Contact Us
25 Best Things to do In the North Georgia Mountains: Guests are always asking us “what is there to do while in the Northeast Georgia Mountains?” We have compiled a non-exhaustive list of our past guests favorite things not to miss while visiting our area of the North Georgia Mountains. While numbered, they are in no particular order.
Stay at Beechwood Inn While Exploring the North Georgia Mountains:
If you want to explore some of these activities, we invite you to stay at Beechwood Inn, Georgia’s Premier Wine Country Inn. Take a look at our guest rooms https://beechwoodbnb.com/room-type/rooms-suites/ and our cozy cabins https://beechwoodbnb.com/room-type/cabins/ then check our availability here.
25 Best Things to do In the North Georgia Mountains
Guide to Rabun County and the 25 Best Things to do in the North Georgia Mountains: Guests are always asking us “what is there to do while in Rabun County?” We have compiled a non-exhaustive list of our past guests favorite things not to miss while visiting our area of the North Georgia Mountains. While numbered, they are in no particular order.
Guide to Rabun County and the North Georgia Mountains
Things to do in our Corner of the North Georgia Mountains – Rabun County
Guide to Rabun County and the North Georgia Mountains
25 Best Things to do In the North Georgia Mountains: Guests are always asking us “what is there to do while in Rabun County?” We have compiled a non-exhaustive list of our past guests favorite things not to miss while visiting our area of the North Georgia Mountains. While numbered, they are in no particular order
1. Enjoy Dinner at Fortify Kitchen and Bar, Clayton, GA: Fortify is located in Historic Downtown Clayton, one of our hippest mountain towns. It’s the best restaurant in Northeast Georgia for upscale Southern-Style Farm to Table Cuisine and also specializes in Farm to Table craft cocktails. Chef Jamie Allred focuses on elevated favorites such as veal tenderloin, filet mignon, trout, and crab cakes. The best part about Fortify Kitchen and Bar is that much of the food is locally sourced and Chef honors the farms and farmers with a weekly “Meet our Farmers” Dinner. http://fortifyclayton.com/
2. Sip Some Rye Whiskey at Moonrise Distillery: Owner Doug Nassaur is one of the most knowledgeable distillers I have ever met. A tour of the distillery with Doug will make you wonder why you would ever buy cheap whiskey or bourbon again. He is making a panoply of distilled spirits and some mixed fruit beverages like cognac as well. Moonrise now offers a stage with live entertainment and parties. Put this tour high on your list! Oh, did I fail to mention their Bourbon laced Pecan Ice Cream. https://moonrisedistillery.com/
3. Partake of a Farm to Table Dining Experience at Beechwood Inn. Recently named “One of the Top 10 Farm to Table Restaurants in Georgia.” To further enhance our diner’s farm to table experience Beechwood Inn operates Grow, Cook, Eat, Culinary Garden, an organic vegetable, herb and edible flower farm in Rabun County. Our Chefs may have sown the seed for your dinner back in March, observed the sprouts coming out of the ground, tended them, admired them as they pulled them from the soil, and finally they put the finishing touches on the whole project by preparing it for your plate. beechwoodbnb.com
4. Visit The Market at Clayton Cafe: Bold new gathering place/coffee/bar/wine sipping location/bakery on Main Street in downtown Clayton. Its the kind of unique shop/noshing establishment you would expect to find in a big city, but here it is in Clayton, Georgia. Operated by our friends Teka Earnhardt, Bonnie Edmonds and Danny Benson, it adds a whole new interest to a visit to our corner of North Georgia. They even carry our Beechwood Inn labeled North Georgia Wines. So for a cup of Joe, an espresso or a glass of wine with some decadent pastry – stop in for a visit. https://www.facebook.com/The-Market-in-Downtown-Clayton
5. Raft the Chattooga River. Yes, this first ever Wild and Scenic River is still one of the biggest attractions in our area. On Section III you can find solitude and beauty between the shoals and rapids. On Section IV you will discover paddling muscles you have not used recently. It is a spectacular resource that needs our protection.http://explorerabun.com/explore-new-adventures/recreation/whitewater-rafting/
6. Visit Blackrock Mountain State Park: From Beechwood Inn it is just a short drive to Blackrock Mountain State Park, the highest state park in Georgia. The visitors’ Center has been newly remodeled and offers rest rooms, sales items and trail maps. It is a perfect place to bring a picnic as the top of the mountain is always several degrees cooler than down below. There are miles of trails a beautiful lake and even some waterfalls to visit. http://www.gastateparks.org/BlackRockMountain
7. Hike Tallulah Gorge: One of the most spectacular canyons in the eastern U.S., Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep. Visitors can hike rim trails to several overlooks, or they can obtain a permit to hike to the gorge floor (100 per day, not available during water releases). A suspension bridge sways 80 feet above the rocky bottom, providing spectacular views of the river and waterfalls. Tightrope walkers have twice crossed the gorge, and visitors can still see towers used by Karl Wallenda. A paved path follows an on old railroad bed, perfect for strollers and bicycles, while mountain bikers can test their skills on a challenging 10-mile trail. Exhibits in the park’s Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center highlight the rich history of this Victorian resort town, as well as the rugged terrain and fragile ecosystem of the area.http://www.gastateparks.org/TallulahGorge
8. Visit Foxfire Museum: Take a walk through the past at the Foxfire Museum & Heritage Center, a look at a unique time and place in America’s past that is very nearly gone. Get a glimpse of a rich past captured by local high school students who truly valued their heritage. Here you will find homes, tools, trades, crafts, and a look at the lifestyle of the all-but-vanished pioneer culture of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. http://www.foxfire.org/museum.html
9. Visit a Nearby Winery: The North Georgia Mountains are now dotted with family owned vineyards and wineries making wonderful quality table wines. While you will find the occasional sweet wine, many of the wines now made in North Georgia compete favorably with wines from California and France. In our immediate area you can find:
Spies Vineyard, 550 Black Branch Road, Rabun Gap, GA 30568, (706) 746-2097 http://www.12spiesvineyards.com/
Hightower Creek Vineyards, 7150 Canaan Drive, Hiawassee, GA 30546 (706) 896-8963 http://www.hightowercreekvineyards.com/
Noble Wine Cellar in Downtown Clayton. 706-782-0704 http://www.noblewinegeorgia.com/
Stonewall Creek Vineyards Standing Deer Lane, Tiger, GA 30576 (706) 212-0584 www.stonewallcreek.com
Tiger Mountain Vineyards, 2592 Old 441 South Tiger, GA 30576 (706) 782-4777 http://www.tigerwine.com/
10. Have Dinner at the Dillard House: When you visit the Dillard House Restaurant you might expect just a meal, but it’s a true Southern culinary event that awaits you. Their menus consist of generous portions of homemade Southern dishes from recipes handed down over the years from Dillard House chefs and generations of Dillard family members. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served “family-style” every day of the year. They received two (2) Reader Choice Awards awards in Southern Living Magazine. http://www.dillardhouse.com/restaurant/
11. Hike to the Top of Rabun Bald: At an elevation of 4696 feet, it is the tallest mountain in Rabun County and the second highest peak in Georgia. An observation tower on the summit provides hikers with views that extend for more than 100 miles. http://www.brownsguides.com/blog/rabun-bald-hiking-trail/
12. Visit Historic Downtown Clayton: Clayton, Georgia has it all – surrounded by the lush Smoky Mountains, an old-time Main Street lined with specialty shopping, delicious dining venues, romantic vineyards, and many rustic lodging options. Local shops feature the best in art, antiques, books, flowers, furniture, gifts and wine. Fine restaurants will please even the most discriminating palate. You’ll even find an old fashioned drug store soda fountain. https://explorerabun.com/shop-around/
13. Visit a Working Farm:
Osage Farm: Nestled in the heart of the valley in Rabun Gap, Osage Farms is a family owned vegetable and Fraser Fir tree farm. The vegetable market is open every day May through October and features seasonal fruit and fresh vegetables and some wonderful heirloom tomatoes. Osage Silver Queen Corn is not to be missed, plus there is something special about cabbage grown in our North Georgia Mountains. http://www.dillardgeorgia.com/osage-farms/
Hillside Orchard Farm: Children’s petting zoo, corn maze, and country store that uses local products to make every jam, jelly and juice you can imagine, including more than 30 kinds of hot sauce. http://www.hillsideorchardfarms.com/
14. Float a Lake on a Pontoon Boat: There is not much more relaxing than floating on one of our mountain lakes and ogling our wonderful lake houses from the perspective they are meant to be seen from. The mountains are beautiful and the lakes are pure and clean and maintained at high water levels by Georgia Power Company. You will not see acres of red mud or half submerged old tires on any of the lakes in Rabun County. http://lakeburtonboatrental.com On Lake Rabun use https://beargapoutfitters.com/
15. Catch a Mountain Trout: Whether you fly fish the upper Chattooga River or just dip a cane pole at Andy’s Trout Farm there is not much more exciting than catching your own dinner. Our mountain streams and rivers offer perfect habitat for trout and the rivers are kept well stocked. Mind your manners and get a license. But, there is not license needed at Andy’s Trout Farm with sleek trout raised in the freshest water you will find in the USA. http://explorerabun.com/explore-new-adventures/recreation/fishing/fishing/ http://www.andystroutfarm.com/home/
16. Visit the Historic Shops in Lakemont. It is a New Artisan Community built on Old Foundations housed in renovated and restored buildings from the early 1900’s. It is a cluster of art galleries, studios, nursery and fine shops. Don’t miss Annie’s at Allies Groceries offering deli-sandwiches, fine wine and essential provisions for the Lake Rabun folk. Old 441 south. http://www.historiclakemontvillage.com/
17. Go Horseback riding in our Cove Forests: Yes, let the horse do the work as you enjoy the beauty and solitude of our wondrous mountain eco-system. You can ford steams and without getting your feet wet and you can climb a mountain without getting yourself out of breath, yet feel at one with the wilderness and not captive in a car.
Dillard House Stables: (706)746-5348. http://www.dillardhousestables.com/
Equus Meadow Riding Stable, 514 N. Germany Mountain Road, Clayton, GA 30525 (706) 363-6330 or (706) 782-1706 http://www.equusmeadow.com/
Sunburst Stables: Near Lake Burton in Habersham County. http://www.sunburststables.com/
18. Have Lunch at Chattooga Belle Farm: Long Creek, SC: Okay, this one’s not in Georgia, but again just barely over the state-line to the East. Having lunch is an experience you will never forget (open for dinner on occasion). The “Farm” offers fresh cuisine from their expansive orchards and culinary gardens, but the view is what will create a memory – forever. Gayle claims the view will heal your soul at the molecular level. Sitting on a knoll with a long range view of the Southern Appalachian front-range; add some clouds and you will stay for a three hour lunch. Also enjoy their farm store and their on-site distillery using many of their local fruits. http://www.chattoogabellefarm.com/
19. Go to Black Bear Creek Antiques. This place is eye candy for guys, and for gals that like guy things. It is filled with old advertising, antique outboard motors, old fishing gear, a 1966 Italian Harley, old Coke machines. Probably my personal favorite is the machine room as it is chocked full of all things mechanical. Victrolas, vintage oscillating fans, antique radios, “people weigher” scale, working traffic light, arcade games. You won’t find any antimacassars. Located five miles west of Clayton, on Highway 76. http://www.blackbearcreekantiques.com/
20. Enjoy lunch at Fromage. This is a one of our favorite quirky cafes nearby. Fromage is the passion of “Best Chefs America” Chef Jenny Wilson, who loves coming up with new and inventive menus. Tell them Beechwood Inn sent you. http://www.fromageclayton.com/ http://grapesandbeans.com/
21. Golf in the North Georgia Mountains. We have some spectacular mountain golf courses – some where the ball will drop nearly 1,000 feet to the green. All our courses are beautiful, well maintained and offer some breath-taking views of lakes, mountains, ponds and streams. So grab your 3 iron and join us for a round of mountain golf.
Kingwood Resort: Registered Beechwood Inn guests can play golf at nearby Kingwood Resort (3 miles) at a special guest rate. This is a substantial savings. Let us call and set up your Tee-Time in order to get this rate. Kingwood Resort also has a wonderful restaurant for dining after your day of golf. Championship eighteen holes, open to the public. Located on East 76 just outside of Clayton. (706)212-4100 or (866) KINGWOOD http://www.kingwoodresort.com/
Rabun County Country Club: 9 hole golf course. South on Main Street/Old 441. Clayton, GA. (706)782-5500.
Sky Valley Resort: Championship eighteen holes. Sky Valley, GA. (706)746-5303. http://www.skyvalley.com/
22. Enjoy a picnic at Minnehaha Falls. We consider Minnehaha Falls to be the best waterfall in Rabun County. The 60-foot high falls widens as it quickly cascades to a wide pool at its base. Minnehaha Falls is buried in a wide, steep-sided cove packed with rhododendron, making this an exceptionally beautiful hike. At the base of the falls is a perfect flat stone to host a picnic. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl Let Beechwood Inn pack your picnic lunch for you https://beechwoodbnb.com/specials/picnic-package-in-north-georgia/
23. Participate in a Seasonal Festival. It does not matter whether you like to stroll displays of art, listen to great bluegrass music or smell wood-smoke as local meats are being barbecued; there is just about always something to celebrate in our corner of northeast Georgia. We do have the best artists, and the best barbecue in Georgia, and many of the best musicians too. We also have great wineries that celebrate new vintages and the awakening of the vines each spring. Our Farms offer corn mazes and farm days. Foxfire celebrates our Mountain Heritage and our white liquor legacy (that’s moonshine to you flatlanders). Our area also hosts adventure activities such as bicycle races, old automobile rallies, and warrior events. Come be entertained in our North Georgia Mountains. See what’s happening:http://explorerabun.com/events/month/
24. Drop in at Timpson Creek Gallery. Owned by Duane and Cecile Thompson, this gallery/shop offers some of the best in local and regional art. Duane specializes in twig furniture and décor and his work is exquisite. Duane also collects old advertising which has an honor corner in the main gallery. I still want that old bar sign. Cecile collects the best of regional art and jewelry. Out back is another gallery the Root Cellar, where they offer regional artists the opportunity to show their art and crafts. Watch for classes and special displays on their website. They are located 6 miles west of Clayton on highway 76. http://timpsoncreek.com/
25. Enoy lunch at Fortify Pi, Clayton, GA: Chef Jamie Allred’s casual pizza and sandwich restaurant right next to Fortify Kitchen and Bar, and also offers Farm to Table ingredients. So yes, you can get a Little Caesars “Hot and Ready Pizza” for $8.00 or you can wait 15 minutes for a freshly crafted pizza with high quality local ingredients for $15.00. I’ll pay the latter, plus enjoy a quirky hole-in-the-wall place featuring local craft beers, dining bar, and that sports a massive window that on nice days can open onto lively Main Street in Historic Clayton, GA. We love this place. http://fortifyclayton.com/
26. Set-up Camp. Whether you are touring in your Luxury Motor Home, seeking some remote wilderness campsite to set up your pup-tent, or are trailering your horses to go riding, Rabun County has it all. What better way to fall asleep than to the sound of a nearby rushing stream. Our nearby campgrounds, horse parks and RV parks offer boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and spectacular overlooks. The outdoors awaits you at one of our wonderful campgrounds. https://explorerabun.com/blog/category/campgrounds/
Get A Good Night’s Rest at Beechwood Inn!
Now that you know that North Georgia is best explored on a weekday, it’s time to start planning your trip! At Beechwood Inn, our beautiful rooms suites and cabins provide some of the best lodging in the area. They’re the perfect place to rest and recharge after a day full of exploring! And our restaurant has been names one of the 10 Best in North Georgia. Check out our upcoming menus. Make a reservation: 
25 Best Things to do In the North Georgia Mountains: by Innkeepers David and Gayle Darugh