Here in the Georgia Piedmont – which includes the central and certain northeastern areas of the state – life moves at a relaxed pace. Forested hills, deep lakes, winding rivers and farmland provide stunning natural beauty and recreational opportunities. And while most of the region’s communities are rural, they’re never too far from all the modern amenities one could ever need.
Crawford for example, where United Country Real Estate | Southern Select Properties is located, is only 20 minutes southeast of Athens, home to the University of Georgia. From there, the bustling metropolis of Atlanta is a little more than an hour-and-a-half away to the southwest.
Still, here in Northeast and Central Georgia it’s mostly about charming, southern small towns and agriculture-based communities. We love it here … almost as much as we love helping our clients find the right property for their lifestyle and goals.
Let’s take a closer look at the appeal of life in the Georgia Piedmont – from the Heartland to the High Country – for residents and visitors alike.
If there’s one thing everyone in Georgia seems to enjoy it’s heading outdoors for hunting, fishing, hiking, trail riding and other adventures. The state’s many national forests, state parks and wildlife management areas in particular are tailor-made for such recreation in the Piedmont.
The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests are a great starting point, simply for their incredible size (some 867,000 acres) and endless offerings. You’ll find trails for horses and mountain bikes, recreation areas with lakes ideal for boating and fishing, and multiple campgrounds and picnic areas.
Generally speaking, Georgia’s many lakes may be the biggest recreational draw. Lake Hartwell is near the South Carolina-Georgia border, about an hour north of Crawford, the location of our real estate office in the Piedmont. Along the Savannah River, the lake is a top spot for bass fishing. Not to be outdone, the 19,000-acre Lake Oconee offers anglers a chance to catch about a dozen different species of fish. Plus, there are resorts and campgrounds, and several golf courses.
As for state parks, Georgia offers some of the best in the country. Richard B. Russell State Park in Elberton features its namesake lake for fishing and boating, a nice nature trail and beach, and an 18-hole championship golf course ranked among the top 10 Georgia courses. In the same town, Bobby Brown State Park is all about the 70,000-acre Clarks Hill Lake, as well as unique yurts for camping. Victoria Bryant State Park in Royston has winding trails and creeks perfect for wildlife viewing. Hard Labor Creek State Park is another known for its golf course, but also has a lakeside swimming beach and amazing trails.
Really, there are more spots in the Georgia Piedmont for recreation than we can mention here. For example, we didn’t even begin to address the magic of Tallulah Falls. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t offer up a couple good options for the avid hunter. The Wilson Shoals Wildlife Management Area is one among many for hunting deer, turkey and bear, while the Oconee WMA is ideal for waterfowl and small game.
The northeast and central parts of Georgia United Country Real Estate | Southern Select Properties serves here in the Piedmont offer a lot more than just amazing outdoor recreation. Whether you’re exploring the restaurants and shops around Lake Oconee and Greensboro, checking out Olde Town Conyers’ Entertainment District or learning why Covington is called “The Hollywood of the South,” there’s plenty of history, culture and fun to discover here.
Events and festivals are always popular in Georgia, and you’ll find everything from peach and strawberry festivals in Alto and Oxford, Ga., to the fall Chattahoochee Mountain Fair up in Cornelia. The Elberton 12 County Fair is always a hit, and over in Athens, it’s all about the three-day AthFest music and art festival in June. And around an hour-and-a-half northwest of Madison County, Helen displays its German heritage year-round. But Oktoberfest is the best way to experience the town.
For a deep dive into Civil War history while taking in natural beauty, Check out A.H. Stephens State Park and its museum in Crawfordville, or the Robert Toombs House Historic Site in Washington. Take a day trip out to Atlanta for the incredible Atlanta History Center, the High Museum of Art, or catch a show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Much closer to Crawford in Athens, the Georgia Museum of Art and the Georgia Theater are also worth a visit.
If fun for the whole family is what you seek, Bear Hollow Zoo in Memorial Park houses all kinds of wild animals, while the Georgia Mountain Coaster in Helen is a cool Alpine ride. Back over in Atlanta is the Georgia Aquarium — the largest in the country with more than 60 different animal habitats. On the outskirts of the city, Stone Mountain Park is kind of an everything-in-one location with multiple kid-friendly activities.
Finally, when it’s time for the adults to unwind, the Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Braselton is a nice spot for spectator events. If you’d prefer something a bit more mellow, there’s the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. Or even better, head up to the heart of North Georgia wine country and tour the vineyards and wineries of Dahlonega.
Sources:
ExploreGeorgia.org
DiscoverGeorgiaOutdoors.com
GeorgiaWildlife.com
OglethorpeCountyGa.gov
VisitConyersGa.com
Dahlonega.org
Fs.Usda.gov
StateParks.com
GaStateParks.org
N-Georgia.com
GeorgiaHighCountry.org
ArtsandCulture.Google.com
Geology.com
En.Wikipedia.org