Posts by Gary Knight

When visiting the North Georgia Mountains our guests here at Cabin Rentals of Georgia always ask us, "What is there to do in Blue Ridge?" To help, here are five things we think are a must for the entire family or for a couple on their honeymoon to enjoy.

1. Take a Canopy Tour: Climb up, clip in, and zip through one of the area's hottest new attractions. Soar over the scenic Blue Ridge mountains from treetop sky towers along ziplines, suspension bridges, and more as you zip, walk and climb your way through some awesome family adventure. No one hangs out in the trees like the people at The Blue Ridge Canopy Adventure.

2. Pick Some Berries: Enjoy sweet, juicy strawberries you pick yourself! Mercier Orchards features a variety of U-Pick crops throughout the year, so check their website to see what's in season. While you're there, enjoy a delicious lunch before taking home some fresh fried pies. The fried apple pies are the best!

3. Saddle Up: There's no better way to experience our spring beauty than on a relaxing trail ride. Saddle up for a 1 or 1.5 hour ride on a gentle, well-trained horse with Adventure Trail Rides. 

4. Soar in a Helicopter: See our beautiful mountains and attractions from the best vantage point around...500 feet above the ground! Up to 3 passengers can take a tour starting at just $40 per person. Enjoy the views like never before with Blue Ridge Helicopters. 

5. Go Gem Mining: Whether you're a die-hard rockhound or a first time miner, you'll love the valuable gems and stones you can uncover. Head to Historic Downtown Blue Ridge and visit Huck's Lost Mine and try your luck at finding emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and tiger's eye, just to name a few. 

The best things in life really are free!  Nature's healing and restorative powers are unlimited when you treat yourself and your loved ones to an incomparable and infinitely inspirational experience reconnecting with nature.  In over 100 research studies, simply taking a walk in a park or a hike in the woods does wonders for our physical, mental and spiritual health.  In our high tech, high stress lifestyle, taking time to recharge our batteries and find solitude and silence has been found to be remarkably healing for children, teenagers and adults.  Studies have revealed that even simple connections to nature such as viewing trees and birds outside of a workplace window or a hospital room decreases stress, increases work performance, increases positive attitudes and job satisfaction and speeds rates of healing in patient's recovering from illness or surgery.  Can you imagine the benefits of immersing yourself and your children or teenagers in unlimited beauty? 

The North Georgia Mountains truly has every activity that an outdoor enthusiast and adventure seeker could possible desire.  But even for an average city dweller or suburban family there are hidden benefits that may highly impact where you plan your next family vacation.  Studies show that deprivation of nature disconnects us with the world.  It can lead to depression, anxiety and behaviors that can impair our ability to interact well in family, society, school and business.  The new trend in wilderness retreats and camps for children and teenagers have showed improvement in factors such as Attention Deficit Disorder and depression, simply because the mind has time to relax, use its inherent creativity and imagination from playing and learning in nature and not being constantly stimulated from television, video games, electronic devices and pressure from school and assignments.

Blue Ridge, Georgia offers the most spectacular mountain ranges, lakes, rivers and streams and many hiking trails to choose from along with an amazing array of birds and wildlife to appreciate.  Expect to see beautiful ferns, wildflowers, moss-covered stones and beautiful rocky formations along the trails.  Squirrels, rabbits and white-tailed deer are frequently viewed and our black bears sometimes make for an outdoor experience that may be a little closer to nature than you would like!  Begin your family or group's healing experience with the most desired luxury accommodations by choosing Cabin Rentals of Georgia or your stay.  All our properties are selected for their spectacular views and immersion in nature's beauty as well as proximity to adventure and outdoor activities.  We look forward to meeting your every destination need in the very near future.

With the holidays quickly approaching, you have been working hard to plan the perfect holiday season for you and your family to enjoy together. You've reserved the perfect Blue Ridge Cabin Rental, bought the turkey, started Christmas shopping, now all there is left to do is see what activities will be happening in the North Georgia Mountains during your holiday getaway. Here is a list of the events that will be going on in Blue Ridge, GA. We look forward to serving you and your family this holiday season.

EVERYDAY

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway has their wonderful rail excursions that depart the train depot at 11 a.m. for an hour train ride along the Toccoa River to McCaysville, GA/Copperhill, TN. This is where two cities join with a blue line down the middle of the sidewalk/street. People from all over enjoy having their pictures taken while having one foot in Georgia and the other in Tennessee. Sorry the train is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Another great activity to do while visiting the Blue Ridge Mountains is going to Mercier Orchards. They have fresh fruit in season, a fabulous bakery and much more. They have U-pick cherries and blueberries and when in season, U-pick apples. Mercier's is open daily from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

November 4 - 6

HemlockFest - Enjoy the 7th annual Hemlockfest at Starbridge Farm located between Dahlonega and Cleveland, Georgia. Enjoy lots of musical entertainment, including fire dancing and after hours acoustic jam. They will have knife throwing, archery, canoeing, fising and pond discovery on Lake Merlin. Arts and crafts demonstrations. Interactive presentations and exhibits, including live birds of prey. Medicine wheel walks, morning bird and plant walks, plus much more!

November 24

Blue Ridge Turkey Trot - Located at the Downtown Park on Main Street in Blue Ridge. This family event is enjoyed by all ages and abilities. Mom and Dad pushing infants in strollers to the very competitive athletes, all enjoy a fun time together to kick off the Thanksgiving day. Whether you walk, jog, or run, you will enjoy this one-of-a-kind event. Registration cost is $15.75.

November 25 - 27

It's A Wonderful Life - The Blue Ridge Community Theater presents a heart-warming saga of George Bailey, the Everyman from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose dreams of escape and adventure have been repeatedly quashed by notions of family obligation and civic duty. It's a Wonderful Life not only celebrates the American philosophy of life: that hard work, fair play, and the love and support of family and community will be rewarded. You may purchase tickets via phone or directly on their website.

November 25

Blue Friday - Typically called "Black Friday" and a day that people head to the malls, here in Blue Ridge it's called "Blue Friday." Many stores will be open at 7:00 am, with refreshments, specials and special deals. You'll be with small crowds of friendly people instead of mall-mobs. Entertainment will be downtown as well throughout the evening.

November 25 - 27

Santa Train - Treat your friends and family to an Old-fashioned Christmas with the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Sing Christmas carols and visit with Santa and his elves. The Christmas Express runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 25th - December 24th.

November 26

Light up Blue Ridge - Old-fashioned holiday celebration in downtown Blue Ridge. The day starts off with Tuba Christmas on the main stage at 11:00 followed by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus arriving on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway at 12:30. Visit with Santa and have photos taken in the gazebo in downtown Blue Ridge City Park free of charge. Live reindeer, childrens trackless train rides and much more. The lighting of the "Great Tree" takes place at dusk. Downtown shops will be open late so bring the whole family for a holiday of fun, perfect to start the season off right.

You have planned the perfect getaway with friends and family to a luxurious Georgia Mountain Cabin Rental. Now it's time to unwind and take in the peaceful sounds the North Georgia Mountains has to offer. Experience a peaceful pace watching the sun cross the crisp blue sky; enjoy a nice cool breeze tumble through the bushy green hemlocks and tightly curled rhododendrons; lace up your hiking boots, grab your tackle to fish the Toccoa River; put on your walking shoes to visit many of the quaint shops and galleries in downtown - hunting for hidden treasures while taking a casual break in one of the many fine restaurants or outdoor cafes. North Georgia Cabin Rentals provides breathtaking mountain views, lakeside and Toccoa River properties throughout Blue Ridge, Georgia. Our luxurious cabins feature hot tubs, game rooms for the kids to enjoy, high-speed wireless internet, large gourmet kitchens for the chef in the family, plus much more. We are only 100 miles from Atlanta. So whether you've planned a weekend getaway or looking at having a family reunion in the future, Cabin Rentals of Georgia is your little piece of heaven waiting to help make great memories that will last a lifetime.