1. Get away completely
Wake up to cool, crisp mornings with a cup of coffee on the porch. After a day of fun and adventure, finish the day in the same spot enjoying a glorious mountain sunset with a glass of wine or sweet iced tea. You may never want to leave the porch, but don’t miss out on the fun of exploring the Georgia mountains.
2. Take in the beautiful mountain scenery
Winter, summer, spring and fall, Georgia’s Blue Ridge is simply beautiful. Winter is the quiet season, with occasional snow. Spring is best for trout fishing, wildflowers, blooming dogwoods and native azaleas. Summer brings a profusion of mountain laurel and rhododendron blossoms, along with warmer water for tubing & rafting. Blue Ridge is the perfect place to experience the brilliant colors of fall, or to enjoy the holidays with family and friends. Explore Blue Ridge mountains and countryside with one of our Scenic Driving Tours. Drives range from 1/2 day to full day trips with lots of mountain scenery and attractions along the way. Download driving tour here.
3. Explore the town of Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge was once considered an elite health resort because of its pure mineral waters. It was established as a railroad town, with the depot at its heart. Visitors would ride the train to town, eat dinner and take a leisurely walk to the mineral springs after dinner. Today, visitors still ride the train and take a walk along Main Street, enjoying the antique and specialty shops, galleries, restaurants, small town atmosphere and friendly people. First time visitors are amazed at the number and quality of shops and restaurants in downtown Blue Ridge. Download the Blue Ridge Historic Walking Tour here.
4. McCaysville & The Copper Basin
A river runs through the quaint town of McCaysville, twin city with Copperhill, Tennessee. Stand in both states at one time at the Blue Line, which marks the spot where Georgia ends and Tennessee begins. Here the Toccoa River becomes the Ocoee River, flowing northward into Tennessee. Download the Copper Basin Historic Discovery Tour.
5. Fine Dining & Fun Eateries
Local food is an essential part of the trip when you visit Georgia’s Blue Ridge. Add five local breweries and two wineries to the mix and you’ve got a pretty eclectic dining experience in a small town setting. Read our restaurant guide here.
6. Discover Blue Ridge's artsy vibe
Blue Ridge has an artsy vibe, with a vibrant arts scene, galleries, live music and great community theater to sweeten your Blue Ridge experience.
Find information about events and exhibits at the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Center here. Purchase theater tickets at the Blue Ridge Community Theater online here.
7. Ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway or Blue Ridge Scenic Railbikes
Take a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway along the Toccoa River from Blue Ridge to McCaysville. Board the train at the historic depot in Blue Ridge. The view changes with the seasons. Special trips are planned throughout the year like the Firecracker Special and the Santa Express trips. Open March through December. Want to be more active? Check out their new Railbike experience!
Call 1-800-934-1898 or visit Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.
8. Hiking & Outdoor Adventure
Two of the greatest outdoor adventures in the world begin in Fannin County. Both the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails start at the top of Springer Mountain. There are over 300 miles of hiking trails in the area, including short trails suitable for beginning hikers and families. Download our hiking guide here.
9. Wander through waterfalls
There are 16 waterfalls within a short drive of Blue Ridge on our self-guided waterfall map guide which you can download on blueridgemountains.com. Download the waterfall map
10. Playing In The Water
The best waterparks are those created by nature, and there are plenty of options in the Blue Ridge Area. The most popular family pastime in the summer is probably tubing the clear, chilly Toccoa River either above the Lake Blue Ridge dam on Aska Road or below in McCaysville. But there are lots of ways to enjoy our rivers, streams and lakes, including rafting, canoeing, kayaking, pontooning and paddle boarding. Click here for a list of rafting and tubing rental companies and guides.