While the Georgia mountains are an amazing place to relax and enjoy nature, many of these outdoor areas are being temporarily closed to reduce gatherings and slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

As conditions seem to change daily, it’s best to check the most direct source of information for any destinations you may want to visit.

NOTICE: 4/1/2020 – Governor Kemp issues a shelter-in-place order for the entire state of Georgia that will last from April 6th through April 13th. All K-12 public schools have also been canceled for the rest of the academic year. This statewide order for Georgia supersedes all local ordinances. Note that when the statewide order expires (currently scheduled to go through April 13th) the local restrictions will apply.

Many municipalities have issued shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders, while other towns without official orders to close have seen businesses either limit customers, reduce hours of operation, or close altogether. This is likely to continue for weeks, perhaps even for months. Additionally, many parks and hiking trails have been closed, and officers are towing any cars parked at these parks or near trailheads, including Yonah Mountain.

These online resources should help you learn more about current advisories across the state, specifically in the North Georgia mountains. Check/follow these sources for up-to-date information regarding area restrictions in North Georgia during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Statewide Guidelines for Georgia

The following resources and information apply to all Georgians and current visitors. Please follow local laws and recommendations from trusted public health information sources.

Enjoying Nature Amid Physical Distancing Guidelines

At the current moment, the North Georgia mountains are experiencing some of the best weather of the year. This naturally draws more visitors, as people are drawn to the warmer weather and Spring blooms. However, now that this is combined with limited entertainment options elsewhere, record numbers of people are showing up at parks and trails that are usually not too crowded. Parking lots at multiple parks are overflowing, and illegally parked cars are being towed. There are so many people on these trails that it is practically impossible to maintain a physical distance of 6 feet from others on these trails.

I definitely get it. It’s beautiful outside right now, and it’s gorgeous in the Georgia mountains. The air smells great, and the scenery can’t be beat. However, given that there are too many of us trying to crowd these gems at once, we should strongly consider being responsible and staying at home until the COVID-19 coronavirus threat has passed.

 

Turkey Hunting Season 2020 (March 21 – May 15)

Be Alert! Turkey hunting season has just started in Georgia and will continue through May 15, 2020. Check the Georgia DNR website for dates of other upcoming hunting seasons.

Hikers who are new to the area should make sure they are hiking on a trail or on property where they are expressly allowed, and also be sure to make themselves extra visible when they may be hiking near places where hunters are present. I have read of two recent close encounters in which a family of hikers stumbled across an active hunting area without realizing they could be in danger.

For extra safety and precaution, consider outfitting your hiking party with high-visibility clothing so that everyone in your party is clearly seen on all trails.

 

National Parks & Forest Sites in the Georgia Mountains

From a quick glance, it appears that all of the recreational areas are currently closed. Please pay attention to these closures and know that rangers are enforcing the closures.

Even the multi-state Appalachian Trail is not immune to this threat. Believe it or not, the popularity of trails like the AT has surged in recent weeks, and “Hiking the A.T. has become… the opposite of social distancing.”  Note that the ATC states:

We cannot close the Trail. We cannot physically bar access to trailheads or connecting trails. We can and do, however, urge everyone to please stay away from the Appalachian Trail until further notice.

Although the trail is not physically closed, the National Park Service has closed all overnight shelters and privies on land administered by the Appalachian National Scenic Trail Park Office. Learn about these and more closures at wildeast.appalachiantrail.org. Other online resources include:

• Facebook: @ChattOconeeNF
• Facebook: @GaDNR
• Facebook: @WildlifeResourcesDivisionGaDNR
• Ga Department of Natural Resources / Wildlife Resources Division: georgiawildlife.com/closures
• National Park Service Public Health Update

 

Georgia State Parks

The Georgia state parks are open (as of 3/27/2020), but with limited access. To maintain social distancing, some activities may not be available.

All Georgia State Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites’ visitor centers, museums, golf pro shops, and nature centers are now restricting access to comply with the Governor’s directive to reduce gatherings to 10 people or less while maintaining social distance. Staff still remain on site and available via phone and email to assist visitors with their needs.

• Facebook: @georgiastateparks
• Instagram: @gastateparks
• Pinterest: @gastateparks
• Twitter: @GaStateParks
• YouTube: user/gastateparks

Check the Georgia State Parks website for current alerts about Georgia’s state parks and news updates.

 

Local North Georgia News and Guidelines

The following resources are for local municipalities in the North Georgia mountains. Note that many local newspapers are published only once per week, so other sources, such as AJC.com (covering metro Atlanta) or Facebook pages for cities or sheriffs, may have the most current information.

Blairsville Area

• Visit Blairsville (official tourism website)
  • COVID-19 response page
  • Places to eat with updated hours (note that as of 03.24.20, all dining rooms have been closed to the public)
  • Places to shop with updated hours
  • Facebook: @blairsvillechamber
  • Instagram: @visitblairsville
  • YouTube
• North Georgia News (published weekly for Blairsville, Suches, and Union County)
  • • Facebook: @nganews

.

Blue Ridge Area

NOTICE: City of Blue Ridge declares State of Emergency and shelter in place (3/25/2020 via The News Observer). Fannin County’s state of emergency prohibits people in other cities and counties who are under a shelter in place policy or curfew from visiting (since that would be breaking their own county’s laws). This includes people who own land in both areas.

• The News Observer (local newspaper “published with pride for the people of Fannin County, Georgia, and East Polk County, Tennessee“)
  • Facebook: @The-News-Observer-740175116028857

 

Clayton Area

NOTICE: Rabun County bans short-term rentals.

• The Clayton Tribune (published weekly for Clayton and Rabun County)
  • Facebook: @claytonnews

 

Cleveland & Helen Areas

 

NOTICE: (3/31/2020 via White County News) For the duration of the declared emergency, all city park(s), public areas, playground area(s), recreational areas, or similar places are closed by the City of Helen (see news release for more details)

• White County News (published weekly / every Thursday for Cleveland, Helen, Sautee Nacoochee, and White County)
  • Facebook: @WhiteCountyNews
  • Instagram: @whitecountynews
  • Twitter: @whitecountynews
• City of Helen / Visitor

 

Dahlonega Area

• The Dahlonega Nugget (local newspaper serving Lumpkin County and surrounding areas)
  • Facebook: @TheDahlonegaNugget

 

Ellijay Area

NOTICE: Gilmer County has been ordered to shelter-in-place (3/24/2020 via Times Courier).

• Times Courier (hometown newspaper published weekly for Ellijay, East Ellijay, and Gilmer County)
  • Facebook: @EllijayTimesCourier
  • Instagram: @timescourier
  • Pinterest: @TimesCourier
  • Twitter: @timescourier

 

Hiawassee Area

NOTICE: Towns County has been ordered to shelter-in-place (3/31/2020 via Towns County Herald Facebook page). Many travel-tourism related businesses in the city of Hiawassee are closed by mandate including VRBO, AirBnB, Rental Cabins, and Campgrounds (3/30/2020 via City of Hiawassee Facebook page). Hotels are limited to emergency only.

• Towns County Herald (hometown newspaper for Hiawassee, Young Harris, and Towns County)
  • Facebook: @Towns-County-Herald-229330091000342
• City of Hiawasee, GA
  • Facebook: @HiawasseeGA

 

Things to Do While You #StayAtHome

There are many ways to enjoy the extra free time you may have (no long commutes through rush-hour traffic) and nice weather (hello Spring!) while following the WHO and CDC guidelines for #PhysicalDistancing.

Many of us have the room to do the following activities while staying at home. A few supplies that can be ordered online can add many extra enrichment opportunities at home.

Solo Pursuits

Whether you are staying at home by yourself or just want to pursue something on your own, consider these items to sharpen your mind, dexterity, and strength.

Explore Your Environment

The right tools can make all the difference — including in what we’re able to see! A simple pair of binoculars or a telescope can open up the immediate world to all sorts of sights that we don’t normally see. Grab a pair of binoculars and see how many types of wildlife you can spot outside your windows during daylight hours (we’ve seen deer, songbirds, squirrels, and birds of prey in the past month). A pair of night vision goggles can bring a nighttime environment into a whole new light (be prepared to spend a lot to get a quality set with the latest technology). And a quality telescope can bring the planets and stars to life right before your eyes.

Physical Activities & Challenges

Depending on the size and layout of your home/yard, you may find that these challenging items are a fun way to build strength. These balance boards are irresistible fun for both kids and adults at our house.

With a couple of large trees that are a good width apart (or I’ve even seen some people set them up on large beams inside their lofts…), kids and adults alike can enjoy a challenging day of balancing themselves on easy-to-set-up slacklines and ninja lines (similar concept but with obstacles to navigate).

You can create lots of different games with a small amount of sidewalk or driveway space and some sidewalk chalk. Use the chalk to create artful designs or play classic games like hopscotch, tic tac toe, checkers, and more!

Play classic outdoor games with a kit that you either build yourself or buy a pre-made version online. Enjoy cornhole, lawn darts, tiki toss, and ladder toss games with one or more people that you are self-quarantined with.

Physical Fitness & Exercise

There are many ways to exercise at home, including video instruction and home fitness machines. If you’ve got room for a machine or gym, you can create a lot of different workout options, like cross-country skiing, walking/running, biking, rowing, and more!

Learn New Skills

There are countless skills out there to learn with your extra time. Consider your interests and find online tutorials, guides, and enthusiast groups to help you hone in on a new talent. You may want to learn magic tricks, juggling, new languages, pancake flipping, or handstands and high-kicks. Or you may want to practice practical outdoor skills like archery, knot tying, or compass and star / celestial navigation. Let your imagination run wild and start mastering something new today.

Read a Great Book (or Magazine)

There has never been a better time to try out Kindle e-readers or an Audible subscription. An e-reader like a Kindle lets you download thousands of books or magazines without visiting a store. An additional Kindle Unlimited subscription includes access to thousands of the newest releases each month! Combine with an Audible subscription, and you can even enjoy your favorite books during your commute, while walking the dog, or even while taking a shower.

Take an Online Class

The popularity of online learning has skyrocketed in the past 2 weeks as students around the globe have moved from physical classrooms to logging in for “live classes” from home. You can also get it to online learning with classes available from a variety of great sources. Coursera is currently offering their popular class on The Science of Well-Being offered by Yale University for FREE (10 million recent views!). SkillShare is offering 2 free months of Skillshare Premium where you can take any of their classes on business, technical skills, lifestyle, and more!

Play Games with Family or Online

A simple deck of cards can provide entertainment in many forms and is perfect for those with limited space. Play a game of solitaire by yourself, or challenge those staying at home with you to a game of poker, spades, or blackjack. Try out new games that have recently become popular, like the R-rated Cards Against Humanity. Or keep your friendly rivalries healthy during quarantines and log on to playingcards.io to play with far-away friends!

Enjoy thrilling competitions with these exciting, varied games that are sure to be remembered.

Support Georgia Mountain Businesses

Many tough decisions have had to be made by the small businesses that bring such charm, love, and life to the Georgia mountains. We are all facing new challenges due to the realities of fighting the public health hazards posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus. However, where possible and responsible to do so, it is extremely helpful to these local businesses if you are still able to support them. Here are some places where you can order online, join a club / become a member, make a future reservation, or make another type of contribution.

These local communities can continue to thrive, but only with your active support. Thank you so very much.

• 12 Spies Vineyards – FREE SHIPPING with code “12spies”
• Currahee Vineyards – FREE SHIPPING within the continental US (through April 30th)
• Engelheim – FREE SHIPPING on $20+ purchases within the continental US (through April 15th)
• Frogtown Cellars – FREE SHIPPING on orders of 3+ bottles (shipments available to AK, AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MD, MN, MO, NC, NM, NV, NY, OR, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI)
• Montaluce – currently offering $1 flat rate shipping for all mail orders
• Stonewall Creek Vineyards – FREE SHIPPING through April 15th
• Wolf Mountain Vineyards – the tasting room is closed, but they are currently offering FREE SHIPPING for all mail orders
• Yonah Mountain Vineyards – the tasting room is closed, but they are currently offering $10 flat rate shipping for all mail orders

Note that the above is only a partial list of great local businesses still fulfilling customer orders.

Please share your favorite ways to support local businesses in the comments below. What other ways are you and your family dealing with the lifestyle changes during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic?