"I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees." Henry David Thoreau
Summer in Roswell is a blast with Summer Sippin’, Alive in Roswell, patio dining and cruising Canton Street.
But, a road trip north can bring equal parts lightness and adventure to your July, so we’ve put together a mountain getaway to make your summer sing.
Thanks to a new boutique hotel, downtown Clayton has a new look. Bridge Creek Inn opened late last year by the award-winning team at Indigo Road Hospitality. Located in North Georgia’s Rabun County, nestled at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and steps away from hiking trails, state parks, water adventures, and more, the renovated and expanded property was originally built in the early 1920s. Bridge Creek Inn’s bright, welcoming lobby boasts a rotating collection of work from local artists and a “history wall” of photography showcasing the past lives of the hotel.
The Vandiver, an American tavern-style restaurant, is slated to open later this month; but the coffee bar, BCI Coffee & Co, is serving grab-and-go house-made pastries, snacks, and sandwiches, espresso and coffee drinks, wine, and local beer on draft.
Bridge Creek Inn’s own hiking concierge Zach Girgenti can map out a customized itinerary for your outdoor adventures. Yoga in the courtyard, in partnership with Clayton Yoga, provides a complimentary class to guests, and Shady Creek Fly Fishing offers discounted rates to guests as does Laprade’s Marina Boat Rentals.
Wine tasting at nearby Tiger Mountain Vineyards in Rabin Gap offers casual tastings and higher-end experiences featuring paired tastings, vineyard tours, and more. 12 Spies Vineyards is pouring 14 labels in their Scaly Mountain seasonal tasting room. The Vineyard at High Holly is a family-owned and operated winery on nearly 30 acres of lush, rolling hills and boasts a working vineyard, award-winning dahlia garden, tennis courts, pond and waterfalls, event pavilion and walking trails throughout.
Bridge Creek Inn's central location puts you nearby state parks (Tallulah Gorge and Black Rock Mountain), trails (including many day hikes on the Appalachian Trail), and water activities (whitewater rafting on the Chattooga River or boating on nearby Lake Burton and Lake Rabun).