2020 has been the “Year of the Girls’ Trip,” and my recent trip to Georgia was no different. Myself and five of my girlfriends took a road trip up to the Georgia mountains for a long weekend of fall activities and sweater weather. We stayed in a small mountain town called Ellijay, located a little over an hour outside of Atlanta and 30 minutes from the famous downtown Blue Ridge. There was so much to do within these small mountain towns – a for sure must for any fall bucket list.
Where to Stay:
We booked a 3-bedroom, 3-bath cabin in Ellijay through VSCO. Our cabin was very remote and had very little cell service. So if you are looking for a complete disconnect, I highly recommend spending a long weekend in a cozy cabin in the middle of the woods.
Where to Eat:
- This is an amazing rooftop bar and restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. Located right in downtown Ellijay, you can enjoy the views during the day and a cozy cocktail at night.
- Located in the main downtown Ellijay square, this is a perfect lunch spot with a variety of soups and sandwiches.
- A fun sports bar atmosphere in downtown Ellijay. We spent our first night in town eating dinner and enjoying a beer and the baseball game. (Go Rays!)
Chester Brunnenmeyer’s Bar and Grill
- Located in downtown Blue Ridge, this restaurant provides a great atmosphere and tons of cocktail and beer options.
- This is a MUST! Located in downtown Blue Ridge, this is a must-do when in town. Be sure to grab their s’mores cupcake, as it was a winner on the TV show “Cupcake Wars.”
What to Do:
Wineries
- Georgia has a surprisingly large number of wineries and vineyards. All of them have a unique vibe, and for someone who loves California wine, I was really impressed with the taste, quality, and price. This is a must-do when visiting.
Apple Orchards
- Ellijay is known as the apple capital of Georgia and has a variety of apple orchards to visit. We took a trip to Mercier Orchards, and I highly recommend the apple cinnamon donuts and hard apple cider. Mercier Orchards has full market to purchase an assortment of apple products.
Hiking
- The Blue Ridge Mountains are known for their incredible views and waterfalls. There are many different trails to meet your hiking needs. Amicalola Falls is one of the more famous trails, but we hiked a short mile-long trail with amazing waterfall views at Tumbling Falls Trail, located just 20 minutes outside of downtown Ellijay.
White Water Rafting
- I personally cannot go to north Georgia without heading to the Ocoee River and going white water rafting. Although it was a bit chilly, our tour group Raft One provided us with wetsuits, spray shirts and spray pants, so we stayed nice and warm out on the river all morning. If you are an adventure seeker, I highly recommend booking a trip to white water raft.
