Waaaaay up in the right hand corner of Georgia is Rabun County. The county seat is Clayton. It’s not an often talked about county unlike Fannin or Fulton but it is a jewel in the North Georgia mountains.
It was made famous by Foxfire (read about that here) and Tallulah Gorge, but there is much more going on there than meets the eye.
I traveled on Black Rock Mountain and kicked myself for not staying there, but we had a deadline to meet. It was a hard drive up there and entirely worth it. You couldn’t hear the hum of a car at all, and you heard every single sound a creature made. Our daughter said to be quiet. She hears a butterfly. That’s how peaceful it was there.
There’s Lake Burton and Lake Rabun, both equally fantastic places to fish, golf, hike, and just find some peace in the outdoors. There’s plenty of vacation rentals (not a lot of bed and breakfasts sadly) and I highly suggest you lodge that way than in a franchise hotel.
Their peak season is autumn. And no wonder. The leaves change colours, cooler temps, and a variety of fairs and festivals begin. There’s something to do literally every weekend. And of course there’s always something to do at the vineyards. 
So next time you’re on the Southern Highroads, don’t just drive through Rabun. Stop and visit.
