Just under two hours north of Atlanta my family of four savored a recent getaway at Mountain Top Rental’s Five Star View cabin, situated overlooking Blue Ridge Lake, in Blue Ridge, Georgia. With all the modern luxuries a family could yearn for, one look around and had us wanting to extend our stay. We fueled up at nearby Iron Bridge Cafe, a roadside restaurant along Aska Road offering views of the Toccoa River and serving lunch time staples like BBQ and grilled cheese sandwiches with no frill sides. Next it was off to The Lilly Pad, where mining for gems set us back only $15 while creating priceless memories. Onsite mini golf and fishing are unlimited. Blue Ridge boasts miles of trails through the Aska and Benton MacKaye Trail system. Take U.S. Forestry Road 816 three miles off Aska Road to a 260-foot suspension bridge, a tickle-your-ears bumpy drive (in the words of a two-year-old) that is worth the bumps, if just for the view and peaceful ripple of the Toccoa River. Set in a rustic, charming cabin, Blue Ridge Mountain Bar-B-Q offers hickory smoked meats for an appetite-satisfying, lip-smacking experience in a family-friendly atmosphere. A must-experience attraction for kids and kids at heart is the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, which sent us choo-chooing over 26 miles of scenic countryside, most alongside the Toccoa River before laying over in McCaysville, Georgia and then returning riders to Downtown Blue Ridge. After chugga-chugging down the rails, we perused Downtown Blue Ridge boutiques. Just before beginning plans for a return visit, we ended the weekend with a visit to Mercier Orchards – a chance to show the young ones where food really comes from. Check their Facebook page to find seasonal U-pick options for apples, strawberries and more.