Things To Do Around Hightower House Hightower House is right in the heart of all that is happening in the beautiful mountains of North East Georgia. Be warned - you'll never have enough time to do everything that you want to do. We make two or three trips to Hightower House each year, and we are still discovering new places to see and new activities to try. Most places are within 15 to 30 minutes drive, an hour at most, so you won't need to spend all day in your car to get anywhere.
Enjoy the scenery from the comfort of your car. The best way to get a feel for the beauty of the area around Hightower House is to take a leisurely drive round the 41 miles of the Russell Brasstown Scenic Drive. This drive, which starts just a few minutes south of Hightower House, takes you past Brasstown Bold, Georgia's highest mountain, and encircles Wildlife Management Areas, the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River, and a section of the Appalachian Trail. Visit one of the events at the Georgia Mountain Fair, on Lake Chatuge, just ten minutes from Hightower House. Home of the Rhododendron Festival (early May), Bluegrass Festival (mid May), The Georgia Mountain Fair hosts the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, Super Star Concerts and Georgia's Official State Fiddlers Convention on beautiful Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, the Country Music Capital of Georgia. Hightower House is right on the doorstep of the 750,000 square mile Chattahoochee National Forest. The Chattahoochee National Forest has more than twenty picnic areas, the same number of campsites, six swimming beaches, and ten protected wilderness areas. The forest takes in such natural attractions as Anna Ruby Falls, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Vogel State Park south of Blairsville; and the Amicalola Falls State Park, with the state's highest waterfall. Hiking and Riding 430 miles of trails from short day hikes to more arduous trips, for novices or experts. There is a trail for every level and for every purpose, The four long-distance trails on the Chattahoochee are great for backpacking: the Benton MacKaye (53 miles), Bartram (37 miles), Duncan Ridge (35.5 miles), and Appalachian (79 miles). Water Recreation The Chattooga Wild and Scenic River is most popular for guided rafting trips. This premier whitewater river offers some of the most challenging rapids in the Southeast. The Chattahoochee and Toccoa rivers are popular for canoe or kayak. The Toccoa is considered to be the state's loveliest river. Fishing Nearby Lake Blue Ridge is the only place in Georgia where anglers can catch muskellunge. This 3,290-acre lake is bordered by two Forest Service campgrounds and has a privately owned marina for boat rentals. Nottely Lake, Lake Chatuge, Lake Burton, and Lake Rabun also touch the Chattahoochee and provide good trout and bass fishing. With over 1,300 miles of trout streams on the forest, there are plenty opportunities to catch trout, walleye, bluegill, and bass. We also have creeks very close to Hightower House where you can catch rainbow trout.
Scenic Drives The Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway is a 47-mile loop through the Armuchee Ridges. Armuchee is a Cherokee Indian work meaning land of flowers, still an accurate description. John's Mountain Overlook has outstanding views reaching into Alabama and Tennessee. A nature trail from the overlook leads to Keown Falls Scenic Area, where twin waterfalls can be seen from an observation platform. Brasstown Bald is the highest peak in Georgia. Shuttle vans carry most visitors from a parking lot to the top, but hardy hikers climb the path to the crest. Winds are always present on the lofty summit, which provides breathtaking views from the Visitor Center's observation deck. Check out the view to the north-west, and you may get a glimpse of Scenic Highway 76 winding eastwards out of Hiawassee on its way past Hightower House to Clayton. Historic Sites In the Northwest portion of the Chattahoochee, on the other side of Interstate 75, the mountain peaks are lower and shaped in long, narrow ridges, separated by valleys. These valleys have been used for centuries as human and animal passage ways. Great armies clashed here during the Civil Was as Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led his troops towards the fateful battle of Atlanta, which sealed the Confederacy's doom.
Looking for a vacation home or investment property in Central Florida? Check out our Hightower Realty website.
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