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Blairsville Georgia
in the Chattahoochee National Forest, is surrounded by an abundance of sightseeing and outdoor recreational opportunities. The following is just a sample of some of the more popular things to see and do in the area – there are many more. The DeSota Falls Scenic Area, just 15 miles from Blairsville, has five waterfalls and over 600 acres for fishing, camping and picnicking. A little closer to Blairsville on the Richard Russell Scenic Highway is Dukes Creek Falls, where you can view the spectacular falls from an observation deck in the parking area. Dukes Creek Falls also has a slippery-rock water slide that is great fun for the young - as well as the young-at-heart. Part of the Appalachian Trail winds it’s way through the Chattahoochee National Forest and can be reached just 15 miles southeast of Blairsville. The Trail reaches the 4,000-foot level, giving hikers lots of opportunities to view the Forest up close. Vogel State Park is located 11 miles south of Blairsville on U.S. Highway 19/129 and is Georgia’s oldest and most popular state park. It provides a 20-acre swimming beach, picnic shelters, hiking, backpacking, fishing, boating, miniature golf and camping. Special programs are also offered at the park throughout the year. Lake Nottely and Poteete Creek Park are just a short drive from Blairsville and offer over 4,000 acres for fishing, boating, jet skiing, picnicking and swimming. Two marinas and several public boat ramps are located at Lake Nottely, and Poteete Creek has a nice white sand beach swimming area. There are two waterfalls located on Helton Creek in the Chattahoochee National Forest, with the upper falls approximately fifty yards above the lower falls. The trail to both falls is about 300 yards, set in deep hardwood forest, and it isn’t a strenuous hike, so everyone can enjoy this beautiful double falls. The vertical drop on the falls is more than 100 feet, and the rocks around the falls are very slippery, so caution is advised.
The Brasstown Bald Mountain & Visitor Information Center is located atop Georgia’s highest elevation at 4,784 feet just a few miles from the town of Blairsville. From the observation deck you get a spectacular vista of four states. Hiking trails and picnic areas are available, and the Visitor Information Center offers interpretive programs, slide presentations and exhibits. Other attractions near Blairsville include The Southern Tree Plantation, which is a farm that grows over 5,000 pumpkins and 25,000 Christmas trees, plus offers miniature train rides, hayrides, a wooden barnyard maze and lots of farm animals. Be sure to visit the Union County Historical Courthouse and Museum located in the center of the town of Blairsville. This Romanesque style brick and granite structure was built in 1899, and in 1976 the Union County Historical Society began restoration on it and the old courthouse clock, which had been removed in the 1950s. Special collections in the museum include works of beloved Georgia poet, Byron Herbert Reece and the internationally known miniature dollhouse collection of Margarita Morgan.
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