Features Editor
If pay cuts and mandatory furloughs have hit you in the wallet this year, scale back -- but don't eliminate -- your vacation.
You don't have to spend a lot of money to have fun in the north Georgia highlands. With a bit of planning, and a lot of shopping around, a family of four can easily get away for a week without breaking the bank.
Your best bet is to pick a central location that offers a variety of activities, all within a 30-mile radius. We picked a cabin on Blood Mountain, about 14 miles south of Blairsville, off U.S. Highways 19 and 129 for a getaway in July.
The Helton Creek waterfall was a 2 1/2-mile hike down a U.S. Forest Service road; Vogel State Park and its lake and trails were 1 1/2 miles north; one of the best hikes along a portion of the Appalachian Trail was 1 1/2 miles to the south; and Georgia's highest peak, Brasstown Bald, was a scenic 16-mile drive to the east.
Perfect.
We shopped online in early June for a place to stay, checking sites including Orbitz, Priceline and Travelocity for hotels and motels, the Georgia State Park site for cabins, and several private companies offering vacation housing. We found a two-bedroom cabin, with a hot tub, satellite TV and a rocking-chair porch for $500 a week, linens included.
To save on our food bill, we stocked up on groceries before we left Augusta, then finished off our shopping for eggs and milk and such in Cleveland before making the climb into the Blue Ridge. We ate out for one breakfast and two lunches, and otherwise prepared our meals at the cabin.
We just basically hunkered down in the woods.
Sound good?
Here are some suggestions on activities and excursions for a cheap mountain getaway:
FUN ON THE VINE
It's not Napa Valley, but north Georgia has developed an extensive network of wineries. The wines are pretty good, too. Tastings are free at several, or you'll pay a nominal fee, which is usually rebated with a purchase of a bottle or two.
Make a day of it with the following itinerary:
Start with Blackstock Vineyards, which says it's in Dahlonega but is close to Cleveland (from Blairsville, take U.S. Highway 129 south toward Cleveland, then right on Adair Mill Road (there's a sign noting it is part of the Georgia Wine Highway). Turn right on Town Creek Road, and the winery is on your right). There's a great mountain view across the vineyard behind the tasting room.
Retrace your route back to U.S. Highway 129, turn right to Cleveland, then left on Georgia Highway 75 to Helen, and you'll find the Habersham Vineyards and Winery, which is on the left as you enter Helen.
Continue through Helen to Hiawassee, then turn left and take U.S. Highway 76 west to former Gov. Zell Miller's hometown of Young Harris. Turn right on Georgia Highway 66 and continue north, then turn left on Crane Creek Road to Crane Creek Vineyards, which is on the left. Say hello to the vineyard dog, which might be lounging in the parking lot or the tasting room.
HIKING
The area around Blood Mountain is Hiking Central for Georgia, with trails available for every skill level. For a leisurely stroll, walk the mile around the lake at Vogel State Park. There seems to always be a breeze, and a great view of Blood Mountain from the south end.
A side trail leads to a waterfall just behind the lake. Several other trails are within the park of various skill levels and lengths.
About 1 mile south of Vogel on U.S. 129, get into the inside lane and look for a sign for Helton Creek Falls, and turn left. The paved road gives way to a narrow, bumpy unpaved Forest Service road to the falls. The parking area is on your right, and the trail to the falls is about a tenth of a mile.
For a trail with more of a view, retrace your route and turn left on U.S. 129 for 11/2 miles, then turn right into the Byron Herbert Reece trail access parking lot at Neels Gap.
The 0.7-mile trail takes you to the Appalachian Trail and the rock outcroppings atop Blood Mountain. It's no leisurely stroll around the lake, but it's easily accessible for hikers in moderately good shape.
BRASSTOWN BALD
It's always cool and breezy atop Georgia's highest peak (elevation 4,784 feet). You can hike up from a trail at the base or drive to a parking lot and take a shuttle, or save the shuttle fare and climb the remaining half-mile.
A caveat: The trail to the visitors center atop Brasstown is paved, but steep. The interpretative center is free and worth the trip. It offers a quick history of the area, and insights into the forest ecosystem and conservation.
From Highway 129, turn east on Georgia Highway 180, then left on Georgia Spur 180. The road is steep, so put your vehicle in a lower gear coming down to prevent heating up your brakes.
