The mountains of North Georgia offer a treasure trove of natural beauty, outdoor adventures, and charming mountain towns. Whether you’re seeking peaceful mountain views, thrilling outdoor activities, or quaint downtown shops and restaurants, North Georgia offers something for every type of traveler. Here’s your comprehensive guide to the best things to do in North Georgia.
The Mountain Towns You Actually Want to Visit
Ellijay – More Than Just Apples
Ellijay calls themselves the “Apple Capital of Georgia,” and that’s not just marketing – there are apples sold everywhere come fall. But Ellijay is much more than just apples. The downtown area has a lot of character, not just tourist trap shops selling the same stuff you’ll find in every mountain town but authentic locally owned shops and restaurants. If you’re into wine, there are somany great vineyards within 15 minutes of Ellijay to check out. The nearby Cartecay River Loop Trail is a great option for a hike when you are sick of fighting the crowds in downtown.
Blue Ridge – Mountain Downtown Done Right
Blue Ridge has figured out how to balance being touristy without feeling like a theme park, which is harder than it sounds. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is the big draw – it’s a four-hour round trip through mountain gorges, and yeah, it’s worth doing even if trains aren’t usually your thing. Just book tickets ahead because they sell out, especially in October.
Main Street has the usual boutiques and antique shops, but mixed in are some legitimately good spots. The art galleries aren’t just selling mass-produced “mountain art” – there’s actual local work worth looking at. And the brewery scene has gotten really good. Grumpy Old Men Brewing and Tipping Point Brewing both make solid beer, and neither place has that “trying too hard” vibe some craft breweries get.
Mercier Orchards is a must-visit just outside of town. They offer fruit picking and have an amazing market with fresh baked goods and even hard ciders.
Summer in Blue Ridge means tubing down the Toccoa River, which is exactly what it sounds like – you float down a river on an inner tube for a few hours. It’s not extreme sports; it’s just a good time when it’s 90 degrees out. Several outfitters will set you up and shuttle you back. Toccoa River Campground is our favorite. Super easy day and super fun for the whole family.
Lake Blue Ridge is right there too – fishing, boating, hiking trails and a great marina to enjoy lunch while looking our over the lake.
Cherry Log – Where You Actually Stay
Here’s something most people figure out after visiting the busy downtowns of Blue Ridge and Ellijay: Cherry Log is where you want your cabin to be. It’s right between Blue Ridge and Ellijay – about 15-20 minutes to either one – but without the crowds or the noise. You get actual peace and quiet, plus you’re not paying downtown Blue Ridge prices for a cabin that’s crammed next to five others.
The location is perfect for day trips, but Cherry Log itself has enough going on that you could easily spend a day just exploring the immediate area. More on that below.
Outdoor Stuff (Because That’s Why You’re Here)
Waterfalls and Hiking
Amicalola Falls is Georgia’s tallest waterfall at 729 feet, and it’s spectacular. The park itself is so nice it feels like one of the national park lodges out West. You can pick your adventure to view the falls from driving to the top, to taking the stairs or taking a day-long hike on all of their connected trails. There’s an easy viewing platform at the base of the falls where you can start with your selfies.
The Toccoa River Swinging Bridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge east of the Mississippi, which sounds impressive and is also just cool to walk across. Easy hike to get there from the parking area, and it’s free.
Anna Ruby Falls near Helen is another solid waterfall hike – it’s paved most of the way, so it’s accessible for pretty much anyone. Gets crowded on nice weekends, so go early or on a weekday if you can.
Brasstown Bald is Georgia’s highest point. The views from up there are legitimately stunning on a clear day – you can see multiple states. Fair warning: the road up is steep and twisty, and the last bit requires either a shuttle or a decent uphill walk.
Tallulah Gorge and Cloudland Canyon are both worth the drive if you want more dramatic landscapes. Tallulah Gorge has suspension bridges over the gorge that are not for people who are afraid of heights. Cloudland Canyon has some of the best waterfalls in North Georgia and actual canyons, which is rare for Georgia.
Water Activities When It’s Hot
River tubing down the Toccoa or Cartecay is pretty much mandatory on summer visits. Several outfitters will set you up – you don’t need to bring anything except sunscreen (seriously, bring sunscreen) and maybe a waterproof case for your phone. The water’s cold even in July, which is perfect when it’s 90 degrees outside.
Fly fishing is huge around here if you’re into that. The streams are stocked with trout, and the tailwaters below dams fish well year-round. If you are new to the sport, I highly recommend taking a guide to jumpstart your learning curve. You lose fewer flies to the trees once you learn how to water load cast in these streams.
Kayaking ranges from lazy lake paddling to actual whitewater, depending on what you’re looking for. The Cartecay and Toccoa Rivers both are chill paddle areas but if you want to get the pulse up, the Ocoee in Tennessee is onl3 30 minutes away.
Off-Roading
If you have a 4×4, the Cashes Valley Off-Road Trail near Cherry Log is worth checking out. It is only a mile from our Lazy Laurel cabin with River crossings, mud and amazing views – it’s a real trail, not just a gravel road they’re calling off-roading. You’ll want at least moderate ground clearance and four-wheel drive and check the water level before you try to cross the river.
When to Actually Visit
Let’s be real about this:
Fall (September-November) is when everyone comes, and for good reason. The leaves are incredible, the weather is perfect, and apple season is in full swing. October weekends book up months in advance, and cabin prices reflect peak demand. If you’re flexible, come in early November after the main fall rush – you’ll still catch some color, the weather’s great, and you’ll pay less.
Summer (June-August) is ideal for water activities. Tubing, swimming, kayaking, rafting – all at their best. It gets hot in the valleys but stays comfortable at higher elevations. This is family vacation season, so popular spots get busy, but it’s nothing like October.
Spring (March-May) is underrated. Waterfalls are flowing hard from spring rains, wildflowers are blooming, and you’ll have trails mostly to yourself. Weather can be unpredictable – might be 70 and sunny or 45 and rainy – but that’s the tradeoff for fewer crowds.
Winter (December-February) is when you get the best cabin deals and the most peace and quiet. Some restaurants and attractions close or have reduced hours, but that’s fine if you’re here to actually relax. The occasional snow makes everything look amazing, though mountain roads can get dicey. Hot tubs are clutch in winter.
The Food and Drink Situation
Wineries
North Georgia wine has gotten surprisingly good. Not Napa good, but way better than you’d expect. Cartecay Vineyards in Ellijay and Engelheim Vineyards both make solid wines in beautiful settings. Frogtown Cellars, Wolf Mountain, and Montaluce are farther south near Dahlonega but worth the drive if you’re serious about wine.
Most of these places do tastings and have outdoor seating with mountain views. It’s a good afternoon activity, especially if you don’t want to do hardcore hiking.
Breweries
The craft beer scene here is legit now. Grumpy Old Men Brewing in Blue Ridge is our favorite (get the Aska pale ale) and makes consistently good beer. Cartecay River Brewing in Ellijay and Tipping Point Brewing in Blue Ridge are also solid choices.
These aren’t just beer – they’re hangout spots. Good food (smash burger at Cartecay), outdoor seating, usually live music on weekends.
Restaurants
The restaurant scene ranges from BBQ joints to surprisingly upscale places. Pink Pig BBQ in Cherry Log is the real deal – actual good pulled pork, not tourist trap BBQ. Both Ellijay and Blue Ridge have farm-to-table spots that take themselves seriously (in a good way) and use local ingredients. Our favorite out of the way place is Mystic Mountain pizza in Blue Ridge. Great pizza, really eclectic setting and they bring in some amazing local musicians.
Don’t skip the small-town diners for breakfast. They’re not trendy, but they’re good and cheap.
Stuff to Do With Kids
The Expedition Bigfoot Museum in Cherry Log is perfect for rainy days or when kids need a break from hiking. It’s exactly what it sounds like, and kids love it.
Apple orchards are naturally kid-friendly – most have farm animals, playgrounds, and hayrides in addition to apple picking. Mercier Orchards has all of this plus a bakery and ice cream, which solves most kid-related problems.
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is great for kids. It’s long enough to feel like an adventure but not so long that they get bored. Plus, trains.
Many state parks have easy hiking trails specifically designed for families, plus playgrounds and swimming areas. The swimming holes along rivers are usually shallow enough for kids and don’t require an entry fee. Check out the Edge of the World Trail for a great swimming area with falls and rocks to climb around on.
Where to Stay
We are admittedly biased but our great guests agree, Cherry Log cabins give you the best of both worlds. You’re close enough to Blue Ridge and Ellijay to easily visit both, but far enough away to actually have peace and quiet. You’re not hearing your neighbors through the cabin walls, and you’re not paying downtown prices for the privilege of having other tourists walk past your deck.
Good cabins here have what you actually want – hot tubs, mountain views, real privacy, fireplaces and fire pits for winter. You wake up to actual nature, have your coffee on the deck without hearing traffic, and then you’re 15-20 minutes from wherever you want to go that day.
Practical Stuff You Should Know
Book fall weekends way in advance. “Way in advance” means months, not weeks. October fills up in spring.
Weekdays are better if you can swing them – less traffic, easier parking, restaurants that aren’t slammed, better prices.
Cell service gets spotty in the mountains. Download offline maps before you head up. Google Maps works fine when you have service, but you won’t always have service. Also, turn on Wifi calling so you can make calls in Wifi range.
Make restaurant reservations in Blue Ridge and Ellijay for weekend dinners. These are small towns and good restaurants fill up.
Call and check hours before you go anywhere far away. People in the mountains sometimes open when they want to, not what is listed on Google.
Check road conditions before driving to your cabin, especially in winter. Mountain roads can be steep and might be gravel. Regular cars are usually fine, but it’s good to know what you’re getting into.
Popular hiking trails fill up parking by mid-morning on nice weekends. Get there early or have a backup plan.
Why This Place Actually Works
North Georgia delivers without trying too hard. You’re 90 minutes from Atlanta but it feels like a different state. The mountains aren’t the Rockies, but they’re real mountains with real views. The towns are touristy but not fake. The outdoor activities are legitimate, not just “activities for people who don’t actually do outdoor activities.”
The combination works: good hiking and waterfalls, charming towns with actual good restaurants and breweries, comfortable places to stay, and close enough to Atlanta that you don’t need to take a week off work to make it worthwhile.
Whether you’re doing a romantic cabin weekend, a family trip with kids, or a friends’ getaway centered around breweries and hiking, North Georgia has what you need. Ellijay and Blue Ridge give you the town experience, Cherry Log gives you the mountain experience, and you’re close enough to both that you’re not sacrificing either one.
The mountains are here. The trails are maintained. The beer is cold. The cabins are comfortable. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need.
