• The Blue Ridge Mountains are among the many mountain ranges in Georgia.Blue Mountains image by Benjamin Huseman from Fotolia.com
  
  Whether you would like to explore the Chattahoochee National Forest, raft or fish on the Chattahoochee, Chattooga and Nottely rivers or hike along the Appalachian Trail, the Georgia Mountains offer plenty of things to do. The Tour de Georgia, a premier cycling event, travels through the North Georgia Mountains every April. Visitors to the area are always welcome to stop by one of the roadside stands to purchase fresh jams, jellies and produce. Golfers can choose to play on more than 30 challenging courses with panoramic mountain views. Situated among the Georgia mountains, several resorts offer the opportunity to participate in numerous outdoor activities as well provide a scenic setting for a weekend getaway or a family vacation.
  
  

The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens

• This Pine Mountain vacation resort offers nature-inspired luxury, superior services and a full-service spa. Guests may enjoy strolling through the gardens, swimming in Robin Lake, exploring the wonders of the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center or playing on championship golf courses. The resort features four distinct accommodations: these include the elegant guest rooms at the Mountain Creek Inn, one- or two-bedroom accommodations at The Cottages, the spacious one- to four-bedroom Villas and The Lodge, which offers 150 deluxe guest rooms and suites with exterior balconies providing views of the surrounding forest or the landscaped gardens. Guests of the Lodge may enjoy drinks or snacks served in front of the large fireplace in the Ironwood Lounge. The Piedmont Dining Room features made-to-order omelets for breakfast, an a la carte menu of southern-inspired dishes for lunch and signature meals of hand-selected beef or seafood for dinner. During the summer, a full-service cabana-style bar and grill with a flat-screen television and a stone fireplace is open. Guests may relax alongside an outdoor heated pool and two whirlpool spas, which are surrounded by the gardens. A selection of nature-based treatments are available in the Spa, including massages, facials, baths and wraps. The Spa Fitness Center provides state-of-the-art equipment with private TV screens, group exercise classes and personal training sessions as well as juice bars, saunas and steam rooms.
  
  The Lodge and Spa at Callaway Gardens
  4500 Southern Pine Dr.
  Pine Mountain, GA 31822
  706-663-6833
  callawaygardens.com
  
  

Forest Hills Mountain Resort & Conference Center

• Originally opened with just six mountain cabins, the humble property has grown into an upscale resort with more than 110 accommodations, a restaurant, a day spa, horseback-riding stables, meeting facilities, a fitness center, walking trails, group lodges and an outdoor garden gazebo with a wedding chapel. Just a one-hour drive from Atlanta, the resort is surrounded by 140 acres at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, nestled among the North Georgia Appalachian Mountains. Guests can choose to stay in the casual group lodge, luxury cabins or suites at the Mountain Laurel Inn. Each of the 12 bi-level suites is 1,200 square feet and provides a king-size bed, an entertainment center, a steam sauna in the shower and a large whirlpool tub on the ground level as well as a sitting area with a sleeper sofa, a second entertainment center, a gas log fireplace, a wet bar and a covered deck on the upper level. Located at the gateway to the Appalachian Trail, the resort is close to Dahlonega, a gold-mining town established in the early 1800s. Outdoor enthusiasts may enjoy biking, cycling, canoeing and kayaking around the resort or shopping and dining in town. Six wineries in the area offer tastings and tours.
  
  Forest Hills Mountain Resort & Conference Center
  135 Forrest Hills Rd.
  Dahlonega, GA 30533
  706-864-6456
  foresths.com
  
  

Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa

• A two-hour drive from Atlanta, the Brasstown Valley resort and spa offers a scenic setting for a mountain getaway. The lodge features a giant stone fireplace, oak-vaulted ceilings and panoramic views of the golf course and mountain vistas. Whether you stay in one of the 102 lodge guest rooms, 32 cottage guest rooms or the deluxe spa suite, all of the accommodations include luxurious bedding, wireless Internet access, a coffee maker, a daily newspaper and modern bathrooms. Surrounded by the woods, the secluded cottages offer spacious accommodations for families or corporate retreats. The 825-square-foot private suite offers views of North Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains, the golf course and the horse pastures. Inspired by the native Cherokee culture, the 7,500-square-foot Spa specializes in rejuvenating treatments that focus on health and spiritual balance. The resort also includes a fitness center, lighted tennis courts, an 18-hole championship golf course, a heated indoor/outdoor pool and a Jacuzzi. Guided horseback riding for all skill levels is available at the stables. Dining options include the Dining Room, the Brassies Grill and the Fireside Lounge. The Dining Room offers picturesque mountain views along with seasonal dishes served in front of a fireplace or on the mountain-view veranda. The Brassies Grill provides a casual setting for lunch, an afternoon snack or cozy fireside dinner, while the Fireside Lounge and veranda features a scenic stetting for cocktails in front of a warm fireplace.
  
  Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa
  6321 Highway 76
  Young Harris, Georgia 30582
  706-379-9900
  brasstownvalley.com