The North Georgia Mountains and Western North Carolina are an ideal place to relocate or retire to, as well as a great place to invest in a 2nd home-mountain getaway.  There are four full season with mild to moderate weather.  The cost of Real Estate in the mountains is very reasonable compared to the national average making mountain property a great value. Read below about Towns County, Union County Georgia and Clay County North Carolina to see which community.  Also take time to read about the History.

Towns County Georgia • Hiawassee • Young Harris

Brasstown Valley and neighboring Lake Chatuge are extraordinary examples of the beauty that is contained within the rugged mountain peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Towns County, Georgia.

Traveling east on US 76, across a gap north of Cedar Cliff Mountain, you'll behold "the Enchanted Valley." As the highway drops before you, the mammoth mountain ranges of the Nantahala National Forest are to the northeast. As you continue to glide down the sloped pavement, you'll begin to see the turquoise blue waters of Lake Chatuge.

Once you've enter the Enchanted Valley you will be overwhelmed by its beauty. The entire center of the valley is composed of a 7,500 acre lake lined with forests and lakeshore homes. Its completely surrounded by high mountain peaks. The mountains to the north, across the lake are the Nantahala Mountains of North Carolina. To the south and east are the mountain peaks of the Chattahoochee National Forest with several access points onto the Appalachian Trail.

Contained within the Chattahoochee National Forest in Towns County, you'll find the rugged back country of Brasstown and Tray Mountain Wilderness. To the southwest you'll find Brasstown Bald.

The Appalachian Trail traverses along the southern mountain ridges of the Chattahoochee National Forest, high above the Enchanted Valley. Turning north along the southeastern regions of Towns County, near the Rabun County Lines, on US 76 you'll reach Dick's Gap and a crossing and entrance to the Appalachian Trail.

You can follow the southern shores of Lake Chatuge along US 76 . The lake flows north from Georgia into North Carolina. This section of Towns County is considered the heart of the North Georgia mountains.

Towns County is a land of secluded waterfalls, historic trails and the sky blue waters of the majestic Lake Chatuge. Its quaint towns and mountain beauty will surely take your breath away. Within a 170 acre area is a succession of five waterfalls that have an estimated total vertical drop of 300 ft. The 1.2 mile. High Shoals Trail follows along the High Shoals Creek to observation decks besides two of the five streams within this scenic area.

Boating, fishing, swimming and water skiing make Towns County the place to be during the summer. Dining and exceptional lodging are available with room to spare. This popular area speaks for itself. Once you arrive you won't want to leave, you'll find everything you would possibly need here, minus the hassle of big city shopping.

Young Harris: is a small mountain community and college town. The most valuable historical asset in this town is the old picturesque Young Harris College. The old historic campus buildings make this a rare and beautiful experience for visitors, students and faculty. From June through August, Young Harris College is the host of Georgia's Official Historical Drama, "The Reach of Song,'' performed at the Clegg Fine Arts Center. There are a few quaint shops, dining and lodging scattered across Young Harris Valley, with Brasstown Mountain Bald to the south, standing as a centurion guarding this mountain hideaway.

Hiawassee: rests on the southeast shores of Lake Chatuge. Hiawassee has grown with popularity, you'll find shopping, dining, lodging and a concert theater that draws big named performers from the world of Country Music. Towns County has a vast array of activities from rugged back country to leisure time getaways.

Gold is the reason they originally came. Today, it's the National Forest that draws the so many visitors to Union County, Georgia. Chattahoochee National Forest occupies more than 50% of Union County. Brasstown bald located in Union County is the highest point in North Georgia.

Union County Georgia • Blairsville • Suches

The Appalachian Trail crosses over many of Union County's mountain peaks, making the trail accessible at several locations where main roads cross mountain gaps. This allows a hiker the ability to enjoy day long hikes where they can enter at one point, and exit at another.

Another interesting feature within the Brasstown Mountain Range is the Trackrock Archeological Area. This 52 acre preserve contains numerous stone embedded pictographs of Ancient Native American origin. They are estimated to be over 10,000 years old.

The old mountain town and county seat of Union County is Blairsville. Located in Blairsville are a variety of galleries, shops, and eateries, all within view of the old courthouse and its monumental white clock tower.

Nottely River flows north from the high mountains of southern Union County, joining Coosa Creek and various other streams as they make their way to the banks of Lake Nottely in north central Union County.

Union County offers a well rounded variety of outdoor recreation, with hiking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, swimming and boating.

Union County is known as the top of North Georgia with Brasstown Bald Mountain Range and Wilderness Area, towering at 4,784 feet. To reach Brasstown Bald, you take US 19/129 south to State 180 east, until you reach the Brasstown Bald entrance on the left. A paved road will lead you almost to the mountain's peak. A steep 1/4 mile trail leads you to the summit, a strenuous hike that can be made easy, if you choose to pay for a shuttle van ride. The tower and observation platform offer a magnificent 360 degree view when the visibility is clear. From Brasstown Bald looking south towards Hogpen Gap and westward to Blood Mountain you'll find a majestic area of mountain trails, waterfalls, and illuminating flora displays. Native American tales and legends as well as historical sites of early European Explorers dating back nearly five hundred years can be found throughout Union County.

One hundred and fifty miles of shoreline make Lake Nottely a favorite for boating, fishing and other water recreation. Union County also has 97,800 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest as a backyard playground for the land lovers.

Blairsville: the old turn of the century courthouse is the center piece of Blairsville. The historic Romanesque designed courthouse built in 1899. As a part of the courthouse restoration, completed in the year 2000 is the beautiful, enormous clock tower that once adorned this historical site. The sharp rap of the gavel is no longer heard within the walls of the old courthouse, this building has been converted into a historical museum.

On the edge of Blairsville is a life-size replica of a fort called Fort Sorghum, home of the, "World's Largest" Sorghum Festival. Many local shops and restaurant cater to the needs of the many visitors and local year round residents. Within Blairsville you'll find shops, galleries, dining and lodging.

Suches: a high mountain valley, remote and tranquil best describe this community. Residents find this to be the great escape while tourist find Suches to be a true place out of the past were time still stands still.

Clay County North Carolina • Hayesville • Brasstown • Tusquittee Valley

From the shores of beautiful Lake Chatuge to the peak of mile high Standing Indian Mountain on the outskirts of the county. Clay County is considered one of the unspoiled hideaways of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ancient mountain trails, tall timber hardwood forest, crystal clear streams make this region a natural mountain experience for all visitors. Its ideal small towns have become a natural haven to the creative minds of artists looking for a place to express the gift of their imaginations. The western and southern views of the mountains before us are breathtaking. There are two overlooks going down this mountain that deserve a stop and look see. The two mountains to the south, Hightower and Eagle Mountain display great perspective in size, making all else appear small and insignificant.

The northern end of Lake Chatuge is in North Carolina while the south side of Lake Chatuge is in North Georgia, about 10 miles away. Its southern shores are in the Chattahoochee National Forest and its northern shores in the Nantahala National Forest.

Clay County is more of an artisan community of both artist, new arrivals and local mountain folks. All are seeking and finding a more a creative environment. Hayesville is the main commerce center for Clay County. It is a quiet town of quaint charm and quality. The classic design of this town is worthy of a movie setting. Perched on the center square is the old red brick courthouse surrounded by a park on three sides. The four main streets are mostly lined with long porch covered sidewalks, containing various types of shops and dining. The Licklog Players, a serious and dedicated acting group make the Peacock Theater in Hayesville their home.

Hayesville: a very charming little town whose town square contains both an old red brick courthouse next to a picturesque park complete with gazebo. The main streets around the square consist of numerous stores, the majority of them have continuous overhead-porches giving a feel of that old general store experience.

Brasstown: located in both Clay County and Cherokee County, Brasstown is the home of the John Campbell Folk School, a wonderful accent to the artisan community in and around Hayesville, local stores sell folk art.

Tusquittee Valley: to the north of Hayesville is a beautiful valley surrounded by high mountains. You'll find a lot of open pasture lands and meadows, laden with scattered homes and estates, a great place to find that creative inner-self. The lands of Clay County to the west are made up of rolling hills within the river valley, and small mountain backdrops to the pastures and farmlands.

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