Cozy barrel cabins, glamp sites, and lodge rooms will warm you after playing outdoors.

My name is Dan and I’m a member of an unofficial senior club, meaning we are in the AARP designation which is 50+ years old. Some of us are married; some are not. We met through church and have forged an active friendship involving travel and adventure. This winter, eight of us booked a long weekend at Unicoi State Park & Lodge.

We made our reservations in Barrel Cabins. We are going to head north out of Atlanta to explore the Great Outdoors and to reconnect with the awesomeness of wild nature, knowing our heads will rest peacefully under the dark night sky.

• Fun Fact: There are 29 Barrel Cabins at Unicoi State Park offering 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom dwellings, which include ADA-accessible options and the best designated pet-friendly cabins in Georgia. You can also stay in glamp sites, campsites, and the main lodge.

What are your outdoor interests? Got archery and air rifle? Check. You can hike, fish, ride mountain bikes, make s’mores, zipline, photograph waterfalls, swim in the summer, rent paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats, play cornhole, and visit the Alpine Town of Helen – it all depends on what time of year you’re visiting the park. But there’s more: you can eat back some of the calories you lose at Smith Creek Tavern, for example, at the end of an adventurous day.

• Fun Fact: Smith Creek Tavern is named for the mountain stream that runs through Unicoi State Park, connecting Anna Ruby Falls to Unicoi Lake, also known as Smith Lake.

Hiking trails will be right out our front doors. We hope to have a black bear sighting, but that’s a wish because they are hibernating. I can’t wait to enjoy the openness of the forest in early winter. Hiking is so much cooler in the mountains, naturally, and building a sweat will release all our Big City Livin’ toxins.

Unicoi State Park & Lodge is centered around the mountainous serenity of Lake Unicoi within the Chattahoochee National Forest. A great first hike of the trip will lead us to Anna Ruby Falls. Smith Creek – a vital tributary of the Chattahoochee River – winds from the base of the Anna Ruby Falls to Lake Unicoi and is a favorite trout fishing spot.

The staff at Unicoi are all about Southern hospitality. They live around here and by phoning in with a few questions as I booked the trip, I learned about exciting things to see and do in the park, and in Helen. Like taking the free shuttle! Or walking the easy trail into town. Visiting Helen will gave us a chance to buy mountain and Bavarian-style souvenirs and local mountain wines, grits, and coffees, and antiques.

If you are heading out for the holidays – Unicoi has open doors for families and visitors of all ages. Save the dates for:

• Christmas Dinner Buffet is on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 from 11: 30 am to 2:30 pm. Walk-ins are welcome but they advise making a reservation because the receptionist said that locals in Helen like to attend this special dinner. Reserve here and View Menu.
• New Year’s Eve Throwback Bash is on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 from 8 pm to 1 am. While limited tickets are available at the door, reservations are highly recommended. Make a Party Reservation Online.
• NYE Room Special: Stay overnight in the Lodge on December 31, 2024 and receive access for two to the Seafood Buffet and NYE Party for a discounted rate. (pricing based on double occupancy). Book Overnight Stay Package.

One more thing: are you brave? The annual Winter Black Bear Plunge at Unicoi will have everyone dashing into the lake for a refreshing dip to welcome the New Year 2025. Come back to a beach bonfire and treats made possible by the Friends of Unicoi State Park.

This winter, challenge yourself to move every muscle, make new memories and chill in the best place in North Georgia at Unicoi State Park & Lodge.

• Dan W.