Ranger - North Georgia

With our summer trip to Finland cancelled due to COVID-19, we decided to take the family to North Georgia to stay at a cabin. We found a cabin managed by Vacasa through AirBnB, in the Talking Rock Creek Resort, for our group of eight. The resort seems to be a large area, with several gated entries. Google Maps took us to one on which the gate code we were given did not work. Someone who came behind us kindly let us use their code to get in. We found later that the gate code worked at the entrance where the community pool was. We did not have maps to the area but relied on the directions from kind strangers.

We got to the cabin and the cleaner was just finishing up. It had a really nice view but the cabin was a little dilapidated. The original listing had a hot tub - we did not find one and the listing was subsequently updated. Some of the furniture was quite worn - the sleeper sofa in the loft had a plank box in place of the sleeper, one of the hammocks on the patio was torn. Other than that, the place was adequate. They even prepped a campfire over which the kids enjoyed smores. Biggest problem is the mosquitoes and the repellent we had did not help much. The wifi was also spotty.

View from cabin

The highlight of the area is still the outdoors though. We found the Trout Lodge on Google maps. The lodge itself was not open but we walked down to the creek behind it and the children had a blast swimming, finding fish, tadpoles and rocks. There were pretty butterflies. No one else there but us. The gym at the pool was not open but there was a trail with some exercise equipment across the street. We read that you might find bears but fortunately, we did not.

Trout Lodge & Park

There were some pretty butterflies at the creek

We thought we brought plenty of food but still had to supplement. There are a couple small convenience store/gas station in the area. In the end we had to drive thirty minutes to nearby Jasper's Walmart for supplies - the mountain air increases your appetite? On the way, you could see some family farms which could be interesting to visit. Apparently there are apple orchards nearby for u-pick in the fall. Going to Georgia for the fall colors is still on my bucket list...