Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 56

The Blue Ridge countryside offers opportunities for hiking, fishing, horseback riding and more.

old home once frequented by
"Gone with the Wind" author
Margaret Mitchell, Black Sheep balances white linen elegance with
friendliness. An extensive wine list
complements comfort classics and
upscale cuisine.
A weekend getaway requires a
relaxing retreat. Escape to Blue
Ridge stands out among vacation
rental companies for quality,
cleanliness and comfort. Their
properties include rambling riverside retreats and intimate twobedroom cabins to familyfriendly lake lodges and a mountaintop estate with 40-mile
views. Except for occasional owl
serenades, the cabins are cocoons
of quiet, contributing to the restful sleep needed for a full
Saturday.

If You Go
Located near the Tennessee-North
Carolina line, Blue Ridge, Georgia, is 90
miles north of Atlanta, via I-575 and
Hwy. 515.
For regional information, visit
blueridgemountains.com.
For cabin reservations, visit
escapetoblueridge.com.
56 BlueRidgeCountry.com

Saturday Excursions
It's easy to whip up breakfast in the
cabins' fully-equipped kitchens,
but save that for Sunday. Eat like a
local and order a chicken biscuit at
The Trailer Drive-In downtown. A
benediction of Southern artistry, its
flaky layers swaddle a succulent
fried chicken filet. Plan the day
while polishing off this treat at the
Trailer's picnic tables.
Sixteen driving tours give visitors the lay of the land. They loop
through rural landscapes where
chickens strut next to churches,
rivers rumble over rocks and horses
graze nonchalantly in pastures. To
vary driving with walking, try the
Fannin County Chamber's
Waterfalls Driving Tour. It directs
travelers to 12 waterfalls, with easyto-strenuous hikes along the way.
With 300-plus trails, including the
Appalachian Trail, the region is
hiker heaven.
For a change of perspective, saddle a well-behaved steed at
Adventure Trail Rides. Seeing the
mountains by horseback is an intimate experience that can't be
duplicated by car.
Other travelers may prefer to

drop a line into local waters. The
Toccoa and Jacks rivers and miles
of mountain streams earned
Fannin its "Trout Capital of
Georgia" title. Lake Blue Ridge is
apropos for anglers seeking bass,
bluegill and walleye. Slow-moving
and stable, the pontoon boat rentals at Lake Blue Ridge Marina are
perfect for lazy lake explorations.
First-time visitors may decide to
dedicate a day to Blue Ridge Scenic
Railway. The rail cars combine nostalgia and novelty in one multigenerational outing. Departing
downtown each morning, the train
travels to McCaysville, Georgia, on
the Tennessee line, stops for lunch,
then returns to Blue Ridge by late
afternoon.
For dinner, try Harvest on Main,
where diners reap what Danny
Mellman and his wife Michelle
Moran sow. Influenced by his travels, Mellman infuses Southern food
with global flavors. He also honors
local food traditions, using ingredients from small-scale farmers
including Moran, who tends gardens, poultry and bee hives.
Fortunately for weekenders,
Blue Ridge sidewalks no longer roll
up at night. Live music, wine tastings and seasonal events enliven
evenings. Blue Ridge Community
Theater presents live productions
and Swan Drive-In, one of
Georgia's three remaining drive-in
theaters, is a fun tailgating spot.

Happy Endings
Blue Ridge bustles on weekends,
but save time for peaceful pleasures. Dally on the cabin deck, listening to chickadees chatter.
Shiver in the delicious contrast
between a steamy hot tub and crisp
morning air.
Wrap up the weekend with a
visit to Mercier Orchards. Familyrun for 72 years, Mercier's has
U-pick fruit for all seasons. Apples,
the mainstay, are sold in every
incarnation, from fried pies to jam.
A tasting room serves wine and
hard cider - raise a glass to Blue
Ridge before the journey home. 


http://www.blueridgemountains.com http://www.escapetoblueridge.com http://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com

Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015

Best of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Western North Carolina Food Foray
Is Harvest Table the Region’s Premier Farm-to-Table Restaurant?
Rhododendron Season Arrives: The Photoessay
The Secret Biltmore You Never See
Sleeping in School
Saving West Virginia History
Cabins at Cosby Creek
Blue Ridge Weekend
Landrum Weekend
From the Editor / Worth a Click
Mill Creek Stories
Mountain Report
Creature Feature
Great Home Buys in the Mountains
The Hike
Festivals & Events
Country Roads
Mountian Garden
Guest Column
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - From the Editor / Worth a Click
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Mill Creek Stories
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Mountain Report
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Creature Feature
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Great Home Buys in the Mountains
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - The Hike
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 11
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 12
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Festivals & Events
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 14
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 15
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 16
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 17
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Country Roads
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 19
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 20
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Best of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 22
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 23
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 24
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 25
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Western North Carolina Food Foray
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 28
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 30
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 31
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Is Harvest Table the Region’s Premier Farm-to-Table Restaurant?
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Rhododendron Season Arrives: The Photoessay
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 36
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - The Secret Biltmore You Never See
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 40
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 41
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 43
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 44
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 45
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 46
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 47
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Sleeping in School
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Saving West Virginia History
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 51
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Cabins at Cosby Creek
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 53
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Blue Ridge Weekend
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 55
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 56
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 57
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 58
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 59
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Landrum Weekend
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 61
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Mountian Garden
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 63
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 64
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - 65
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Guest Column
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - May/June 2015 - Cover4
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