• Learning about wines during a private wine-tasting
• Visiting the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi
• Enjoying moderate hikes (5 miles; the day we climb Blood Mountain the elevation gain is 1300 feet; other days are much less) in the north Georgia Mountains
• Visiting several local wineries and the charming town of Dahlonega
• Dining at some excellent local restaurants

Northern Georgia, the jumping off point of the Appalachian Trail, is known for its gorgeous and rugged mountains, its towering waterfalls, and its ... wineries? Who knew?! Turns out the soil, climate, and elevation are not only great for hiking, they're also perfect for wine growing. So on this four day getaway, we'll combine hiking to waterfalls with opportunities to visit wineries, learn about wine, and sampling some of the wonderful cuisine that can be found here.

women who want to hike, learn about wine, and explore this beautiful area with its rich culture that ranges from its Appalachian roots to gourmet experiences. The hikes we've chosen are reasonably short but they are in the mountains, so women should be in sufficient condition to hike uphills for a couple of hours. Rating:  1  [2]  3  4  5

• Three nights at the Hiker Hostel. This beautiful hostel is owned by one our guides and is loved by women who have stayed there on previous trips. If we have at least 10 women signed up, we'll have it all to ourselves; in any case we will not need to share rooms with other folks. There are three bedrooms, each with 2 sets of bunks, so there will be four women in each room. Each room has its own bathroom, stocked with bath towels, hand towels, washcloths and basic hygiene products.

• Roundtrip transportation from the Atlanta Airport
• All meals from dinner on Thursday through brunch on Sunday
• Three nights lodging in rooms shared by four people
• All activities on the itinerary, including a private wine-tasting, hikes, and visits to wineries
• Experienced guides

at 1 pm at the Atlanta, GA airport (ATL)

at 4:00 at the airport (plan to fly out after 5:30 pm)

you can download the complete trip information here

Thursday: We pick you up at the Atlanta (ATL) airport at 1pm and begin our adventure with a visit to Amicalola Falls State Park for a short hike.  Amicalola Falls, at 729 feet, are the tallest cascading waterfalls east of the Mississippi River and often the last stop for hikers before they start their Appalachian Trail Thru Hike. After our hike and waterfall gawking, we continue to our hostel for dinner and a private wine tasting.  A knowledgeable woman from the Dahlonega Tasting Room will educate us and our palates about wine as we taste several varieties. Well fed and well exercised, we will be ready for bed tonight!

Friday: After a hearty breakfast at the hostel, we don our hiking boots for our 6 mile hike on the Blood Mountain-Freeman Trail Loop. Blood Mountain is the highest peak on the Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail and the sixth-tallest mountain in Georgia, with an elevation of 4,458 feet.  This peak has scenic views from the large rock formations that top the mountain, as well as a two-room stone shelter built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  Our hike will probably take about five hours, as we stop often for pictures and to eat lunch. There is some significant up and down on the trail so we particularly appreciate a visit to Helton Creek Falls to cool off afterwards. Dinner that night is at The Oar House, a charming old house overlooking the Chestatee River.  

Saturday: Our hike today is the Raven Cliff Falls Hike, a 5 mile out and back hike. This trail follows Dodd Creek through the Raven Cliffs Wilderness Area to a massive dark bluff near the headwaters some 2.5 miles from the parking area. Because of the size of Ravens Cliffs and the lack of human interference, the area has abundant bird life including grosbeaks, vireos, and wild turkeys besides the ravens that give the area its name. From there we visit Blackstock Vineyards to check out their wines. We will also spend a few hours in  Dahlonega;  evey Saturday folks bring their instrument(s) and just start playing and/or singing on the Dahlonega square, a weekly event known as Appalachian Jam.  If Appalachian music is not your style, there are also lots of shops  to check out.  Dinner is at the hostel tonight, followed by a bonfire and s'mores around the fire.

Sunday: Our breakfast at the hostel will be light this morning because we need to save room for the brunch at Frogtown Cellars. The Frogtown brunch is 3 courses paired with wines as well as dessert. After savoring this last meal together we
head to the airport where you can plan a flight out after 5:30 pm.