North GA Musicians Join Forces to Form
The Allman Tyler Band
We heard the news in January that Tony Tyler and Michael Allman were recording some new songs together as The Allman Tyler Band. A little later in the month we got word that a familiar face in the north Georgia mountains would be joining the band as well-Avery Dylan of the Avery Dylan project. This unites two of the area's most dynamic guitar players in Tyler and Dylan...and if the name "Allman" rings a bell, Michael is the oldest son of the legendary Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band. Clint Swords, who also plays with the Avery Dylan Project will play bass with the new group.
We wondered if this meant the demise of the Avery Dylan Project-a band we have reviewed and profiled on Mountainfreak.net. We got in touch with Avery and asked him about that and the formation of the Allman Tyler Band. His response: "Yea, Tony and I have talked about doing something together for a long time now, And I've known Michael for a while too. He has sat in with ADP a couple of times. This thing came up several weeks ago and we have been talking about me coming aboard to do some shows with them. For now, it's an opportunity I feel I need to take and will be beneficial to ADP as well. On top of that, we are all good friends who have a great deal of respect for each other. As far as ADP goes, we'll be around for many years to come."
The Allman Tyler Band already has some shows scheduled for Athens and out of state. We look forward to seeing them in north Georgia soon.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Sunday Brunch at Yahoola Creek Grill
My boyfriend (Chip) and I live in Dawsonville, both work in Atlanta, and Sunday is the only day we are both off of work. On Sundays we love to head up to Dahlonega or further up into the mountains to spend some quality time and almost always partake of one of our favorite restaurants. Our favorite new restaurant is the Yahoola Creek Grill on South Chestatee St. as you head into town from Hwy. 400-and our new favorite meal is their Sunday Brunch.
We have now been twice for their brunch and have enjoyed it immensely both trips. I am more of a breakfast person and Chip is more of a lunch person, so it works out great! The Yahoola Mini French Toast is to die for-French bread topped with bananas and chocolate hazlenut sauce, and the Yahoola Omelet with Canadian bacon and pepper-jack cheese is equally as good if not quite as decadent. Chip has tried both the steak and eggs and the pork chop with eggs and he raved about both.
The Grill is fairly new, opened in 2008, and there is a sushi restaurant downstairs we have yet to sample. It is a very nice, new building with a lot of exposed wood, stone and copper...and it has a nice deck out back we can't wait to try out once the weather warms up a little. We highly recommend the Yahoola Creek Grill-not every good place in Dahlonega is on or near the square!
Contributed by Katie Coffey, Dawsonville GA
Editors Note:
I got the email/review from Katie a couple of days before I was heading up to Dahlonega. I wanted to try out the brunch but I was running a little late in the afternoon. I did stop in for a late lunch and had a good hamburger with some fantastic fried sweet potato chips. I snapped a photo before I dug in (see below). You can check out the full menu and other info on the Yahoola Creek Grill Website.
We have now been twice for their brunch and have enjoyed it immensely both trips. I am more of a breakfast person and Chip is more of a lunch person, so it works out great! The Yahoola Mini French Toast is to die for-French bread topped with bananas and chocolate hazlenut sauce, and the Yahoola Omelet with Canadian bacon and pepper-jack cheese is equally as good if not quite as decadent. Chip has tried both the steak and eggs and the pork chop with eggs and he raved about both.
The Grill is fairly new, opened in 2008, and there is a sushi restaurant downstairs we have yet to sample. It is a very nice, new building with a lot of exposed wood, stone and copper...and it has a nice deck out back we can't wait to try out once the weather warms up a little. We highly recommend the Yahoola Creek Grill-not every good place in Dahlonega is on or near the square!
Contributed by Katie Coffey, Dawsonville GA
Editors Note:
I got the email/review from Katie a couple of days before I was heading up to Dahlonega. I wanted to try out the brunch but I was running a little late in the afternoon. I did stop in for a late lunch and had a good hamburger with some fantastic fried sweet potato chips. I snapped a photo before I dug in (see below). You can check out the full menu and other info on the Yahoola Creek Grill Website.
Folk Pottery Museum of North Georgia
Georgia, and particularly the mountain area of northeast Georgia, has a rich history of potters and folk pottery. The works of Lanier Meaders (1917-1998) have been displayed in the Smithsonian Museum and the Meaders family is still producing pottery today. At Mossy Creek near Cleveland, the Dorsey and Craven families started producing functional pottery before 1850, the Meaders family built their pottery in 1893. They are just a few of the well known families who have created both utilitarian and folk art pottery in the area.
I visited the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia just after their second anniversary early last fall. The museum is on the grounds of and is the newest attraction at the Sautee Nacoochee Center located about 10 minutes from Helen, Georgia. I was expecting to see the works of the families mentioned above and others, and I did. I did not expect to see a 600 year old bowl (photo below) excavated from the Nacoochee Indian Mound just down the road.
The museum is very well laid out with an amazing variety of pottery and artifacts. The staff is helpful and knowledgable. I have had an interest in southern pottery for a few years, but I believe just about anyone with any level of interest could wander around here in awe like I did. If you are interested in exploring the museum, check out the link to their website for more information: Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia
I visited the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia just after their second anniversary early last fall. The museum is on the grounds of and is the newest attraction at the Sautee Nacoochee Center located about 10 minutes from Helen, Georgia. I was expecting to see the works of the families mentioned above and others, and I did. I did not expect to see a 600 year old bowl (photo below) excavated from the Nacoochee Indian Mound just down the road.
The museum is very well laid out with an amazing variety of pottery and artifacts. The staff is helpful and knowledgable. I have had an interest in southern pottery for a few years, but I believe just about anyone with any level of interest could wander around here in awe like I did. If you are interested in exploring the museum, check out the link to their website for more information: Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia
Black Falls is not Off Limits
Black Falls is a spectacular waterfall on the upper Etowah River about 25 minutes outside of Dahlonega. It may also be one of the least visited of the north Georgia mountain waterfalls because of where it is located-within a training camp for our Army Rangers.
Camp Frank D Merrill, named for the commander of Merrill's Marauders in Burma during World War 2, is the where the mountain phase of training takes place for the 5th Ranger Training Battalion. I first read about Black Falls a couple of years ago while perusing J. Anthony's website, Waterfalls of North Georgia. At that time access to the waterfall and the camp was sporadic due to heightened security in the wake of 9/11/01. In January I decided to find out whether Black Falls was still off limits and ended up visiting twice. Both times I checked in with the gate security guard to ask permission (and directions on the first trip) and was welcomed. You don't have to pass through the security gate to gain access to the falls, and I'm not even sure you have to ask for permission..but I would advise it. There is a second gate at the top of the road that leads to the base of the falls which was closed and locked on my first trip. The guard had told me it might be but advised it would be ok to park along the road and walk down to the falls. On the second trip the gate was unlocked and we were able to drive right down to the river's edge very close to the base.
The rappelling wall used by the Rangers (and pictured above) is less than 100 yards from the waterfall, and there are other buildings and training structures in the area. A footbridge with a hand rope crosses the river near the bottom of the falls and should be used to get the best vantage point for viewing. I tried to climb up closer to the top of the falls on my second trip, but the rocks had all iced over and it was a little too dangerous.. care should be taken at any time of year because the rocks are wet when it is warmer. Black Falls is definitely worth the visit, and being inside the Ranger camp just adds to the interest. For more information about the camp you can visit their website- Camp Frank D. Merrill
Camp Frank D Merrill, named for the commander of Merrill's Marauders in Burma during World War 2, is the where the mountain phase of training takes place for the 5th Ranger Training Battalion. I first read about Black Falls a couple of years ago while perusing J. Anthony's website, Waterfalls of North Georgia. At that time access to the waterfall and the camp was sporadic due to heightened security in the wake of 9/11/01. In January I decided to find out whether Black Falls was still off limits and ended up visiting twice. Both times I checked in with the gate security guard to ask permission (and directions on the first trip) and was welcomed. You don't have to pass through the security gate to gain access to the falls, and I'm not even sure you have to ask for permission..but I would advise it. There is a second gate at the top of the road that leads to the base of the falls which was closed and locked on my first trip. The guard had told me it might be but advised it would be ok to park along the road and walk down to the falls. On the second trip the gate was unlocked and we were able to drive right down to the river's edge very close to the base.
The rappelling wall used by the Rangers (and pictured above) is less than 100 yards from the waterfall, and there are other buildings and training structures in the area. A footbridge with a hand rope crosses the river near the bottom of the falls and should be used to get the best vantage point for viewing. I tried to climb up closer to the top of the falls on my second trip, but the rocks had all iced over and it was a little too dangerous.. care should be taken at any time of year because the rocks are wet when it is warmer. Black Falls is definitely worth the visit, and being inside the Ranger camp just adds to the interest. For more information about the camp you can visit their website- Camp Frank D. Merrill
Java Joe's in Clarkesville
Java Joe's in Clarkesville
Clarkesville has done a great job with the renovation of their downtown square. Wide paver sidewalks, crosswalks and aprons really enhance the older architecture and some of the building themselves have had a facelift.
Tucked in on one corner of the square is Java Joe's Coffee Shoppe and cafe. We stopped in on a very cold weekday afternoon not long ago for something warm to drink before we made our way around the square to do some shopping.
This is a neat spot to grab some good coffee and a pastry or light lunch, and there were a few patrons relaxing and reading. I'm no coffee expert-and I add some (ok, a lot of) cream and sugar, but even I could tell this was a cut above what I am accustomed to. Better than Starbucks and even a little cheaper. Many varieties of coffee and coffee drinks are available.
The deserts were enticing, but it was too soon after lunch for a slice of the 5 layer Red Velvet cake displayed proudly on the counter.
Java Joe's Coffee Shoppe
1349 Washington Street
Clarkesville, GA 30523
(706) 754-5282
Clarkesville has done a great job with the renovation of their downtown square. Wide paver sidewalks, crosswalks and aprons really enhance the older architecture and some of the building themselves have had a facelift.
Tucked in on one corner of the square is Java Joe's Coffee Shoppe and cafe. We stopped in on a very cold weekday afternoon not long ago for something warm to drink before we made our way around the square to do some shopping.
This is a neat spot to grab some good coffee and a pastry or light lunch, and there were a few patrons relaxing and reading. I'm no coffee expert-and I add some (ok, a lot of) cream and sugar, but even I could tell this was a cut above what I am accustomed to. Better than Starbucks and even a little cheaper. Many varieties of coffee and coffee drinks are available.
The deserts were enticing, but it was too soon after lunch for a slice of the 5 layer Red Velvet cake displayed proudly on the counter.
Java Joe's Coffee Shoppe
1349 Washington Street
Clarkesville, GA 30523
(706) 754-5282
Cajun Comfort Food in Ellijay
I have to admit that I was surprised when I heard about a "very authentic" Cajun restaurant in Ellijay. Not that Ellijay doesn't have some great and varied restaurants, it is just hard to find the real thing even in metro Atlanta. The Cajun Depot Grill was highly recommended by some friends and readers and did not disappoint.
The owners have done a great job of turning the old Ellijay train depot into an attractive dining space without a lot of noticable alterations.
The decor is definitely Louisiana influenced, the old plaster and brick walls with plank floors make the room seem warm and comfortable.
My son, his mother and I dined at the Cajun Depot Grill on a Saturday afternoon in late January. Son wanted to try the Andouille Po-Boy with some red beans & rice, his mom the quarter Muffaletta special and I requested another lunch special-Blackened chicken breast over rice with a house salad. While they split the order of red beans and rice I enjoyed the salad with a very tasty remoulade house dressing. The Mufaletta was huge (see below)
and served with fresh cut fries. I didn't get to see much of the Po Boy as it was being destroyed by my teenage son, but I did pinch off and sample a bit of the spicy andouille and it was very good. My chicken breast was perfectly cooked ( I generally shy away from boneless breasts as they tend to be dry), juicy and the seasoning was excellent-although it might have been just a tad "over-blackened"..but not too much.
Overall I was very pleased with the Cajun Depot Grill. Service was prompt and friendly, prices are very reasonable and it is a very neat historic location in a beautiful mountain town. I had my eye on the seafood platter from the dinner menu, planning ahead for my next visit.
Cajun Depot Grill
67 Depot St.
Ellijay, GA 30540
(706) 276-1676
The owners have done a great job of turning the old Ellijay train depot into an attractive dining space without a lot of noticable alterations.
The decor is definitely Louisiana influenced, the old plaster and brick walls with plank floors make the room seem warm and comfortable.
My son, his mother and I dined at the Cajun Depot Grill on a Saturday afternoon in late January. Son wanted to try the Andouille Po-Boy with some red beans & rice, his mom the quarter Muffaletta special and I requested another lunch special-Blackened chicken breast over rice with a house salad. While they split the order of red beans and rice I enjoyed the salad with a very tasty remoulade house dressing. The Mufaletta was huge (see below)
and served with fresh cut fries. I didn't get to see much of the Po Boy as it was being destroyed by my teenage son, but I did pinch off and sample a bit of the spicy andouille and it was very good. My chicken breast was perfectly cooked ( I generally shy away from boneless breasts as they tend to be dry), juicy and the seasoning was excellent-although it might have been just a tad "over-blackened"..but not too much.
Overall I was very pleased with the Cajun Depot Grill. Service was prompt and friendly, prices are very reasonable and it is a very neat historic location in a beautiful mountain town. I had my eye on the seafood platter from the dinner menu, planning ahead for my next visit.
Cajun Depot Grill
67 Depot St.
Ellijay, GA 30540
(706) 276-1676
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Hakser's Kash Ready for 2009
With the recent addition of bassist Rob Beardsworth, the Clarkesville based Hakser "brothers" are excited about what the new year will bring. We recently caught up with guitarist/vocalist Stephen Hesse, who shared this outlook: "We are excited for the New Year and all it has in store for Haksers Kash. With our new lineup and direction we feel that our sound is maturing and our fan base is growing." "Our focus is to continue writing new music and play bigger venues that cater to original bands...We feel the magic is with us, the opportunity is in our hands, and we are blessed for the friendship and musicianship that is Haksers Kash."
I was able to catch Haksers Kash at the 2008 Eco-Fest in the mountains where they put on a good show-I look forward to seeing them perform with the new lineup and songs. "The Kash" will release an EP in the near future and will be hitting the road in support. We'll keep you updated on shows and venues as the 2009 schedule takes shape.
Hiking Around Dawson Forest
Winter is a great time for exploring the outdoors in north Georgia. The weather lends itself to hiking, the barren trees allow you to see things you might miss in the summer, and many times you will have a large area all to yourself. Such was the case on a recent weekday trip to the "Atlanta Tract" of Dawson Forest near Dawsonville. I hiked 3 different areas of the forest and did not see another soul in the process.
The area I was visiting is less than an hour from downtown Atlanta...in fact, this 11,000 acre tract is owned by the city of Atlanta and was originally purchased in 1972 to give the city an option of building a second major airport north of the suburbs. The plans for the second airport have never materialized, and the property is now under the stewardship of the Georgia Forestry Commission. A large trail system for hikers and equestrians has been developed along with a waterfowl preserve and wildlife management area.
Dawson Forest is a transitional landscape. The southern area of the property is a foothill area that rapidly changes to a mountain environment as you move north. It is interesting to notice the transformation as you hike through-you enter into a flat, swampy terrain with longleaf pines and as you approach Amicalola Creek you start noticing small coves with mountain laurel and rhododendron, more rock outcroppings, and a rapid change in elevation. There are numerous areas that invite you to leave the trail you are on and explore if you like, and plenty of small spur trails that have been created by hikers doing just that. The different types of environments available make Dawson Forest a good hiking destination for all ages and experience levels. You can stick to wide, mostly flat trails or wander through dense vegetation and boulders if you like-some or the rock formations are fun for light climbing or bouldering.
Some of the more interesting areas of the forest are the remains of Air Force Plant 67, which once housed a nuclear reactor. We profiled the history of the plant in the May 2008 edition of Mountainfreak. net, the achived article can be found here. The ruins of the plant seem very much out of place now, with cars and trucks with horse trailers parked just outside the barbed wire topped fences that keep visitors from getting too close to the decaying concrete structures...and a quarter of a mile past the fences you enter the waterfowl preserve with a beautiful little lake. Odd, but interesting all the same.
For those wishing to check out this sprawling and interesting recreation area, it is very easy to find. The main southern entrance is located at the end of Dawson Forest Rd, which intersects Georgia Hwy 400 just south of Dawsonville. From either direction on 400, turn west on to Dawson Forest Rd.. There are no costs for admission or parking, and plenty of informative signage concerning rules and directions.
"The Pool Room"
.....is what the locals call it. The combination cafe/pool room/Nascar shrine/local gathering spot known offically as the Dawsonville Pool Room is situated just off the square on East First St. in downtown Dawsonville.
"The Pool Room" gained wide notoriety during the glory years of local Nascar legend Bill Elliott, when owner Gordon Pirkle would sound the loud "si-reen" mounted outside to celebrate an Elliott victory. The famous "Bully Burger", named after a long time and now deceased Pool Room employee, became part of a required stop for visitors to this mountain gateway town.
The Pool Room is literally wallpapered with news clippings covering the entire span of Elliott's career, along with car parts from his race cars and assorted racing memorabilia going back to the days of moonshine running that was once common in the area-and turned out to be the training ground for early stock car racers.
I stopped at the Pool Hall for lunch during a recent visit to downtown Dawsonville. It had been a few years since I had last visited, but other than a little expansion and updating it looked much the same as I remembered.
I ordered the house specialty-Bully Burger with fresh cut fries. The combo is still a great bargain at $4.75. The Bully Burger is a little different..no lettuce or tomatoes..but rather cole slaw, onions and pickles adorn the hand made patty. You can get lettuce, tomato or chili on request for no extra charge.
It isn't the best burger for miles around, although better than most ..and the fries could have been a little warmer, but the price and the atmosphere along with the friendly service left me satisfied with my stop. The menu goes well beyond just the Bully Burger. No breakfast is served (hours are 10 am to 10 pm, till 11pm on Fri. and Sat.) but lunch and dinner is well taken care of. You can get a ribeye steak or fried shrimp if you desire..a selection of salads are offered..and appetizers/sides range from fried pickles and green tomatoes to onion rings or a baked potato and more.
Everyone should visit this landmark at least once when in the area, most folks will probably return for seconds.
The Dawsonville Pool Room
(706)265-4426
Mark of the Potter
The first article that I penned for Mountainfreak.net was a report on the annual Christmas shopping trip my son and I take to north Georgia and Mark Of the Potter to purchase a gift for his mother. It is now a year later and once again we took the first school vacation day to head up to Grandpa Watts old mill on the Soque River.
It was a frigid day in north Georgia, and we joined other visitors inside the old mill taking turns around the wood stove as we browsed the great selection of pottery thrown by the 4 resident potters along with 20+ others from around the southeast. The bowl we purchased came from a North Carolina potter. I could spend a day and a thousand dollars in the place-but settled for 45 minutes and $40.
No trip to Mark of the Potter is complete unless you feed the pet trout in the river out back. Food pellets are sold from a gumball machine on the back deck for that purpose.
These are very large and well fed trout and they seem to enjoy the chow. The tradition is said to back to the days when the mill was still grinding corn..and the trout would hang around the mill to feed on the meal that spilled into the river.
The mill house was built in 1930, and operated until a flood inundated all of the machinery in the mid 1960s. It was sold and re opened as Mark of the Potter in 1969.
I would recommend visiting, even if it is just to look around, soak up the history..and feed the trout. If you enjoy great looking, functional pottery..I suspect you will go home with some, it's hard not to.
Inside Mark of the Potter
For more information check out their website: www.MarkofthePotter.com
Wonderful South Carolina Waterfalls
Because of the relatively small area of mountainous terrain in northwestern South Carolina, our mountains are usually not mentioned in the same breath as the Blue Ridge in North Carolina and Georgia. South Carolina does have an abundance of beautiful waterfalls within that small area, primarily due to the location of the Blue Ridge Escarpment where the elevation abruptly drops 2000' from the Blue Ridge to the upper Carolina Piedmont.
The King (or Queen if you wish) of Carolina waterfalls is the result of Matthews Creek tumbling over 400' down the escarpment to form Raven Cliff Falls. This stunning waterfall lies within Caesars Head State Park and requires a difficult four and a half mile hike to view. As seen in the photo above-it is well worth the effort. This is a rugged area and the hike to view the falls is not recommended for the very young or those not in excellent physical condition. A series of trails can also form a seven mile hike that will take you to a suspension bridge near the top of the falls. Hikers are advised to do their research and bring a companion or companions.
Closer to Georgia and much more accessible, Spoonauger Falls is located near the Chattooga River bridge on Burrell's Ford Rd., not far from Clayton, Georgia but on the South Carolina side of the river.
The parking area and trailhead are just past the Burrells Ford campground parking area. After walking northwest along the Chattooga for a couple hundred yards and crossing two small creeks, look for a sign on the right leading to the falls. Spoon Auger Creek will serenade you with numerous cascades along the hike the switchbacks up to the main falls.
Don't forget about South Carolina when looking for beautiful places in the mountains, you might be surprised..and we would love to have you visit.
Delores McKenzie- Spartanburg, SC
Legacy of the American Chestnut in North Georgia
The majestic American Chestnut once occupied about 25% of the Appalachian forest, including the coves and valleys of the north Georgia mountains. Growing rapidly to heights of over one hundred feet and diameters of six to fifteen feet, the Chestnut was truly the king of the high forest and upper Piedmont. The chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) was accidentally introduced to the United States via imported trees somewhere around 1900, and in the course of 40-50 years virtually wiped out all of the mature American Chestnut trees from Maine to Georgia.
The importance of the Chestnut to the people living in north Georgia made it's demise very painful. Chestnut was the timber of choice for the construction of houses, barns, fences and furniture. The abundant yearly nut crops were gathered for livestock feed and for sale and export as a valued food source, providing much needed income. The nuts were also a prime source of food for wildlife- populations of deer, turkey and bear suffered for years from the sudden lack of chestnut mast. On a personal level, I wonder what the mountain forests must have been like with these huge, imposing trees as part of the landscape.
Today, there are remnants of the American Chestnut to be found-mostly sucker growth stubbornly clinging to what life remains in the old stumps from half a century ago. The blight finds the vast majority of saplings before they reach 12-15' tall, but there are some isolated pockets with some larger trees. There is a American Chestnut on the top of Fort Mountain in northwest Georgia I have seen that is around 30' tall and in seemingly good health so far.
Hope for the Future
While is is unlikely that we will ever see the Chestnut return to it's former glory, there are efforts underway to bring the trees back. The 30 year old American Chestnut Foundation has sponsored a backcross breeding program that is producing blight resistant seedlings that carry 15/16 of the pure genetic material from native trees and 1/16 from the Chinese Chestnut, which is able to better ward off the blight. Scientists at the University of Georgia are using pollen and genetic material from pure "Mother" and "Father" trees that survive in Virginia and Georgia in hopes of further breeding and genetic engineering that may produce disease resistant trees.
It would be a great testament to the determination of the scientific community and the many volunteers working on these projects if the Chestnut could once again get a foothold in the land it once dominated. If you would like more information. please click on the American Chestnut Foundation logo just below.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Sorry for the Delay-
I uploaded articles from the December edition at the last minute and haven't had time to upload the photos and clean them up for this format. I will get to it asap-thanks for your patience!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Christmas Shopping in North Georgia
If you are not fond of chain stores, cavernous malls and large crowds...the north Georgia mountains can provide some refreshing alternatives. I live in the north metro Atlanta area and have been doing 90% of my shopping in the mountains for years now. I find some great gifts while enjoying some fantastic scenery and a much more laid back atmosphere than I did fighting mall traffic in the past.
What surprises most people about mountain shopping is the incredible variety of unique gifts. Some of my favorites are the hand carved wooden bowls at Turning Leaf Wood Art in downtown Blue Ridge, and mosaic pottery at Fishbone just a block off the square...the unique jewelry and myriad of unusual items at Shapiro's in Sautee Nacoochee..the potters that dot scenic Hwy 197 in the Batesville-Lake Burton area..I could go on and on, but I think you will enjoy exploring on your own and finding things that suit your tastes much like I have over the years.
Christmas is a great time for shopping in the mountains. Many retailers mark down items for the holiday season. This is the "off" season in the mountains, yet many small retailers depend on this time of year for the bulk of their winter business. It is not unusual for shops to offer their wares at 40-50% discounts compared to summer prices. Dealers in the antique and craft malls are generally more than willing to negotiate to get a sale-don't be afraid to make an offer on something you want, there is usually a middle ground that will leave you both happy. Try doing that at Macy's! I've found that friends and relatives love gifts of food from the mountains...Apple products from Ellijay, Fudge from Helen and Dahlonega, and jams, jellies and honey from shops all over the area have been big hits as gifts. A "must stop" for me every year is Nora Mills Granary just south of Helen to get some of their great products for friends and myself!
My best advice is to make any trip to the mountains more than just a shopping trip. There are great little restaurants and cafes in all the downtown square areas-try Grapes and Beans in Clayton or the Corkscrew Cafe in Dahlonega. Check out the historical old courthouses in the squares all decked out with Christmas decorations. In Helen you can even use a horse drawn carriage for transportation. Make a relaxing day of it and you may just swear off the malls just like I have!
Contributed by Jenny McIntire-Hoschton, GA
What surprises most people about mountain shopping is the incredible variety of unique gifts. Some of my favorites are the hand carved wooden bowls at Turning Leaf Wood Art in downtown Blue Ridge, and mosaic pottery at Fishbone just a block off the square...the unique jewelry and myriad of unusual items at Shapiro's in Sautee Nacoochee..the potters that dot scenic Hwy 197 in the Batesville-Lake Burton area..I could go on and on, but I think you will enjoy exploring on your own and finding things that suit your tastes much like I have over the years.
Christmas is a great time for shopping in the mountains. Many retailers mark down items for the holiday season. This is the "off" season in the mountains, yet many small retailers depend on this time of year for the bulk of their winter business. It is not unusual for shops to offer their wares at 40-50% discounts compared to summer prices. Dealers in the antique and craft malls are generally more than willing to negotiate to get a sale-don't be afraid to make an offer on something you want, there is usually a middle ground that will leave you both happy. Try doing that at Macy's! I've found that friends and relatives love gifts of food from the mountains...Apple products from Ellijay, Fudge from Helen and Dahlonega, and jams, jellies and honey from shops all over the area have been big hits as gifts. A "must stop" for me every year is Nora Mills Granary just south of Helen to get some of their great products for friends and myself!
My best advice is to make any trip to the mountains more than just a shopping trip. There are great little restaurants and cafes in all the downtown square areas-try Grapes and Beans in Clayton or the Corkscrew Cafe in Dahlonega. Check out the historical old courthouses in the squares all decked out with Christmas decorations. In Helen you can even use a horse drawn carriage for transportation. Make a relaxing day of it and you may just swear off the malls just like I have!
Contributed by Jenny McIntire-Hoschton, GA
Logan Turnpike Mill
Strategically located just south of Blairsville on heavily traveled US 19/129, The Logan Turnpike Mill Store offers stone ground goodness in many forms. Corn, wheat, rye and buckwheat grown both locally and from sources across the country are milled on site with a vintage 1916 blue granite grist mill.
I had stopped at the mill a few months ago on my way home from North Carolina and purchased some of the buckwheat pancake mix they sell up front. The resulting pancakes at home were light, fluffy and about 3/4" thick - I knew I had found a favorite destination in the north Georgia mountains. On my most recent trip last month I came home with more of the pancake mix and a bag of stone ground yellow grits (pictured below).
The grits are good too! You just can't beat fresh stone ground products made with high quality grains. Some of the other offerings include biscuit and bread mixes. porridge mix and various syrups and condiments. All can be found at the store or online through their website: Logan Turnpike Mill
I had stopped at the mill a few months ago on my way home from North Carolina and purchased some of the buckwheat pancake mix they sell up front. The resulting pancakes at home were light, fluffy and about 3/4" thick - I knew I had found a favorite destination in the north Georgia mountains. On my most recent trip last month I came home with more of the pancake mix and a bag of stone ground yellow grits (pictured below).
The grits are good too! You just can't beat fresh stone ground products made with high quality grains. Some of the other offerings include biscuit and bread mixes. porridge mix and various syrups and condiments. All can be found at the store or online through their website: Logan Turnpike Mill
Rib Country
No Brunswick Stew. A proper BBQ joint in Georgia should have Brunswick Stew on the menu..I'm sorry, but I think this is written on a sacred tablet right below the law stating that tea sweetened with sugar must be offered.
Other than that, I enjoyed my recent Saturday lunch at Rib Country in Blairsville. The Blairsville location is one of four Rib Country restaurants. They can also be found in Hayesville and Murphy, North Carolina and the newest store in Cleveland, Georgia. This comes very close to qualifying for my bias against "chain" BBQ restaurants... but judging from the crowd lined up and the 20 minute wait for a table, it doesn't seem to bother anyone else, nor should it.
I ordered a pulled pork and chicken combo (pictured above) with slaw and fries. The pork was excellent-moist and loosely pulled with little bits of the bark mixed in, which I love. I tried the sauce offerings and made good use of the hot sauce in the bright red bottle. The other sauces were a little bland and the hot sauce was just about perfect. The chicken wasn't quite as impressive as the pork, I suspect it had been reheated before serving. Unlike the pork, the chicken comes with a sauce already applied. I would have liked the same sauce option I had with the pork, but overall it was better than average. Slaw, fries and Texas toast were all decent compliments considering that STEW was not available. The sweet tea was fantastic though.
I must comment positively on the service. You can tell these folks are well trained and used to doing a brisk business. Everyone I dealt with was courteous and helpful to a fault. I will look forward to returning to Rib Country in the future.
Rib Country Website including Menu
Other than that, I enjoyed my recent Saturday lunch at Rib Country in Blairsville. The Blairsville location is one of four Rib Country restaurants. They can also be found in Hayesville and Murphy, North Carolina and the newest store in Cleveland, Georgia. This comes very close to qualifying for my bias against "chain" BBQ restaurants... but judging from the crowd lined up and the 20 minute wait for a table, it doesn't seem to bother anyone else, nor should it.
I ordered a pulled pork and chicken combo (pictured above) with slaw and fries. The pork was excellent-moist and loosely pulled with little bits of the bark mixed in, which I love. I tried the sauce offerings and made good use of the hot sauce in the bright red bottle. The other sauces were a little bland and the hot sauce was just about perfect. The chicken wasn't quite as impressive as the pork, I suspect it had been reheated before serving. Unlike the pork, the chicken comes with a sauce already applied. I would have liked the same sauce option I had with the pork, but overall it was better than average. Slaw, fries and Texas toast were all decent compliments considering that STEW was not available. The sweet tea was fantastic though.
I must comment positively on the service. You can tell these folks are well trained and used to doing a brisk business. Everyone I dealt with was courteous and helpful to a fault. I will look forward to returning to Rib Country in the future.
Rib Country Website including Menu
Ruffed Grouse in the North GA Mountains
The north Georgia mountains are the southernmost range of one of our country's popular upland game birds, the Ruffed Grouse. While not nearly as plentiful as they are in northern areas, there is a stable and huntable population of grouse in our national forests and WMAs.
The Georgia Ruffed Grouse season runs from October 15, 2008 - February 28, 2009 with a limit of 3 birds per day. Dogs, especially Spaniels and Setters, are often used in the pursuit of these elusive birds who would often rather run than fly away from danger. Habitat changes have taken place over the past couple of decades for Ruffed Grouse in north Georgia. Environmental regulations that have reduced the amount of clear cutting in the forests have limited the amount of food and cover available. You are most likely to find the birds near a food source..and these days that consists mostly of acorns, wild herbs and their seeds, blueberries and dogwood berries. Cover is often provided by rhododendron and mountain laurel thickets close to springs and streams.
All of north Georgia's Wildlife Management Areas with good elevation can harbor populations of Ruffed Grouse, with some of the best habitat and availability found in the Cohutta, Chattahoochee, and Cooper Creek WMAs. The terrain requires both hunters and dogs to be in decent physical condition and good knowledge of the outdoors and safety practices. The effort is considered worth it by hard core bird hunters, a Ruffed Grouse bagged in Georgia is considered a coveted trophy-hunters average flushing or seeing less than three birds per trip.
For more information about Georgia Wildlife Management Areas and hunting regulations, click on the link below:
Georgia DNR
The Georgia Ruffed Grouse season runs from October 15, 2008 - February 28, 2009 with a limit of 3 birds per day. Dogs, especially Spaniels and Setters, are often used in the pursuit of these elusive birds who would often rather run than fly away from danger. Habitat changes have taken place over the past couple of decades for Ruffed Grouse in north Georgia. Environmental regulations that have reduced the amount of clear cutting in the forests have limited the amount of food and cover available. You are most likely to find the birds near a food source..and these days that consists mostly of acorns, wild herbs and their seeds, blueberries and dogwood berries. Cover is often provided by rhododendron and mountain laurel thickets close to springs and streams.
All of north Georgia's Wildlife Management Areas with good elevation can harbor populations of Ruffed Grouse, with some of the best habitat and availability found in the Cohutta, Chattahoochee, and Cooper Creek WMAs. The terrain requires both hunters and dogs to be in decent physical condition and good knowledge of the outdoors and safety practices. The effort is considered worth it by hard core bird hunters, a Ruffed Grouse bagged in Georgia is considered a coveted trophy-hunters average flushing or seeing less than three birds per trip.
For more information about Georgia Wildlife Management Areas and hunting regulations, click on the link below:
Georgia DNR
Short Hike To Minnehaha Falls
Last time I had attempted to visit Minnehaha Falls I was frustrated by bridge construction. The bridge crossing the Tallulah River just below the Seed Lake Dam was being rebuilt and closed during the construction. The bridge is open for travel now and makes a trip to see the beautiful 60' falls much easier for folks visiting the Lake Rabun/Lake Seed area. The falls can be approached from the opposite direction via Bear Gap Road but that requires a pretty long trip over gravel roads from a starting point well south of the area.
Minnehaha Falls is a beautiful cascade even in these times of chronically low water (see photo above). It is more even more outstanding when freshly charged by a good rain. The short .4 mile trail can be navigated by anyone in moderately good health, the steepest section at the beginning of the trail has stairs to aid the climb.
It takes about a 10 minute walk to reach the falls from the parking area on Bear Gap Road, which is really just a wide spot in the road shoulder. The trail winds through rhododendron and mountain laurel thickets before reaching the falls, which seem to appear rather abruptly as you enter a wide mountain cove. There are a couple of natural stone sitting benches where you can sit and enjoy the scene at close range, but care should be taken when walking on the worn rock which stays moist all the time and can be icy in winter.
From the bridge at Seed Lake Dam, proceed south till you come to the fork in the road with the sign for Glen Ella Lodge...veer left onto Bear Gap Road and proceed for 1.6 miles. The beginning of the trail (shown in the photo above) will be on your right and parking will be on your left. This is a great little side trip any time of the year for visitors heading to the Clayton-Lakemont-Tallulah Falls area and well worth the time.
Minnehaha Falls is a beautiful cascade even in these times of chronically low water (see photo above). It is more even more outstanding when freshly charged by a good rain. The short .4 mile trail can be navigated by anyone in moderately good health, the steepest section at the beginning of the trail has stairs to aid the climb.
It takes about a 10 minute walk to reach the falls from the parking area on Bear Gap Road, which is really just a wide spot in the road shoulder. The trail winds through rhododendron and mountain laurel thickets before reaching the falls, which seem to appear rather abruptly as you enter a wide mountain cove. There are a couple of natural stone sitting benches where you can sit and enjoy the scene at close range, but care should be taken when walking on the worn rock which stays moist all the time and can be icy in winter.
From the bridge at Seed Lake Dam, proceed south till you come to the fork in the road with the sign for Glen Ella Lodge...veer left onto Bear Gap Road and proceed for 1.6 miles. The beginning of the trail (shown in the photo above) will be on your right and parking will be on your left. This is a great little side trip any time of the year for visitors heading to the Clayton-Lakemont-Tallulah Falls area and well worth the time.
Georgia State parks to Remain Open
But Changes to the System Remain on the Table:
Facing budget shortfalls and increased operating costs, the state of Georgia was considering the closure of up to six of our forty eight state parks earlier this year. While it is unlikely that the heavily used north Georgia mountain parks like Vogel and Unicoi were being considered for the axe, the recent news that there would be no closures induced a huge sigh of relief from Georgians and visitors who take advantage of our nationally renowned park system.
Georgia State Parks will not escape the economic downturn without changes, however. Among the ideas being discussed is privatizing the golf courses and lodges that are now being operated as part of some parks. This would affect the lodges at Amicalola Falls and Unicoi State Parks as well as Smithgall Woods Conservation Area located in the mountains. Also on the table is the closure of some historical sites, or at least reduced hours or staffing at those sites.
Public pressure and feedback has been cited as one of the reasons for the decision not to close any parks. Mountainfreak.net will make every attempt to keep our readers up to date on further developments as we head into the new year - It is our opinion that there are many areas of state government that should be considered for cutbacks before we do away with parts of a system which actually helps pay for itself...and provides so many opportunities for outdoor activities.
Facing budget shortfalls and increased operating costs, the state of Georgia was considering the closure of up to six of our forty eight state parks earlier this year. While it is unlikely that the heavily used north Georgia mountain parks like Vogel and Unicoi were being considered for the axe, the recent news that there would be no closures induced a huge sigh of relief from Georgians and visitors who take advantage of our nationally renowned park system.
Georgia State Parks will not escape the economic downturn without changes, however. Among the ideas being discussed is privatizing the golf courses and lodges that are now being operated as part of some parks. This would affect the lodges at Amicalola Falls and Unicoi State Parks as well as Smithgall Woods Conservation Area located in the mountains. Also on the table is the closure of some historical sites, or at least reduced hours or staffing at those sites.
Public pressure and feedback has been cited as one of the reasons for the decision not to close any parks. Mountainfreak.net will make every attempt to keep our readers up to date on further developments as we head into the new year - It is our opinion that there are many areas of state government that should be considered for cutbacks before we do away with parts of a system which actually helps pay for itself...and provides so many opportunities for outdoor activities.
Kurt Thomas Packs Em in at Wylie's
I talked to a couple of lovely ladies who had driven all the way from Vinings to see Kurt Thomas do his thing inside the Down Under Bar at Wylie's in Dahlonega. Kurt apparently has quite a following, as I had to gingerly wedge myself into the bar to catch his first set on the day after Thanksgiving.
The crowd seem to be getting what they came for as Kurt and his bandmates played favorite covers of songs from Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Pure Prairie League and more along with a couple of his own. I found myself thinking that he may be overdoing the cover songs a bit, as I have listened to and been impressed with his original country tinged ballads. If anyone else felt the same, we were in the minority as everyone really seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Kurt Thomas plays frequently in the north Georgia mountain area-and you can check out the music calendar here at Mountainfreak.net to see when he has dates scheduled. In the mean time, check out some of his original stuff on his MySpace page:
Kurt Thomas MySpace
The crowd seem to be getting what they came for as Kurt and his bandmates played favorite covers of songs from Van Morrison, Johnny Cash, Pure Prairie League and more along with a couple of his own. I found myself thinking that he may be overdoing the cover songs a bit, as I have listened to and been impressed with his original country tinged ballads. If anyone else felt the same, we were in the minority as everyone really seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Kurt Thomas plays frequently in the north Georgia mountain area-and you can check out the music calendar here at Mountainfreak.net to see when he has dates scheduled. In the mean time, check out some of his original stuff on his MySpace page:
Kurt Thomas MySpace
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