Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2015 - 62

SAM BOYKIN

Guests at Cavender Creek Cabins can explore
nature trails and go fishing in a scenic pond.

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More to Do Outside
For outdoor adventurers, Dahlonega offers
plenty of thrills and chills. Check out these
top options:
At Appalachian Outfitters River Outpost
you can rent kayaks, canoes or tubes and
cruise down the scenic Class I-II Etowah or
62 BlueRidgeCountry.com

SAM BOYKIN

At Consolidated Gold Mines near Dahloneaga, you
can climb 200 feet underground for a guided tour.

Ellis says she and her friends also love to spend the
afternoon simply strolling along the pedestrian-friendly
downtown streets and checking out the different restaurants and shops.
Dining options include the Back Porch Oyster Bar.
Owner Lee Creef, a longtime resident of the Outer
Banks, decided to bring a fun and funky beach vibe
to Dahlonega after falling in love with the area while
on vacation. The restaurant is situated in a renovated
two-story house with big porches overlooking downtown, and is famous for its North Carolina-style seafood.
Nearby Gustavo's is a great place to rub elbows with
the locals. This laid-back spot has pool tables, live music, and lots of TVs, along with a large selection of beers
and wine, pizza, calzones, burgers and sandwiches.
Another Dahlonega tradition for Ellis and her friends
is that they always invite some other students from
class over to the cabins for a cookout.
"We all just hang out on the deck, enjoy the scenery
and have a good time," she says. "You could never do
that at a hotel. It really feels like you're on vacation."
With all the great onsite amenities at Cavender Creek
Cabins, Jennifer Ishler of Birmingham, Ala., says it's the
perfect spring break destination for her and her 5-yearold son, Marcus: "We just wanted somewhere where he
could get out in the woods and play in the dirt."
Ishler says she also appreciates the owners' attention
to detail, including providing fishing poles. She says
Marcus spent hours exploring the area's nature trails,
fishing, and catching tadpoles.
But they didn't spend all their time at the cabins.
Ishler says they also visited Crisson Gold Mine, one of
several in the area that date back to the Georgia Gold
Rush, where you can pan for gold and search for gemstones and precious minerals. Another great option for
treasure hunters is Consolidated Gold Mines, where
you can climb 200 feet underground for a guided tour
of a turn-of-the-century mine.
"For this past spring break, I told Marcus we could go
snow skiing or to the beach. And he said 'nope, I want
to go back to the cabins.' And I'm sure we'll be back
next year too. You just can't beat it."
For more info: dahlonega.org 

Chestatee rivers, where you're likely to spot
ducks, blue heron, beaver and deer.
There are 22 different hiking trails within 32
miles of Dahlonega. Highlights include the
Amicalola Falls State Park, which has the
highest waterfall east of the Mississippi
River. The park is also the southern terminus
of the Appalachian Trail.

Chattahoochee National Forest has some of
the best mountain biking in the state,
including the 36-mile Jake and Bull
Mountain Trail System.
For anglers, there are about a dozen creeks
and streams in the area stocked with rainbow, native, and brown trout. (Fishing season ends Oct. 31.)

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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2015

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