Golden Days DELIGHT IN GEORGIA’S Cooler temperatures and brilliant foliage make autumn a great time to experience some of our best activities. From leaf peeping to train rides to wine tasting to harvest festivals, crisp weather accompanies annual pleasures we anticipate all year long. Few activities are more quintessentially autumn than getting out into the mountains for viewing the vivid shift from vibrant green leaves to golds, coppers, and russets. In Georgia, one of the most spectacular ways to soak in the fall colors and stunning landscape is via train, like the leisurely 26-mile round-trip trek along the Toccoa River aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway . Craving sweeping mountain and misty waterfall views? Amicalola Falls State Park in Dawsonville delivers both in dramatic fashion – it’s where you can see the Southeast’s tallest cascading waterfall! Plus, here you can journey along a portion of the Appalachian Trail – the southern terminus is found at Springer Mountain , just 9 miles away from Amicalola Falls . For more views in the North Georgia mountains, head to the Bavarian-inspired village of Helen , a fun stop for families seeking fall activities like zip lining and horseback riding. It’s also home to the longest-running annual Oktoberfest celebration in the U.S. Starting in September and running through October, it features German food and beer, traditional costumes, plus dancing to live polka music in the festhalle. After raising a stein at Oktoberfest, keep the celebratory spirit going with a wine-centric escape to North Georgia’s scenic vineyards. Sip the Scarlett blend at Habersham Vineyards & Winery in Helen , let the team at Fainting Goat Vineyards & Winery in Jasper pack you a gourmet picnic accompanied by a bottle of pinot grigio, or take a tour of the only known wine cave in Georgia at Yonah Mountain Vineyards in Cleveland . Don’t feel like organizing tour stops or designating a driver? North Georgia Wine Tours can take care of all the details, making for a perfect couple’s or girls’ trip. Ready to chase fall colors? SCAN CODE for our best mountain road trip ideas. TAKE A PIECE OF GEORGIA HOME WITH YOU Pick your own apples from numerous varieties offered at Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge and shop for treats, from hard cider to apple-cider donuts. 74 #EXPLOREGEORGIA CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: LULA LAKE LAND TRUST, LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN | CALEB JONES; JAEMOR FARMS, ALTO | @MPWHIDBY; GEORGIA APPLE FESTIVAL, ELLIJAY | EXPLORE GEORGIA
Official State Travel Guide 2026 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 74
