First settled as a railroad town in the 1800s, the town of Blue Ridge, Georgia is a popular mountain getaway. It’s a short drive from Atlanta and can be a base for exploring other North Georgia towns.
The quaint downtown features shops and galleries, restaurants, and even breweries. Further afield, visitors can enjoy the great outdoors, including hikes, whitewater rafting, trout fishing, and wildlife spotting.
Take advantage of the app on Visit Blue Ridge, which has self-drive trails around Fannin County.
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Where to Eat in Blue Ridge
Despite the town’s relatively small size, you’re never far from a delicious meal.
Breakfast
Mercier Cafe– Mercier Orchards has a breakfast buffet at their main location but also has a cafe downtown with similar offerings. Start your day with a chicken biscuit, omelet, or apple cinnamon French toast.
Das Kaffee Haus– The downtown shop has European-style coffee and desserts. They source coffee from Atlanta roaster Batdorf & Bronson and have pastries like doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and strudels.
Rum Cake Lady– Have a late breakfast at the Blue Ridge kiosk or the McCaysville for rum bundt cakes and Cuban-style coffee. Later in the day, you can have empanadas, tamales, and sandwiches.
Lunch
Toccoa Riverside Restaurant– Enjoy a glass of wine on the river’s edge or dine on local trout, steaks, seafood, and pasta. There’s even a dog-friendly area.
Southern Charm Restaurant– The cozy restaurant in a Victorian home has the best Southern food around. Don’t miss the biscuits with apple butter, North Georgia rainbow trout, and fried green tomatoes.
Angelina’s Deli and Gourmet Market– Stop by for a gourmet sandwich or garden fresh salad with the finest local ingredients. They also have a nice selection of wine, cheese, and charcuterie to take with you.
Dinner
Black Sheep Restaurant Bar & Patio– Set in a historic home, the restaurant includes Southern fare and international dishes. Menu highlights include fresh pasta, elk chops, and steaks.
Harvest on Main– The award-winning eatery in a former storefront has local ingredients like Georgia shrimp, Logan Turnpike grits, and Springer Mountain chicken.
Chester Brunnemeyer’s- The popular downtown restaurant in a former hotel has a little bit of everything, including rainbow trout, pork chops, and wings.
Drinking in Blue Ridge
Despite the fact that Blue Ridge is in a mostly dry county, you can visit breweries, wineries, and bars. But if you want to go to a liquor store for something to drink on your own, you’ll need to stop before arriving in Fannin County.
Mercier Orchards– The apple picking destination also has a tasting room for their hard cider varieties. They have traditional varieties as well as some infused with clover honey and ginger.
Breweries- Grumpy Old Men has a cozy micro-brewery that is dog-friendly, pouring IPAs and other styles. Fannin Brewing started as a winery but pivoted to beer, where they found success with their pumpkin and brown ales.
Wineries- Bear Claw Vineyards has mountain views and red and white varieties, including the popular Cayuga White. They also have treehouse accommodations. Serenberry Vineyards has tastings of their sweet whites and rose.
The Boro Inn– The Irish pub is run by a former priest. It’s won awards for its authenticity so you can expect Irish whiskeys and beers along with local mead and wine.
The Vine Wine Bar– Sip on the best of Georgia’s wines at this downtown bar. They also carry domestic and international wines as well as craft beer. Don’t miss their chocolate pairings and painting classes.
Blue Ridge Cellars– The downtown wine shop opened in 2011 and offers tastings of local wines. They also sell beer and wine to enjoy in your hotel or rental along with gourmet foods and cheeses.
Black Bear Bier Garten– The German-style beer garden has menu items like sausage and pretzels as well as German beers on draft like Spaten and Warsteiner. There are also domestic craft beer options, wine, and cocktails.
Relaxing, Beauty and Fitness in Blue Ridge
Your girl’s weekend doesn’t have to be just eating and imbibing. It’s also a chance to relax and catch up over a class or get yourself pampered.
Yoga- There are two studios in town offering yoga. Paint the Town Blue and Yoga and Wellness of Blue Ridge have classes for all levels. Drop-in classes are $14.
Spa- Serenity in the Mountains has a variety of treatments including a salt cave, facials, and massages (in a treehouse!). They also have a nail salon and hair salon offering manicures, pedicures, waxing, and hairstyling.
Paddleboarding, tubing, and kayaking- If you’re visiting during the warmer months, you can book a kayaking or tubing excursion on Lake Blue Ridge or one of the nearby rivers through outfitters in town.
Ziplining- Soar through the trees with the aerial obstacle courses at Blue Ridge Adventure Park or Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge. It has 13 zips, including a 75 foot-high platform.
Hiking trails- Take advantage of one of the area’s stunning hikes including sections of the Benton MacKaye Trails and the hike to Long Creek Falls, one of many waterfalls.
Shopping in Blue Ridge
For its small size, Blue Ridge has incredible shopping with funky boutiques lining the downtown.
Canoe– This store has fans all over the world for its handmade bags, jewelry, and home decor items. They incorporate leather, cowhides, and other materials.
Folk Apothics– Shop for herbs and apothecary items from Appalachia at this funky shop outside of town. They also offer yoga and medicinal herb classes.
Out of the Blue– The popular downtown wine shop has bottles from Georgia and beyond and offers tastings. They also carry gift items, honey, and growlers of beer.
Gather– This store supports local charities with gift and home decor items like candles, tea towels, gourmet foods, and the like.
Mitzi’s on Main– The home decor store has rustic furnishings for your own cabin or homes like furniture and artwork.
House of Threads– Dress yourself in items from this downtown women’s’ boutique, selling items like dresses, jackets, and jewelry.
Sightseeing in Blue Ridge
This trip may not be about sightseeing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t cross a few attractions off your list during your visit.
Mercier Orchards– While many apple orchards are in nearby Ellijay, Blue Ridge is home to one of the largest. They grow 50 varieties, sold in cider, baked goods, and jam. They also have tractor rides and sales of peaches and strawberries.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway– Take the 26-mile journey through the mountains from downtown Blue Ridge across the border to Tennessee. The round-trip excursion runs throughout the year with special trips like the Blue Ridge Beer Car.
Swan Drive-In– Catch first-run movies on an outdoor screen from 1955 with your pals. You can bring blankets and chairs as well as food and drinks. They also have a concessions stand.
Tank Town USA– Who says machinery is for the guys? Spend the day crushing cars with a real tank or driving a tank. It’s not a cheap activity but one you won’t soon forget.
Blue Ridge Food Tour– Visit some of Blue Ridge’s best eateries with an expert guide. Their tours include the standard foodie tour, a dessert tour, and a cocktail tour.
Staying in Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge has a range of accommodations from bed and breakfasts to rentals. You don’t have to sacrifice style and amenities at these girlfriend getaway-friendly accommodations.
Blue Ridge Inn Bed & Breakfast– Set in a 1890s home, the bed and breakfast has 7 guest rooms and 4 suites with 12-foot ceilings and heart pine floors. They have Southern-style breakfast and Tesla charging.
Camp Toccoa– Share a tiny house with your friends set inside a converted shipping container. It has all the amenities like a kitchenette as well as a fire pit and a hot tub.
Blue Ridge Treehouse– Located at Bearclaw Vineyards, the treehouse has rustic decor, a full kitchen, fire pit, WiFi, and air conditioning. Best of all, you’re steps away from the tasting room.
Rentals- This is the most common way to stay in Blue Ridge. Companies like Airbnb and TripAdvisor Rentals are popular. And all of the Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals are within fifteen miles of downtown Blue Ridge, with friendly and responsive staff. Main & Main is one of the best.
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Not settled as a railroad town, please correct that misinformation ~ Creek Confederacy tribes settled here thousands of years before any whites built railroads. And whites didn’t settle here because it was a railroad town either, nor did they settle here to make it a railroad town.
Really a nice article but would Love to have had our cabin rental also advertised since I only see one mentioned as cabins to stay in