Where is Blue Ridge, Georgia?

Blue Ridge, Georgia, is a cozy mountain and railroad town tucked away in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. It is located in Fannin County. It is located near the state line of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Blue Ridge is surrounded by many amazing towns, beautiful scenery, cozy cabins, and many fun things to do. It’s a great spot to bring the family!

Blue Ridge, Georgia, is located about 90 miles northwest of Atlanta. It is easy to drive to from most places in the Southeast. If you live close, it’s perfect for a day trip. If you live further away, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer trip. There are plenty of adventures to be had in Blue Ridge, Georgia. You can even venture to other towns for a day near Blue Ridge, Georgia to get a feel for other mountain towns and what they have to offer.

How to Get Around Blue Ridge, Georgia

Blue Ridge, Georgia is a spread-out mountain town. There are tons of places to travel to! Most things take some time to travel to. The best way to get around in Blue Ridge is to drive, especially if you stay in a cozy cabin.

I would suggest buying a map of the area in case you lose cell service. Depending on your GPS, it can stop working due to a lack of service. Cell service can be lost or spotty in many areas of Blue Ridge.

If you are visiting the downtown area, I suggest driving nearby and parking your vehicle. You can usually find a parking area close by! Doing this will allow you to walk through the downtown area and get the best experience out of it.

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Places to stay in Blue Ridge, Georgia

The mountains of Blue Ridge, Georgia, are so tranquil and beautiful. I love staying in a cabin to get the full experience of the mountains. Early morning coffee on a porch looking out over the mountains… nothing beats it. The cool crispness in the air, the sounds of the animals and wildlife, and a beautiful sunrise if you’re lucky!

If you are looking to rent a cabin in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains, there are several great companies to book through!

I suggest doing a cabin rental through Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals or Mountain Hideaway Cabin Vacation Rentals. We have used both of these companies and have not been disappointed! Great customer service, easy to book, and the cabins are gorgeous!

The cabins are tucked away in the mountains and provide a serene place to stay while on vacation in Blue Ridge, Georgia. One with a hot tub is always my favorite!

There are also some great and affordable cabin rental options on Air B&B. Many people in the North Georgia Mountains rent out their cabins while they are away.

Closer to the downtown area you have a few options for places to stay:

• Blue Ridge Inn Bed & Breakfast- This Bed & Breakfast will give you a homey, comfortable, and unique place to stay while visiting Blue Ridge, Georgia. We personally love to stay in Bed & Breakfasts because of the personalized service, the wonderful breakfast, tea time, and the friendly staff! The Blue Ridge Inn Bed & Breakfast is located right in the heart of downtown and is the perfect place to stay for exploring downtown.
• Comfort Inn & Suites- A more affordable option, the Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel is also a great option close to downtown. It’s a very nice hotel with free breakfast, and it’s also pet-friendly!
• Blue Ridge Lodge & RV Park- Many people love road trips with their RVs! The Blue Ridge Lodge & RV Park is a great place to stay near Lake Blue Ridge. It’s not far from downtown Blue Ridge, either! It’s the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors. There are picnic areas, mountain views, and places to go fishing.
• Serenity in the Mountains- If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend, this spa is the place to stay! Enjoy a peaceful and serene weekend in the mountains with some relaxing time at the spa.

Best Time To Visit Blue Ridge, Georiga

There is not a bad time to visit Blue Ridge, Georgia. Deciding on the best time to go really depends on what you want to do when you visit.

Spring and fall are beautiful for anywhere in northern Georgia. Seeing the spring colors coming alive and the fall foliage is breathtaking. Taking scenic drives during this time of year is great!

We love spending time in Blue Ridge during the fall. The fall is a great time to visit because the weather is very nice and enjoyable. This is also the time for fall festivals!

The warmer months are perfect for doing water activities. You can enjoy visiting beautiful Lake Blue Ridge, going kayaking, and enjoying some fishing.

Winter is when you have the best chance of seeing snow, but it is also a great time to see local waterfalls when hiking.

Each season comes with its own fun things to do. Continue reading to see what you would like to do when visiting to decide on the best time.

Restaurants to Visit in Blue Ridge, Georgia

We have visited a lot of different restaurants in Blue Ridge, Georgia, with different styles of cuisine. We have never been disappointed with the restaurants and food we have tried!

• Danielle’s Café- a wonderful French cuisine restaurant. It is in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge and can be accessed by parking downtown and walking to it. The owner is French and makes authentic meals. My husband and I ate at Danielle’s Café for the first-time last year. We ate here right before we traveled to France. We were so excited to get a taste of what we were looking forward to with our big trip!
• Toccoa Riverside Restaurant- Located next to the peaceful river, this restaurant is a personal favorite of ours. The drive through the beautiful mountains to get to this restaurant is amazing! Have a seat by the river or inside looking out over the river. The menu is diverse, from fresh fish to steaks to salad. You can’t go wrong with this choice.
• Pink Pig BBQ- Do you want some of the best BBQ you have ever had? The Pink Pig BBQ is an excellent place for pulled pork, brisket, and more! It is technically located in Cherry Log, Georgia, which is a short drive from Blue Ridge.
• Van Zandts Riverwalk Grill– Van Zandt’s is a little hole-in-the-wall place that was recommended to us by a friend. It’s part of a small convenience store, but the food was fabulous! If the food doesn’t have you coming back, the view from the front porch will!
• Southern Charm Restaurant– This restaurant is exactly what it says.. a charming little place to eat while visiting Blue Ridge! It’s the perfect place for amazing deep southern food. You can’t visit the South and not indulge in all of our southern delicacies!
• Black Sheep– The Black Sheep Restaurant is a beautiful to eat brunch, lunch, or dinner. It is located in the Historic Butt House in downtown Blue Ridge. It’s one of the best spots to hang out in Blue Ridge. They have the largest outdoor bar and patio area in downtown. At the Black Sheep, you will enjoy good food, good drinks, and good times!
• Whiskey & Water– Whiskey & Water is a seafood and bourbon bar located in the heart of downtown Blue Ridge. Enjoy fresh seafood and a nice cocktail during an evening enjoying the Blue Ridge atmosphere.
• Rum Cake Lady– The Rum Cake Lady Cuban Cafe is a fun and authentic place to try something new! Cuban comfort food is what they offer, and you will love trying new food and desserts. It’s set up as a fast-casual cafe. You will enjoy the atmosphere, the food, and the friendly faces.

Things to do Outside in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Blue Ridge, Georgia is filled with many outdoor activities that are fun for the whole family. Try something thrilling, peaceful, or just new and fun.

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a BLAST. It is something you can do with the whole family, and everyone will love it! The train offers open and closed cabs, and I prefer the open cab. It allows you to take in the sights, smells, and fresh air of the mountains. The train ride is a total of 4 hours through the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. You also get to get out of the train and explore in McCaysville, Georgia, before heading back to Blue Ridge.

Apple Picking

Apple picking is very popular in Blue Ridge and surrounding areas. Mercier Orchards (my absolute favorite) is a great place to go apple picking! They usually have a u-pick event all throughout apple season with many varieties of apples. They load everyone up on a wagon and take you out to the orchards. You can spend the day picking your apples and spending time outdoors with your family. The orchard is huge, and the apples are so good. Once you are finished, you can spend some time shopping and check out their huge selection of other fruits and vegetables.

There are several other apple orchards in Ellijay, Georgia, which is an easy drive from Blue Ridge if you want to check those out as well. I recommend visiting Hillcrest Orchards and Farms and R & A Orchards.

Ziplining

Blue Ridge, Georgia, offers outdoor adventures by going Ziplining! The company, Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge, offers different ziplining tours throughout the mountains. They also have a neat challenge course for all you adrenaline junkies! Enjoy the outdoors, soak up some sun, and get your adventure on.

Hiking

Blue Ridge would not be what it is without all the beautiful nature, scenery, and views. One of my favorite parts about Blue Ridge is enjoying nature while hiking with my husband. There are several really good places to go hiking!

• The Aska trail- The Aska trail system is open year round and is located in the Chattahoochee National Forest.
• Amicalola Falls- Amicalola Falls is a state park located in Dawsonville, Georgia. It’s not far from Blue Ridge and is worth the drive. You can hike to the top of the falls, which are beautiful! Grab your hiking boots, pack a lunch, and enjoy a beautiful day hiking to the top.
• Springer Mountain- If you want to experience hiking on the Appalachian trail, the trailhead to Springer Mountain begins at the top of Amicalola Falls. A day hike on the AT is always fun!
• Fall Branch Falls- Hiking about half a mile on the Benton Mackaye Trail will bring you to the beautiful sight of Fall Branch Falls. It’s a family-friendly and pet-friendly hike.
• Long Creek Falls- It is also located on the Appalachian Trail. It is worth every step to get there! It is a gorgeous hike to the falls. Long Creek Falls is a beautiful place to sit and enjoy the waterfalls, have a picnic and explore.

If you catch the weather on a great day, you will be lucky enough to enjoy one of the best things about Blue Ridge, Georgia… the serene nature and beautiful scenery it has to offer.

Street Art

Downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia, is a very unique area. There are some unique stores that I have not seen anywhere else! There is also street art from local artists on the side of buildings as you walk through downtown. It’s nice to take a moment and admire the artwork done by locals. Throughout the year, they also have different events that showcase artwork by local artists. One of my favorite events is the ice sculpture event! Each store has a different ice sculpture out front.

Horseback Riding

Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides is one of the best places near Blue Ridge, Georgia, to go horseback riding. They are very experienced, knowledgeable, and safe. It’s the perfect spot to have family fun or a date night with a sunset ride. Enjoy a nice view of the Cohutta mountains with a trail ride!

Toccoa River Swinging Bridge

The swinging bridge is located on the Benton Mackaye Hiking Trail. It’s a great destination for a day hike. It’s beautiful! It’s the longest swinging footbridge to the east of the Mississippi River.

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Free Things to do in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Just like any place you visit, Blue Ridge, Georgia, has a few things you can do with your family that are free!

Lake Blue Ridge

Spend some time soaking up the sun, trout fishing, or having a picnic by Lake Blue Ridge. Lake Blue Ridge is beautiful and is bordered by the Chattahoochee National Forest. It makes for a good spot to take the family and enjoy some time outdoors. It is even better because it’s free!

Fannin County Veterans Memorial Park

Take some time to honor our veterans at Fannin County Veterans Memorial Park. The park is very well maintained and is easy to maneuver through. It is a great place to teach a history lesson to your children while thanking those who have served our country.

Big Foot Museum Satellite Store

The Big Foot Museum satellite store is in downtown Blue Ridge. They give you a peek into what the Big Foot museum is all about! They have a few displays set out, and they provide you with cool facts and information about Big Foot. It is free to enter. If you are skeptical about visiting the Big Foot Museum, I would visit their satellite store to see what it is all about! You will not be disappointed with the interesting things you will see.

Art Galleries

Strolling through an art gallery is always so peaceful. Looking at beautiful, unique artwork is a great way to get your creativity flowing and you never know, you may find the perfect missing piece for your home! There are several local art galleries in Blue Ridge. Pezrock is the most unique place I’ve been! If you’re interested in checking out art galleries, here are a few that are easy to locate:

• Pezrock
• High Country Art & Antiques
• Turning Leaf Wood Art
• Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association
• Doreen’s Art House

Things to do with kids in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Many of the options I have listed above are perfect for you to do with the whole family. Exploring downtown Blue Ridge is always fun for the kids because there are shops, entertainment, and sweets they will love. There are man options for things to do with your kids in Blue Ridge!

• 2^nd Story Entertainment– Mini Golf Anyone?
• Huck’s General Store– Let them fill up a bag full of candy!
• The Blue Ridge Depot– See the train come & go.
• Blue Ridge City Park– Time for picnics & the playground!
• Huck’s Lost Mine– The perfect place to let your kids participate in gem mining! There’s also a fun gift shop to get a tresure in before leaving.
• Escape Blue Ridge– Have you ever done an escape room? It is so much fun! The entire family will enjoy working together to escape!
• Big Foot Museum- The actual Big Foot museum, Expedition Big Foot, is located between Ellijay and Blue Ridge. The kids will love learning about Big Foot and how to hunt for him! I suggest taking them to the museum because you will love it just as much as your kids will!
• Gem Mining- Who doesn’t love gem mining? See what you can discover at one of the several gem mining operations in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Wineries and Breweries

It wouldn’t be Blue Ridge without visiting some wineries and breweries.

My husband and I love visiting the local wineries in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Who doesn’t love a few wine tastings? One of our favorites is the Engelhiem Vineyards. It is technically located in Ellijay but is not a far drive from Blue Ridge. They have a beautiful setup, and you can sit out on the patio and enjoy a glass of wine with a beautiful view and they usually have live music. They also do tours through their vineyard! There are some other great options in Blue Ridge like Mercier Orchards tasting room and Bear Claw Vineyards. If you enjoy trying wine, I suggest visiting any of these vineyards!

• Mercier Orchard Tasting Room
• Bear Claw Winery
• Cartecay Vineyards
• Grumpy Old Men Brewing
• Angry Hops Brewing
• Tipping Point Brewing Company

I hope you have fun planning your trip to Blue Ridge, Georgia, an amazing North Georgia Mountain Town. It really is a beautiful place to visit packed with tons of fun! If you have any questions, please reach out to me. We visit Blue Ridge quite often and I am familiar with most of the areas around Blue Ridge, Georgia.

Until Next Time,

The Traveling Tylers