One of the joys about being up here in the mountains is the slowed down pace of things. It’s the kind of place where you can really just poke around shops and stop for a casual lunch—no hassles or long lines.
So some day, do just that! After breakfast at the Inn, head into the Village of Sautee and have a fun few hours exploring. First stop, Inside Out Sautee. This sprawling shop is a touristy haven for all kinds of souvenirs. Sort through the items and you can find gems like wood-turned bowls, hand-painted chairs and whimsical clocks.
Inside Out Sautee
2454-A Highway 17, Sautee
706-878-0144
Sunday, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday, Thursday and Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Closed Tuesday-Wednesday
Stop by Shotgun Annie’s and you’ll find a variety of antiques mixed with clever handcrafted items, including twig chairs and furnishings many made from reclaimed objects. The engaging store also has custom lighting, and other art and crafts pieces.
Shotgun Annie’s
2276 Highway 17, Sautee
706-878-2669
Monday, Wednesday-Thursday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Closed Tuesday
Feeling like a break? Sweetwater Coffeehouse is just a few paces down the road.
If you’re lucky, they’ll just be taking their sour cream pound cakes out of the oven and you can enjoy a warm slice with your latte. The café also serves light lunches, such as homemade chicken salad on a bed of organic greens.
Sweetwater Coffeehouse
2242 Highway 17, Sautee
706-878-1521
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Gone With the Wind lives on at the plantation-style home that houses Scarlett’s Secret, a museum and gift shop that pays homage to the story and era. Here you’ll find items of memorabilia related to the movie and the Civil War, including books, paintings and dolls. Call ahead and you can also schedule tea and dessert.
Scarlett’s Secret
1902 Highway 17, Sautee
706-878-1028
While you might look at a gourd as, well, just a gourd, Pricilla Wilson and Janice Lymburner see them as works of art. At their shop, The Gourd Place you can see the wonders of what they create using gourds as a base and as molds for their pottery. A small onsite museum includes more than 200 artistic gourds from 213 countries.
The Gourd Place
2319 Duncan Bridge Road/Highway 384, Sautee
706-865-4048
April 1 – December 23:
Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed Easter and Thanksgiving days
By appointment only January through March.
Further down the highway, you can stop for a tasting—or two!—of Georgia wine at Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards tasting room. The winery makes a selection of whites and reds, including the delightfully named Red Headed Stepchild, a spunky pour that has a touch of sweetness and a bold earthiness of Merlot.
Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards Tasting Room
1299 Highway 17, Sautee
706-878-2056
Monday and Thursday, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00p.m.
Friday – Saturday, 12:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, 12:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Back “home” at Lucille’s you can enjoy another glass of wine on the patio as you watch the sun set over the mountains, and toast another great day in the mountains