NorthGeorgiaWeekly syndication http://northgeorgiaweekly.com Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:19:30 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/127/89/ The high price of gasoline has reduced the number of travelers as indicated by the Memorial Day weekend. With gas prices reaching the $4.00/gal range, many families are adjusting their travel plans this summer to cut costs. A recent survey by AAA indicated the first drop in vacation traveling since 2002 with slightly more than 1 percent drop in travel expected over the total that traveled last year. Many families are reducing the distant they plan to travel this vacation season. Some popular vacation destinations indicated a drop of more than 13 percent during the recent holiday weekend. Many travelers noticed that there was less traffic on the road over the recent holiday weekend. A survey by Deloitte & Touche of more than 1000 Americans conducted in mid-May found that 23 percent of those they surveyed altered their Memorial Day weekend plans. 12 percent indicated they had canceled their vacation plans and 11 percent planned to reduce the distance they traveled. North Georgia Weekly Features - Georgia State Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:48:24 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/125/89/ Built in 1815, Traveler's Rest served as a wayside inn to people traveling along the Unicoi Turnpike. The Unicoi Turnpike connected the Tugaloo and Tennessee rivers and the route was busy with the transport of products in North Georgia. James Rutherford Wyly first operated the inn until Devereaux Jarrett bought the place in 1833. Jarrett doubled the size of the structure and was also his place of residence for his considerably large plantation along the Tugaloo River. Traveler's Inn remained in his family until 1955 when the State of Georgia bought it for $8000.00. North Georgia Weekly Features - Parks Thu, 08 May 2008 15:15:04 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/124/89/ Georgia's hikers see the mild weekend weather as an opportunity to prepare for their outdoor adventures. Over the past weekend, we visited Neel Gap at Blood Mountain and found a large number of folks making preparations to hike the 2000 plus miles of the Appalachian Trail. Springer mountain marks the southern end of the trail but there are many locations along the trail in Georgia to start this adventure. North Georgia Weekly Features - Events Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:15:28 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/123/89/ At one time, Georgia had more than 200 covered bridges. All that remains is 20 scattered across our state. One of the oldest and longest is located at Watson Mill Bridge State Park east of Comer, Georgia. Crossing the South Fork River at a length of 229 feet, this bridge was originally built in 1885. It remains a functional bridge with a single lane going through it's wooden interior. The truss supporting this structure are held together with wooden pins. North Georgia Weekly Features - Parks Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:41:49 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/122/89/ Scaling a 50 foot wooden tower I have reached the top and have a wonderful view of the stream crossing the property and a clear view of the rolling hill on the other side. I intentionally stood at the end of the line to allow myself a chance to come to term with the adventure I am undertaking. I have watched those ahead of me step to the opening in the railing, step on the platform and step off into the air plunging at 40 mph down a cable that at this moment is inches above my head. It seems much to small to hold me, and the pulley I clip to the cable seems much too small as well. Still, I have one crab claw anchored to the tower and I now remove it and clipped it to my belt. A rope attached to the pulley is carrying my weight. There is no turning back, everyone else has taken the leap. I step off the platform into thin air. North Georgia Weekly Features - Favorite Places Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:18:09 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/121/89/ The North Georgia Mountains is the home of one of the oldest petroglyphs, stone markings, in the state. Track Rock Gap has stone carvings that may be up to 8000 years old. Archaeologist that have examined these rocks suggest that early man in this region of the state left the markings upon these stones. Doctor Stephenson first reported these markings in 1834, but they were known to locals even earlier. Some portions of the stones have been removed over the years, but there remains large stones that still have these markings. Over the years other more recent markings can be seen as well. North Georgia Weekly Features - Roadside History Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:00:00 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/120/89/ From the time you enter Brasstown Bald park you notice the steep climb to the parking area at the top of the mountain. It is a a winding road uphill the entire way. Brasstown Bald is Georgia's highest mountain. When you park at the top you still have a climb ahead of you! Rising 4,784 feet, you get the feeling of being on top of the world. From the summit, you get a spectacular view of the north Georgia mountains. Here you can see four states, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina on a clear day. Be sure to bring comfortable shoes and a jacket because the wind is always blowing at this location of the state. North Georgia Weekly Features - Parks Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:38:59 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/117/89/ Desoto Falls Scenic Area was named after the famous Spanish explorer. In 1880 a Spanish breastplate was found at the base of the upper falls leading some to believe DeSoto traveled through this area. Years later, a sword was also found in the vicinity reinforcing this story. Located in Lumpkin county, Georgia, this 650 acre park is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The park has excellent camping spaces and a day use area that includes restroom facilities. There are actually two waterfalls located at the park, the beautiful "upper falls" and a smaller "lower falls". North Georgia Weekly Features - Parks Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:08:00 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/114/89/ Fort Mountain park is located a short drive northwest of Ellijay, Georgia going towards Chatsworth. It is a beautiful state park offering a wide range of services to the public. From the parking lot of the trail that goes to the tower, there is a mystery involving a large rock wall. For years historians and the public have wondered about the identity of the builders of the wall. North Georgia Weekly Features - Favorite Places Sun, 13 Jan 2008 12:59:31 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/108/89/ Not many people are aware that the State of Georgia has had reports of diamond finds. The first such find occurred in 1883 by a prospector looking for gold in Hall County. This was the first reliable record of a diamond being found. A private property in Gainesville was the location, off a branch of "Muddy Creek" not far from the Chattahoochee River. Just 13 miles northeast of Gainesville, diamonds were also found in gravel along Stockeneter Branch at The Glades. The actual source of the diamonds were never found. North Georgia Weekly Features - Georgia State Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:48:24 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/99/89/ With more than 692 miles of shoreline when full, Lake Lanier was completed by the Army Corp of Engineers in June of 1957. It's purpose is a multi-purpose lake that provides for flood protection, power production, water supply, navigation, recreation and fish and wildlife management . For the most part it has lived up to it's purpose but in recent years it has become a hotly debated water source for Georgia, Alabama and Florida residents. This year's drought has brought this to the forefront in a debate for drinking water. Since the lake was created with Federal money, it is managed as a resource for people living in the southeast part of the United States which touch the Chattahoochee river. Water flows out of Lake Lanier along the Chattahoochee river to it's final destination to the Gulf. During the current drought, it has served it purpose to maintain this waterway as it was intended. North Georgia Weekly Features - Georgia State Wed, 24 Oct 2007 09:56:05 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/98/89/ New Echota is a State Historical Site dedicated to the Cherokee Indians lifestyle prior to The Trail of Tears in 1835. It was the Cherokee Nation Capitol beginning in 1819 when the Cherokee Council changed from their clan system to a town council government. For years they built a communal town encompassing several hundred acres with a variety of structures of the period. North Georgia Weekly Features - Parks Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:29:49 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/89/89/ Stephens County Stephens County Georgia was created by Act of the Legislature August 18, 1903 and was named for Alexander Hamilton Stephens, the Vice President of the Confederacy. A state legislator and Senator, he was elected to Congress at 31, serving from 1843 to 1859. Elected to the Senate in 1866 he was refused his seat but again served in Congress from 1873 until 1882 when he became Governor. He died March 4, 1883. North Georgia Weekly Features - County Information Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:51:57 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/86/89/ Created from Wilkes County by Act of Dec. 10, 1790. Elbert County was settled in 1784 by Gen. George Mathews and a group from Virginia and Carolina. The site of Petersburg, the original settlement and third largest town in Georgia in it's day is covered by the Clark Hill Reservoir. Nancy Hart, celebrated Revolutionary patriot, lived in this county. Elbert County was named for Gen. Samual Elbert, Revolutionary soldier and Governor of Georgia (1785-1786). A native of South Carolina and resident of Savannah, he was a member of the Council of Safety and fought at Savannah (1778) and Briar Creek (1779). North Georgia Weekly Features - City Focus Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:22:37 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/85/89/ Drive 8 miles north of Elberton, Georgia and you will pass a small roadside park with large monoliths of granite in a field. If you take the time to stop, you will find the curious structure shown above. You are at the Georgia Guidestones. North Georgia Weekly Features - Roadside History Fri, 28 Sep 2007 09:39:10 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/70/89/ There is something special about a city that puts high value on their focus of families and history. Cornelia is one such city located 90 minutes north of Atlanta. This weekend, Cornelia celebrated their city's 120th birthday by opening up the downtown area to families and vendors. The Cornelia train depot, a historical building that serves as a gathering point for city residents drew local residents and visitors from around the state. More than 60 vendors packed the depot area to promote local products and services. Concessions were also available to the crowds with the daily temperatures close to 98 degrees. There were activities available for all ages. The video only captures a small sampling of all there was to see and do. There was a strong focus on the children from the town with award winning cloggers entertaining the visitors, a soapbox derby race featuring cars build by local businesses and adults brave enough to tear down a street with a tall hill. There was a large gallery of people lining the street to watch this daredevil racing activity. Each pair of racers had their own big following of fans cheering them on. The historic society provided local street performers to act out stories from Cornelia's past days. Cornelia has a long past that has rich cultural appeal. These stories are passed down generation after generation. North Georgia Weekly Features - City Focus Sun, 19 Aug 2007 11:28:03 +0100 http://northgeorgiaweekly.com/content/view/57/89/ Victoria Bryant State Park hosted the Georgia 24th Infantry Regiment reenactors over the weekend. This state park is located a few miles from Royston, Georgia near the South Carolina state line. This beautiful park provides activities for local residents as well as featuring camping facilities. Two members of the Georgia 24th Infantry Regiment reenactors were there over the weekend with a typical Civil War camp setup to provide historical stories of this regiment as well as demonstrating the use of black powder weapons used during the Civil War and camp life of those soldiers. Roger Boles (left) has been with this group for seven years, and Frank Poole (right) has been a reenactor for seventeen years. Each year they spend a weekend at the park to allow the public to see what life was like for typical Civil War soldiers. North Georgia Weekly Features - Events Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:19:51 +0100