Dawsonville, Georgia is a charming town located about an hour north of Atlanta. Boasting a number of attractions ideal for the outdoor and adventure seeking enthusiast. One of the most popular spots is Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, home to the tallest cascading waterfall in Georgia and third tallest east of the Mississippi River. At 729 feet, Amicalola Falls is one of the seven Natural Wonders of Georgia, and is a must-see while visiting. Within the 829-acre park, there’s multiple hiking trails with the most popular being the Approach Trail to the Appalachian Trail itself. Also in the park, don’t miss the Screaming Eagle Aerial Adventure Zipline Tour, with the longest run featuring 250 feet of elevation and whisking you 2,000 feet across the park! Atop the falls is a 57-room resort-style lodge, complete with stunning views of the Appalachian Mountains and an on-site restaurant, Cascades, featuring beautiful panoramic views of the Appalachian Mountains. In addition to guestrooms, the park offers onsite cabins, RV and tent campsites, as well as luxury glamping. As you enter the park, you’ll be greeted with a new state of the art Visitor Center featuring the history of Dawon County and the Appalachian Trail, interactive displays and wildlife exhibits, and the Falls Café to fuel your hiking adventures!
Looking for an even more adventurous getaway, the Len Foote Hike Inn is a must-visit. Located five miles north of Amicalola Falls, it is Georgia’s only backcountry lodge, accessible only by hiking a 5-mile trail through the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Hike Inn places an emphasis on conservation and sustainability, while providing rustic charm in a relaxed and beautiful setting that allows families to enjoy nature together. All you need is a change of clothes and a toothbrush, and they’ll handle the rest, even deliciously served family style meals.
Seeking a need for speed? Atlanta Motorsports Park is an F1 designed 2-mile road course that’s been voted one of the Top 10 Tracks in North America by Road and Track Magazine and Speed Sport’s 2023 Outstanding Facility of the Year, and for good reason. It offers the perfect setting to unleash your inner racer with the world’s most unique public kart racing track, race leagues, racing schools, a teen driving program, racing simulators and more. This is the perfect place to get behind the wheel and satisfy your need for speed.
Racing fans will also relish in a visit to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame, where you can explore the roots of stock car racing and discover how running moonshine during the prohibition era grew into the NASCAR of today! The Hall of Fame has exhibits celebrating the history of motorsports in the State and features memorabilia and trophies from Dawsonville’s own 2020 NASCAR Cup Champion, Chase Elliott and his dad, former champion Awesome Bill from Dawsonville. Speaking of moonshine, adjacent to the museum, Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. is a family owned and operated distillery specializing in high quality, small-batch spirits, including moonshine crafted from legendary Jack Mimm McClure’s perfected North Georgia recipe. And don’t forget to take a walk to the legendary Dawsonville Pool Room, known for their Bully Burgers and Fresh Cuts, where owner Gordon Pirkle displays racing memorabilia and has sounded the infamous si-reeen for every Elliott victory since the 1980s.
Finally, if you’re in need of a little retail therapy, look no further than the North Georgia Premium Outlets, Atlanta’s premier outlet shopping destination featuring 140+ stores with savings up to 65% off every day! Luxury retailers including Gucci, Versace, Jimmy Choo, Ferragamo, Stuart Weitzman, Armani and more. For a more unique experience, visit Around Back at Rocky’s Place, the South’s largest folk art gallery, featuring work from over 250 southern artists. Including the largest collection from sought-after folk artist, Cornbread.
There is something for everyone in Dawsonville and its surrounding areas. Embark on the adventure of a lifetime and experience all it has to offer.
Explore at DestinationDawsonville.com