Our Guide to Blue Ridge, Ellijay & North Georgia

One of the best things about staying at Overlook at Hidden Lake is how much there is to explore nearby. Blue Ridge, Ellijay and the surrounding North Georgia mountains are filled with great restaurants, wineries, breweries, waterfalls, trails, orchards and small towns worth discovering.

These are places and experiences we genuinely enjoy and recommend to our guests.

New favorites are always popping up, so if you discover a hidden gem while you're here, we'd love to hear about it.

A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

North Georgia covers a lot of ground. Before heading out, we recommend mapping several stops together so you can explore one area at a time instead of spending your day driving back and forth.

Also check current hours and days of operation before you go. Many locally owned restaurants, wineries and attractions have seasonal schedules or close on certain weekdays.

For current events and live music, the Visit Blue Ridge app is a useful resource.

For hiking information, trail maps and difficulty ratings, we recommend AllTrails.

If you need help planning your stay, just ask.

Explore the Mountain Towns

Blue Ridge

The hub of the area and the closest major town to the cabin. Downtown Blue Ridge has a large collection of restaurants, shops, breweries and galleries, along with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.

Ellijay

A smaller, more relaxed downtown surrounded by orchards, wineries and some excellent local restaurants. Ellijay is especially worth exploring during apple season.

McCaysville & Copperhill

Two small towns divided by the Georgia-Tennessee state line and joined along the river. You'll find riverside restaurants, breweries and a laid-back atmosphere.

Dahlonega

A picturesque mountain town surrounded by wineries, tasting rooms and North Georgia wine country.

Helen

A Bavarian-inspired mountain town with restaurants, shops and attractions. It's a longer outing from the cabin, but makes for a fun day trip.

Where We Like to Eat

Cherry Log

Pink Pig

A longtime local favorite for barbecue and one of the closest restaurants to the cabin.

Blue Ridge

Whiskey & Water

Modern American food and cocktails.

Harvest on Main

Southern and global-inspired dishes in downtown Blue Ridge.

The Black Sheep

Upscale New American dining in a historic setting.

The General Ledger

Creative American cuisine and cocktails downtown.

Ferraro's Kitchen

Italian food when you're ready for something other than Southern fare.

Grace

A more elevated option for steak and dinner.

Southern Charm

Classic Southern comfort food.

Hook & Eye

Rooftop dining and drinks with views over downtown Blue Ridge.

Cantaberry

A casual favorite for soups, sandwiches and lunch.

Chester's

Relaxed, casual dining.

Misty Mountain Hops

Casual food, drinks and live music.

Carroll's Barbeque

A solid stop for traditional barbecue.

Rum Cake Lady

Known for Cuban sandwiches, baked goods and rum cake.

Ellijay

Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza

One of our favorites. Go early because they are known to sell out of dough.

Cantaberry

Soups, sandwiches and an easy lunch stop.

Ellijay Coffeehouse

Coffee, breakfast and sandwiches in downtown Ellijay.

McCaysville

Twisted Tomato

Pizza in a relaxed riverside setting.

Burra Burra on the River

Casual dining overlooking the river.

The Folk Collaborative

Part bakery, part market and part Appalachian experience, with sandwiches and excellent fried pies.

Breweries

Blue Ridge

Tipping Point Brewing Co.

Grumpy Old Men Brewing

Ellijay

Cartecay River Brewing Co.

McCaysville & Copperhill

Buck Bald Brewing

Copperhill Brewery

Wineries & Cideries

North Georgia has developed an excellent wine and cider scene, particularly around Ellijay.

Blue Ridge Area

Bear Claw Vineyards

Mercier Orchards & Cider

Ellijay Area

Reece's Cider Co.

Ott Farms and Vineyard

Buckley Vineyards

Fainting Goat Vineyards

Roo Mountain Vineyards — Adults 21+ only

If wine tasting is part of your trip, Ellijay is an easy area to build an entire afternoon around.

Waterfalls & Hiking

You don't have to be an experienced hiker to see some spectacular North Georgia scenery.

Toccoa River Swinging Bridge

An easy hike leading to the well-known suspension bridge over the Toccoa River.

Fall Branch Falls

A short, relatively easy hike to a waterfall and plunge pool.

Long Creek Falls

Approximately a two-mile round-trip hike to a beautiful waterfall.

Sea Creek Falls

A very short hike leading to a waterfall and shallow wading area.

Benton Falls

An easy approximately three-mile round-trip hike. The drive itself offers beautiful mountain scenery, and the surrounding recreation area also includes a lake and beach.

Helton Creek Falls

An accessible waterfall reached by a relatively easy trail and stairs.

Trail conditions can change, particularly after storms, so we recommend checking All Trails or current local information before heading out.

State Parks & Bigger Adventures

Amicalola Falls State Park

Home to one of the tallest waterfalls in the Southeast, along with hiking, zip lining and other activities.

Fort Mountain State Park

Great mountain views, hiking trails, a lake, beach and playground.

Unicoi State Park & Anna Ruby Falls

Combine the park with a visit to Anna Ruby Falls. Zip lining, hiking and lake activities are also available nearby.

For zip lining and other scheduled activities, reservations ahead of time are recommended.

Get on the Water

Fish the Lake

Bring your own gear and fish right here at Overlook at Hidden Lake, the bass love shiners, or head to the Toccoa River. Several professional fishing guides also operate throughout the area.

Tube the Toccoa

Toccoa River Campground and Blue Ridge Tubing offer tubing trips with equipment available.

Edge of the World

A popular swimming area with rocks, moving water and natural slides. Check conditions before visiting and bring appropriate water gear.

Morganton Point

A public recreation and beach area on Lake Blue Ridge.

Lake Blue Ridge Marina

Rent a boat and spend the day exploring Lake Blue Ridge.

Whitewater Rafting

RAFT1 offers whitewater rafting along with other outdoor adventures, including zip lining and mountain biking.

Orchards & Apple Country

If you're visiting during fall, make time for an orchard.

And one important local rule:

You have to try a fried pie at least once. It's a North Georgia staple.

Apple picking typically runs from roughly September through November, while some orchards also offer summer berries. Many have markets open beyond picking season, along with pumpkin patches, festivals and family activities in the fall.

Mercier Orchards

One of Georgia's largest and best-known orchards.

The Folk Collaborative

A smaller Appalachian-style stop with a market, bakery and especially good savory fried pies.

Ellijay Apple Country

You'll find several orchards throughout the Ellijay area, including:

B.J. Reece Orchards

R&A Orchards

Hillcrest Orchards

Red Apple Barn

More Things to Do

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Ride from downtown Blue Ridge along the Toccoa River to McCaysville and Copperhill before returning to Blue Ridge.

Gem Mining

Several family-friendly gem-mining attractions operate throughout the area.

Escape Rooms

You'll find escape-room experiences in downtown Blue Ridge.

Expedition: Bigfoot!

Yes, there is a Sasquatch museum, and it's exactly the kind of quirky mountain attraction it sounds like.

The Lilly Pad Village

Mountain mini golf, gem mining, fishing and other family activities.

Horseback Riding

Several outfitters in the surrounding mountains offer guided trail rides.

Stocking the Cabin

Both Blue Ridge and Ellijay have Walmart and Ingles locations.

Blue Ridge is generally closer to the cabin, although guests arriving through Ellijay may find it more convenient to shop before continuing to the property.

Both Walmart locations offer pickup, which can be convenient on arrival day. Ingles also has a very good deli and prepared-food section. Both chains have pharmacies.

Or Don't Go Anywhere

There is plenty to explore in North Georgia, but don't feel like you need to fill every day with plans.

Take a kayak onto the lake. Have coffee overlooking Rich Mountain. Fish from the dock. Play a few games downstairs. Spend the afternoon in a swing bed. Grill dinner on the deck, settle into the hot tub and end the night around the fire.

Some of the best days at Overlook at Hidden Lake are the ones when you never leave.