Escape to Georgia’s Blue Ridge

Escape to Blue Ridge, Georgia’s cherished mountain town just 90 miles from Atlanta, yet a world apart. Surrounded by 106,000 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Blue Ridge combines the natural beauty and adventure of the mountains with the charm and fun of a downtown filled with upscale boutique shops, craft breweries, and exceptional dining. For a peaceful mountain escape, rent one of the area’s 2,000+ luxury cabins, or stay in a downtown loft, hotel, or bed-and-breakfast, where everything is within walking distance.

Places to Eat and Drink

There are many ways to taste all this lush region has to offer. Start with one of five craft breweries, including Grumpy Old Men and Buck Bald Brewing. Then, sample the array of mountain-grown flavors at Bear Claw Vineyard. Or visit Mercier Orchards and sample some home-brewed hard apple cider. 

Local restaurants also showcase homegrown fare: Eat mountain trout from Toccoa Riverside or Harvest on Main, fried apple pies and apple-cider doughnuts from Mercier, and a Georgia’s Pride burger with bourbon-poached apples and melted goat cheese at Fightingtown Tavern. Dine at casual-upscale restaurants like Black Sheep and The General Ledger or at fun eateries like Chester Brunnenmeyer’s Bar & Grill, the Boat Dock Bar & Grill on Lake Blue Ridge, and Burra Burra on the River in nearby McCaysville. Find more places to eat and drink in and around Blue Ridge.

Explore the North Georgia Mountains

All that delicious food fuels easily accessed recreation. Two of the most incredible outdoor adventures in the world begin in Blue Ridge’s Fannin County: The Appalachian Trail and Benton MacKaye Trail, both starting at the top of Springer Mountain. Beyond those, there are more than 300 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails within a short drive of town. In fact, 16 different waterfalls are nearby, including Amicalola Falls, the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River.

Speaking of water, Blue Ridge is the Trout Capital of Georgia, with more than 100 miles of excellent trout-fishing rivers, creeks, and streams. Several guide services can set you up with all the tackle you need and lead you to the best spots on the Toccoa River, Rock Creek, Copper Creek, and beyond. You can also tube, kayak, or raft the Toccoa in Blue Ridge or McCaysville, rent a pontoon or paddleboard on Lake Blue Ridge, or go whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River.

Relax in a Blue Ridge Cabin or Other Luxury Lodging

When all that adventuring has worn you out, retire to a luxury mountain cabin for a peaceful retreat or choose to stay downtown, where everything is within walking distance. The area is peppered with cabins, B&Bs, campgrounds, treehouses, lodges, and hotels with mountain amenities that will make your getaway memorable, like cozy fireplaces, porches with stunning views, hot tubs under the stars, and close proximity to trails and fishing spots. Explore places to stay in and around Blue Ridge.

Catch the Train

Before you leave town, you must take one last excursion: The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Blue Ridge was established as a railroad town in the late 1800s, with the depot at its heart. Visitors would ride the train to the mountains to escape the summer heat and take in the mineral waters. Today, you can do the same, riding to McCaysville and crossing the Toccoa River Bridge to Copperhill, Tennessee, on a four-hour journey through the colorful Appalachian foothills of North Georgia.

Learn more about how to explore Georgia’s Blue Ridge.