Attractions in North Georgia A Must-See

North Georgia getaways hold the potential for limitless recreation and amusement for the whole family. Whether you crave the inspiration of original art, the excitement of creative discovery, or the spectacle of natural wonder, you’ll find it here. From mountains to waterways, and everything in-between, with heaping helpings of Southern charm, here are our picks for the best attractions in the Blue Ridge area.

 

Blue Ridge Mountain Food Tours

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Let Blue Ridge Mountain Food Tours introduce you to the finest craft brews and culinary delights in the North Georgia Mountains. Their three-hour guided walking tours through Downtown Blue Ridge are a must for any foodie or culturist. Enjoy 20-25 minute stops at 5-6 restaurants or breweries, depending on your choice of themed tours: Brew House Tour, Fabulous Foodie Tour, or Sugar High Tour. At each stop, guests will sample menu offerings while owners, managers and/or chefs discuss their specialties.
 

Mercier Orchards

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Located in Blue Ridge, Mercier Orchards has been welcoming guests with seasonal u-picks, home-baked goods, wine, and more since 1943. All year long, the Mercier family provides small-town farm fun on 300 acres with tractor rides, family-friendly obstacle course, fishing, and festivals.
 

BJ Reece Orchards

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From late-August through late-October, stop by Ellijay’s BJ Reece Orchards for u-pick apples as well as a country bakery, petting farm, pony rides and more. The orchards are open for picking daily, but farm fun activities are weekends only, in-season.
 

Fausett Sunflower Farm

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For about a month in the early fall each year, Fausett Sunflower Farm in Dawsonville offers 30+ acres of vibrant sunflowers for picking. The fields also make for breathtaking photoshoots! Fausett Sunflower Farm also offers mule-drawn wagon rides, fresh snacks, and farm goods for purchase, as well as miles of trails to explore.
 

Burt’s Farm

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Throughout the fall, get your Blue Ridge farm fix at Burt’s Farm with pumpkin picking, hayrides, a country store, and more.
 

Amicalola Falls State Park

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Couple your visit to Burt’s Farm with an expedition to Amicalola Falls, which is only a half-mile walk away to a footbridge that crosses the falls. Amicalola Falls is a 729-foot waterfall on Amicalola Creek and the highest waterfall in Georgia. The falls are the centerpiece of Amicalola Falls State Park - 829 acres of scenic mountain wilderness in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Visitors to the pet-friendly State Park can enjoy diverse hiking trails, including an 8.5-mile trail to Springer Mountain, at the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. The park also offers a visitor center, picnic shelters, an amphitheater, two playgrounds, comfort stations, and the Maple Restaurant at the Amicalola Lodge.
 

Benton MacKaye Trail

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Along the 78.6-mile Georgia section of the Appalachian Trail, you can follow in the footsteps of the man who originally envisioned it, on the nearly 300-mile trail that bears his name - the Benton MacKaye Trail. Blue Ridge is the first town on the Benton MacKaye Trail system, which traverses the county into the Cohutta Wilderness after splitting from the Appalachian Trail, before leading into Tennessee. The Georgia Loop said to be the toughest hike in Georgia, is a 55-mile triangle of the Benton Mackaye Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Duncan Ridge Trail. While exploring the BMT, make sure to visit Fall Branch Falls. Known for its series of cascades, this is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North Georgia. It’s about a half-mile round trip, and appropriate for all ages and skill levels.
 

Aska Adventure Area

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Nestled within the Aska Adventure Area just outside of Blue Ridge, Lilly Pad Village offers gem mining, fishing, mini-golf, hiking, and outdoor play in a beautiful mountain setting with inspiring views and nature’s tranquility. The Aska Adventure Area is also home to numerous hiking trails, the Sandy Bottoms fishing and swimming hole, and water recreation like tubing, kayaking, and fishing on the Toccoa River.

Blue Ridge, Georgia is the Trout Capital of Georgia, and the Toccoa River is the jewel in that crown! There are many outfitters and guides to provide equipment, lessons, and tips for a successful angling mission. The Toccoa River is also the site of the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge. This 270-foot-long suspension bridge is the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi River, accessible via a short hike along the Benton MacKaye Trail.
 

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

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Another way to experience the Toccoa River is from The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway (BRSR). The BRSR hosts 4-hour, 26-mile round-trip tours through the Appalachian foothills, along the Toccoa River, and through the Chattahoochee National Forest. Departing from Blue Ridge, guests enjoy a two-hour layover to explore the border areas of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee before the return trip.
 

Horseback Tours

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Adventure is the main event when you set your sights on sightseeing by horseback! The Blue Ridge area has several horseback tour guides offer tours for any experience level. Appalachian Trail Rides is a popular choice for all ages. This 250-acre facility provides guided horseback tours through scenic trails along lakes and streams at the foothills of the mountains.
 

Hamilton Gardens

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During the spring months, make sure to catch the blossoming explosion of color at Hamilton Gardens in Hiawassee. Visitors can stroll through the 33-acre gardens to discover more than 1,100 species of plants along Lake Chatuge, beneath Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest peak. A seasonal shuttle invites guests to skip the steep 4,784-ft. climb to the top of Brasstown Bald, where an observation deck offers a birds-eye view of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, the Carolinas, and Tennessee.
 

Old Courthouse Museum

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Beneath the imposing majesty of Brasstown Bald, the town of Blairsville is home to the Old Courthouse Museum (the oldest working courthouse in Georgia), which is a great stop for history buffs.
 

Lasso the Moon Alpaca Farm

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If you have a crafter or an animal lover in your travel party, Lasso the Moon Alpaca Farm is a wonderfully unique location that combines both for a memorable experience available by appointment only. Visit the alpacas, and then stick around for a felting or fiber arts class!
 

Explore the Attractions in North Georgia

Centrally located to the best of the Blue Ridge Mountain region, our vacation home rentals in Ellijay, Morganton, Mineral Bluff, Cherry Log, and Blue Ridge, Georgia provide the perfect home base to see and do it all. Waterfront and mountain view properties available for an immersive, next-level vacation experience!