Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 51

winemaker, Justin McNeill, about why fall
is such a popular time to visit.
"We get a lot of leaf peepers anyways
coming to the mountains to see all the
color changes," says McNeill, the winemaker and one of the co-owners. "But fall
is the craziest time for the winery. That's
when all the year's worth of labor that
went into growing the grapes is finally
paying off, and we're bringing the grapes
into the winery, and we start the process
to make wine."
About 15 minutes away, fall is also a
busy time at R&A Orchards, just off Ga. 52
in Ellijay (706-273-3821). But, then again,
so is the summer, when you can find the
must-munch, made-from-scratch and ohso-fresh peach pies-"straight from the
fields and into the kitchen," says Jennifer
Futch, who runs the R&A Orchards retail
shop.
This is a family business, dating to
1947. "We grow the apples, peaches, nectarines," Futch says as banjos and fiddles
blast on the shop's sound-system. "Apples,
a lot of people come up in September, and
we do the you-pick. That's a big thing.
And, on the weekends, everybody comes,
and we have wagon rides through the orchards."
You can also attend Ellijay's apple festival, held on the second and third weekend of each October. "So that's a big deal,"
Futch says. "Ellijay is the apple capital of
Georgia."

WEST VIRGINIA
I find perfect relaxation-in the "Salt
Cave" near White Sulphur Springs, West
Virginia, where I'm ushered in with a
small group and then practically told to
sleep.
So I do, falling back on a lounge chair,
covering myself with a blanket, and
breathing in the salinity of the Gods:
17,000 pounds of Himalayan salt packed
into this underground room.
"This is just very therapeutic," says
Krisinda Lewis, the operations manager.
"The salt just kind of travels through your
system."
On my tour of Greenbrier County, the
Salt Cave and Spa (304-536-2222) arrives
between a tour of the Lost World Caverns
(304-647-3663) and a late lunch of spicy
soft tacos in Lewisburg at Del Sol (304645-1717).

500 miles of glistening shoreline

...nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Year-round appeal.

History & Wine anytime.
Fish. Boat. Golf. Dine. Shop. Stay.

For a FREE copy of the
Visitor's Guide:
www.visitsmithmountainlake.com
or call 540.721.1203

LOVE THE MOUNTAINS?

EXPRESS
YOURSELF!
GET YOUR

commemorative
TOTE TODAY
LIMITED EDITION

High quality canvas
(w) 15.5" x (h) 16" x (d) 4.75"
$11.95 plus shipping and handling

BlueRidgeCountry.com/Tote

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018

51


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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018

Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - Intro
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 3
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 4
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 5
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 6
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 7
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 8
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 9
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 10
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 11
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 12
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 13
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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 17
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 18
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 19
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 20
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 21
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 22
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 23
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 24
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 25
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 26
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 27
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 28
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 29
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 30
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 31
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 32
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 33
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 34
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 35
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 36
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 37
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 38
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 39
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 40
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 41
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 42
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 43
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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 49
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 50
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 51
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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 54
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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 63
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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 65
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Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 73
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - 74
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2018 - Cover4
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