Whether for relaxation, exploration or fostering inspiring work, this is the perfect place to enjoy a restorative getaway
BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA–AUGUST 2024–Mountain views, outdoor recreation and a vibrant downtown combine to make Blue Ridge, Georgia, a popular place for a variety of visitors. More and more solo travelers are finding this North Georgia location has just the right combination to meet their needs for the perfect escape, too. Whether to relax and recharge, to explore and experience or to find just the right spot for an inspiring work retreat, there are plenty of options here.
Getting to the mountain town of Blue Ridge and Fannin County is easy. It’s only a 90-minute drive north of Atlanta, just off Interstate-575. Once here, visitors are greeted by a welcoming, walkable downtown with outdoor spaces to relax and easy-access WIFI options. The streets are lined with local specialty shops and galleries that show the personality and creativity of retailers, artists and curators who call this home. An impressive collection of restaurants has a variety of cuisine from which to choose and there are even food tours that show off the savory and sweet sides of this eclectic food scene.
Lodging options here offer much more than a place to lay one’s head. Throughout downtown there are unique vacation rentals and even hotels with all the standard amenities as well as Blue Ridge hospitality. Many visitors, however, choose to retreat to a mountain cabin. The large inventory of rentals, more than 2,000 from which to choose, spans options from mountain top views to creekside comfort.
While ascending higher on winding mountain roads, visitors feel their stress levels plummeting lower as they are immersed in fresh air and natural surroundings. Whether the wildflowers of spring and early summer are in bloom, the summer’s dark skies are twinkling with fireflies or the crisp fall air is offering its embrace, there is a peaceful atmosphere to enjoy a solo journey.
For some, a spa treatment is the perfect way to center themselves for their ultimate Blue Ridge experience. Full-service spas offer a peaceful, relaxing setting to provide a successful mind and body reset. Downtown, Teatree Spa (3293 East 1st Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-946-2015), has a variety of massage and therapeutic body treatments. Nearby, the lodge-like setting at Serenity in the Mountains Spa (59 McKinney Road, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-258-2244) also includes a salt cave, quiet rooms and even lodging options.
Area trails offer plenty of variety for those who find a walk in the woods to be their preferred restorative treatment. While the area is known for some beautiful wilderness trails and waterfall hikes, there are also easy-access walking paths for solo outings. The Ocoee Whitewater Center (4400 US-64, Copperhill, Tennessee 37317; 423-496-5197) has great hiking and biking trails, including a one-mile hiking trail which circles the center and includes a 330-foot suspension bridge and a 2.4-mile restored segment of the Old Copper Road Trail. There are an additional 20 miles of trails for hikers and mountain bikers. Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area (Dry Branch Road Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513) is located on the lake and, in addition to beautiful waterfront views, also has a mile-long paved trail. For a leisurely walk with a furry friend, many enjoy an outing to Horseshoe Bend Dog Park & Walking Trail (1156 River Road Mineral Bluff, Georgia 30559) to enjoy the paved path, plenty of shade and a peaceful setting. And locals are always happy to share their knowledge and suggestions for the best walking treks and seasonal views.
With nearly 100 miles of trout streams, many recognized as the best in the region, fly fishing beckons both experienced anglers and those “newbies” who are intrigued by the relaxing rhythm of the sport. At Noontootla Creek Farms (3668 Newport Road, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-838-0585) guided trips, introductory fly fishing classes and Women on the Water Retreats are all options for enjoying one of the most pristine waterways in North Georgia.
A more traditional way to enjoy the serenity of Fannin County is to explore the grounds of the orchard at the Folk Collaborative (2984 Mobile Road, McCaysville, Georgia 30555; 706-492-7753). Here, a family-owned apple orchard is the setting for the perfect solo picnic under the trees. Homemade lunch items are available in the bakery and the grounds are open for enjoyment. The collaborative’s apothecary offers a selection of all-natural products made using traditional Appalachian methods and locally grown and foraged ingredients.
“We’ve got a lady who comes and does her own thing, about every two months, just by herself. She spends about three hours, just to get away,” says owner Luke Dilbeck, who grew up on the property. “When I was a kid, I would come over here in these trees and it just felt like home.” Today he and his wife Amanda share his boyhood home and his family’s recipes – from healing tinctures to sumptuous baked goods, with visitors looking for something more than a typical vacation getaway.
Another popular healing activity, both physically and mentally, is a visit to Ascending Studio (35 Trackside Lane, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-633-8977). A variety of classes are offered, including Pilates to Yoga, Barre and HIIT, all in the studio’s serene setting which brings the outdoors in. Each session is designed to help visitors reach their goals, whether restorative or energizing, in both private and group settings.
Partners Kaitana Magno and Jimmy Sutherland are also offering healing and peaceful experiences to visitors at their studio, Yoga Over Blue Ridge (3900 East 1st Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 910-616-9101). While the pair has built a local following since taking over the business in early 2024, they also see visitors who come in looking for avenues for growth and wellness.
“Pretty much everybody who comes to the studio is on a spiritual journey of some sort, and especially the ones seeking sound healing,” says Jimmy. He is a sound therapist, who, along with Yogi Kaitana, both professional dancers, performers and off-Broadway producers, moved to Blue Ridge from New York, after pandemic restrictions caused the closure of their production company. “It’s a cool little community,” Jimmy says of his adopted home.
The studio offers yoga classes and sound bath sessions for individuals and groups. They also hold a new moon and a full moon ceremony each month. These events last about two hours, opening with a yoga practice followed by a guided meditation, then a sound bath. The focus of each event correlates to the astrological context for that evening. In addition, Jimmy has recently added Sunday evening sound bath sessions.
“It’s just a healing place,” he says of their studio. “It’s growing and it’s about fostering and nurturing a peaceful community that’s spiritually guided and holistic. It’s brought some pretty beautiful things about already.”
Beautiful things are happening throughout Blue Ridge and Fannin County as visitors, many of whom choose to travel alone, find just what they are looking for here. For some, that is the welcoming air of a vacation rental that combines comfortable accommodations with inspiring work spaces. For others, it is an opportunity to unplug and enjoy the outdoors. Maybe it’s learning a new skill or signing up for an exclusive experience. Or finding joy or healing from interactions with locals who are willing to share their knowledge and welcome others to enjoy the peace and satisfaction of finding their center in Blue Ridge.
Please note: Cell service and GPS mapping doesn’t always work well in the mountains. Always check the directions for your destination before you go and use our Self-Guided Tour Maps to help you find outdoor attractions. And download detailed maps of activities, information and links to your destination/attraction websites.
Exclusive Blue Ridge opportunities
For an exclusive, one-of-a-kind experience, renowned craftsman Bill Oyster invites visitors to create their own bamboo rod at Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods (494 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-374-4239). The week-long classes allow students to be a part of keeping the rod-making art alive through their own creation of a keepsake that will last for generations. Oyster notes the experience becomes one not only of immersion in the craft but also of self-discovery through the learning process.
Blue Ridge is also the place for another, very different weeklong experience that will ensure an escape from the ordinary. Visitors can volunteer at Project Chimps (2031 Lowery Road Morganton, Georgia 30560; 706-374-3675), spending a week at the 230-acre chimpanzee sanctuary. Home to 95 chimps, the sanctuary offers lifelong care to these animals formerly involved in research efforts. For those who can’t make the volunteer commitment, guided tours to observe the chimps or self-guided walks along sanctuary trails are also options.
Where to stay
When looking for a place to stay solo in Blue Ridge, the lodging options are as varied as the Blue Ridge views. Downtown has traditional hotel rooms as well as unique options like the Blue Ridge Inn Bed & Breakfast (477 West First Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-661-7575), a 900-square-foot suite with 17′ cathedral ceilings, a full kitchen, dining area and private screened porch. Serenity in the Mountains Spa (59 McKinney Road, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-258-2244) is a full-service spa near downtown Blue Ridge. The property offers one-, two- and three-bedroom cabin-style suites. There is a vast array of cabin rental options here, ranging from downtown suites and lofts to cozy one-bedroom cabins to grand mountain lodges. As you move away from downtown, the view changes, as do the options. Numerous vacation rental companies offer cabins with river frontage or mountain views, many with an impressive list of amenities, including screened porches, hot tubs and more. At Toccoa House Properties (706-633-0141) each rental includes access to a gorgeous in-ground salt water swimming pool, solar heated, with a rock waterfall.