Blue Ridge, Georgia

Continuing with our love of all things fall and fall adventures, another spot you’re sure to want to visit is the beautiful town of Blue Ridge, Georgia. This is a great spot for families, couples or just a getaway with friends. This proved to be the perfect backdrop for a girl’s trip, as it offers many wineries and vineyards to explore (and guzzle). We snagged a beautiful Airbnb from a friend, there are quite literally hundreds to choose from, and the pricing is extremely reasonable in this area.

We flew nonstop to Atlanta, the drive is an easy 90 minutes from the Atlanta airport, and flights to ATL are usually cheap. After stocking up at an Aldi on the drive up, we enjoyed the picturesque views of the cabin while enjoying our Aldi-inspired charcuterie and sitting by our firepit. I highly recommend finding a cabin with a hot tub during the cooler months. We thoroughly enjoyed ours.

Our first day led us to Cowgirl Up Stables for an afternoon of riding horses and picnicing. Cowgirl Up did not disappoint. Everything from our guide to the horses, the trail and the lunch were spot on perfection. We even had the bonus of some adorable pups joining us on our journey and helping us with our picnic lunch. At one point one of our horses did wander off during our picnic, but we got him back in time to return to the stables. The crunching fall leaves during our ride were beyond beautiful, the cool fall weather kept us comfortable, and the horses were all happy, frisky, and an absolute delight. I highly recommend making a reservation in advance and working with them directly to customize your experience.

In the evening we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Harvest on Main where we indulged in salmon, steak, blue crab cakes, meatloaf, and copious amounts of wine & desserts. If you’re looking for a beautiful, charming, classy place to dine- this is your spot. We enjoyed it immensely. And if that’s not your scene, there are a multitude of dining options along main street for you to peruse.

The following day is where we got down and dirty with the wineries in the area and did our due diligence to make sure the wine in the area was adequate- it was, by the way. Very adequate. Two stand outs were Serenberry Vineyards and Bear Claw Vineyards. They had complete and total opposite vibes, and we loved every second of it. We spent a few hours at Serenberry where the energy was peaceful and tranquil, sipping wines and speaking with the attendants about the vineyard, the wine, and their history. There are many beautiful sitting areas along the grounds and the space was vast for exploring and frolicking, which we did much of. It was a relaxing (and delicious) way to start the day.

After stopping at a few more places, we ended our day at Bear Claw Vineyards, where the energy was higher paced, larger samples and pours and a live band to dance along to. The wine was delicious, the crowd was joyful (and tipsy), and it felt like one big holiday gathering. We closed it down and it was a perfect way to end our day of wine sipping and gallivanting.

Our last full day was reserved for hiking and shopping. There are so many trails to choose from, it’s impossible to hit them all. We went with the Aska trails, closer to our rental, and enjoyed the scenic journey of the paths. We love to hike, so this was a wonderful way to spend most of the day. I highly recommend doing a little hiking, there are trails for every level of hiker and they could not be any more beautiful than they are in the fall.

Main Street is a haven for shopping, from fudge shops to boutiques, there’s something for everyone. You can spend a full day enjoying the shops and dining spots- and you should. Everyone is so friendly, kind, and chatty, you’ll find yourself making friends with the locals effortlessly. A few places in particular that we enjoyed were the Beauty Barn and Blue Ridge Mountain Mall. We could have talked to the owner of the Beauty Barn for hours- if you’re interested in skincare or just feeling & smelling divine, you’ll want to pop in here and talk about all things beauty. Our very last stop for shopping was the market at Mercier Orchards. Like whoa. I must have been living under a rock because I had never heard of it, but apparently, it’s quite a hot spot. We didn’t get a chance to tour the apple orchards, something I added to my list for next time, but we did spend an ungodly amount of time in the market, mostly because it was so dang crowded with people! But they did have treasures and delicious goodness, apple pies and apple products that I’ve never seen anywhere that were mouthwatering. I recommend checking out their tours and hitting the market earlier in the day to avoid the crowds.

And that’s it! Blue Ridge, Ga is now one of my favorite fall spots. From the charming locals to the delicious food, to crisp wine and outdoor activities- you can truly relax, unwind, and enjoy the outdoors like they’re meant to be enjoyed. I hope you’ll add it to your list and as always, until our next adventure!

10 things to pack for your Blue Ridge getaway:

A warm jacket or flannel that you can move in, especially if hiking is on your agenda.
Comfortable boots or sneakers, I cannot emphasize comfortable enough, if you plan to do a lot of walking and hiking or horseback riding. Which you should. Because it’s awesome.
Warm socks, especially for those cold nights. You don’t want cold feet! I even recommend packing some slippers or warm thick socks for nighttime bonfires.
Beanies or earmuffs. The temperatures drop at night.
Bathing suits for dipping in your hot tub (find a rental that has one!).
A good backpack for day trips and hikes, to carry water bottles and snacks. Scout out your hikes in advance to see how long they are and pack accordingly.
Jeans and stretchy pants. Whichever you find more comfortable on hikes, but if you’re going with yoga pants- be sure you find some nice, insulated ones to keep you warm.
A good camera. The scenery is divine, and you’ll want to capture it.
A nicer outfit for your fancy dinners and winery tours. Not too fancy, just the right amount of fancy.
And finally, layers. We found ourselves constantly layering up and down as the sun rose and fell and the temperatures fluctuated.