North Georgia Bucketlist

There is no shortage of adventure in the North Georgia mountains. You'll find lots of places to go camping, hiking or mountain biking. In the warmer months, a dip in a cool North Georgia lake is a welcome respite, but what about some of the lesser-known gems in the area? We're spilling the beans on 5 of our favorites.

Cross over the Toccoa River on a 270 foot swinging bridge

This 270 foot long bridge is the longest swinging bridge East of the Mississippi River. The swinging bridge over the Toccoa River is located on the Benton MacKaye Trail and the Duncan Ridge National Recreation Trail in Fannin County.

Click the link below to get directions and for tips on what you may need to go exploring! 

Swinging Bridge

Explore a car graveyard

If you love cars, than you definitely don't want to miss Old Car City located in White, Georgia. This automobile graveyard is part junkyard, part museum and all kinds of fun. There are about six miles of trails throughout the 34+ acre compound and more than 4,000 cars! Hubcaps in the wind create a symphony soundtrack to the stories of these beautiful, now silent machines.

Old Car City USA

Meet a moonshiner

Dawsonville is known for moonshine! Once a way for poor farmers to make a little extra cash, it turned into an illegal activity when the farmers refused to pay taxes on their 'shine. That led to high-speed chases through the mountains and the sport of NASCAR. You can learn more about it at the Dawsonville Distillery and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame both located at Dawsonville's City Hall. 

Moonshine

Is Big Foot Real? you decide.....

Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Yeti, whatever you want to call him, his spirit is alive and well right off Ga. 515 near Blue Ridge. Expedition: Bigfoot is an offbeat and well-done museum that explores the legend of the hairy beast, including a full-size replica and a re-created Bigfoot attack. If you don’t leave a believer, you can at least leave with a t-shirt. In addition to the museum store, they also have a gift shop in downtown Blue Ridge. While downtown, stop in at Chester Brunnenmeyer's for a Wookie. I hear it puts hair on your chest.

Big Foot

Photo by Larry Lykins, Cartecay Vineyards

Create your own wine tour

Wineries stretch across North Georgia, including six wineries in Ellijay alone. Each vineyard has its own special character, and many offer live music, tastings and other entertainment. Want someone else to do the driving? Hop aboard a mini-coach with VIP Southern Tours for a full day of wine tasting and tours.