TAKING A TRAIN RIDE THROUGH BLUE RIDGE IN THE FALL
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)
If you want a whole weekend full of train-riding fun, pack up your jeans and head for
Blue Ridge, Georgia.
This is such a quaint, lovely little Appalachian town located in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains. You have never seen anything as pretty as the fall foliage in this area! The colors are always totally amazing, and it is even more fun when you can take a seat on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and ride through the valleys and hills to gaze at it all. The colors are so beautiful here that it has been designated one of the top five places to visit in the south to enjoy the fall foliage.
The train ride follows the route of the Toccoa River and makes a stop in McCaysville before returning to Blue Ridge. McCaysville, Georgia is an authentic mountain town where a blue line on the street separates it from Copperhill, Tennessee. In this spot you can stand with a foot in two states at once. These two little towns are known for being in the Copper Basin and have a rich mining history to tell. There is a museum in nearby Ducktown, Tennessee that does a good job of explaining all this mining history. We didn’t mine for copper, but found McCaysville to be a great place to visit antique and junk stores. There are treasures hiding in those hills.
One of my fondest memories is a trip to Blue Ridge with my parents on Halloween Weekend. The town blocks off its streets and the merchants dress up in costumes. Every doorway has free candy to give away, both to the younger and the older kids alike. Hot apple cider and hot cocoa are offered at almost every shop. The shops here are very novel and fun. There is something unique for everyone on your list. There are wonderful little restaurants sprinkled among the shops here and there.
There are 106,000 beautiful acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest to explore in this county. It is a fantastic place to take long hikes and the woods are loaded with gorgeous waterfalls. There is rafting on the Ocoee River, or if you like calmer waters, there is Lake Blue Ridge and Morganton Point. You will find lots of good fishing. Fannin County is the trout Capital of Georgia. Plenty of zipline adventures, established trails and horseback riding are available.
We like to stay at The Blue Ridge Lodge by Comfort Inn and Suites. It is pretty with a nice welcoming fireplace in the lobby, great continental breakfasts in the mornings, game rooms for the kiddies and nicely decorated clean and comfortable rooms for a reasonable price. I promise you though, you won’t be spending much time at the hotel. There is too much to do otherwise.
One of the most astounding things about this town, aside from the most important train and depot, is the local artist and craftsmen who live here. There are a surprising number of very nice art museums and the town has a local theater community that performs on the weekends. Don’t miss the Fall Arts in the Park event usually held in October. There is also a national juried photography exhibit held at the local Art Center. Visit www.blueridgearts.net for more information. There are numerous opportunities to hear live music by great artist, especially blue grass. Festivals abound. There is a fun Blues and BBQ Festival in September if you like to hear the blues.
I’ve only given you a glimpse.
When you arrive in Blue Ridge to ride the train all sorts of other fall adventures will jump out at you.
What are you waiting for?