There are two “catches” to the 50% discount on lodging at the Hike Inn atop Amicalola Falls State Park near Dawsonville, Georgia.
The first “catch” is this discount is only available during August, 2014, until all the spaces are taken. The second catch is you must hike five miles on an “easy-to-moderate trail that takes between two and four hours to complete, crossing small streams, traversing mild ridges and ambling past the hickory, pine and oak trees of North Georgia” to get there.
Hello?? Are you still there? Anybody? Anybody there???
Okay. So the Hike Inn isn’t for everyone, especially if you are addicted to your iPhone, iPad, iPod or other gizmos.
Here’s how they put it:
“At the Hike Inn we try to offer our guests a retreat away from the busy world. We want them to enjoy a restful time free from the bustle of everyday life. Therefore, we ask that guests not bring cell phones, beepers, pagers, laptops or other electronic devices. When we see people using cell phones in public areas, we wait until their call ends and politely request that they not make more calls in common areas. We do not have public phones at the Hike Inn.”
Once you get past the aggravation of feeling disconnected for a day or so from work, kids, neighbors, schools and assorted people who call you simply to make your life miserable, the idea of being away from it all will grow on you. Honest.
No, there are no electrical outlets in the bunkrooms but — TA-DA! — there is electricity in the bath house for hair dryers that are kindly provided for guests.
The Hike Inn is nestled in the Chattahoochee National Forest, a few hours north of Atlanta via GA 400 and a couple of side roads. Before you begin your hike to food and shelter and peace.
Four main buildings provide twenty private guest rooms, hot showers, fresh linens and home-cooked meals. Each room is small with minimal amenities: a bunk bed (double-decker, extra long, single mattress), shelves, a stool for sitting and a mirror. While the rooms (hint-hint) are private, the walls are thin.
So, let’s recap the score, campers! Hike Inn is an amazing place in the woods to spend a night or two with friends and strangers, but not your cellphones or laptops. You must walk five miles to get there. Honest. (Good news!! It’s NOT uphill both ways!)
This is not a plush hotel. There isn’t even a phone. Honest. All you get is peace and quiet, great meals and communion with nature and strangers. (That’s way less weird than it sounds.)
The Hike Inn is open year round. Reservations are required … because too many folks have blabbed to others about what a great place this is for a vacation! Please keep this secret to yourself.
The best part? If you call Beryl Ann at 800-581-8032 between 10 AM and 5 PM, weekdays, you don’t need to have a secret code, password or anything of the sort. Just say, “Oooh! Is it true you have a 50% discount on rooms at Hike Inn on weekdays in August?”
She’ll sign you up for the most relaxing time you’ve ever had. After a five-mile hike.
