Top 10 Things to do in Ellijay, Georgia
Written and Photographed by Gwendolyn Call
Ellijay is an adorable mountain town tucked away in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and only a short hour and a half drive from Atlanta. It is one of those dream towns where everyone walks away from a vacation saying, “I want to live here.” It offers diverse activities, scenic views that anyone would be in awe of and small-town southern charm. So, start planning your trip with these top 10 items—a difficult one to narrow down
Be sure to download your free PDF copy of Top 10 Things to do in Ellijay, Georgia by clicking here. Join in on the fun as Randy, Caly and Gwendolyn talk about Ellijay on the RVD Podcast by clicking here!
10. Hiking in Ellijay—Ellijay offers many fantastic hiking opportunities with fall being an excellent time to see the trees changing colors. A lot of hikes are kid- and dog-friendly, making them a good choice for the whole family. Tumbling Waters Trail offers fantastic views of the river and the falls and an easy hike, making this an excellent hike for all. Fort Mountain is also an easy hike with an incredible ending. Take this short, less than two-mile hike to reach the beautiful stone water tower where a young masonry carved a heart for his love only to be later found by others. Carters Lake is another option for hiking, where you can choose to hike, or you can enjoy the views from your car.
9. Downtown Dining—Ellijay offers a variety of Southern foods that will leave your mouth watering and your lips talking about what you ate during your visit. There’s a rooftop restaurant called The Roof featuring Southern favorites like fried green tomatoes, authentic pizzeria, oh-so-delish sushi and wine tastings from the Cartecay Vineyard. In the morning, you’ll find authentic southern biscuits and gravy and delicious warm coffee and tea in many local coffee shops. Ellijay has plenty of dessert options, homemade ice cream shops and bakeries galore.
8. Ellijay River Outfitters: Tubing and Kayaking—Ellijay has some of the most beautiful rivers and streams. Ellijay River Outfitters offers a variety of tubing and kayaking. The bonus is they provide all the items you need. They offer lazy river tubing for a one- or three-mile trip. Each mile takes about an hour to float the river, so plan at least that long for your tubing excursion. They also offer sit-on-top kayaking for those wanting to add some exercise, provided in one- and three-mile trips.
7. Harrison Park—Harrison Park is a beautiful 26-acre tract located only a half-mile from downtown. This land was farmland many years ago and you can still see barn and hay bale remnants. Harrison Park features gorgeous rolling hills, ideal picnic areas, scenic walking trails and beautiful flower gardens. The park features a fantastic walking path, and you can catch live music, festivals and food truck fun on the weekends and holidays.
6. Tabor House Museum—Tabor House Museum is small but mighty and a history buff’s dream, not to mention free. The home was built in the late 1800s and is the oldest home in Ellijay. It currently serves as a museum for Civil War and Cherokee Nation artifacts, as well as early pioneer and WWII artifacts. The museum offers self-guided tours, which adds a nice touch as you may want to spend longer reading in some areas. The Tabor House also contains a Civil War library with more than 200 titles. This museum is a must-see for those who like to travel to find Civil War attractions.
5. Downtown Ellijay—Undeniably, Downtown Ellijay is a town that looks like it could be a movie scene, with quaint shops, flowers and stunning murals painted over brick buildings. The architectural designs leave a lasting impression and, if you love photography, downtown is quite the photogenic area. The downtown area is walkable and filled with unique small shops, antique shops and delicious dining.
4. Amicalola Falls State Park—This park offers 14 miles of trails and is home to the highest waterfall in Georgia; quite a sight to behold. Amicalola sits at the base of Springer Mountain, where the Appalachian Trail starts and visitors will often witness hikers at the beginning of their journey to hiking the Appalachian Trail. The park boasts an excellent store, has numerous picnic areas, multi-level hikes, a lodge and a restaurant at the top, with some adventure opportunities like zip-lining. Pro tip: For a more laid-back trek, hike up Springer Mountain and walk down the stairs.
3. Mountain Valley Farm Store—This is no ordinary farm store. Mountain Valley is situated in a stunning valley with views of cows grazing in the pasture and, during the summer, six-foot sunflowers and weeping willow trees. The entire scenery here is worth the visit. If you add in that there are bunnies, goats, sheep and other animals to pet and look at on the farm, it’s a win-win location. The farm also features an incredible store specializing in pesticide-free grass-fed beef as well as other meats, locally sourced homemade butter, local jams and local ice cream.
2. Visit a Winery—It may be surprising, but Ellijay has quickly become a substantial wine-loving destination. Wine lovers can spend their days visiting some of the region’s best vineyards and wineries. There are also various wine tours, where you can enjoy a tasting, a picnic and often a tour. A few recommended vineyards are Chateau Meichtry, Cartecay Vineyards and OTT Vineyards and Winery. A massive bonus for all the wineries is that they’re extremely pet- and kid-friendly, making these wineries ideal for pet lovers and families.
1. Visit an Orchard—You may not know this, but Ellijay is Georgia’s Apple Capital. If you’re interested in picking apples, the season is August through November. This time of year is hectic, so be prepared and go early. A favorite is R & A Orchards off Highway 52. Orchard stores are full of apple cider donuts, apple slushes, apples, dried apples, or fresh fried pies, jams, and wine. Some orchards also have “you pick” flowers, which may be one of the most incredible activities in the area.
There are endless things to do in this sweet mountain town; in fact, there’s enough to keep you going back for more. Talona Ridge RV Resort, which takes the cake for any RV resort in the U.S., is an excellent choice for an RV park. If you’re traveling without your RV, there are plenty of cute cabins to rent, either remote or close to town.
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