Blue Ridge: Mother Nature’s Best-Kept Secret (4/4)

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From fresh air and scenic views to train rides, great dining and relaxing places to stay, Blue Ridge, Georgia, is a chic and casual vacation destination for those looking to get away and get outside. Located only 90 minutes north of Atlanta, Blue Ridge is a charming mountain town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Welcoming thousands of visitors each year, it is not surprising that it was named by Southern Living Magazine as one of the “South’s Best Mountain Towns, 2021.” Whether you are interested in a romantic weekend for two, something fun to do over Spring Break or a new adventure with your friends, surround yourself with beauty, relaxation and natural fun in Blue Ridge.

At the heart of every visit is Blue Ridge’s historic downtown. Founded in 1886 as a result of the arrival of the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad, it was once touted as the “Switzerland of the South.” Today, it is the perfect blend of old and new, offering amazing shopping and dining in a quaint small-town setting. From antique shops to mountain outfitters to clothing boutiques, there is enough to keep you busy all day, but if you need a breather, find a bench in the nearby Blue Ridge City Park for a dose of fresh mountain air and some people watching. And a bit unexpected for a mountain town, Blue Ridge is home to a vibrant arts scene with art galleries featuring work from local artisans and a great community theater.

If you are wondering about where to stay, there is a perfect cabin, luxury vacation home, hotel or bed and breakfast waiting for you. From the historic Blue Ridge Inn Bed and Breakfast to the Hampton Inn, the hardest part about deciding where to stay is choosing between luxury properties with stunning mountain views, creekside retreats, riverfront fishing lodges, cabins on the lake, quaint bed and breakfasts, hotels, resorts or campgrounds. You can even stay at a vineyard, a working farm or in a treehouse!

As for dining, with its small-town feel and surrounding Blue Ridge mountains, food in and around Blue Ridge just tastes better. A lot of restaurants take inspiration from Appalachian culture and source fresh, local produce from North Georgia farmers. You’ll find great options in Blue Ridge, many right on Main Street, as well as in nearby Ellijay, McCaysville, Morganton and beyond. From classics like slow-cooked barbecue, fresh trout and fried apple pies to Polish, Italian, European, Mexican and more Southern flavors! Be it breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack time or cocktail hour, there is no shortage of great places to eat and drink.

But make no mistake, the real draw to this area is outdoor adventure. Nature’s playground, Blue Ridge is located on the edge of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, a national treasure that stretches for 867,000± mountainous acres with thousands of miles of clear-running streams, waterfalls and rivers, and approximately 850 miles of recreation trails – 300 of which are just moments from Blue Ridge. Add in the crystal clear waters of Lake Blue Ridge and the Toccoa River and you have all the makings of a natural wonderland that offers some of the finest outdoor recreation in the South, as well as rich scenery, history and culture. With so much to see and do, it is easy to get overwhelmed.

Here are some fun ways to explore the area.

• Blue Ridge Scenic Railway – As it was a century ago, one of the best ways to take in the sights of Blue Ridge and its surrounding area is still by train. Step back in time and join the many generations who have taken the spectacular journey through the wondrous Appalachian foothills of North Georgia aboard the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Start your four-hour journey at the historic depot in downtown Blue Ridge. From there, the 26-mile ride follows the Toccoa River through the scenic landscape and Chattahoochee National Forest. You will even have a two-hour stop in the sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee, where you can have one foot in each of the two states! Be sure to visit Toccoa – Ocoee Street and explore delightful eateries, antique shops, specialty stores and art galleries before heading back.

• Chattahoochee National Forest – If exploring on foot is more your speed, Blue Ridge offers easy access to some of Georgia’s most scenic trails. Hikers can choose from dozens of trails with varying levels of difficulty and terrain – some even lead all the way up to stunning mountaintop vistas! Popular trails include the Appalachian Trail, which starts at Springer Mountain, and the Benton MacKaye Trail. You will find the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River on the Benton MacKaye Trail. Access to the 260-foot suspension bridge is located on each side of the Toccoa River and provides short, pleasant walks.

• Blue Ridge Canopy Tour – If you want more of a bird’s eye view of the dazzling forest, try ziplining through the trees at speeds of up to 40 mph while taking in stunning views of the surrounding mountainside. The property is what distinguishes a good zipline course, and the 165-acre tract of land that Blue Ridge Zipline Canopy Tours flows through is some of North Georgia’s best views. The course has over 6,000 feet of cable, allowing participants to zip for one mile through the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains. Never done anything like this before? No worries. All zipline tours are guided and require no experience.

• Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides – Another way to enjoy the wonderful scenery of Blue Ridge is on horseback. Visit Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides and let their very experienced guides match you with the right horse and take you out on the Valley Trail – an easy trail for beginners or families, the Fairy Cross Trip – which combines riding with hunting for the famous fairy crosses, a ride that comes with a picnic by a cool creek, or the sunset ride. There are even special proposal rides and romantic rides. And when you come back to the barnyard, you can take a wagon ride, feed the many chickens, relax in a comfortable rocking chair or fish in the pond.

• Lake Blue Ridge – With 80 percent of Lake Blue Ridge’s shoreline in the Chattahoochee National Forest, a day floating out on the crystal clear waters is yet another way to immerse yourself in the beauty of the surrounding landscape. One of Georgia’s most picturesque lakes, it is 11 miles long with approximately 65 miles of shoreline and its pristine 3,290± acres is the ideal spot for fishing, swimming and boating. There are several places to launch your boat and if you do not have your own, some of the surrounding facilities, including Lake Blue Ridge Marina and Blue Ridge Boat Rentals, offer paddle boards, kayaks, tubes, skis and pontoon boat rentals. Even if you are not out on the water, it is a good place for quiet walks and easy bike rides. There is a short, easy hike along the shoreline and also a one-mile paved loop road that is popular for walking.

• Toccoa River – One of the few rivers in the United States that actually flows North, the name Toccoa is derived from the Cherokee “Ta Gura Hi” meaning “Home of the Catawba” – a separate tribe who lived in this area briefly in the 1700s. It is a hotspot, especially during warmer months, for tubing, kayaking and rafting, which can be booked through local outfitters. Lake Blue Ridge Outfitters, Jon Ron Toccoa River Outfitters and Rolling Thunder River Company run river trips and also rent kayaks. Or you can rent a kayak from Blue Ridge Mountain Kayaking or just relax and float down the river with Toccoa River Tubing and Toccoa Valley Campground and Tubing. If fishing is more your angle, the Toccoa and its tributaries possess all three species of trout found in Georgia, brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout, so be sure to pack your fishing gear.

• The possibilities for fun and adventure in Blue Ridge are nearly limitless. From fabulous accommodations, stunning views, hiking trails, waterfalls and wineries to craft breweries, galleries, restaurants, shops and friendly people, it is hard not to fall in love with this quaint mountain town. Once considered an elite health resort because of its pure mineral waters, today, it offers something for everyone to enjoy. Learn about additional sights and activities in and around Blue Ridge that can make your trip one to remember.  

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