From sweeping scenic views and lakeside adventures to top-notch dining, this charming mountain town is ideal for group getaways. We’re breaking down the best places to stay, eat, and play this summer in Blue Ridge, GA!
Where to Stay
Whether you’re in Blue Ridge for a romantic getaway, family vacation, or trip with your girlfriends, you can find a lodging option to suit your needs — from cabin rentals to a luxury hotel.
One of the best ways to take in the beauty of Blue Ridge and its surrounding mountains is to book a stay in a cabin. Every property offers a beautiful backdrop perfect for relaxation. Plus, many properties are pet- and family-friendly. For a comprehensive list of cabin rental companies in the area, visit blueridgemountains.com.
For a new hotel option, Hampton Inn Blue Ridge is a popular choice among travelers. Nestled in the heart of downtown, the hotel is within walking distance of some of the city’s best restaurants, shops, and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway Depot. Open since 2021, the hotel offers 109 guest rooms and Blue Ridge’s first rooftop bar with mountain views, Hook & Eye.
Where to Eat & Drink
Exploring Blue Ridge’s culinary scene is an essential part of your vacation. Offering everything from barbecue and pizza to waterfront dining, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your cravings.
If the weather allows, enjoy a meal at one of Blue Ridge’s al fresco dining options. An excellent spot for date night, Black Sheep’s patio sits beneath a 200-year-old oak tree. The restaurant is known for its Southern-inspired cuisine, offering comforting favorites like fried chicken, meatloaf, and salmon Rockefeller.
Head to Boat Dock Bar and Grill for a more casual outdoor dining option. Located on the shores of Lake Blue Ridge, the waterfront restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a laid-back, delicious meal with views. The restaurant is known for its chicken wings and cocktail menu.
Another great waterfront eatery is Toccoa Riverside Restaurant. Offering beautiful views of the Toccoa River, the restaurant is also known for its fresh rainbow trout, pasta dishes, and sandwiches.
If you’re craving pizza, Blue Ridge is home to three popular joints. Blue Jeans Pizza & Pasta offers classic pies and a lineup of live music, while Cucinella’s Pizza offers specialty brick oven pizzas, calzones, and garlic knots. If you find yourself near the Riverwalk Shops in McCaysville, GA, stop by Twisted Tomato for pizza made from scratch daily. Popular pizzas include The Bigfoot Supreme, Pepe’ Le Pew, and Moonshine BBQ Chicken. Don’t forget to pair your pie with a glass of wine or breadsticks!
Rin Tin’s Barks & Brews Cantina is a popular downtown eatery, and it’s Blue Ridge’s first and largest dog-friendly bar. The restaurant offers everything from burgers and wings to tacos, and it’s slated to open for breakfast soon!
If you’re looking for a sweet treat, The Sweet Shoppe is known for unique cupcake flavors like Zebra Cake, Strawberry Lemonade, and Boston Cream Pie.
Where to Play
From water activities and scenic hikes to ziplining through the mountains, there’s no shortage of outdoor fun to be had in Blue Ridge.
For family-friendly fun, visit Mercier Orchards. While peak apple picking season doesn’t begin until early August, you can visit the attraction this summer to pick in-season summer fruits, including blueberries. The orchard also offers tractor rides and year-round wine and hard cider tastings. Families will also enjoy visiting Lilly Pad Village for gem mining, mini golf, and fishing.
Huck’s General Store is popular among children, offering old-fashioned candy and soda. We recommend grabbing a seat on the store’s back porch to watch the train roll in and out of Blue Ridge.
The whole family will have fun taking a train ride along the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. The train departs from downtown Blue Ridge and includes a two-hour layover in McCaysville, GA, and Copperhill, TN — two charming Southern towns that share a border.
To cool off from the summer heat, we recommend renting a pontoon and cruising along Lake Blue Ridge for an afternoon. If you’re looking to get in the water, outfitters like The Point at the Morganton Point Recreation Area and Lake Blue Ridge Outfitters offer plenty of rental equipment, including kayaks, paddle boards, fishing gear, and floats.
The Toccoa River is another sought-after waterfront destination. The river is a popular tubing, kayaking, and rafting destination, offering leisurely rides ranging from one-and-a-half to three hours. If you need to rent a tube, outfitters include Blue Ridge Tubing, Toccoa Valley Tubing, and A Rolling Thunder Tubing.
Before or after your tubing adventure, visit Horseshoe Bend Park. Located along the Toccoa River, this is a popular place for trout fishing, picnicking, and playing a game or two of volleyball. It’s also home to the annual Pickin’ in the Park, a free live music series running from May through September.
For hiking enthusiasts, Fall Branch Falls on the Benton MacKaye Trail is not to be missed. The journey is a half-mile round trip and leads to a cascading double waterfall. Keep your eyes peeled for mountain laurels and rhododendrons blooming on the trail and creek bank throughout your hike.
If you’re looking for unique ways to experience the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are plenty of local options. Blue Ridge Mountain Trail Rides offers guided horseback riding adventures, while Blue Ridge Zipline Canopy Tours offers multiple ziplining courses.
A relaxing way to end a fun-filled day in Blue Ridge is to catch a film at the Swan Drive-In. As one of four operating drive-in movie theaters in Georgia, the Swan has been a Blue Ridge staple for nearly 70 years.
If the weather isn’t cooperating, there are plenty of rainy-day activities throughout Blue Ridge. 2nd Story Entertainment offers indoor mini golf, and Vertigo Pinball is known for its craft beer and delicious food alongside its collection of pinball machines.
EXPEDITION: BIGFOOT! The Sasquatch Museum is another popular rainy-day activity. The museum houses one of the largest collections of Bigfoot artifacts, exhibits, photos, and sketches in the U.S. It also includes the world’s only Bigfoot Research and Tech Vehicle on display!
Are you ready to start planning your Blue Ridge vacation? Visit blueridgemountains.com for additional information.
This article is sponsored by Visit Blue Ridge GA and the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce. All photography provided unless otherwise noted.
