Blue Ridge
A serene mountain town located in north Georgia, with local shops and dining lining downtown, picturesque mountain sunsets, ample hiking trails, local fishing spots, and camping grounds, is what you will find in Blue Ridge, Georgia. This small mountain town has much to offer for family vacations, weekend getaways, outdoor adventures, and great shopping for one of a kind items. Downtown Blue Ridge has merged a small-town feel with a modern flair.
Downtown has everything needed for a day of fun. We started our day by walking the different shops and looking at the various merchandise. One of my favorite shops is the Blue Ridge Olive Oil company. They offer an array of infused olive oils, bottles of vinegar, and spice mixes. You can sample the products before buying, which is lovely, and they offer suggestions about mixing different flavors to enhance any cuisine. There are two different size bottles you can purchase, or you can buy a box of the small bottle that comes with a combination of flavors. No matter which option you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Another local favorite of ours is Tupelo Tea. They are a full-service tea shop using loose leaf tea, local honey, and a lot of creativity with each drink they make. Their hot tea is a great way to keep warm during the colder months with the brisk mountain breeze, and their iced tea keeps you cool during the summer. My kids’ favorite shops, however, are the two local ice cream parlors and the candy store. I do have to say I get excited about the candy store because they sell different candies, which are hard to find and bring back memories of childhood. Lastly, if you love homemade fudge, Three Sisters Fudge is a must for your next visit.
After shopping and loading your car with all your new treasures, make sure to enjoy one of the local restaurants. My favorite is Harvest On Main. The restaurant has a warm, homey feeling with a large stone fireplace greeting you. You feel as if you are in a cozy mountain lodge. Everything is fresh and made to order with local ingredients. What I love best is the amount of attention and tweaking they did to make sure my food was safe to eat. I had the rainbow trout with crisp green beans and a flavorful black bean hummus that brought the dish altogether. The best part was they brought the kids food out as soon as it was ready, which gave them more energy for playground and train ride.
The train ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway was a big hit with the kids. You have to buy your train ticket at the train station or online (I would recommend purchasing online because, during certain times of the year, the train rides sell out). The train ride takes about two hours, and once you reach your destination, you can enjoy the different amenities at Georgia Tennessee border. Have lunch, shop, and explore for another two hours before heading back to the historic train station in downtown Blue Ridge. You can enjoy an open-air cart, one with a window seating, or a premier class depending on your preference. We took the train ride during the holiday season, where we enjoyed a snack, Christmas carols, and a visit from Santa. This train ride was not like the traditional ones offered starting in March each year, but it was an excellent experience for the kids, which made for some beautiful family memories.
Costa Maya
30 Comments
Sharon
I love fudge!!! Sounds like a cute place… and actually we hope to be in this part of the states early next year. Might need to stop in as it sounds like a great place for kids.
Carey M
IT really is a kid friendly place. The fudge is amazing!
Alison
We love finding little towns like Blue Ridge. The shops and restaurants are so quaint, filled with friendly faces, and unique things. Thanks for sharing!
Carey M
Yes. I love the little gems you find in little towns.
Pam
I need to add this to my list of places to visit. I’m a huge fan of small towns.
Carey M
You wont be disappointed.
Stacey Billingsley
I’d love to take a train ride in this area! How cool! The restaurant, Harvest on Main, sounds really good, too. My family would definitely enjoy this experience!
Carey M
The train ride is very peaceful and you learn a lot.
Lisa Manderino
This looks like a great little town! So fun for the kids!
Leeanne
I’m reading a book right now that has a lot of references to beekeeping and it’s always Tupelo Honey that they talk about. Super cool. I need to go to Blue Ridge, GA just to go to this tea shop. I agree with you about the candy stores, we generally find great stuff in the 5 and dime stores. I love those old stores.
Carey M
The tea shop is wonderful. The candy store was great. It has some pretty fun toys for the kids also.
Tricia Snow
This looks like an amazing time. We are often in the area so I look forward to seeing this.
melissa
This looks like a fun little town! You definitely can’t go wrong with an awesome playground and lots of good eats! Thanks for sharing!
Sara
We are planning a trip to Georgia later this year and haven’t decided yet where we are going to go. Thanks for sharing this area as an option.
Carey M
You’re very welcome!
Barbara
Kids LOVE train rides!
Carey M
Yes they do!
Chantelle
This looks like such a great place! The railway would be interesting
Cindy Mailhot
We loved our trip here. My favorite was seeing a mama bear and two cubs within minutes of our arrival.
Carey M
That is amazing. I hope to see one from a very far distance.
Missy
What time of year do you recommend visiting to avoid crowds?
Carey M
Hi Missy,
The off season is typically after December/January. It tends to pick up later in the summer and stays busy throughout fall. They have festivals near by, activities downtown, and live music on the weekends. Most store hours at from 11-5 Monday- Thursday so those day would be the best to shop then on the weekend you can enjoy hiking, the Tree Top zip line, fishing, or many other outdoor activities.
Cindy
Such a pretty town! I’d love to visit that tea shop and ride on that amazing train.
Eva Keller
I love cute little towns like this! I wish California had towns like this so I could check them out more often.
Shirley
This article makes me want to pack my bags and go back to visit this part of Georgia! I lived in the state for nearly 30 years but never visited Blue Ridge.
Carey M
It’s one of our favorite day trips or long weekend getaways. I would suggest visiting in the fall when the trees change color. Its beautiful that time of year.
kmf
This place looks so quaint…would love to visit.
heather J jandrue
What a perfect day. I love little towns like this. The shops are darling. I love loose leaf tea and fresh honey. Oh, and who can pass up fudge!
Carey M
Its a great place!
ปั้มไลค์
Like!! Thank you for publishing this awesome article.