Outdoor recreation drives most visits to Hiawassee. The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds on Lake Chatuge host the annual Georgia Mountain Fair each summer and a fall festival in October. Brasstown Bald, just a short drive south, is the highest point in Georgia and worth a visit for the views. The Fred Hamilton Rhododendron Garden on the Fairgrounds is spectacular in spring. Anglers can fish the Hiawassee River and several nearby mountain streams for trout, and Lake Chatuge is good for kayaking and boating.