Top things to see and do in Dillard during the spring

DILLARD, Ga. — Spring has arrived and romance is blooming in Dillard, northeast Georgia’s gateway to the Smokies.

There’s so much to experience this season, it might take a couple of trips to enjoy it all.

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Love

Whether you’re looking to say “I do,” or seeking out some time with that special someone, the area offers plenty of options.

For proposals, weddings and honeymoons, check out the Dillard House. While the resort and restaurant is famous for its Southern culinary experiences, it also hosts numerous wedding activities. The hotel rates as an affordable wedding venue, with indoor and outdoor spots, and offers a variety of lodging and catering options.

This time of year, the hotel is a great getaway for those looking to escape the Atlanta area for a few days. Invite that special someone for a few days in the mountains, enjoy a meal at the Dillard House, relax and spend some time together.

Dillard offers other options, too. The Rabun Manor is a 175-year-old Southern mansion that is the perfect place for a small, intimate destination wedding, with luxury rooms and cottages. The restaurant offers fine dining.

“It’s kind of a very quaint house, a couple really cool sitting rooms; the atmosphere is unbelievable. You walk right in into this beautiful, elegant restaurant and again, the views of the mountains are really what it’s all about, and the charm of the 1846 house,” Rabun Manor owner David Okun said.

Shopping

For those with a love of shopping or a love of antiques, pencil in some time on your busy calendar for a visit. The area boasts 40,000 square feet of antique malls to browse. There’s a treasure around every turn.

“We do have some fine antiques,” Elizabeth Hopper from Yesterday’s Treasures said. “We have art. We have rugs. We have things that go into the finest homes. But at the same time, you can find a very comfortable dinette set or a little, small informal table for your kitchen or living room.”

Activities

For those looking for an experience to remember, look no further than Dillard. There’s zip lining through mountain tree-tops, whitewater rafting and splashing down the Little Tennessee River on horseback with the Dillard House Stables. It’s strawberry-picking season, too.

“This part of Georgia is one of the prettiest places I think in the world, really,” Pam Thompson from the Dillard House Stables said. “We have mountains, rivers, lakes, forests and something for anyone to do, whether you enjoy horseback riding, or hiking, rivers, swimming, whitewater rafting. There’s just something for everybody.”

Looking to land the big one? Enjoy fly-fishing in streams, bass fishing on area lakes, or take the kids fishing and catch a trophy trout.

Wineries and Breweries

If all the action has worn you out, or you’re just looking for an adult drink to enjoy the rest of the day, there are several wineries in and around Dillard.

“This is R.M. Rose Company,” Andy Sudderth said. “We make whiskey. We make bourbons. We make flavored whiskies. We’ve got tasting rooms. And we barrel the bourbon here.”

Whether you’re ready to say “I do” or are just ready for a timeout from the daily grind, do it in Dillard, Northeast Georgia’s gateway to the Smokies!

The story is sponsored by the City of Dillard.