Blue Ridge is one of the most pleasant small mountain towns in North Georgia. After you've eaten breakfast or lunch and shopped for antiques, gifts, or crafts at Blue Ridge's many small shops, you can ride the revived Blue Ridge Scenic Railway to McCaysville, a town at the Tennessee line, and then back through the mountains. It's also a paradise for nature lovers. Fannin County (of which Blue Ridge is the county seat) is known as the "Trout Capital of Georgia." The beautiful Toccoa River is a popular destination for fly-fishing, hiking, canoeing, and more.
Just 15 miles southwest is the scenic town of Ellijay. Billed as "Georgia's Apple Capital," Ellijay is also popular among antiques aficionados. The most popular time to visit Ellijay is in fall, when roadside stands brimming with delicious ripe apples dot the landscape. The annual Georgia Apple Festival takes place the second and third weekends of October. Gilmer County is also considered the "Mountain Biking Capital" of Georgia. Numerous bike trails abound in the area, and it's a great place for hiking as well.
