Plan Your Getaway to Blue Ridge
Words by Ashley Locke
Photos by Ari Skin
The last time you took a vacation, did you come home truly rested? Or did you come back with a camera roll of memories but a heart that still felt hurried? In Blue Ridge, Georgia, rest means something different. Tucked away in the North Georgia mountains, this small town has built its identity around slowing down, savoring the moment, and taking care of the place you’ve come to enjoy. It’s a community that knows caring for the earth and caring for ourselves are one and the same.
Just 90 miles north of Atlanta, Blue Ridge feels a million miles away from busy. With 100,000 acres of Chattahoochee National Forest, 300 miles of hiking trails, 16 waterfalls, and more than 100 miles of trout streams, the outdoors is never far from reach. But what makes Blue Ridge remarkable isn’t just its scenery. It’s the way the town has turned conservation into a community-wide mission. From its “Lights Off, Fireflies On!” campaign to student-led stream restoration projects, Blue Ridge treats its natural beauty like the treasure it is—something worth protecting for generations. Visitors are invited to take part in that ethos. Come for the crisp mountain air; leave with a renewed sense of stewardship.
Blue Ridge has always been a place where people came to heal. In the late 1800s, it was an elite health resort, known for its mineral springs and fresh air. Today, that legacy of wellness continues, not in exclusive hotels, but in the culture of care that runs through the community. Families plant trees to keep trout streams cool. Orchards compost and recycle, as well as host educational programs. Schoolchildren learn about pollinator gardens and water conservation in hands-on ways.
For travelers, that spirit creates something rare: a destination that takes care of you while you’re there.
Where to Stay
If your last hotel stay felt cookie-cutter, Blue Ridge will surprise you. Here, lodging is as much a part of the experience as the trails or the trout streams. Wherever you stay, the common thread is the way the accommodations invite you to slow down. You’re not just booking a room. You’re choosing a new pace of life.
Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals – There’s nothing like waking up in the mountains with a front porch view and a mug of coffee in hand. Southern Comfort Cabins makes that easy, with everything from cozy creekside escapes to sprawling lodges made for a crowd. Some have hot tubs, some sit right on Lake Blue Ridge, but all of them feel like the kind of place you’ll want to stay awhile.
Blue Ridge Treehouse at Bear Claw Vineyards & Winery – Built by the stars of “The Treehouse Guys,” this stay is perched above Bear Claw Vineyards. With live trees growing through its floors and Wi-Fi and air conditioning included with your stay, it’s a whimsical combination of rustic and refined.
Blue Ridge Inn Bed & Breakfast – Built in 1890 as one of Blue Ridge’s first residences, this three-story Victorian now stands as a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown, just steps from the train depot, restaurants, and shops.
Kerith House – At this boutique winery and farm estate, you can sip wine on the patio, join DIY workshops, or stay in an airstream by the pond. It’s a working property that connects guests to the land.
Just 90 miles north of Atlanta, Blue Ridge feels a million miles away from busy.
What to Do
Blue Ridge is a playground for eco-minded travelers. The key is that everything here points you back to nature.
Ride the Rails – Board the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway at the historic depot downtown. The ride follows the Toccoa River, changing with the seasons but always reminding you of the area’s roots as a railroad town.
Hit the Trails – Two iconic, long-distance trails—the Appalachian and the Benton MacKaye—begin just outside of town at Springer Mountain. Shorter hikes wind past waterfalls and wildflowers.
Visit Mercier Orchards – The South’s largest apple orchard offers “U-pick” fruit, hard cider, and fried apple pies. The fourth-generation farm has built conservation into its DNA, planting thousands of trees each year.
Stop by The Folk Collaborative – Part orchard, part apothecary, and part storytelling hub, this space connects you to Appalachian traditions through herbal classes, wagon rides, and mountain music.
Explore Downtown – Galleries like Multitudes, High Country Art, and Pezrok celebrate regional artistry, from blown glass to fossils and fine art. Shopping here feels more like a conversation than a transaction.
Where to Eat & Drink
Blue Ridge restaurants embrace a farm-to-table ethos, whether they’re plating fine dining or serving up biscuits at sunrise. Pair any of these meals with local wine from Bear Claw or a flight from one of the area’s farm wineries, and you’ll taste the land in every sip.
The General Ledger – A Southern bistro featuring shrimp and grits and cast-iron cornbread.
Serenity Garden Café – Diner-style breakfasts, hearty burgers, and daily specials that have kept locals coming back for over 20 years.
Southern Charm Restaurant – A taste of the Deep South with finger-licking comfort food.
Mountain Mama’s Coffee Lounge – Coffee, pastries, and a sign on the wall that sums up the town’s vibe: “All y’all are welcome, but you gotta act right.”
Yellowphant Café – A community-driven café known for its breakfast, brunch, and creative lattes.
The Dogwood – Outdoor dining, live music, and fresh mountain breezes on the patio.
The Lookout – A rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of downtown Blue Ridge.
Where to Shop
34th Degree Wine Merchant – For wine lovers, 34th Degree feels like stumbling onto a secret. The shelves are lined with bottles from all over the world, and the team behind the counter is happy to help you find the right one—whether you’re planning a dinner party or just need something for the cabin porch. Bonus: they repurpose bottles into locally made candles, so the good vibes stretch further than happy hour.
Neighborly Boutique – Neighborly is the kind of boutique you wander into with friends and end up staying longer than you planned. The racks are filled with soft, stylish clothes you’ll want to live in, and the vibe is easygoing—dogs and glasses of wine welcome. It’s equal parts fashion find and community hangout.
Blue Ridge Adventure Wear – Blue Ridge Adventure Wear is where you gear up before hitting the trails—or just pick up a pair of shoes comfortable enough to wander downtown all day. The brands are familiar, the staff is friendly, and it’s the sort of shop that makes you feel ready for whatever the mountains throw your way.
If your last vacation left you tired, maybe it’s time to try something different. What would it look like to gather your people in a cabin tucked in the mountains? What would it feel like to hike to a waterfall, sip cider at an orchard, and sit by the fire with conversations that run deeper than small talk? To let the earth remind you that slowing down is not weakness. It’s wisdom.
Blue Ridge is waiting, and when you leave, you’ll take more than souvenirs. You’ll take a little more peace, a little more purpose, and maybe even a plan to do some good of your own.
The mountains are calling! Start planning your trip at blueridgemountains.com.
