Atlanta

Your Getaway is about finding time to disconnect in order to reconnect – whether with family, friends, or nature. After or en route to a restful break at one of our cabins, there’s plenty to explore in the area, whatever may pique your interest.

Here’s our Getaway Atlanta Outpost guide to nearby attractions and things to do along the way:

Getting There

Nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest, your secluded escape is easily accessible from Atlanta. The best way to get there is by car; the Outpost is about a two hour drive from the city. Parking is easy and available for every cabin. If you don’t have a car yourself, consider carpooling with a friend, or renting a car in the city. If all else fails, your journey will take you longer, but you can take a Greyhound bus to Gainesville, which is an hour-long Uber or Lyft from the Outpost.

The drive to Getaway Chattahoochee can get windy and steep. Be sure to prepare by knowing your route ahead of time, and addressing any motion sickness needs you might have.

Walks in the Mountains near Getaway Atlanta

Jarrard Gap Trail
Hike Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed on-leash
Close by your cabin, this trail climbs gradually from Lake Winfield Scott Campground and merges with the Appalachian Trail. With ridge-line views, the path continues into the Blood Mountains in a lovely loop.

Cooper Creek Trail
Hike Distance: 1.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed on-leash
This loop trail, which is accessible all year, features a gorgeous array of wildflowers. As you hike, you’ll be followed by the gentle sounds of the creek. This is a great route for families and anyone interested in familiarizing themselves with all the colors Georgia has to offer.

Long Creek Falls on the Appalachian Trial
Hike Distance: 1.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Dogs allowed on-leash
This two-mile section of the Appalachian Trail is one of the most beautiful in Georgia. It winds through a lush valley en route to Long Creek Falls, full of wildlife, flowers, steep cliffs, and soft moss in every season. The double-tiered waterfall rises over 50 feet before emptying into a deep pool, shadowed by bunches of rhododendron.

Yonah Mt.
Hike Distance: 4.4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs allowed on-leash
Recognizable by its asymmetric shape and exposed rock outcrops near the top, Yonah Mt. rises from the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mts. and is one of North Georgia’s best hikes. The continuous uphill hike climbs through a rocky, moss-filled forest leads to stunning panoramic views of the horizon. Check out the views from the rock outcrops along the way and at the summit, as practice some leaf-, flower-, and snow-spotting in all seasons.

Blood Mt. Loop via the Appalachian and Freeman Trails
Hike distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs allowed on-leash
Towering over the surrounding peaks, Blood Mt. is Georgia’s highest Appalachian Trail summit, rising high to 4,459 ft. at the summit’s massive rock outcrop, which offers sweeping, stunning views and a chance to explore the historic stone Blood Mt. Shelter. This loop explores quieter stretches, beginning at the Neels Gap trailhead and hiking the eastern face with the Byron Reece Trail. It merges with and follows the Appalachian Trail at Flatrock Gap to the summit, descending along the Freeman Trail, which leads back through a fern-filled valley.

Appalachian Trail: Three Forks to Springer Mt.
Hike Distance: 8.6 miles
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs allowed on-leash
Spanning from Maine down through the eastern United States, the Appalachian Trail winds to a stop here in North Georgia, its southernmost point. This hike traces the last steps of the trail and dips through the creek-strewn Three Forks Valley before climbing to an end at the summit of Springer Mt. with the reward of the southern Appalachian Mts., blanketed in blue haze.

Sustenance and Snacks near Getaway Atlanta

There aren’t very many grocery stores in close proximity to the Outpost, so it may be best to prepare before you head out on your Getaway. There is a Walmart around 40 minutes from the Outpost, in case you forget anything.

Van Zandt’s Riverwalk Grill & Grocery, 103 Newport Rd, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
~ 20 min from Outpost
Visit Van Zandt’s for country-diner style breakfast and lunch and to grab some groceries on your way to the Outpost. Their pancakes are bigger than a plate, and if you can finish their 1/2 lb. burgers for lunch, they offer a 4 mile-long tubing and kayak float.

Dahlonega General Store, 24 Public Square, Dahlonega, GA 30533
~ 40 min from Outpost
This old-timey general stores has everything you need for your stay in a tiny cabin, with a wide variety of items, snacks, and tchotchkes.

On the Local Menu

Capers on the Square, 84 Public Square N, Dahlonega, GA 30533
~ 40 min from Outpost
For delicious Mediterranean fare with good gluten-free and vegetarian options, Capers is a Dahlonega staple. After narrowing down your choices off the menu (good luck) you can sit by the restaurant’s big windows or outside in the square and people watch.

Bratzeit, 77 Memorial Dr, Dahlonega, GA 30533
~ 40 min from Outpost
Born in Switzerland and Germany, the owners of Bratzeit bring their native cuisine and Swiss-German tastes to Northern Georgia. The schnitzels are fantastic, and order a classic apple strudel to top off the fare.

Shenanigans, 87 N Chestatee St, Dahlonega, GA 30533
~ 40 min from Outpost
With its hole-in-the-wall atmosphere and snug quarters, Shenanigans plates Irish-American classics (try the fish ‘n chips) and a diverse beer menu.

Sidetrips

Consolidated Gold Mine, 185 Consolidated Gold Mine Rd, Dahlonega, GA 30522
~ 35 min from Outpost
Descend 200 feet underground into this 100-year-old mine to see how turn-of-the-centuries miners found gold in Georgia. After panning for your own gold, visit the Dahlonega Gold Museum nearby, housed in the 1836 Lumpkin County Courthouse. The perfect excursion for the whole family.

Wolf Mountain Vineyards, 180 Wolf Mountain Trail, Dahlonega, GA 30533
~ 35 min from Outpost
Tucked at the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest with views of the North Georgia mountains, Wolf Mountain has earned over 200 medals for its wines. Its grounds are landscaped beautifully, transforming the vineyard into a lovely place to taste wines and brunch.

Grumpy Old Men Brewing, 1315 E Main St, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
~ 45 min from Outpost
The couple of retired beer enthusiasts who founded Grumpy Old Men Brewing in 2012 began by brewing their stores in an outdoor shower and eventually opened their microbrewery in Blue Ridge. In 2018, the original two migrated to the other side of the 18-tap bar, passing the company onto “another Grumpy Old Man & his Crabby Lady.” There’s lots of space in the tasting room to play games and chat with other brew-loving folk.

Lakewood 400 Antiques Market, 1321 Atlanta Hwy, Cumming, GA 30040
~ 1 hr 15 min from Outpost
Many dealers come to set up booths and stores at Lakewood 400, open on the third weekend of every month, to sell a wide variety of unique, fascinating antiques, and there’s something for everyone.

Book your Getaway today.

For a round-up of organizations and Black-owned businesses to support in Atlanta, see our list.