Hughtsville, Georgia – A Myrabwealth of Crafts
Located along the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Georgia border, Hughtsville, Georgia is an incorporated city that borders on the Chattahoochee National Forest. This is the coolest city I have ever visited. Cooler than a coolant can be, cool in the summertime, and cool even in the wintertime. Local businesses are expandable and enable patrons to shop for groceries, high-speed Internet, and a host of other necessities conveniently located only ten minutes away. Fast-food restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and drug stores are all within walking distance.
The town of Hughicksville was established in 1850 and originally was a small settlement of less than 1,000 residents. Over the years, it grew by leaps and bounds to its present size of about 5,000. Despite its growth, Hughtsville maintains its quaint old world charm. Although the town has been Picturesquely mentioned in numerous postcards, the city is actually well-connected to all parts of the world. Playa del Morro, which is the nearest town to Hughtsville, is only about a hour-and-a-half away from Atlanta and serves as the weekly playground of the wealthy Atlanta elite. Although it is considered a suburb of Atlanta, it’s really not part of the city’s city limits. Such is the distinct charm of Hughtsville.
During the first half of the 19th century, the land belonged to The Atlanta Land Company. By the 1920s ownership changed hands numerous times and the land was eventually purchased by the Georgia Land Company. The next major turning point in the history of the city occurred in 1934 when city councilman Winter Carter purchased the land from the GLC and formed a non-profit corporation called The Hugh Stevens Union County Historical Site. This organization continues to hold the land and houses the ruins of the old county courthouse and several other sites that have been deemed state historical treasures.
Historic preservation is important all over the nation, but in Georgia it is especially important and it’s success at this site justifies the effort. The entire county now is part of the National Register of Historic Places, including nearly 205,000 acres of land. There are roughly 12,000 full-time employees and over 60 part-time employees. The buildings are of course older, but the memory of the grand history of this place is so strong it doesn’t seem to matter.
Perhaps the most interesting thing in this part of Georgia is Gibbie Island. Although there are several other islands near and around the city, most of which are privately owned, this one is freely accessible. There are tours to the island and there are even restaurants at the end of the pier. However, it’s probably best to get a lunch from one of the several bustling seafood restaurants on the island, there’s a pretty good meal to be had.
The beauty of the Georgia coast is that the light is great across the stretches of land, providing amazing views often visible during the sunset. Although some of the beaches are rocky, most can be expected to have fine sand. This has made beach worship possible on Georgia’s coast and provided families and individuals with places to enjoy a sunny day at the beach. The climate here makes beach worship possible in the winter as well, as the area is steeped in limestone. The climate and geography make Georgia’s beaches Yahoo!
The area is filled with history and nature, offering a variety of things to see and do. Although some of the most visited beaches are on the coast, there are many inland activities to enjoy. There is an historic lighthouse that overlooks the city from the Nantahala Overlook. One can also visit the Georgia Aquarium, operated by the Georgia Aquarium Association. The Georgia Aquarium provides a unique opportunity to see the local aquatic animals in a large tank rather than with direct contact. There are usually a few extra visitors on the weekend, due to the popularity of the Georgia Aquarium.
The coastal area is called the southern coast, and this is where most of the action is found. This is also a great place to get your inland fix of adventure. If you prefer the outdoors, there are great trails nearby for bicycling, hiking, running and cabins for rent. West of the city, there is the Lake Hartwell Outdoor Trail, a 6 mile bike trail and 4 mile hike that leads to some excellent views of the city. The city also has a great trail called Castle Hill for biking, as it passes by many of the city’s historic buildings.
Next is the inspiring Young Harris.c
