- Rock on the porch
- Have a wonderful dinner
- Catch up on your sleep
- Bird watch from the dining terrace
- Visit Tallulah Gorge State Park
- Visit Minnehaha Falls
- Visit one of our nearby wineries
- Browse in local galleries and antique shops
- Hike a nearby trail
The most popular activities at the inn actually don't involve doing any thing at all! Most of our guests tell us their favorite activities are unwinding in the rocking chairs on the porches, or enjoying a refreshing swim in our pool in warmer weather, or curling up with a good book beside the fireplace in the lobby or our cozy Garden House when the temperature is cooler. Some rooms have their own fireplace, and we have plenty of books, games and movies.
If you want activity, there’s plenty to see and do in the area – hiking, boating, rafting, horseback riding, and trout fishing to name a few. We can direct you to lovely scenic drives, historic small villages, fun out of the way places for lunch, and unique art and fine craft galleries for the discriminating shopper.
Hiking
& Nature
The
Chattahoochee National Forest practically surrounds
the inn with about 750,000 acres containing hundreds
of miles of trails, numerous lakes, mountain streams,
and nature preserves. Tallulah
Gorge State Park, just 10 minutes away, has an excellent
Interpretative Center and many nature-based programs,
spectacular views, hiking trails for every ability level,
and a new swinging bridge that spans the gorge. Seasonal water releases through the gorge in the spring and fall are a memorable experience. The Oconee National Forest north of us borders South Carolina and contains the famous Chattooga River where the movie Deliverance was filmed. Other nearby State Parks are Unicoi, Black
Rock Mountain and Moccasin
Creek. Other nearby hiking trails are Panther
Creek,Minnehaha, Coleman River, and Bartram Trail.
Paddling,
Canoeing, and Rafting
Nearby
lakes and rivers offer world-class whitewater rafting
as well as paddling on calmer waters. Area outfitters
offer guided trips and boat rentals. There are two nearby lakes where small fishing boats and kayaks can be launched. Kayak rentals are offered on peaceful Lake Tallulah from Tallulah Point www.tallulahpoint.com. Area outfitters offer guided trips and boat rentals. Several rafting companies offer guided rafting trips on the nearby Chattooga and Ocoee rivers. Pontoon and ski boat rentals are available through Interstate Boat Rentals: 2 Competition In-board Ski Boats and 2 Pontoons, Not located on the lake but will deliver boat to Lake Burton, Lake Seed, or Lake Rabun, Reservations required.
Location: Wiley, GA
Phone: 1-706-782-4754
 Fishing
North
Georgia mountain streams and lakes offer excellent fishing.
Local streams and lakes in the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests are stocked
regularly with rainbow trout and other angler's favorites. www.fs.fed.us/conf/. Unicoi Outfitters www.unicoioutfitters.com offers guided trout fishing. Children can fish free from stocked ponds at Moccasin Creek State Park. More information is available at www.gastateparks.org and at the inn.
Championship
Golf
There
are several golf courses within a short drive of the
inn.
The Orchard - An 18-hole, championship course. 7 minutes away from Glen-Ella www.orchardgolf.com. This is a semi-private club where we have a membership that allows our guests access. Tee-times must be made by us.
Our guests can also stay at the Hampton Villa, a 6-bedroom villa at the Orchard. The entire villa is available for groups as well as individual rooms there.
» Another nearby course that’s very popular with our guests is Apple Mountain http://www.applemountaingolfga.com - An 18-hole daily-fee course. 15 minutes away from Glen-Ella.
Horseback
Riding
Sunburst Stables Sautee, 800-806-1953 or 706-947-RIDE. www.sunburststables.com
 Shopping
There
are many unique shopping opportunities in Clarkesville,
Clayton, and other towns, plus a few in out-of-the-way
places.
Antiques, folk art, pottery, and other fine craft shops are plentiful. Each guest receives a Welcome Book that contains our recommended stops for the best shopping in the area.
Nearby
towns and historic villages offer a variety of options
for lunch, as well as shopping and sightseeing opportunities.
North Georgia Wineries
Wine-making is a relatively new industry in our area and one we’re extremely excited about. In the last 5 years, several outstanding new wineries have begun producing top quality wines, bringing a new dimension to agra-tourism in North GA. There are several excellent wineries within an hour’s drive of the inn. All of the tasting rooms are open on Saturday afternoons. Our guests can enjoy private tastings and tours by special arrangement at certain times of the year. We also have periodic events featuring these wines at the inn. For information about all of Georgia’s Wineries go to www.georgiawine.com.
Listed below are links to Web sites of some nearby towns, shops and galleries, and attractions:
Towns and Villages
- Clarkesville- 15 minutes south of the inn, founded in the 1830s with some lovely old churches and homes, some good restaurants and shops, but no Web site with any useful tourist info.
- Clayton, GA - 20-minute drive
- Dahlonega, GA – 1-hour drive – site of the first Gold Rush in the US http://www.dahlonega.org/
- Helen, GA – 30-minute drive – A Bavarian village in NE GA. It’s kind of tacky, very touristy, but sometimes fun to visit, and the only night life in the area http://www.helenga.org/
The Northeast Georgia Mountain Travel Association Web site contains a lot of area information: http://www.georgiamountains.org/
Cruising Lake Rabun - Go it alone or arrange for a group outing. We have partnered with a local resident of Lake Rabun who will serve as both your chauffer and skipper for this great afternoon charter experience. Michael Crowe, a 3rd generation Lake Rabun resident has lived and worked around water most of his life. As an active member of Lakemont/Wiley Volunteer Fire Department (Rabun County Fire Services) Michael receives and participates in ongoing training in fire, rescue, water and boat safety. He works directly with Fireboat 4 which is responsible for the fire fighting, water rescue and emergency medical attention for the lake area. Michael will chauffer your group from the Inn to the dock, cruise you around Lake Rabun all the while sharing local folklore and tidbits of information regarding the area, then returns you safely back to the inn. Michael's relaxed and friendly disposition combined with his knowledge of the lake history makes for a very enjoyable excursion. We pack a freshly prepared tray of cheese, fruit and crackers for your group to enjoy while "cruising". Wine is available to take along (at an additional charge) or you may bring your own beverages. It's a fun way to spend an afternoon and see the mountains and beautiful lake homes from a different perspective. Total excursion time 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 hours. Cost $350.00 for 1 boat and $500.00 for 2 boats. 13 passengers plus the captain per boat.
Scenic Drives, Shops, Galleries, and Attractions
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