This 8,000-acre private development in North Georgia attracts those looking to get active in the great outdoors without having to sacrifice the comfort and amenities of a gated community. In addition to the 10-court tennis complex and 27-hole championship golf course, there are three man-made lakes, so you can spend the morning casting for crappie on Lake Sconti, the afternoon sunning yourself on the sandy shores of Lake Disharoon, and the evening enjoying a sunset cruise on Lake Petit. You might spot a bald eagle or even a black bear while hiking the 20 miles of fern-lined trails that meander past waterfalls and Native American rock mounds. Venture beyond the gates and you'll find yourself surrounded by a more untamed wilderness: nearly two million acres of protected state and federal land, including the Chattahoochee National Forest and the mythic Appalachian Trail, plus the quaint mountain towns of Dahlonega, Ellijay, and Blue Ridge.

Big Canoe is generally a year-round destination, attracting swimmers and boaters in the summer and golfers in the winter, when the courses are typically open, barring snow. The community sits at an elevation of 3,200 feet, leaving it cooler and less humid in the summer than Atlanta, but not quite lofty enough to be hit by major winter weather. In the cooler months, it’s wise to pack layers, as evenings can get chilly at this altitude. Spring and fall are ideal times to experience the local flora in all its glory: daffodils bloom in March, and by mid-October the autumn leaves begin to put on their show. Fall is also a great time to catch harvest season in the nearby wine country, and take in annual events like the Georgia Marble Festival. (Georgia marble has been used in the Lincoln Memorial, the U.S. Supreme Court, and Arlington National Cemetery.)

Amicalola Falls State Park

Just 20 minutes from Big Canoe, Amicalola (a Cherokee word meaning “tumbling waters”) is Georgia’s tallest waterfall, with a cascade of more than 700 feet. The park also offers activities like ziplining and miles of hiking trails, including one that leads to Springer Mountain, where the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail ends.

Gibbs Gardens

This botanical marvel 15 minutes south of Big Canoe claims the country’s largest Japanese garden, filled with flowering cherry trees and weeping willows. Between babbling brooks, idyllic footbridges, and pink and purple crape myrtle suspended over the landscape, the garden is different at every visit. Millions of white, yellow, orange, and cream-colored daffodils bloom in spring; daylilies and roses take center stage in the summer, and more than 200 varieties of Japanese maple show off their vivid colors in the fall. Note that it’s closed in winter.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

There’s something timeless about watching the falling leaves in autumn from aboard an antique railcar. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway offers a four-hour round-trip train ride through North Georgia and its charming mountain towns. The train departs from a historic 1905 train depot in downtown Blue Ridge (about a 45-minute drive from Big Canoe), whose restaurants, shops, and breweries are worth exploring on their own.