Dahlonega - the gateway to the Middle North Georgia Mountains

Dahlonega - the gateway to the Middle North Georgia Mountains.

As you approach Dahlonega you begin to realize that you are finally getting into the North Georgia Mountains. When you leave GA 400 and turn left onto GA 60 heading to Dahlonega, you immediately feel the assent to higher elevations through curvy roads flanked by large acreage home sites with manicured rolling yards. (Yards that are always mowed although you never see anyone out mowing them.)

As you keep climbing you will notice that you are parallel to the rushing Chestatee River (filled with tube rafters from Memorial Day through Labor Day complements of Appalachian Outfitters.)

As the river wanders away from roadside you see the beginnings of Dahlonega's outskirts and finally as you crest a long hill you know you have arrived. Before you lies a picturesque scene of a small college town campus surrounded by beautiful range of mountains.

This is Dahlonega - founded because of the first gold gold rush in America and still successful today because of the friendly merchants and citizens. You are in for a wonderful visit.

If you are here on a Saturday start on the town square and take in the free Appalachian Jam on the Square.

North Georgia's mountain music pickers and singers flock to the Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site every Saturday, April 18 through November 7. Listeners and musicians alike enjoy the acoustic bluegrass and old time string music on the Public Square.

Signs around town declare the Square to be a "quiet zone" during the jam hours so that all can enjoy the music.

As the name implies, the Appalachian Jam gives traditional mountain music players the chance to get together and celebrate the kind of music that has been performed in the Appalachian Mountains for generations. Musicians are invited to bring their instruments and gather on the historic Public Square to jam with the scheduled musicians. Everyone else should come on down and listen or dance. Bring a chair or stool and stay awhile. For more information, contact the Convention & Visitors Bureau at 706-864-3513

Coming Up: In our upcoming articles we will explore the towns friendly merchants, the over thirty fine restraunts in the area, the quaint and quiet places to stay and relax, the gold rush mines and their history, the famed North Georgia College and State University, the juried arts festivals, several thunderous waterfalls, the five local award winning wineries and vineyards, the largest Kangaroo conservation preserve outside of Australia and much more. Plan to make several "day trips" or an extended weekend to see it all.

Direction Note: From Atlanta you will find Dahlonega about 90 minutes away by either GA 400 or by I-85 then I-985.

Take GA 400 from North Atlanta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Cummings and Dawsonville to this area. GA 400 ends at the crossroads of GA 60 which comes from Gainesville on the right going to Dahlonega on the left. GA 400 becomes Ga 115 at this point and we will explore that direction on another day..

By way of I85 from Atlanta you take I- 985 at the split. After about 20 miles you take Gainesville exit 22 ( I-985 ends after one more exit ) and take GA 60 to the left through historic Gainesville, the Chicken Capitol of America. GA 60, also known as Green Street, takes you past beautiful old 19th Century mansions which now tastefully house law and medical offices. Continue through town toward Dahlonega. After about 10 miles you will cross GA 400 on your way to today's destination.

From the north use GA 60 from Blue Ridge, Georgia. GA 60 may be the most beautiful road in North Georgia and it runs from the town of Blue Ridge through Dahlonega to Gainesville.

Tip: If going to Dahlonega through Gainesville, we strongly suggest getting an early start so that you can stop halfway at Reid's Cafe in Murryville. Go in or drive through but you must order a Buttered Cats Head Biscuit with Bacon. The biscuit is the size of a cat's head and there is enough bacon on the thing to use your entire weeks allotment of calories.