Kathy Barnett Editor-In-Chief
Historic Daw Of Fun For A
In the heart of the North Georgia mountains, Dawsonville offers a delightful blend of outdoor adventure, history, and smalltown charm that makes it the perfect destination for an extended weekend getaway. Our journey began with a stay at the stunning Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, a hidden gem where nature and comfort meet. The lodge, perched near the top of Georgia’s tallest waterfall, provides breathtaking views and serves as the gateway to some of the region’s best hiking trails. We couldn’t resist the allure of the waterfall trail, which led us to the majestic Amicalola Falls cascading 729 feet into the valley below. For the more adventurous, the park is also the location of the Len Foote Hike Inn. A five-mile trek through lush forests is required to reach it, but rewards hikers with a rustic retreat featuring a communal dining area and recreation room—a perfect spot to unwind after a day on the trails. After a long day of traveling, -26- | ExtendedWeekendGetaways ~ October, 2024
we had a lovely dinner at the Cascades Restaurant within the resort. We were seated by floor-to-ceiling window so we could enjoy the sunset over the beautiful mountainside. We each ordered our favorites from the generous menu, not even thinking about saving room for dessert. So we took our luscious dessert choices back to our room for a late night snack. I finished mine the next morning, not a wise choice due to breakfast being an all-youcan- eat buffet with a choice of everything entitled “breakfast food.” Upon completion, we were ready for a funfilled day of
exploring. No visit to Dawsonville would be complete without a stop at the Atlanta Motorsports Park, shown above. This state-of-theart facility, with its challenging road course and high-speed gokart track, offers a thrill for both seasoned racers and novices alike. We spent the day experiencing the adrenaline rush of