Hiawassee, Ga., offers the best of Southern festivals, food and a unique water cable park. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Towns County offers an ideal weekend escape. With 132 miles of lake in downtown Hiawassee, visitors can rent pontoon boats, paddleboards or wakeboards at one of the Southeast's only cable water parks.
There's also something to satisfy any palate, from homemade sweet potato butter to jalapeno coleslaw or steak tucked in a chocolate wrap.
Sources: Mary's Southern Grill, Towns County Chamber of Commerce, Young Harris College
NOTABLE EVENTS
* The Georgia Mountain Fall Festival each October (Oct. 13-21 for 2017) features nine days of celebration along the shores of Lake Chatuge. The event offers food and craft vendors, demonstrations and daily live music, including the renowned Georgia’s Official State Fiddlers’ Convention. Day passes, multi-day passes and unlimited passes available for purchase online or on-site at 1311 Music Hall Road. (georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/events/fall-festival)* This year marks the second annual Appalachian Brew, Stew and Que Festival, which will host 21 different breweries and broadcast the Georgia/Florida football game Oct. 28. The event is 21+ and tickets can be purchased online or on-site at 1311 Music Hall Road. (georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/events/appalachian-brew-que-stew-festival)* The Georgia Mountain Fair every July features nine days of musical performances ranging from gospel to rock ‘n’ roll and includes carnival rides as well as moonshining and soap-making demonstrations. The fairgrounds are at 1311 Music Hall Road. (georgiamountainfairgrounds.com)* Crane Creek Vineyards hosts the annual Tomato Daze Weekend every August (sorry, this year’s was Aug. 18-21). The event features wine tasting, food and live music. The festival is at 916 Crane Creek Road. Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for children; kids under 12 are free. (cranecreekvineyards.com)
BREAK THE WAVES
* Lake Chatuge, which straddles the Georgia-North Carolina state line, offers 132 miles of boating and water skiing. Rent a pontoon boat and motor across the gorgeous mountain-surrounded lake that is easily accessible and served by three marinas. Visit mountaintopga.com for a complete list of rental boats or lodging on the lake.* Strap on a wakeboard and hit the waves from an automated lift to see if you can land the jumps or even make a 360. One of the only cable wake parks in the Southeast, Mountain Wake Cable Park is on Lake Chatuge in The Ridges Resort Marina. Visits are Friday-Sunday by appointment. (3379 Highway 76 W; 828-421-1020; mtnwake.com)
FAST FACTS
* Founded: Towns County was founded in 1856, and Hiawassee was incorporated in 1956.* Population: Hiawassee’s population was 907 as of 2014.* Notable resident: Former governor and retired U.S. Senator Zell Miller, who is 85 years old, still lives in the area.
COLLEGE ENVIRONMENT
Young Harris College, located eight miles from Hiawassee, was founded in 1886 by Methodist minister Artemas Lester. The school has an enrollment of 1,120 with a student/faculty ratio of 11:1, and more than 90 percent of students receive scholarships or grants.
WHERE TO EAT
Mary Weaver has owned Mary’s Southern Grill for nearly 25 years and boasts of having the best breakfast in the area. Choose from cinnamon bread dipped in her specialty French toast batter, omelets or biscuits and gravy, which are a local favorite. Mary’s also serves lunch daily with fresh specialties until 2 p.m., and there are all-you-can-eat dinner buffets featuring spaghetti on Thursday and catfish on Friday. Everyday options include local mountain trout blackened or grilled with lemon, and on select days you can order local cuts of ribeye and Porterhouse steak served with vegetables such as the jalapeno coleslaw or homemade sweet potato fries. (1617 Highway 17 N; 706-896-1048; @Mary’s Southern Grill Facebook page)