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As a travel writer, traveling over the world for the past many years, it is not easy for me to "fall in love" with an areaas simple as our Southern United States. But I have, head over heels! The South in the quiet eloquent voice of Southern beauty compassionately cries to the traveler, "Come and see my beauty." One of the areas of the South I particularly have fallen in love with is the Northern part of Georgia. Just forty or so miles out of Atlanta where the Smoky Mountains serve as a backdrop to some of America's most gorgeous landscape. Gainesville is an excellent place to "make home" while you travel the surrounding area. Of course, Lake Lanier Island and Resort offers excellent choices of recreation and eloquence. However, there is a lot more to North Georgia than just the lake area.
The beautiful back country roads, the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, the beauty of small towns like Gainesville, the Road Atlanta world-class race track, the birthplace of Cabbage Patch Kids with its Babyland General baby ward, Georgia Mountains Center theater in Gainesville, quality art at Quinlan Visual Arts Center, my Editor's Choice - Elachee Nature Science Center, truly fine dining at Rudolph's or Luna's, and another Editor's Choice - the Home Sweet Georgia Bakery Cafe located right on the square, or a visit to Folk Pottery Museum - Sautee-Nacooche Center near Helen, Georgia, you will never run out of fun things to do in and around Gainesville, Georgia. This is one article where I think I'll just let my travel photojournalism scrapbook tell the story, and build your desire to drive to Gainesville to eat fresh baked good at Home Sweet Georgia Bakery Cafe on the city square, or joy the arts, the landscape, or the fine wine at the Habersham Winery.
 Some of the finest award winning Georgia Wines have been produced at Habersham Vineyards & Winery
Vineyards & Winery since 1983. Over 150 medals have been awarded to Habersham Wines in both national and international competitions. The Winery was located in Baldwin, Georgia until November 1998 when construction on a new facility was completed at Nacoochee Village in Helen, Georgia. Located just one half mile from Alpine Helen. HABERSHAM WINERY & VINEYARD 7025 S. MAIN ST. (Ga Hwy 75) | HELEN, GEORGIA 30545
If that is not enough, a trip on into Helen, Georgia where you step into the world of Bavaria and Swiss Alps. " These streets are made for walking" - nothing is very far away in Helen, and you won't need a car to see the unique shops, dining experiences (highly recommended Nacooche Grill), and street musicians make this colorful town a wonderful "stop over."
Directions to Helen
Road Atlanta
(Below)
Road Atlanta is part of the Panoz Motor Sports Group. Since purchasing Road Atlanta in 1996, Don Panoz has made millions of dollars in improvements designed to create a perfect blend of safety for the racers and comfort and convenience for the fans. We hope you will visit often and experience the excitement only Road Atlanta can offer!
As one of the top entertainment centers in Georgia, Road Atlanta offers individuals, families and large corporate groups a fun and family-friendly environment. Our Kids 12 & Under Are Always Free policy gives families an affordable family outing.
- 2.54-mile, 12-turn world class road course
- 320,000 annual visitors
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Folk Pottery Museum -
Sautee-Nacooche Center
is a "don't miss" experience.
Some of North Georgia's finest prize-winning and prestigious pottery is
on display in this specially commissioned pottery museum, as well as a history of pottery making. |
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Editor's Choice
Home Sweet Georgia Bakery & Cafe
On the square in Gainesville (below) |
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| Breakfast Menu |
Serving 7:00 am - 10:30 am Hot Breakfast Sandwich
(on croissant, biscuit or bagel)
with Egg & Cheese $3.00
add Bacon, Sausage, or Ham $3.85 |
| Biscuit (plain) |
$1.00 |
| Croissant |
$1.50 |
| Bagel with cream cheese |
$1.85 |
| Scone |
$1.85 |
| Strudel or Turnover |
$1.95 |
| Cinnamon Roll, Orange Swirl |
$2.00 |
| Muffin |
$1.75 |
| Danish |
$1.85 |
| Fritter, Donuts |
$1.35 |
| Fries Pies |
$2.00 |
| Bacon or Sausage |
$2.25 |
| Breakfast Souffle |
$3.25 |
| 2 Eggs |
$1.50 |
| The Peach Room |
Home Sweet Georgia not only has gifts and great food-but also a great meeting room space! With nearly 2000 sq feet that can hold 100 or more guests - it is a popular place for meetings, luncheons, receptions and parties. Special events from concerts to theater productions have already drawn people downtown to share in the fun. |
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At night, however, all paths lead to Helen's massive Festhalle. Located within walking distance of most hotels, the Festhalle is the spot for authentic German bands, food, beer, and fun. You can either spend the evening dancing the Polka and the chicken dance, or you can relax in the adjacent beer garden and enjoy the crisp night air.
The banks of the Chattahoochee River come alive in Helen, Georgia this fall with ompah music and Bavarian bier. Every year since 1970 Georgia's most famous Oktoberfest transforms tranquil Helen into the ultimate north Georgia party town. Polka with dancers in native costume, eat Bavarian food and enjoy the festival into the wee hours of the morning.
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Other Things to See and Do In and Around North Georgia
Track Rock
Rock Eagle Effigy Mound
Big Red Apple
Historic Squares of Savannah
Georgia Guidestones
Rock City
Wilder Tower
Clock Tower
Stonepile Gap
Moon's Station
Etowah River Bridge
Cooper's Iron Works
Cass Station
Oostanaula River Bridge
Fort Norton
John B. Gordon Hall
Relief Map at Ringgold
Relief Map at Dalton
Resaca Map
Noble Brothers Foundry
Kennesaw House
The Big Chicken
Coca-Cola bottle at Turner Field
Cagle's Dairy
World of Coca Cola
Skylift at Stone Mountain Park
Market House
Happy Traveling in North Georgia, Gainesville area! |
2125 Elachee Drive · Gainesville, Georgia 30504 · Tel 770.535.1976 · Fax 770.535.2302
Elachee Nature Science Center, one of the premier nature centers in Georgia, provides environmental education programs in the form of school field trips for students and also as workshops, camps, and events for the general public. Elachee's sprawling campus, located in North Georgia, consists of a woodland refuge and an interactive museum that will excite and educate visitors of all ages.
Your visit may include a stop at our live animal exhibits and the native plant garden at the entrance to the Center. Surrounding the Center is the 1,500 acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve laced with over 13 miles of nature trails. This large protected area with diverse habitats provides an ideal outdoor classroom, plant and animal sanctuary, and variety of scenic hiking trails.
Mission Statement:
Elachee Nature Science Center, a non-profit environmental education center, 1) provides interactive experiences in the Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve and elsewhere that enable students to understand that the earth and all its inhabitants are part of a complex and interdependent system; and 2) works to protect the natural resources of the Chicopee Woods watershed.
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