[+] How do I travel to and from Hambidge?

Transportation to and from Hambidge is the responsibility of the attendee.
ARRIVAL TIME is 1-4pm on the first day of your workshop. Please arrange your travel so that you arrive during these hours. Orientation begins at 4pm and is mandatory for all attendees.

Hambidge is located in a rural area with no public transportation or ride share companies, so if visiting the surrounding area is important to you, but you aren't driving to Hambidge for your workshop, consider renting a car at the airport.

RECOMMENDED TRANSPORTATION:

Our recommended routes of transportation are either
1) Drive directly to Hambidge by car.
Hambidge is located on Betty's Creek Road, about 3-1/2 miles west of Highway 441 in Dillard, Georgia. The address is 105 Hambidge Ct, Rabun Gap, GA 30568. We are only a few miles from the Georgia/North Carolina border. The two largest towns near Dillard are Clayton, Georgia, 10 miles to the south and Franklin, North Carolina, 13 miles to the north.
OR
2) Fly to the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and either rent a car (from the Atlanta airport, it takes approximately 3 hours to get to Hambidge, depending on traffic) or take the North Georgia Shuttle (see below) to Clayton, Georgia, where we can arrange to pick you up and bring you to campus.

North Georgia Shuttle has a schedule of departures from the MARTA (Atlanta’s public transport system) station in Doraville, Georgia. It drops off at the Clayton Pharmacy in Clayton, Georgia. Rates are $45 (including taxes and fees) for each one-way trip, and the trip takes approximately 2.5 hours.

In order to get to the Shuttle pick-up point, you will need to take the train from the MARTA station located in the Atlanta airport to the Doraville MARTA station. Trains leave from the airport every 20 minutes, and it takes approximately 45 minutes to travel from the airport to Doraville. MARTA tickets cost $1-$3 and can be purchased at the stations. Alternatively, you can take Lyft or Uber from the airport to the Doraville MARTA station.

Prior to your journey, you will need to arrange with our Office for a Hambidge staff member to pick you up from Clayton and take you to campus. The ride from Clayton to Hambidge is approximately 20 minutes. There are no rideshare services in Clayton.

OTHER TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

BY PLANE
You may choose to fly into Greenville, South Carolina or Asheville, North Carolina. From the Greenville and Asheville airports, it is about a 2 hour drive to Hambidge. Car rentals are available at the airports.

Note: If you don’t want to rent a car, we recommend flying into Atlanta (see RECOMMENDED TRANSPORTATION above), however there are shuttle services you can engage if you choose to fly into the Greenville, Asheville, or Atlanta airports.

Shuttle Services to and from airports – Independent shuttle services are available to and from the airports listed above. The cost of these services ranges from $150-$250, one way. Service providers and phone numbers are as follows:
• Highlands Shuttle Service – Bob Dunn - (770) 402-0423
• Kat Shuttle Services – (706) 982-1313
• RoadRunner Driving Service – Darlene Swofford - (828) 524-3265, cell: (706) 201-7719
If you choose one of these shuttle services, make all arrangements directly with them in order to arrive at Hambidge on the first day of your workshop between 1-4pm. When prior arrangements are made with the service, the driver will usually stop to allow for a quick shopping trick to pick up personal necessities.

BY TRAIN
AMTRAK’s Crescent route runs between New York and New Orleans with many stops along the way, including Atlanta, Georgia. Arrival/Departure times are either 8:43am or 11pm. You will need to reserve Shuttle Service to travel from Atlanta to Hambidge (the North Georgia Shuttle is recommended, see details listed above).

If you take the North Georgia Shuttle, you will need to coordinate transportation from AMTRAK to the Shuttle pick-up point at the Doraville MARTA Station. This may be done via MARTA from the Arts Center Station, public bus, or Uber. You must also coordinate with the Hambidge Office for staff to pick you up at the Shuttle drop-off in Clayton, Georgia.

[+] What are the check-in and check-out procedures?

Check-in is 1-4pm on the first day of your workshop. If this is an impossibility, please confirm any deviation in advance with staff at workshops@hambidge.org. A mandatory group orientation is held at 4pm on the date of your arrival.

Departures are by 2pm on the final day of your workshop.

Transportation to and from Hambidge is your responsibility. If you are not driving directly to Hambidge, this will require some planning. Please refer to the extensive "Travel to and from Hambidge" section of the FAQs.

[+] Are meals served during workshops?

Three meals per day will be provided: a self-serve continental breakfast, and communal lunches and dinners. Meals will take place in the Bunnen Commons. Dietary allergies and restrictions will be accommodated, if at all possible.

[+] What are the Antinori Village rooms like?

The Antinori Village features eight guest rooms, a communal workshop and dining space, with decks, covered porches and outdoor spaces.

Each guest room holds a queen-sized bed, small desk and chair, plus a beautiful private view. All Dogtrot Rooms have en suite bathrooms, and Lodge Rooms have en suite half-baths with two shared showers. One Dogtrot Room offers ADA accessibility and an en suite bathroom.

[+] Is there internet access? What about cell phone service?

There is no cell service at Hambidge; however Wifi is available throughout the Antinori Village, in the guest rooms and in the Bunnen Commons.

[+] What is the terrain of the Antinori Village?

The Antinori Village buildings are positioned on a steep slope with concrete stairs and gravel walkways connecting the guest rooms, Bunnen Commons, and pottery facility. All guest rooms – except the ADA-accessible Dogtrot Room – require climbing several steps to access.

[+] What is the Hambidge property like?

Hambidge sits on 600 hilly and heavily wooded acres, with walking trails, streams, waterfalls, areas of flat wildflower meadows and a beaver bog. The area is a national repository for native plants and provides a protected site for endangered species. Hambidge is listed on the National Register for Historic Places as a rural historic district.

[+] What are the hiking trails like?

Attendees are welcome to hike the campus trails. A trail map will be provided. Hambidge trails range from gentle walks to steep, strenuous hikes. They range from half a mile to a couple miles in length. If you intend to hike, come prepared with proper footwear, layered clothing, and trekking poles, if needed. Also, it’s a good idea to bring a small daypack, water bottle, and a cap. If you have allergies to bee or insect stings, be sure to bring an Epipen or other necessary medication.

[+] What is the typical weather?

During the summer, the day temperatures vary from the 60s to the 90s and at night from the 50s to the 70s. In the winter, day temperatures range from the 20s to the 50s and at night from the mid-teens to the 30s. It rains quite often and can snow heavily in the winter months.

[+] What should I bring?

• A good flashlight
• Clothes for hiking: closed-toe hiking boots/shoes, long sleeved shirt, and pants. Trekking poles, if needed.
• Water bottle • Our evenings are chilly even in the summer. Pack a sweater or sweat shirt. In winter you’ll need the usual winter weather gear – coat, hat, gloves, boots, etc.
• We are located in a temperate rain forest. Bring a hooded rain jacket and waterproof shoes/boots, if possible.
• A bathing suit for dips in our swimming hole in Betty’s Creek.
• Any other items that are relevant to your personal fitness, comfort, or creative practice, ie. yoga mat, oil diffuser, bluetooth speaker, etc.

[+] May I bring my child?

No, Hambidge workshops are for adults only.

[+] May I bring my pet?

No, pets are not permitted. Licensed service animals will be accommodated. If you will be accompanied by a service animal, please notify us and provide registration papers at workshops@hambidge.org.

[+] What is the smoking and alcohol policy?

Smoking and vaping are not permitted in any buildings, including covered porches. Hambidge does not provide alcoholic beverages, though you are welcome to enjoy wine at dinner and other social settings. Recreational drugs are not permitted.

[+] Can I ship supplies to Hambidge?

Our physical address for directions, shipping, and your personal mail is 105 Hambidge Court, Rabun Gap, Georgia 30568. UPS and FedEx deliver to Hambidge at the above address. This is also the address you should give friends and family. For any packages or personal mail you plan to receive while on campus, please be sure to include your name.

[+] Do workshop attendees have access to office facilities?

A printer and copy machine are available in the main office during office hours: 10am-4pm, Monday-Friday. Printing that falls outside of workshop activities will incur a fee of five cents per page.

[+] Are there nearby emergency facilities?

If you have a chronic health condition that might precipitate a medical emergency considered life threatening, please note the following considerations. The nearest hospital, Mountain Lakes Medical Center is 10 miles away. They also offer urgent care services.

[+] What is your Cancellation Policy?

If an attendee cancels anytime up to 30 days before the beginning of a workshop, they will incur a cancellation fee of 30% of their total payment.

If an attendee cancels less than 30 days before the beginning of the workshop, they will incur a cancellation fee of 70% of their total payment. However, if an attendee tests positive for COVID-19 within the 10 days prior to your workshop, they should contact the Hambidge office.

Workshop cancellation requests must be submitted via email to workshops@hambidge.org.

In the case of a cancellation, Hambidge cannot be responsible for nonrefundable airline tickets or other travel expenses.

Workshops are transferable up to 4 days before the start of the workshop. A transfer request must be submitted to workshops@hambidge.org, and the necessary forms completed.

[+] What if Hambidge has to cancel a workshop?

The Hambidge Center will conduct workshops for which a minimum number of attendees are registered. Attendees who plan to fly should confirm the workshop has sufficient enrollment to run before purchasing an airline ticket.

If an instructor must cancel for health or family reasons, Hambidge will attempt to reschedule the workshop. Attendees will be given the choice of a full refund or a credit toward a future workshop.

In the event of a workshop cancellation, Hambidge is not responsible for nonrefundable airline tickets or other travel expenses.