The Most Picturesque Small Towns in Georgia

Sharing borders with Tennessee, the Carolinas, Alabama, and Florida, Georgia is home to the Appalachians, deep forests, sparkling lakes and rivers, and the Atlantic with nearby islands. Dripping with charm like a juicy peach, some of the most picturesque small towns in the country hide juicy scenery and secrets.

Did you know that the Blue Ridge Mountains were named after the deep blue hue of the distant mountain ridges from the isoprene released by the forests? Madison—too pretty to harm in the Civil War—is full of antebellums, while Blue Ridge, bearing the name of the iconic range, is home to the family-owned Mercier Orchards, one of the Southeast's largest apple orchards.

Blairsville

Just an hour and 45 minutes north of Atlanta, welcome to Blairsville, Union County, the heart of North Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains and some of the state's most beautiful landscapes. From Brasstown Bald Mountain to over 80 miles of the Appalachian Trail, including parts of Meeks Park, a stroll from downtown. Vogel State Park, 20 minutes south, is one of the state's oldest and most popular, with trails and a 20-acre lake for boating, swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, and camping. From the Blood Mountain Overlook to the 100-foot Helton Creek Falls, two beautiful falls set in Blairsville’s deep hardwood forest, it is a never-ending chase to the next breathtaking view.

Cabin Coffe Co. will keep you caffeinated, and the Hole in the Wall has been serving generous portions of all-day breakfast and housemade pies since 1931. Upholding its authentic pre-Civil War ambiance, the charming mountain town deep in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest lends itself to plenty of outdoor adventures, like 80 miles of the AT that winds through it. Cozy and uncrowded, Blairsville is also home to the family-friendly Lasso the Moon Alpaca Farm, Ethnobotanical Gardens, and the Mountain Life Museum. From the popular Butternut Creek Golf Course to the Sosebee Cove Scenic Area, top-rated Trackrock Stables is a charming campground with horses in the shadow of Georgia’s highest peak, while the ancient Blue Ridge brims with Cherokee Indian culture.

Blue Ridge

Named like the infamous Range and Parkway, Blue Ridge is a top-of-the-bucket-list town in Georgia when looking for picturesque views to unwind. Founded in 1886 in the Appalachians, few know that it was christened after the deep blue hue of the distant mountain ridges from the isoprene released by the forests. Having quickly developed with Marietta and the North Georgia Railroad, which connected larger markets and facilitated the timber and mining industries, this mountain town of under 2,000 attracts visitors year-round seeking a refresh in nature. Catering to an abundance of restaurants, breweries, shops, and art galleries, it would feel city-like if it were not at the doorstep of Chattahoochee National Forest.

Visitors can browse the small-town pleasures against the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains and embark from the historic depot downtown along the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway on a four-hour train ride. The vintage rail cars wind through forests, with different scenery in every season, like leaf-peeping in the Appalachian foothills and along the Toccoa River, as well as the sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee. Sprawling over 300 acres, family-owned Mercier Orchards is the Southwest's largest for strolls and bonding in the fresh air while picking crispy fruit. This summer, the nearby Lake Blue Ridge is perfect for boating, fishing, swimming, and paddleboarding in the forested mountain surroundings.

Dahlonega

For the love of wineries and antique shopping in a quaint downtown, as well as history, mountain biking, and waterfall chasing, go to Dahlonega, the tiny town in North Georgia with fame larger than life. As the site of the first major gold rush in the United States in the 1820s, its 19th-century architecture, a testament to the past, complements the rugged mountain scenery. The Consolidated Gold Mine is one of the largest hard rock gold mines in Georgia, while authentic mining equipment, rare photographs, and narratives decorate the public square today, and more is on display at Dahlonega Gold Museum.

Whether you're in for the Waterfalls Trail, including Cane Creek Falls, DeSoto Falls, and Amicalola Falls, or the liquid gold on leisurely strolls through the vineyards along the Dahlonega Wine Trail, the geological richness that spurred its growth will set you on your own spiritual path. Drowning in the nature of rolling hills, forests, and the Chestatee and Etowah Rivers, Chattahoochee National Forest is great for hiking and trout fishing. Experience the challenging conditions for miners over a century ago on an underground tour panning for gold and gemstones at the museum's historic site.

Darien

Home to under 1,880 people, this excellent port town of the past turned sleepy fishing village is a quick escape from the city, just 50 miles south of Savannah. Framed by stately churches and historic homes, the Oglethorpe-designed squares are a real vision for a stroll or relaxation at one of the quaint cafes. Darien's quiet coastal allure as the second-oldest planned city in Georgia from 1736, just a few years after Georgia became a colony, permeates the atmosphere. The Old Jail Art Center is an excellent heritage stop through the present, including local artists's works, specialty shops, and the historic Ashantilly cotton plantations and printmaking.

Dating back even further to 1721, Fort King George State Historic Site, which first belonged to the British Empire, is now the state's oldest English fort along the coast, while the Burning of Darien Museum depicts the real-life artifacts of the epic events in the movie "Glory." The riverfront is the stage for the best activities, from a relaxing wine cruise to a sunset stroll along Darien Waterfront Park. Don't skip local shrimp for dinner at Skippers' Fish Camp, and in April, enjoy the famous Blessing of the Fleet Festival. Darien is a layered treat to savor, from the Gullah-Geechee culture to great seafood, golfing, and pristine nature in picturesque views of the Altamaha River.

Madison

Madison, one of Georgia's most picturesque towns, delivers a hearty dose of historic and natural appeal. Encapsulating Southern essence, heritage, and hospitality, in between Atlanta and Augusta, visitors can enjoy easy access to Oconee National Forest and Scull Shoals Experimental Forest. After a hike, nothing can beat a dip and lounge along the nearby squiggly Oconee Lake, while Madison's historic district, home to boutiques, restaurants, and many spas, is a window into the 19th-century Southern US, with over 100 antebellums. The 1811 Heritage Hall is an example of a Greek Revival mansion decorated to reflect the era's style and elegance through each room open for tours.

Founded in 1809 and named after President James Madison, the small town was spared Civil War destruction during General Sherman's March to the Sea—allegedly too beautiful to harm. For real culture vultures, the restored 1895 Madison-Morgan Cultural Center is a treasure trove in a Romanesque Revival-style building, with year-round historical exhibits and performances like fine arts, live theater, and musical acts. From the preserved downtown, it is just a quick drive to the 5,000-acre Hard Labour Creek State Park, with trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding winding through hardwood forests, creeks, and a 275-acre beckoning oasis for fishing, kayaking, and swimming.

Toccoa

Ending the list in the foothills of the Northeast Georgia mountains, this town, named after the Cherokee word for beautiful, is a picturesque slice of the peach. Established in 1873, Toccoa's development was tied to the railroad's expansion and geographical setting, with economic pursuits in agriculture, textile manufacturing, and tourism. The thriving town is home to Henderson Falls Park and one of the tallest free-falling waterfalls east of the Mississippi River, the 186-foot Toccoa Falls, in a wooded landscape. Cascading within the campus of Toccoa Falls College, visitors can enjoy easy access via a short trail and chase after another, the Contentment Falls Spring Cave, just south.

Further down, the top-rated Currahee RV and Campground is a popular base for it all, minutes from downtown. Camp Toccoa will ring a bell with The Band of Brothers fans, an HBO 10-part series based on the real-life of the 101st Airborne Division, who trained here for the Normandy Beaches mission during World War II. The camp-turned Currahee Military Museum pays homage to the paratroopers of the 506th Infantry Regiment with artifacts, photographs, and personal stories. Currahee Mountain, their training ground, is accessible to the summit via a challenging three-mile trek, with rewarding views of the surrounding countryside.

Embrace the Charm of Georgia's Small Towns

Embark from the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge along the winding Scenic Railway on a four-hour train ride in the vintage rail cars through forests, rivers, and even the neighboring state. In Dahlonega, the site of the US's first major gold rush, you can pan for gold, chase the silver waterfalls, or enjoy the liquid kind on the wine trail through lush vineyards. Darien, the second-oldest town in the state, is home to the oldest English fort on the Georgia coast, while Toccoa is where the 101st Airborne Division trained for the Normandy Beaches.