GEORGIA

Travel, Lodging, & Logistics for Georgia

How to get there: The drive from Atlanta to Dahlonega is a little over an hour; from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, it’s more like 90 minutes. If you catch Atlanta rush hour traffic, that time will go up.

Where to park: The best place to park is two blocks up South Park Street, in the parking lot of the University of North Georgia Continuing Ed Building: 302 S Park St, Dahlonega, GA 30533.

Where to stay: We recommend staying on or near the Dahlonega Square. Check out:

• 27 On Park Boutique Hotel

• Old Storehouse Inn

• The Smith House

• Holiday Inn Express & Suites

…or, good ol’ Airbnb.

Logistics & venue transportation: Center of Gravity Yoga Studio, at 439 South Park Street, is walkable from the Square and from all of the above lodging.

What to do (beyond Love on Planet Earth):

• Wander the Dahlonega Square shops (don’t miss the Fudge Factory) (we have learned that their fudge stays good for months and months - and months - if you put it in the fridge).

• Visit the Dahlonega Gold Museum on the Square. (Dahlonega was the site of the first major North American gold rush in 1828; Ryan will never forget this fact, thanks in part to Lumpkin County Middle School social studies teachers.)

• Check out the Funk Heritage Center (a 1-hour drive from Dahlonega) and the Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site (a 90-minute drive), to learn more about the present and past Cherokee and Creek Native Americans whose land this is (many of whom were forced westward in the Trail of Tears in the 1930s, spurred by the aforementioned gold rush.)

• Visit any of the numerous wineries in the county. We’d suggest Wolf Mountain, Three Sisters, and Cavender Creek.

• Stroll or jog the University of North Georgia campus, a few steps from the Dahlonega Square.

• Hike numerous trails in the area, including Springer Mountain (the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail) and Amicalola Falls, the third highest waterfall east of the Mississippi River.