Ellijay

As the “Apple Capital of Georgia,” Ellijay is known for its farms, orchards, wineries – and festivals celebrating those activities. There’s also a charming downtown area with quaint shops and local restaurants, plus an abundance of outdoor activities like hiking, biking and watersports thanks to the city’s location nestled in the North Georgia mountains.

Kids will find plenty of farm fun where they can pick apples, ride wagons and run through corn mazes, and the area’s outdoor beauty provides plenty of places to play on the water. Nearby Amicalola Falls State Park features waterfalls and ziplining, plus there’s the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, Blue Ridge Adventure Park and other kid-friendly attractions.

A romantic getaway in Ellijay is filled with visits to beautiful wineries, intimate farm-to-table dinners and stays at cozy cabins and inns. For a special treat, indulge in a luxury escape at Valhalla Resort Hotel inside the Innsbruck Golf Community. This striking Old World Scottish castle is made for romance! 

Based on its status as the “Apple Capital of Georgia,” many signature festivals center around apples, including the Georgia Apple Festival each October. Other flavorful events include the Blue Ridge Mountains Wine & Jazz Festival, Ellijay Bacon Fest, Cartecay Vineyards Crush Festival. Other festivals celebrate the area’s outdoor experiences, arts and culture.

Although Ellijay is a year-round destination, it is especially popular in the fall for apple-picking, orchard and winery visits, scenic hikes and viewing colorful foliage. Spring and summer are popular seasons for outdoor activities, while winter is a great time for cozy cabin escapes.  

While summers can be warm and humid, with high temperatures in the 80s, spring and fall tend to be very comfortable and cold winters are usually short.

Ellijay is located on the edge of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in the North Georgia mountains, not far from the borders with Tennessee and North Carolina.

The closest major airports to Ellijay are in Chattanooga (CHA), Atlanta (ATL) and Knoxville (KBN), which are all between 60-80 miles away. For a smaller option, Dalton Municipal Airport (DNN) is only 22 miles from Ellijay.