The Ocoee Whitewater Center is a one-stop outdoor adventure spot! The center offers so many outdoor activities to enjoy; including hiking, biking, white water rafting, swimming, picnic areas, a beautiful suspension bridge, and scenic walking paths. The center is most known as the memorable location for the Summer Olympics of 1996 kayak, canoe, and slalom events. The center is along U.S. 64 that runs from McCaysville, GA into Tennessee, which is one of the most beautiful, scenic drives our area has to offer. So even if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your air conditioning, you can enjoy the outdoors by taking a nice, leisurely drive along the river. However, if outdoor adventuring is your thing, the center also has 20 miles worth of trails for hikers and bikers. Some of their more famous trails are the Bear Paw Trail and Chestnut Mountain Trail, which are both loops. Bikers also love the Thunder Rock Express, but only if you’re up for a challenge! For a more leisure hike or bike ride, try the Old Copper Road Historic Trail that was used to transport copper by wagon from Ducktown to Cleveland before the railroad came along.
Local Attractions
Georgia
Mercier Orchards
Mercier’s is the apple orchard everyone is talking about in the North Georgia Mountain area! Family owned since 1943, Mercier’s is open year-round and has more to offer than just apples! Visit their orchard for seasonal U-Picks, live music events, a weekend petting zoo, hayrides, and so, so much more! When you’re in the area, you’ll want to be sure to check their calendar, so you don’t miss out. They almost always have special events, but even if nothing special is going on, the Orchard itself is pretty spectacular. Outside, you have the beautiful scenery and walking paths and the owners welcome you to bring your fishing poles to fish the stocked pond on the orchard. Not to mention the fun U-Pick events where you get to ride in a tractor-pulled trailer into the orchard to pick whatever seasonal fruit is ripe and ready for eatin’! Inside, you can enjoy the bakery, diner, a wide selection of local honey, gift items, fresh produce, and more. Connected to the store is Mercier Winery, where you can enjoy locally made wines and hard ciders. Mercier’s is the place you don’t want to miss!
Brasstown Bald
Brasstown Bald is located within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, and the Brasstown Bald Visitor Information Center is the highest point in Georgia- rising to almost 5,000 feet above sea level. Just a short drive from Blairsville, Hiawassee, and Helen, on the Bald you’ll find picnic areas with great views and a general store with locally made products. Within the informational center, educational programs and various events are hosted year-round. Just off the parking lot are three different trailheads; a mountaintop natural science & history museum, and observation deck that offers a spectacular 360° view of the surrounding area, including four states (GA, TN, NC, & SC) and if you’re lucky, the skyline of Atlanta!
Texas
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Come see actual fossilized dinosaur tracks in the bed of the Paluxy River! If you’re in the area, this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. Aside from the dinosaur tracks (which are enough of an attraction on their own!), come planning to have a picnic, go hiking or biking, swim or fish in the river, go horse-back riding, or visit the interpretive center for some educational opportunities. If geocaching is your thing, this is a place for you as well! With camp sites and over 20 miles of trails for hiking and wildlife watching, plan to come and hang out for a while.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
Fossil Rim is not like any other zoo you have ever been to! This center offers ecotourism, an opportunity for you to visit and drive through the park to view and wonder at the many different, endangered species who reside and are protected there. Don’t forget to eat at the Overlook Café or shop at the nature store. The center uses the shop, café, and ecotourism to fund the important conservation efforts and educational opportunities that they also provide. Schedule a guided tour or a trip with the kids for a “living classroom” at either a half or full day or even an overnight educational event! If wildlife is your thing, you can’t miss the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center!
Granbury Opera House
Built in 1886, the Granbury Opera House has been painstakingly renovated to its time period accurate glory! With elaborate, imported chandeliers, elegant twin curved staircases, and the original limestone walls, and more, you’ll feel like you’ve just stepped back in time. There are 8-10 productions throughout the year that are standing ovation worthy! Plan your trip to stay with us when you can travel into the historic Granbury town square and enjoy a brilliant production at a uniquely preserved opera house! Before the production, be sure to make reservations for a delicious dinner on the square. You’ll want to come back to Granbury time and time again!
North Carolina
Sapphire Valley Resort
Our very own Logan Creek Lodge is within the well-known Sapphire Valley Resort. This luxury resort is located in the beautifully serene Sapphire, NC and just minutes from the downtown area. Each person in your group is bound to find something they enjoy with such a wide variety of activities and amenities offered within the resort; swimming (indoor and outdoor), tennis, golf, skiing and snowboarding, snow tubing, fun playgrounds, walking paths, live music, award winning restaurants, massages, and mini golf, just to name a few! Be sure to check the event calendar for the dates you’ll be staying- you won’t want to miss any live music events, guided tours, yoga or pickleball instruction sessions, or festivals! Upon booking your stay with us at LCL, you could plan your entire stay inside of the resort and never have to leave. After arriving at Logan Creek Lodge, you’ll take the short walk (or drive) over to the community center to grab your amenity cards and begin enjoying right away! If convenience, entertainment, rest, and relaxation are the goals for your next vacation, then this is the Lodge and the Resort for you!
Cashiers, NC
For more than a century, Cashiers, NC has been the Southeast’s best kept secret as a vacation destination all year round for both the adventurous and for those who are looking to simply relax. Built upon a culture of long-standing, Southern hospitality, and at almost 3,500 feet above sea level, Cashiers offers a strong community you just want to be around, mild temperatures year round, and outdoor activities that draw adventurers to come back year after year. From luxurious golfing to incredible hiking and biking paths to fly fishing, you’ll find it all in one location at this beautiful location atop the Blue Ridge Mountains. Accessible in Cashiers, is the Panthertown Valley; a 6,311-acre mecca for hikers seeking waterfalls and native growth and wildlife. Located within the Nantahala National Forest, you can navigate its 30-plus miles of trails through granite cliffs and serene streams. Breathe in the fresh air of wildflowers blended with mountain laurel as you stroll through an ancient forest, letting the sights and sounds of nature’s splendor complete the sensory experience. Don’t forget about the shopping in the quaint downtown area or the exquisite dining experiences available either! You won’t want to miss the Whiteside Brewing Company- just trust us on this!
The Village Green
The Village Green is a lively 13.2-acre public park located within the heart of Cashiers’ downtown district, just minutes away from Logan Creek Lodge. The park is known for hosting a plethora of public events and programming throughout the year for community members. You’ll want to check their calendar for any event you won’t want to miss during your time in the Sapphire/ Cashiers area! The park is located on land donated from a local hotel chain and was originally developed in 1992. Today, it has become a major community gathering space, home to grassy lawns, wetlands, and forest glades. For the plant lover, the gorgeous dahlia garden showcases spidery cactus, pompom, and daisy dahlia blooms during the spring and summer months, while an azalea garden displays rainbow-colored blossoms alongside mountain laurel and rhododendron. The unique Village Play children’s playground was constructed by a team of 1,500 community volunteers, dedicated to the children of the Cashiers community. Annual special events include a Fourth of July fireworks shop, a summertime garden tour, a summer concert series, and annual winter holiday and Christmas events.
