Waterfalls, Wildflowers, and Wineries - FULL|AGC

ITINERARY

Day 1 - April 25, Thursday

We pick you up at the Atlanta (ATL) airport at 1pm and begin our adventure with a visit to Amicalola Falls State Park for a short hike on a paved trail with a series of steps. Amicalola Falls, at 729 feet, are the tallest cascading waterfalls east of the Mississippi River and often the last stop for hikers before they start their Appalachian Trail Thru Hike. After our hike and waterfall gawking, we continue to our lodge for dinner and a private wine tasting. A knowledgeable woman from the Dahlonega Tasting Room will educate us and our palates about wine as we taste several varieties. Well fed and well exercised, we will be ready for bed tonight!

Day 2 - April 26, Friday

After a hearty breakfast at the hostel, today we're going to see the very beginning of the Appalachian Trail - Springer Mountain! We'll look at the plaque there and imagine what it's like to stand there knowing you're about to attempt to hike 2200 miles. We'll be happy our hike today is only 5.2 miles! Our hike starts with a 500 ft ascent from the parking lot to the top of Springer Mountain, on a gradually ascending rocky and rooty trail. After taking pictures at the top, the rest of the hike is a gentle downhill, about 1200 feet, to 3 Forks. Along the way we'll pass Stover Creek Shelter where we can stop to eat our picnic lunch. We can also stop to soak our feet during several stream crossings, one of the true pleasures when hiking. Right before the end we'll pass through old growth hemlock, soaring trees that have disappeared along many sections of the trail. We'll return to the lodge in time to relax and clean up before going out to dinner that night at Shenanigan's Restaurant in downtown Dahlonega.

Day 3 - April 27, Saturday

Our hike today is the Raven Cliff Falls Hike, a 5 mile out and back hike. This trail follows Dodd Creek through the Raven Cliffs Wilderness Area to a massive dark bluff near the headwaters some 2.5 miles from the parking area. Because of the size of Ravens Cliffs and the lack of human interference, the area has abundant bird life including grosbeaks, vireos, and wild turkeys besides the ravens that give the area its name. From there we visit Cavender Creek Vineyards to check out their wines. We will also spend a few hours in Dahlonega; every Saturday folks bring their instrument(s) and just start playing and/or singing on the Dahlonega square, a weekly event known as Appalachian Jam. If Appalachian music is not your style, there are also lots of shops to check out. Dinner is at the lodge tonight, followed by s'mores around the fire on the back deck. B,L,D

Day 4 - April 28, Sunday

Our breakfast at the lodge will be light this morning because we need to save room for the brunch at Wolf Mountain Vineyards. Brunch is typically buffet style and served with one glass of Estate wine. Before brunch, there is an optional 2 mile hike at DeSoto Falls. After savoring our last meal together, we head to the airport where you can plan a flight out after 5:30 pm B, Brunch

Trip highlights

Learning about wines during a private wine-tasting

Visiting the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi

Enjoying moderate hikes in the north Georgia Mountains

Visiting several local wineries and the charming town of Dahlonega

Dining at some excellent local restaurants

Price:

$1150 (see discounts here). $300 deposit. Note: There is a 20% discount for each person rooming in the 4-person bunkroom. There are 2 singles rooms available for an additional $150.