Day Trip to Dahlonega, Georgia
One thing you will quickly learn about me is that I love to travel. Crazy enough, Cason and I brainstormed our Etsy business, When it Rains, because we wanted a way to finance our vacations. (Don’t judge us!) If there is ever an opportunity to do a weekend trip to Chicago, travel Europe, cruise the Caribbean, lie on a beach in Florida, tour NYC…we find the means to say YES! I cannot wait to share our amazing trips with you because they are truly some of my most favorite memories with friends and family. There will be plenty of time for us to travel the world with you, but today I want to share a special place closer to home.
Dahlonega, Georgia has stolen my heart. This little gold rush, college town is my home away from home. I was fortunate enough to live there for 4 amazing years when I attended the University of North Georgia (Formerly known as North Georgia College and State University or as I like to think, the CORRECT way to say it!) I met some of the most incredible people and had the time of my life! I will be sharing some of those stories with y’all another day…some stories I am never to speak of again especially since my mom reads our blog. Now that I no longer live in Dahlonega, I love when I can find the opportunity to visit friends for the day, frequent my favorite spots, and take a trip down memory lane. If you’re searching for a Georgia day trip, be a “nugget” for the day and check out these spots in Dahlonega!
Best Eats:
Robyn’s Nest Grill- This is definitely a “local” lunch spot with a diner-like atmosphere. They have great hamburgers and sandwiches. I love the Philly cheesesteak but don’t leave without ordering a side of cheddar rounds with ranch dressing. You won’t regret it.
The Picnic Café- You will die at how cute this quaint little café is! From the bread to the desserts, everything is freshly made. It is the perfect place to enjoy your morning cup of coffee or pop in for a sandwich and soup. If you have a sweet tooth, The Picnic Café is a dessert lovers paradise…you’ve been warned!
Back Porch Oyster Bar- The Back Porch has the best seafood in town and is conveniently located right off the Dahlonega square. If you visit during the warmer months, ask to sit outside. You will love the large porches overlooking the square!
Things to Do:
Dahlonega is filled with many great wineries but Wolf Mountain has always been my favorite. I had many sorority formals here and the views of the vineyards were spectacular! If you have never been before, I highly recommend taking a tour of their winery or doing a simple tasting. You can also go a more casual route and a buy a bottle of wine with a cheese plate and enjoy it on their patio. It’s on my bucket list to take the Dahlonega Wine Tour so that I can visit all of the different wineries in a day…who’s with me?!
North Georgia Premium Outlets- I can’t talk about Dahlonega without talking about the North Georgia Premium Outlets. It’s part of the reason I chose to go to NGCSU! (I’m kidding…kind of.) The outlets are 20 minutes from Dahlonega and are some of the best outlets I’ve ever been to! A few of my favorite stops are J.Crew, Kate Spade, Pottery Barn, Off 5th, Banana Republic, BCBG, and Michael Kors, but there are plenty of other great stores to choose from.
Walk around the Dahlonega Square- My MOST favorite pastime in Dahlonega is to stroll the Square. You can find all different kinds of shops from the General Store to the adorable boutique, Dress Up. There are art galleries and antique stores, an ice cream parlor and a fudge shop. You can stop in and listen to local music at the Crimson Moon cafe or watch creations being made at Brad Walker Pottery. If you go during the holidays the Square is decorated for Christmas and it’s so cute, it’s downright charming!
These are just a few of my favorite things in and around Dahlonega, GA. I will definitely have to do a Part 2 because I have more restaurant recommendations and fun places to stay if you wanted to make a weekend of it! North GA friends, what did I leave out? Let me know places that I should include in Part 2!
Big thanks to one of my best friends, Natalie Fain, for letting me mooch off her artistic abilities and use these incredible photos. I could never take pics this good!