North GA Mountains

[lelliott19]

If you're going to be in Gainesville and looking in on General Longstreet, then I assume you are planning to visit Alta Vista Cemetery?

And you should see the "Old Joe" statue on the town square in Gainesville. Interesting thing about Old Joe - hes actually a Unionist. http://wesclark.com/jw/old_joe.html

If you go 40 miles NE there's Toccoa Falls - since you said you like waterfalls? Shouldnt miss that one. 186 feet tall. http://www.cityoftoccoa.com/toccoa-falls.cfm

If you go about 43 miles east, to Athens, you should probably visit the TRR Cobb house? http://www.trrcobbhouse.org/
And Oconee Hills Cemetery where TRR Cobb is buried? His brother, Howell Cobb (who was a Confederate Maj General) is also buried there along with Brig Gen William M Browne (b1823 in Ireland); Maj Gen Martin Luther Smith (b. 1819 in NY; resigned from the US Army 1861 to serve CSA); and others

And you don't want to miss the 'double barreled cannon' on the lawn of City Hall in Athens! And maybe over to Jefferson GA where Dr Crawford Long first used ether? http://www.crawfordlong.org/

You might enjoy one or more of the 'Civil War Trails'?...http://www.civilwaringeorgia.com/civil-war-trail.html

The Leaders Trail begins in Gainesville, continues through Jefferson to Athens and then to Washington, Crawfordville and Milledgeville, and shows the homes, artifacts and atmosphere associated with General James Longstreet, Robert E. Lee's second in command at the Battle of Gettysburg; Generals and brothers T.R.R. Cobb and Howell Cobb of Athens; Vice President Alexander H. Stephens and Secretary of State Robert A. Toombs of the Confederate government. Other sites display the stories of Crawford W. Long, a physician credited with the discovery of ether anesthesia in 1842, and Benjamin H. Hill and Henry W. Grady, who became voices for the "New South" following the Civil War and Reconstruction. At the Trail's terminus is the beautiful Antebellum Governor's Mansion of Joseph E. Brown and the Old State Capitol Building.

There's also a Stoneman's Raid Trail - you can pick up the driving tour brochures at the Athens Welcome Center.

 

[Stiles/Akin]

Helen is nice. have a safe trip. Be leery of Baldwin, Ga on the way up. Its a speed trap. There is a Twin Brothers BBQ up that way and its good.

 

[littledoug]

The Appalachian Trail runs through several of the gaps just above Helen and one of them, Neel's Gap, on old US Hwy.19, has an old CCC lodge through which the AT runs (the only building through which the AT passes in its 2000 mile length) now has an outfitters store and make a great starting place for a short day hike.

great memories. when I hiked through there in 1999, despite the rain there was a beautiful view off the stone porch beside the building at Neels Gap. there was also an old CCC stone shelter on top of Blood Mountain, but I understand that has since been demolished. progress, I presume. lots of shorter or longer day hikes in the area full of gorgeous scenery.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

lots of shorter or longer day hikes in the area full of gorgeous scenery.

Sounds like I should have talked my husband into this trip a long time ago. With so many great trails and so many other things to see and do we will have to make a second trip. Our four day weekend won't be enough time. We would go ahead and stretch this visit, but we are leaving for an extended road trip to Vicksburg and Natchez (the dates are locked in) a couple of days after we return from Gainesville. We looked at Neels Gap on Google maps last night (thanks for the original heads up @Malingerer) and the view looks amazing! I'm very excited about visiting this area!