Dahlonega

We planned a shorter drive to start, stopping overnight in Georgia just outside Valdosta. It was a highway motel of no particular import – a clean bed and near a restaurant within walking distance. We saved the drive around Atlanta for the next morning. The online map we had directed us through the city. Fortunately, the Atlas map showed a bypass. Many roads crossed each other and were somewhat confusing but my husband’s unerring sense of direction kept us on the right path.

Why Dahlonega? I was intrigued by its history as site of the first major U.S. gold rush in 1828, some 20 years before California. It is also known as the gateway to the Appalachian Mountains, and more recently, a growing wine country and a center for the performing and visual arts in the North Georgia mountains. The gold connection was strongest as Jim has had some interest in gold panning and related arts. The town features two gold mines.

We reached Dahlonega in late morning, finding traffic heavy due to the weekly farmer’s market. One way roads and a circle in mid-town were a challenge but we found our hotel, the Park Place Hotel (left), located on the historic Dahlonega Square. The hotel’s Web site touts “a luxury upscale inn, with large suites; flat screen televisions, wet bars, refrigerators, whirlpool tubs, WiFi, pillowtop mattresses and the Historic Square at your door.”

I’m a history buff, so the choice of the hotel was obvious. Due to the heavy market visitors, parking was limited, but we found an overflow lot that required quite a trek with suitcases and bags to the office – which was closed for lunch. A sign on the door provided a cell phone, so I called and someone arrived within 10 minutes. The wait was worth it, I guess, as we were given a complimentary bottle of wine.

But with just two floors, there was no elevator… so it was another trek upstairs with the baggage. Then we settled in.

After lunch at a small café a block away, we toured the town (left). Antique buildings hold modern boutiques, art centers, restaurants and shops. The central building of the square was the county courthouse. It is now the gold museum. A tour included a brief film of the history of the gold rush in Georgia.

The Dahlonega gold mine is close by and we took the guided tour through the tunnels, learning how gold was mined nearly two centuries ago. The tour ended with a chance to pan for gold. Jim and I each had a pan and we left with six and eight tiny flakes of gold, respectively. I learned that panning requires strong hands and wrists, and strong backs. I can’t imagine doing it all day, for days and weeks.

Back in the square we continued our walking tour, looking for souvenirs and finding a very nice jewelry shop … with lovely pieces made of Dahlonega gold.

For dinner we walked a few blocks to a Mexican restaurant.

Breakfast was a treat at the Front Porch (left) and then it was back on the road to the Lodge in Amicalola Falls State Park.

(To be continued)