Our Family Trip to Blue Ridge, GA

Back in the summer, Justin and I decided to plan a trip up to Blue Ridge, Georgia in the fall.  Since schools were closed for the entire week of Thanksgiving, we thought that would be a good time for a visit to the mountains with the kids.  Neither of us had been to Blue Ridge and this was the first time the kids had been to the mountains.

We had a wonderful time and we all loved it!  We rented a great cabin about 10 minutes from Blue Ridge.  The kids were so excited to have bunk beds to sleep in, their own TV and game room with an air hockey table and we all enjoyed soaking in the hot tub.

We stayed in the Just Ask A Bear lodge from Saturday until Wednesday.  Since we were driving most of the day Saturday, we brought dinner with us to cook that night at the cabin (hamburgers)!  It worked out perfectly!

Our view from the cabin.

On our first day in Blue Ridge, we got up and went to breakfast at the Mercier Orchards.  There was a restaurant attached to the market so we did some shopping after we ate a delicious breakfast.  There were tons of varieties of apples, jams, pies, other fruits and vegetables, decorations, toys and a fresh baked bakery.  This place had the best blueberry muffin I have ever eaten as well as massive cinnamon rolls. 

After breakfast, we went exploring in Blue Ridge. 

It was freezing!

We did a little shopping but ended up going back to the cabin to enjoy the hot tub that afternoon since it was so cold!  We went back to Blue Ridge later that night for dinner at the Blue Jeans Pizza and Pasta Factory - another delicious meal!  We were surprised that so many restaurants were closed either Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays or some combination of those dates.  Next time we will do better to plan where to eat when because we missed out on a couple places.  But hey, just another excuse to go back!

On Monday, we enjoyed the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.  We bought our tickets a couple weeks before the trip to ensure we would be able to ride the train.  The kids loved the experience and I was surprised to learn it was a 13 mile trip that took about an hour because the train only traveled 10 miles per hour. 

The train conductor punching our train tickets!

The train travels along the Toccoa River (one of a few rivers that runs north) to the sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee.  We we first got off the train, we started exploring instead of going straight to one of the few restaurants in the area.  If we go again, we will head straight to a restaurant and shop afterwards since the train only stays for two hours.  We enjoyed a decent lunch (not our first choice place) and walked around until it was time for the train to depart.

Standing at the Georgia Tennessee line.

 Views from the train.

Before we headed to the cabin, we stopped at a BBQ place on the way back to the cabin.  It was some of the best BBQ I've had! 

On Tuesday, we decided to take the kids hiking.  We went to Fall Branch Falls, which was a short 30 minute hike up to a waterfall.  The kids had a great time running up and down the trail and even exploring off the trail with daddy.

Photo credit goes to Kate!

We reached the waterfall!

After our hike, we spend another lazy afternoon at the cabin and enjoyed dinner out that evening at The Southern Charm restaurant since it was our last night in Blue Ridge.   Another amazing restaurant I hope we can go back to some day. We spent equal time getting out and exploring Blue Ridge as we did enjoying the cabin.  I think we all wanted to stay longer but we had to get back for Thanksgiving!

I hope we continue to take an annual family trip since this one was so much fun!