Blue Highways with Tee Gentry: Clayton, Georgia

There's something about a mountain town. The air is cleaner, the people are friendly, and you can see goats on the roof. More on the goat thing in a minute.

I hit the backroads to soak up some Americana on my way to the Blue Ridge mountain town of Clayton, Georgia and it was just what the doctor ordered. Actually, I thought I would need a doctor after my hike. It was more than a hike; it was a stress test on steroids — because my first stop was Tallulah Gorge State Park.

It looked easy enough. The suspended bridge over Tallulah Gorge is what I wanted to see and walk across. It didn’t seem that far, and I thought it wasn't that steep. Just to be clear, it was that far, and it was that steep.

I should have paid heed to the sign — Caution: This is a Strenuous Trail. People with physical limitations should not attempt this hike.

I didn't listen, and off I went to check out the sites. Going down the almost 1100 steps was tough, but the scenery was worth it — probably. It actually was simply stunning. The bridge, the mountains, and the waterfalls were just beautiful. One thing I didn't think about was that if there were 1100 steps down, there must be 1100 back up, or more like a million.

Where To Eat

In downtown Clayton, there are some great restaurants to check out. One is the Clayton Cafe. It's an old school diner and offers up some really good Southern dishes like Chicken Pot Pie, Shrimp and Grits, and the Blues Burger with Kick'n Peach BBQ Sauce, Blue Cheese and Bacon. Just what you need after 2200 steps!

What I Saw

Wonderful waterfalls, beautiful mountains, and goats—goats on a roof, as a matter of fact. Well, this was a bit different. In nearby Tiger, Georgia, I saw an interesting roadside attraction – Big Billy’s. It is a sort-of petting zoo where goats walked up and down walkways to the ground and back up to the roof. They sell goat food because the goats don't walk around for free.

What I Missed

I'd like to try more of the restaurants. There are so many good ones in Clayton, and I've heard they are all worth visiting. Plenty of shops in the downtown area too, such as Wander North Georgia, an outdoor shop that is locally owned and offers all things hiking and camping along with nice outerwear.

Timpson Creek Gallery is another unique shop and has been in business for more than 40 years. It is a specialty store that offers fine art, custom handmade jewelry and more.

A good way to chill after a day of hiking and shopping is a stop at an old auto shop downtown that has been transformed into Currahee Brewing and Tasting Room. They have a large front porch that is perfect for that cold, local IPA to end the day.

Tee Gentry has worked with KICKS 99 for more than 24 years as Operations Manager and Program Director and is on-air each afternoon 3 p.m.-7 p.m. When he’s not working, you’ll find him traveling the back roads, taking pictures, and searching for the next dive diner. He lives in North Augusta and on Saturdays in the fall, you’ll find him cooking out and watching his Clemson Tigers.