Wheres the best place to visit in Georgia?

My parents decided to go to Georgia last minute and left me to do the planning for them (fun :( ). The only thing that my dad really wants to do is go gold mining. Does anyone have any good suggestions of towns/places they could go to? Thanks!!

Public Comments

1. Atlanta has the new really cool Aquarium..it is a MUST SEE!! Make sure to make reservations to avoid a long wait! As far as gold mining...Of the 500 gold mining and prospecting sites shown in the geological records, there are 12 sites southwest of Atlanta near Newnan, 26 gold locations just off Interstate 20 which connects Atlanta with Birmingham, 26 sites within 35 miles of Augusta,
2. Atlanta is great if you love the big city. If they are into golfing, Augusta is a must.
3. well, depends on where you are willing to travel to and how long your trip is going to be. but here are some thoughts... *Savannah-historic area and houses (great architecture), board walk, markets, and great restaurants. 1/2 hour drive to Hilton Head *Atlanta-the GA Aquarium, CNN center, centennial olympic park, coca-cola center, Atlantic Station (new shopping area with restaurants) underground atlanta, the High museum (they are showing art works from the Louvre right now) *Helen-(Nothern GA) a German/French inspired town, with street performances, unique restaurants, a waterfall, mountain scenes, and many little shops for souvenirs and things. I believe this is closest to where you guys will be in terms of gold mining (it's in Dahlonega right?) Ok, Have fun with your parents, seems like its going to be a good bonding experience :)
4. Stone Mountain Park, about 30 mins from downtown Atlanta. The inn in the park is a great place to stay, there is loads to do in the park and you can catch a cable car to the top of Stone Mountain for great views of the Atlanta skyline and surrounding countryside. Son et lumiere dixie show in the park in the summer months.
5. Dahlonega is our famous gold-mining town. The old courthouse in the town square is now a gold-mining museum. The square is full of all kinds of neat and interesting little shops and restaurants. There are, if I remember rightly, two working gold mines there. I've not visited either, so can't recommend. Near there is Amicalola Falls State Park. Some of the loveliest falls I've seen. You can drive up to the top and stand at the top of the falls and look down. You can walk down about 300 steps to the middle and looking back up the falls from there is a wondrous experience. You can also see them from the bottom, but we didn't, so I can't say about that either. They have a park store with a small museum, a fishing pond, picnic area, and the Appalachian Hiking Trail goes through there. About 20 minutes from there is the town of Blue Ridge. There are alot of antique and shops in the historic downtown, and they have the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, an old locomotive passenger train that goes from Blue Ridge to the twin cities of MacCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN. You get off for an hour or soto be able to visit the towns, eat, and shop, then ride back. Depending on when they're going, there is often festivals going on at one town or another, there's a website you can check, but right off hand there's the Ellijay Apple Festival, Jasper Marble Festival, Blairsville something or other, Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee. This time of the year will be Oktoberfest in Helen. Helen is a cute little city modeled after a German village. There's lots of shopping and eating and entertainment. Up the road from Helen there is Babyland General in Cleveland, where the original Cabbage Patch babies are born. Up in the northeast corner is Sky Valley, for skiing in the wintertime. When you're as far as Sky Valley, you're pretty close to Cherokee, North Carolina, the Cherokee Indian Resvervation, if they're interested in native american stuff or casinos. Seems like I'm forgetting some stuff...but that's what I recall at the moment.
6. North GA-Southern Cherokee County thru the Dahlonega area is very good for mining. As for attractions- try the aquarium, cnn center, coke museum, etc. in downtown. if you're a play fan, stop by the fox theatre