Day Trip—Adventure

10:00 am Arrive at Amicalola Falls State Park for a welcome reception

10:45 am Take a guided tour of Amicalola Falls

12:30 noon Lunch at the Maple Restaurant

2:00 pm Spend the afternoon at attractions of your choice

Atlanta Motorsports Park—enjoy a karting experience

Etowah Valley Sporting Clays—for the sportsman at heart (all equipment available at the

range)

Georgia Racing Hall of Fame—learn about the history of Stock car Racing and see an ex-

tensive collection of Nascar memorabilia.

Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery—watch the distilling process in action and try a sample

of their work.

Day Trip—Culture

9:45 am Arrive at Georgia Racing Hall of Fame for a welcome reception

10:15 am Tour Georgia Racing Hall of Fame

11:15 am Tour Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery

12:15 am Lunch at Dawsonville’s historic Pool Room or other local restaurants in the historic downtown

district. (chosen by tour guide)

1:15 pm Tour Downtown Dawsonville Historic Courthouse, Historic Jail and Bowen Center for the Arts

3:30 pm Visit Around Back at Rocky’s Place—the largest collection of folk art in the Southeast

3– Day Excursions:

Day 1

1:00 pm Arrive at Etowah Valley Sporting Clays or Atlanta Motorsports Park for a welcome reception,

drinks, snacks and a welcome gift as you spend time getting to know your companions and

preparing for your afternoon outing.

1:45 pm Choose the 50 clay course at Etowah Valley Sporting Clays or group karting at Atlanta

Motorsports Park.

5:00 pm Arrive at Amicalola Falls State Park—check into the lodge

6:00 pm Dinner at the loge’s Maple Restaurant

Evening Enjoy free time at the lodge with ongoing entertainment or quiet time enjoying the gorgeous

views.

Day 2

Breakfast at the lodge

10:00 am Tour Georgia Racing Hall of Fame

11:00 am Tour and tasting at Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery

12:15 pm Lunch at Dawsonville Pool Room or at North Georgia Premium Outlets

1:15 pm Shopping at North Georgia Premium Outlets

6:00 pm Dinner at The Blue Bicycle

7:30 pm Arrive at Amicalola Falls Lodge for rest and relaxation

Day 3

Breakfast at the lodge

10:00 am Tour and free time Amicalola Falls State Park

Thank you for choosing Dawsonville as your destination! And, hope you enjoy your stay.

While you’re here.... Adventure Ideas

Outdoor Adventures

Amicalola Falls State Park—A relaxing and rejuvenating return to nature awaits you at the park. It’s main attrac-

tion is the 729 foot tall waterfall, the highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. The approach trail to

the Appalachian Trail passes just a few hundred yards from the Lodge, leading from the property to Springer Moun-

tain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The lodge is newly renovated and offers accommodations with

picturesque mountain views and delicious southern cuisine.

Hike Inn—Everyone who makes the five-mile trek through the mountains to the Hike Inn in the Chattahoochee Na-

tional Forest does so for a different reason. Some come to get away from their everyday lives. Some come to spend

quality time with their family. Others come for the Appalachian Trail. But no matter the reason, the result is the

same: Everyone leaves with a sense of belonging.

Etowah Valley Sporting Clays—Spend the day shooting clays with you and a few friends or bring a group. They

have a meeting room to accommodate group conferences. Etowah Sporting Clays offers a unique experience for the

outdoor enthusiast who has an interest in shooting. Sporting clays is a form of shooting clay targets which are air-

borne in many formats. Each sporting clays station will provide the challenge of two different targets simulating a

hunt situation. Don’t have equipment...no worries, they have everything you need to have an exciting sporting clays

adventure.

Atlanta Motorsports Park—Spend an afternoon racing karts or go on a private driving school class ranging from

teen driving to racing. This is a great way to enjoy an exhilarating sport in which everyone in the family can partici-

pate. Kart performance is available for all skill levels, starting at 15 MPH & some with hyper performance to 125

MPH.

Lake Lanier—Fun in the sun, at War Hill Park and Thompson Creek Park—go paddle boarding, canoeing,

kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming or just have a picnic by the lake and relax. Find your equipment at Outside

World located on Quill Drive. Want to learn how to paddle board, canoe or kayak? The Outside Wor ld offers les-

sons by appointment. Call and set up a family outing. (They will provide the equipment)

Etowah River—put in at Rock Creek Canoe Launch and spend the day on the river tubing, kayaking or canoeing.

Etowah River also offers excellent trout fishing.

Rock Creek Park offers a splash pad for the kids to play and cool off with space for an afternoon picnic.

Fly Fishing—Etowah River has great fly fishing and local guides are available if needed.

Bring your horses to the mountains—Fausett Farms and Dawson Forest can accommodate you and your horses

both having primitive camp sites available.

Mountain Bike Riding—Northstar Bicycle has group rides (call for more information) or venture on your own in

Dawson Forest. Trail Maps available.

Hiking—the AT trail starts here...hike the Appalachian Trail, access trail located at Amicalola Falls State Park.

Dawson Forest offers many trails, maps available online or at the Welcome Center. Hike to Edge of the World Rap-

ids on the Amicalola River Trail (DNR parking permit required).

Dawson Forest—go horseback riding, mountain bike riding, bird watching or hike and explore the great outdoors.

Horseback Riding—in Dawson Forest and at Fausett Farms. (these are bring your own horse locations)

Adventure Ideas Continued....

Bike Riding—Northstar Bicycle offers a 40 mile rural route starting and ending at the shop there are rolling hills

and some climbing on the route.

Bird Watching—Interested in native birds in the area Wild Birds Unlimited has guided tours. (call for times and

dates)

Golfing—Chestatee Golf Club is located along the shoreline of Lake Lanier. Players enjoy access to a pristine 18-

hole championship golf course with brilliant water holes and vigorous mountain terrain. Designed b Denis Grif-

fiths, this par 71 course is a great way to spend the day.

Heritage & History

Georgia Racing Hall of Fame—recognizes the pioneer and legendary racers from the state of Georgia. In addition

to displaying exhibits that represent inductees such as Bill Elliott’s first NASCAR racecar, the GRHOF houses a

huge collection of vintage race cars, trophies and other one of a kind items that re unique to the world of motor-

sports.

Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery—located in the heart of “The Moonshine Capital of the World”, moonshine is

distilled on site using traditional recipes passed down from many generations to owner Cheryl Wood. Visitors en-

joy a tour of the facility, led by master distillers and those of legal age may choose to sample the product at the

conclusion of the tours.

Dawsonville Historic Courthouse—a reminder of a bygone era of Appalachian culture and tradition, gold mining,

moonshine running, backwoods racing and motorsports glory that all define the history of Dawsonville.

Dawsonville Historic Jail—Originally built in 1859, visitors are welcome to tour the jail cells and local memora-

bilia displayed.

Art & Culture

Bowen Center for the Arts—Bowen offers ever changing unique gallery shows, theater productions and excep-

tional musical rendering. A gift shop offers items made by local artists.

Around Back at Rocky’s Place is the Ultimate Folk Ar t Gallery in the South, representing a plethora of self-

taught artists such as renowned famous local “Cornbread”. Here you will find a large selection of varied medium

paintings, Southern Folk Pottery, Woodcarvings and more.

Shopping Adventures

Antique Shopping—Dawson County has several antique shops for you to find those one of a kind items.

North Georgia Premium Outlets—spend the day shopping in one of Georgia’s best Premium Outlets where you

will find impressive savings at 140 Outlets Stores.

Please contact us if you have any questions or need help with your trip ideas.

Moonshine & Motorsports

The Moonshine Capital of Georgia

Generational Moonshining—It’s a Family Tradition

Bootleggers become Motorsports Winners

How stock car racing began

Inductees to the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame

Modern Motorsports—Atlanta Motorsports Park

NASCAR Legacy: Bill and Chase Elliott

Lake Lanier

Life before the Lake—what’s under the water

Lake Living

Family Staycations

Learn to Paddleboard or Kayak

Amicalola Falls & Appalachian Trail

Beginning/ending of a through hike

Visiting a state park

Sustainability at the LenFoote Hike Inn

Etowah and Amicalola Rivers

Fly Fishing Paradise

Water Trails

Tubing, Kayaking, and Waterfalls

Etowah Valley Sporting Clays

Sporting Clays—fun for the whole family

Pheasant Hunt

Population: 22,459

Size: 214 square miles

Climate: on average, there are 215 sunny days per year in Dawsonville. The July high is around 87 and January low is around 30

degrees.

Airport: Hartsfield Jackson International

Major Highways: Georgia 400, Highway 9, Highway 53

Amicalola Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of Georgia, tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi

Dawsonville is home to Nascar’s very own Bill Elliott, “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville”

Home to Chase Elliott, youngest NASCAR series winner

Cherokee villages were scattered throughout the Etowah River floodplain

Dawsonville has the largest collection of Folk Art in the Southeast. (Around Back at Rocky’s Place)

Dawson Arts Center was build of locally quarried rock in the 1930’s

Movies partially filmed here include: Trouble with the Curve and Hunger Games.

Welcome to Dawson County. Located 45 minutes north of Atlanta, off Georgia Highway 500, Dawson County

sits at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain region. Home to the stunning 729 foot Amicalola Falls, Dawsonville

offers adventures for visitors of all interests. In addition to picturesque scenery, Dawson-

ville offers plentiful trout streams, Lake Lanier access, miles of hiking, biking, and horse

trails, and other outdoor experiences.

Dawson County was created in 1857 from lands that were part of Gilmer, Lumpkin and

Forsyth counties. Originally it was part of the Cherokee Nation which was “given” to

Georgia through a dubious treaty. Dawson County and its county seat of Dawsonville bear

the name of Judge William C. Dawson. He compiled the laws of Georgia and commanded

Attractions

Heritage & Culture

From a historic town square to the local arts center, Dawson County offers a wide range of culture and heritage. The His-

toric Courthouse and Jail are listed on the National Register of Histor ic Places and available for tours through

the local historical society. Bowen Center for the Arts offer s an ever changing unique gallery of shows, theater produc-

tions, and exceptional musical renderings. Around Back at Rocky’s Place is the Ultimate Folk Art Gallery in the South,

representing a plethora of self-taught artists including renowned famous local “Cornbread”. To experience history direct-

ly, step back in time at the Dawsonville Moonshine Distillery and learn how moonshine was made back in the day using

traditional recipes passed down from many generations to owner Cheryl Wood. Then, head on over to Georgia Racing

Hall of Fame which houses a huge collection of vintage race cars, trophies and other one of a kind items that are

unique to the world of motorsports.

Recreation

Experience the adventure and beauty of nature by participating in one of many activities Dawson County has to offer.

Amicalola Falls State Park is home to a 729 foot waterfall and the gateway to the Appalachian Trail. Etowah Val-

ley Sporting Clays offers a unique exper ience for the outdoor enthusiast who has an interest shooting, or indulge

your need for speed at Atlanta Motorsports Park for the afternoon. Chestatee Golf Course, rated a 4 1/2 star “Best Places

to Play” in Golf Digest, offers a pristine course with lake views and beautiful mountain scenery. Home to Lake Lanier,

Etowah River, Amicalola River, Dawson Forest and Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawson County is an outdoor

adventurers paradise. Visitor’s can fish, boat, ride horses, hike, kayak or enjoy other outdoor recreational activities.

Shopping

Treasures await your discovery in this shoppers paradise with 140 premium outlet stores and many locally owned shops

throughout the county. Visitors will find top brand names and the greatest deals at North Georgia Premium Outlets.

Events

Spring Wildflower Festival—Mid-April at Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge

Memorial Day Celebration—on Memorial Day

‘Shine Pedalers Metric—Last Saturday in July

Mountain Moonshine Festival—4th weekend of October

Veteran’s Day Parade—on Veteran’s Day

Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting—First Saturday of December