Located about an hour north of the city of Atlanta in Georgia, Dahlonega is a quaint mountain town with beautiful views, as well as a variety of activities for adults and kids of all ages. Enjoy spending your getaway hiking, sightseeing, and interacting with friendly locals. Book a stay at one of numerous cozy vacation rentals in Dahlonega today. This guide details 12 of the top activities in the area for families with children.
1. Hike the Appalachian Trail
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking part of the Appalachian Trail, fulfill your fantasy during your visit to Dahlonega. The Springer Mountain Trail is the trail head to the Appalachian Trail. This 10.3-mile hike is moderately challenging as it winds its way through the forest, beside creeks, and across beautiful meadows.
2. Walk around the Town Square
Lined with an array of shops and museums, the town square is located in the very center of town. Stop in the local fudge shop for some homemade sweets or grab and ice cream cone to cool off. There are several antique stores for adults, and a toy store for the kids. For lunch, eat at the local pizza shop or the Mexican restaurant before heading back to your vacation rental.
3. Visit the Consolidated Mines
The Consolidated Mine Tour is one of the most popular tours for visitors to North Georgia. The tour takes you 200 feet underground, where you will experience life as a miner over 100 years ago during the Gold Rush. The mine stays cool year-round so it is the perfect way to beat the heat in the summer.
4. Tube the Hooch
One of the most popular ways to beat the heat in Dahlonega and the North Georgia Mountains is to tube the Hooch. Also known as the Chattahoochee River, the Hooch offers lazy cool waters that are perfect for swimming and floating. Kids as young as three may have their own tube, and many places offer ice creams or ice pops at the end of the trip.
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5. Kayak the Chestatee River
Whether you brought your kayak with you from home to your vacation rental or rent one from the Appalachian Outfitters River Outpost, Dahlonega offers a variety of places for kayaking and canoeing. Take a self-guided tour on the Etowah River, or opt for a guided tour on the Chestatee River.
6. Mine for Gems
What better way to experience what life was like during the Gold Rush than mining for gems? There are several commercial mines, including Dukes Creek Gold and Ruby mining company, the Crisson Mine, and Gold N Gem Grubbin. For a small price, each participant receives a bucket of fresh native materials to sift through above a large trough of moving water. Keep the gems you find and have them made into a necklace or ring.
7. Play on the Playground at Yahoola Creek Park
There are many natural parks in Dahlonega to enjoy. The Yahoola Creek Park has a large playground for the younger kids and a variety of walking trails. If the kids enjoy soccer, find a soccer field here. Large shade trees, a cozy creek bank, and plenty of places to picnic make this park ideal for an afternoon away from your vacation rental.
8. Visit the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve
Established in 1992, the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve is home to a variety of exotic and domesticated animals. The park is located on 30 acres, where adults and kids of all ages can feed the animals and pet goats, horses, and alpacas. Take a self-guided tour of the preserve and take as long as you want. You can even go back and view your favorite exhibits more than once. The owners are very accommodating, and donations for the animals are welcome.
9. Navigate Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze
If you are lucky enough to book your vacation rental to Dahlonega in the fall, you can take the kids to Uncle Shuck’s for a day of fun. Popular among locals and visitors alike, Uncle Shuck’s offers one of the largest corn mazes in the region. Ride on a country hay ride, sample fresh homemade pumpkin pies, and spend some time in the pumpkin patch picking out a pumpkin to carve.
10. Tour the Gold Museum
The Dahlonega Gold Museum is in one of the oldest standing courthouses in Georgia. This regal-looking building houses a variety of artifacts from the 1849 Gold Rush. See rare gold coins, a large gold nugget weighing more than 5 ounces, a hydraulic cannon, and beautiful wooden furniture that is original to the building. At the end of the tour, you’ll find a gift shop with t-shirts and other memorabilia from your trip.
11. Visit the Georgia Mountain Falconry
Get up close and personal with a variety of majestic birds of prey, including falcons, hawks, owls, and eagles. Learn how to handle these birds and call them to the glove. The facility provides a wealth of information on these creatures. There is also a gift shop with a variety of bird-related merchandise.
12. Play a Round of Mini Golf
What better way to spend an evening than challenging family members to a round of mini-golf. Jumping Jack’s is the place to go for an easy 9-hole course for all ages. They also have an indoor playroom for children under the age of three and an indoor inflatable playground with a variety of table games for older children.
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