Mountain City, Georgia

Mountain City sits in a deep gap in the Blue Ridge front, where U.S. 441 crosses the Eastern Continental Divide at 2,168 feet without the steep grades of most Georgia mountain passes, according to Wikipedia's entry on the town. It's a small place (904 people in the 2020 census) in Rabun County, and it's noticeably cooler than Helen's valley floor. The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the town in 1907, and it got its name from that lofty setting.

The drive from Helen is about 34 miles and an hour, a winding run through mountain valleys, so leave early and plan on a loop. Here's what's worth the trip.

This is the reason to come. In 1966 a teacher at the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and his students started a magazine called Foxfire to record the region's mountain heritage, and the name comes from the glow-in-the-dark fungus found in the hills. The Foxfire Book followed in 1972 and became a national bestseller. In 1974 the students used book royalties to buy land on Black Rock Mountain and move historic buildings there, according to the Foxfire history page.

Today the museum is more than 20 historic log buildings on over 100 acres, each filled with artifacts from daily life in the mountains, plus a working blacksmith shop and a Children's Village of kid-sized cabins. Allow a couple of hours, wear sturdy shoes (it's a hillside), and stop at the Mercantile for Foxfire books, magazines and local artisan goods. The address is 98 Foxfire Lane, Mountain City; the phone is 706-746-5828. The events calendar lists heritage skill classes if you want something hands-on.

Prices and hours from the museum's visitor page.

At 3,640 feet on the Eastern Continental Divide, Black Rock Mountain State Park has roadside overlooks with views up to 80 miles on a clear day. You don't need to hike to get the payoff: park, step out, and look. The 1,743-acre park also has a 17-acre lake, a summit visitor center and gift shop, a playground, picnic shelters, 10 cottages and a mix of campsites.

The address is 3085 Black Rock Mountain Parkway, Mountain City; call 706-746-2141. The park is open 7 AM to 10 PM, with the office open 8 AM to 5 PM. Parking requires a Georgia ParkPass, $10 per vehicle per day or $70 for the year. The park road is steep and winding, so large RVs should think twice.

Lake Rabun is a reservoir in the Tallulah River chain, a few miles south of Mountain City by road. The Forest Service's Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area (5315 Lake Rabun Road, Lakemont) has a beach, boat launch and picnic area open sunrise to sundown year-round. Day-use parking is $5 per person ages 16 and up, and launching a boat is $5. The 80-site campground across the highway closes for the winter; last year it closed October 28 and reopened April 1.

For boat rentals and supplies, Hall's Boathouse at 1897 Lake Rabun Road has served Lakemont since the 1930s (706-782-4981). The Historic Lake Rabun Hotel & Restaurant, open since 1922, sits across the road from the lake with rooms, cottages and a farm-to-table restaurant.