A Slice of History in North Georgia Mountains

Once dubbed, “The Little Pink Cottage,” Clarkesville’s Maudlin House and Gardens is a crown jewel of north Georgia. The property, listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, was built in the late nineteenth century as a home for A.M. Maudlin and his wife. It was later passed down to Maudlin’s son Oscar, and a millinery shop was added for his wife Margaret who created and sold hats.  The property has undergone changes over the course of its history, but until 1990 it had remained occupied by the descendants of the original owners. When it was deeded to the city … Continue reading

Northeast Georgia’s WWII Curahee Military Museum

For anyone who is interested in the service history of the Greatest Generation, the Curahee Military Museum is a gem. The small museum in Toccoa, Georgia—in the Currahee Mountains of northeast Georgia—is a treasure trove of artifacts and history. The museum is housed in the town’s renovated train station and focuses on the 5,000 men who trained at Camp Toccoa as paratroopers. During World War II, 17,000 soldiers would go through training here, known as the “Toccoa Men.” Anyone who has watched the TV series “Band of Brothers” will recognize the stories of these soldiers and many aspects of the … Continue reading

North Georgia Garden Trail An Ideal Spring Outing

Nothing says spring quite like blooming gardens, and here in Northeast Georgia we have a bevy of them for you to visit. They are all part of the North Georgia Garden Trail, a collection of 26 public gardens that showcase landscapes filled with blooming bushes, trees, babbling brooks, and snippets of American history. A nice bonus to visiting these gardens are the pretty mountain drives you get to enjoy as you travel from one community to the next. Head due north from Lucille’s Mountaintop Inn & Spa to Hiawassee to view the Hamilton Gardens and the largest collection of rhododendrons (more … Continue reading

A Season Of Entertainment In North Georgia Mountains

Just up the road from Lucille’s Mountaintop Inn & Spa is the Sautee Nacoochee Center (SNC), a local gem known for its wonderful museums, art galleries, classes, and shows—and always a popular place for guests.This holiday season, the SNC is offering a range of great events with a little something for every interest: music, theater, art and history. Here is a quick overview of what’s coming. Sautee Nacoochee Center 183 Highway 285 North, Sautee Nacoochee 706-878-3300 A Christmas Carol. Dickens’ tale gets a little dose of humor in this retelling of the holiday classic. December 1 – 3, 2017 7:00 … Continue reading

The State’s Strangest Monument: The Georgia Guidestones

Sometimes referred to as America’s Stonehenge, the Georgia Guidestones is one of the lesser-known sites in northeast Georgia—and one of the most mysterious. Designed to function as a compass, calendar, and clock, it is the stones inscriptions that raise the most curiosity. The Georgia Guidestones is located high on a hill in Elberton, Georgia—about an hour and a half southeast of Lucille’s. The monument was commissioned in 1978 by a gentleman named R.C. Christian, who claimed to be representing a group of men. However this was not the man’s real name, and the men who he said he represented have … Continue reading

North GA’s Nora Mill Granary Still Grinding Away

When Nora Mill Granary says it does things the old-fashioned way, they mean it! The company, which was established in 1876, still operates out of the same four-story building that sits on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Helen. Photo courtesy of Nora Mill Granary It still uses the 1,500-pound French burr millstones, and feeds water to a water turbine via a 100-foot wooden raceway. For Inn guests who are both foodies and fond of local lore, the mill and its next-door store are a must to visit. Originally built by a miner who came in search of gold, … Continue reading