christmas Tree ornament and a few other small trinkets.
Walking down a small alleyway
Checking out the shops
Walking through a shopping square
German hat
German hat
The Heidelberg Restaurant
We picked Helen on this particular day of the trip because it was my brother-in-law’s birthday and he enjoys all things German, including the food and drinks. Our plan was to get lunch in Helen, but we hadn’t looked ahead to pick a place before arriving. As we walked around, we saw The Heidelberg and decided to stop in there to eat.
The food was delicious and I was told the German beer was great, too. I don’t drink beer, so I just had some water and the boys got lemonade. Justin ordered the Bauernwurstteller which is two types of grilled sausage with a side of späetzle and saeurkraut. Tyler and Ryan both ordered off of the kid’s menu, and I ordered that large pretzel from the appetizer menu with a side of German potato salad. The authentic German food was different than anything I’ve had before, but we all had great meals and didn’t leave any leftovers.
Delicious large pretzel for lunch
Tyler & Ryan
Stephanie & Justin
Unicoi Hill Park
Just outside of the restaurant is Unicoi Hill Park (not to be confused with the much larger Unicoi State Park just north of the town) with a small walking area, some benches, and a playground. When Tyler and Ryan were done eating, I brought them out to the park to run around for a bit while everyone else finished their food and drinks. While we were there, we watched city workers putting Christmas lights up through the trees.
Near the park is a public restroom that we stopped at. It was very clean and the perfect spot to stop on the way to the candy store.
Small waterfall at the park
A view from the park
Sitting on a bench in Unicoi Park
Wooden swing in the park
Hansel and Gretel Candy Kitchen
The one thing I remembered well from my visit to Helen as a kid was going to Hansel and Gretel Candy Kitchen to get their caramel-covered apples that are fresh from the apple orchards in the Appalachian Mountains. While we were there during this trip, I didn’t get a caramel apple, but we bought quite a bit of chocolate and fudge. Their candy is some of the best I’ve ever had and well worth a trip any time you are near this cute mountain town.
Delicious candy
Delicious candy
Delicious candy
Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen
Tyler & Ryan with all of the candy
Love Lock Bridge
Right at the Chattahoochee River, under the main road through Helen, is the Love Lock Bridge. We stumbled upon this by accident as we were walking around and found a small path that leads down to the riverside. When we took the path, on the south side of the bridge, we were able to go underneath the bridge to a small walkway. The walkway is lined with a metal fence covered in locks. We didn’t bring a lock since we weren’t planning to make this stop, but some of the nearby stores sold locks and had Sharpie markers out to write on them. I went and purchased one and put our name on it.
The boys by the Chattahoochee River
Way Down Yonder on the Chattahoochee
More views of the river
Our lock on the bridge
Our family with our lock
Some of the locks on the bridge
Hotel Amenities
When we got back to the hotel, we all put our swimsuits on and went over to the resort’s main building. We played a round of putt-putt golf, went to the shuffleboard courts and basketball court, then took a dip in the hot tub. The boys did a “polar plunge” in the pool, but it was too cold for most of us.
Shuffleboard
Shuffleboard
Hopscotch
Mini Golf
Mini Golf
Day Three Map
Day Four
The last day for our outdoor adventures in North Georiga was a day trip up to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The drive there was pretty, going through a few national forests on the way. I had been to Great Smoky before, but Justin and the boys hadn’t been.
Entrance Sign & Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Of course, at every national park we visit, the first thing we do is stop at the entrance sign to take a photo. We came up through Georgia so we went in the south entrance in Cherokee, North Carolina.
The first place to stop in the park is the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. One of the best things we do at the parks is stop to talk with the rangers, get our Passport Book stamps, and pick up a Junior Ranger booklet for Tyler and Ryan.
In front of the park entrance sign at Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Oconaluftee River Trail
Just behind the visitor center is the Oconaluftee River Trail. The entire thing is a 3-mile trail, but we only went about halfway and then turned around. We walked right along the river and were able to feel the cool mountain water. On the other side of the pathway, a herd of elk was grazing in the field.
Elk in the meadows
Family photo by the river
Our whole group by the river
Flowers along the path
Close up of an elk
A view of the Oconaluftee River
Oconaluftee River Trail
Mountain Farm Museum
Near the start of the River Trail is the Mountain Farm Museum. This is a historic site of buildings that were carefully moved from other places within the park and placed together. It resembles was life would have been like over 100 years ago in the Appalachian Mountains as the first settlers came to the area with the Native Americans.
Clingmans Dome
The pinnacle of Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a trip to the top of Clingmans Dome. This is the highest point in the park and the highest peak in the state of Tennessee. The mountain spans the border between North Carolina and Tennessee so as you walk up the gravel road to the observation tower, you are walking back and forth between the two states.
On clear days, you can see almost 100 miles from the top of the tower, including seven different states. The hike up is short, but steep, so it can take a long time to walk to the top of the tower.
Along the way, don’t forget to take a look at where the famous Appalachian Trail crosses the path to Clingmans Dome.
Fog in the trees
The boys on the path to the dome
Foggy view from the top of Clingmans Dome
Our group at the top of the dome overlook
View of the mountains on the trail
Our group in front of the mountains
Clingmans Dome Observation Tower
Chimneys Picnic Area
When we were done at Clingmans Dome, we were all getting hungry for lunch. The map showed a picnic area a few miles up the road, so we stopped there to eat the sandwiches and snacks that we packed in the vehicle.
After finishing lunch, we ended up staying here for a while. It was the perfect place to let the boys explore because there were huge boulders in the creek next to the picnic area. We all had fun hopping across the rocks and crossing the river a few times.
A view of the creek
Climbing the large boulders
Ryan sitting on a boulder
Tyler checking out the water
Walking across the boulders in. thecreek
Water rushes through the rocks
Ryan in the middle of the creek
A large tree growing in the creek
Looking at the water
Sugarlands Visitor Center
Our next stop was the Sugarlands Visitor Center near the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, entrance into the park. Ryan wanted to turn in his Junior Ranger book and get his badge. While we were there, the ranger told us about the hidden gem called the Elkmont Troll Bridge so we decided to check that out.
Neat bug on the sidewalk
I’m not sure why the boys like to lay on rocks!
Little River Trail
We parked in the Elkmont Parking Area to try to find the troll bridge. Our instructions were to park there, start the Little River Trail, and when you pass the historic buildings look for a small path on the right. Well, the buildings were all on the left, so we weren’t looking to the right. We found the buildings and wandered around them to see the history of the area. When we finished there, we continued along the Little River Trail, looking for the path on the right.
After a while, we realized we must have missed the trail. We ended up walking about one mile along the trail before we decided to turn around and look again. The trail was a very pretty walk through fall leaves along the river, so we weren’t disappointed at making that extra trek through the woods.
Remnants of old homes
Beautiful path along the river
A look at the sky through the canopy of trees
Climbing rocks… again
These boys love to climb on rocks
River rushing through the rocks
Elkmont Troll Bridge
Right before we got back to the parking lot, we found the small path that leads to the Elkmont Troll Bridge. We originally missed it because we were looking at the old buildings on the other side of the path. When you take the small path, just a few hundred feet in you’ll come to the old bridge.
Elkmont Troll Bridge is an old moss-covered stone bridge over a small creek. No one knows why it was originally built here, but it has a very whimsical feel to the area. It’s almost as if you could imagine a troll living under the bridge.
Elkmont Troll Bridge
The boys on the bridge
Looking at the small critters in the water
Checking for trolls under the bridge
Elkmont Troll Bridge
Looking in the water
The boys looking over the bridge
Tyler & Ryan on the bridge
The creek that runs under the bridge
Elkmont Troll Bridge
Elkmont Troll Bridge
Newton Bald Trail
On our way out, we thought about doing one more trail and started the Newton Bald Trail. After only about one-quarter of a mile, we all decided we were worn out for the day and were ready to head out. So we turned around and went back to the vehicle for our 1.5-hour drive back to the hotel.
Walking on the Newton Bald Trail
Elk in the meadow near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center
Day Four Map
Day Five
Breakfast at Yonah Coffee and Cafe
For our last day in Georgia, we had to get up and leave the hotel pretty early to head back to the Atlanta airport. On the way, we started looking for a small local place to get breakfast and I found Yonah Coffee and Cafe on the maps so we decided to give it a try.
The food there was scrumptious and we were all able to find just what we wanted. I ordered sausage biscuits and gravy, which is one of my favorite breakfast foods to order when we go out. Tyler and Ryan both got some pancakes and Justin ordered a hearty meaty breakfast to help keep full during the day.
Fly Home from Atlanta
We eventually got to Atlanta, turned the rental car in, and made the flight back home without any issues.
Yonah Coffee & Cafe
Biscuits & Gravy with Scrambled Eggs