Take a drive through some of the region’s most beautiful mountain countryside
Blue Ridge, Georgia – While the beauty of mountain vistas and country roads is an awe-inspiring treat any time of year, Autumn is the season when hillsides and forests catch fire with the reds and golds of turning leaves. Georgia’s Blue Ridge, a retreat destination only 90 miles from Atlanta, offers an array of self-guided driving tours through and around the area, showcasing the natural beauty of fiery fall color, rolling countryside, and scenery to make the visitor imagine he or she has been transported to a secluded wilderness resort instead of one of the most luxurious and artistic communities only a short drive from Georgia’s bustling capital city.
On your way to Blue Ridge, you can choose to take the Georgia Mountain Parkway, the name given to the road that begins where Interstate 575 ends in north Georgia, and leads visitors through the scenic towns of Jasper, Ellijay, Blue Ridge, Blairsville, Young Harris, and Hiawassee. On the trip, travelers are treated to mountain views, wildflowers, apple orchards, festivals, antiques and galleries.
If you prefer a longer trip, you can select the Southern Highroads Trail, a loop through the mountains of Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. A traveler who took this route could spend about three days on the 360-mile trail crossing through Blue Ridge, Ellijay, Chatsworth, Blairsville, Young Harris, Hiawassee, Clayton, Dillard, and Mountain City.
After arriving in Blue Ridge, the visitor can choose from a selection of self-guided driving tours on Fannin County’s scenic roadways. Choices include a Mountain & Countryside driving tour, the Cohutta Wilderness, Daytrip to Dahlonega & Apple Alley, and Town & Country. More adventurous visitors may choose alternate touring options for viewing autumn scenery, such as Biking Routes in Georgia’s Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge Area Waterfalls, which requires some hiking, and The Toccoa River Canoe Trail. The Fannin County Chamber of Commerce also provides maps of Hiking Trail Access Points, Water Access Points both north and south of town, and the Trout Capital of Georgia Learning Adventure for those looking to spend as much time as possible enjoying the outdoors during their stay.
But you don’t have to be an outdoorsman to experience the beauty of Georgia’s Blue Ridge – visitors are treated to fantastic fall scenery even when taking a stroll around town. While exploring, the Historic Blue Ridge Walking Tour, the Antique & Thrift Store Trail, the McCaysville & Copperhill Historic Discovery Tour of nearby towns, Blue Ridge Area Restaurant Guide and Shopping Guide will help guests locate anything they may be looking for without having to stray far from picturesque Main Street.
If you go
From lake-view with a mountain vista and room for 20 to cabins hidden away and built only for two (hot tub included!) find links to cabin rental companies at www.BlueRidgeMountains.com.
Fannin County Chamber of Commerce, www.BlueRidgeMountains.com, 1-800-899-MTNS.