Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge’s location in the North Georgia mountains means many of the top things to do include outdoor scenery and recreation, from hiking and mountain biking several trail systems (including the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail) to fishing, kayaking, tubing,and whitewater rafting on the Ocoee and Toccoa rivers to just taking in panoramic vistas along scenic drives. 

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is one of the most popular manmade attractions, and downtown Blue Ridge is peppered with excellent places to eat, shop, and soak up the mountain-town lifestyle.

Families love to ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway for a two- or four-hour, 26-mile round-trip trek alongside the Toccoa River. Riders can choose from open-air or indoor, climate-controlled cars. 

Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge is another popular way to spend the afternoon. One- and two-hour tours whisk riders across several networks of cables of varying heights and can be combined with a rafting trip on the Ocoee River during the summer months.

And Lilly Pad Village offers many options to keep the family busy, including gem mining, pond fishing for catfish and bass, hiking,and miniature golf.

A cabin getaway is one of the best ways to cozy up with your partner, offering up strolls through quiet woods, peaceful paddles on Lake Blue Ridge, sunsets on the porch, and an evening chill that requires snuggling up.

Another popular activity for couples in Blue Ridge is visiting wineries, where tastings often take place amid scenic mountain views and tidy rows of grapes. Bear Claw Vineyards, Mercier Orchards, and Kerith House are three of the closest to town.

Several restaurants in Blue Ridge are perfect for date night, including many where the menu’s ingredients are locally sourced and rotated seasonally. Consider Ferraro’s Kitchen, Black Sheep Restaurant, Harvest on Main, and Whiskey & Water. 

There’s an event or festival nearly every weekend in Blue Ridge, but these annual celebrations are among the most popular:

• Fire and Ice Chili Cook Off & Craft Beer Festival (February)
• Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival (April)
• Spring Arts in the Park (May)
• Lake Blue Ridge Fireworks (July)
• Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Festival (September)
• Fall Arts in the Park (October)
• Light Up Blue Ridge (November)
• Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Holiday Market (December)

No matter the season, you’ll find outdoor activities and charming mountain-town dining and shopping in Blue Ridge. But there are special reasons to visit throughout the year:

• Spring: Spring in Blue Ridge is a colorful time of year, when fruit trees and wildflowers start to bloom, plus waterfalls and creeks start flowing fast.
• Summer: Summer is the quintessential time to visit Blue Ridge – perfect for spending time outdoors and enjoying the national forestland that surrounds the area. Farmers markets, horseback riding, fruit picking, water activities, and movies at the Swan Drive-In create lifelong memories.
• Fall: Those seeking the spectacular reds, yellows, and oranges of fall foliage will find heaven in Blue Ridge. Cooler temperatures make hiking trails even more inviting at this time. It’s also harvest season at the many farms and orchards in the area, which means pumpkin patches, cider, jam, and more.
• Winter: Walking through the woods is a wondrous and peaceful affair in winter, while warming up by the fire in a cabin is another quintessential mountain experience. Downtown Blue Ridge takes on a romantic glow amid the lights of the season, and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway has holiday excursions that make winter a unique time to ride.

Warm summers and mild winters are as good as it gets in most any mountain town! July is Blue Ridge’s warmest month, and January is the coldest. See average temperatures and more in Blue Ridge. It can snow in the winter months (typically December, January, and February), with just a few inches of accumulation. 

Blue Ridge is in the Blue Ridge Mountains of northeastern Georgia near the state lines for Tennessee and North Carolina.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is less than a 2-hour drive from Blue Ridge, as is Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA).