Hiawassee & Lake Chatuge — Mountain Lake, Brasstown Bald & Hamilton Gardens

Two hours east of Chattanooga, tucked into the far northeast corner of Georgia against the North Carolina line, the town of Hiawassee sits on the shore of Lake Chatuge, a serene mountain lake ringed by the high peaks of the southern Blue Ridge. This unhurried two-day escape opens on the lake itself — a shimmering, island-dotted reservoir shared by Georgia and North Carolina — with a visit to the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds on its shore and a drive to the edge of Brasstown Bald, the highest point in the state. The second day drifts across the lake to Young Harris, wanders the rhododendron and native-plant paths of the Fred Hamilton Rhododendron Gardens, and settles into a slow lakeside afternoon before the drive home. It's a restful mountain-and-water weekend, low on itinerary and high on long views, cool air, and quiet water.