Here are several lists we’re certainly proud to be included on in the last few months:

Georgia makes National Geographic Traveler Magazine’s 21 “Best of the World:” Georgia was recently selected as one of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s 21 “Best of the World” destinations for 2017! The feature mentions visiting Dahlonega to hear live music or join a jam session in cozy confines such as The Holly Theater.

Dahlonega Featured in Blue Ridge Country Magazine: Blue Ridge Country Magazine, in their Travel Guide 2017, features Dahlonega with a full-page photo and a great getaway recommendation by singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins.

Dahlonega Named by TripAdvisor as One of “America’s Prettiest Small Town Vacations:” In addition to having the highest concentration of wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms in the state, Dahlonega is also home to art galleries, boutiques, and museums.

#3 on the list of “21 of the Best Small Towns in America by Architectural Digest:” Montaluce Winery & Restaurant is pictured in this feature and Dahlonega is highlighted as the site of the first U.S. Gold Rush and how it is known for its many wineries.

Several Restaurants Listed in Zagat’s Article of “8 Reasons to Drive to Dahlonega:” Now's the time to get up to North Georgia, and Dahlonega acts as an easy gateway to the mountains. A little less than two hours north of Atlanta, the quaint city in the Appalachian foothills built its rep on gold mining, but today it's a getaway packed with wineries, charming restaurants and a new distillery just opened a few months ago. Here's where to eat — and if you want to explore even deeper, the city of Dahlonegarecently created its own mobile app packed with info.

Tiny Travelogue: “50 Small Towns to Visit across the U.S.:” Visitors can tour gold mines and pan for gold in local creeks. The downtown area is bustling with enough contemporary local shops and restaurants to easily fill an afternoon or an entire day.

Back Porch Oyster Bar Makes List of “100 Plates Locals Love:” Dahlonega's Back Porch Oyster Bar was just featured in a listing of Georgia's "100 Plates Locals Love" for their locally (and now regionally) famous gorgonzola shrimp linguini dish. Read all about it in the Gainesville Times' account of what makes this restaurant - and their very special dish - a winner.

AJC: “10 Things to do in the Georgia Mountains from fall to the Holidays:” The Northeast Georgia Mountains Travel Association features Dahlonega on AJC, mentioning our mountain town tradition of Old Fashioned Christmas.

OpenTable Features Montaluce on list of “100 Most Scenic Restaurants in America 2016:” Le Vigne Restaurant, at Montaluce Winery, was highlighted in OpenTable’s list of restaurants that offer spectacular views of natural wonder and, above all, a delicious dining experience!

Cedar House Inn & Yurts Listed as One of the “15 Best Romantic (Weekend) Getaways in Georgia:” Check out Georgia’s “earth-friendly” B&B exclusively open to adults, making it the quintessential retreat for couples looking for some alone time. The Cedar House hosts nature lovers and tree huggers alike, as it constantly reduces its carbon footprint and works to appreciate the environment as much as possible.

Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery Featured in Where’s “The Myths and Truths About Atlanta’s Farm-to-Table Movement:” Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery co-founder Doug Paul mentions in the article that “Consumers want variety and they want to support their local economy, and our wines aren’t overpriced. Our sweet spot is around $20 per bottle, and the quality is there.”

Wolf Mountain Vineyard & Winery Makes MSN’s List of “50 Undiscovered Places you’ll Love in the South:” This feature by MSN highlights Dahlonega as “Georgia’s Wine Country” and mentions all of our local wineries! Wolf Mountain Vineyard, and the Georgia wine scene, was also featured on the blog "The Virginia Grape!"

First Night Dahlonega Featured on AJC’s article “9 Only-in-Georgia New Year’s Eves:” The Nugget drop is a highlight of First Night Dahlonega, a family friendly celebration of the New Year that also raises money for Jeremiah’s Place, which provides transitional housing and support for homeless families in Lumpkin County.

Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas Makes Several Lists of “Georgia Towns That Do Christmas Right:” Christmas trees, mistletoe, and thousands of twinkling lights adorn historic Dahlonega from Thanksgiving until year-end creating an old-timey holiday experience. An OnlyInYourState article stated, “Dahlonega always goes all out each year for the holidays. Lights are hung in every direction, and both houses and storefronts put their best foot forward with festivity. If you're looking for a little bit of yuletide cheer, this is the town to visit during the Christmas season.”

The list continues to grow for reasons why one should visit Dahlonega, so be sure to plan your next trip today! Visit www.dahlonega.org to plan your visit or find more information about our upcoming events, attractions, and more!

Photograph by: Jack Anthony