Things to Do in Blue Ridge, Georgia (and the Tours Worth Booking)
Prices & schedules checked October 18, 2026
An honest note first: Blue Ridge has very little on the big tour-booking sites. When we checked on October 18, 2026, GetYourGuide had just three Blue Ridge products (plus unrelated tours elsewhere, such as a Jeep tour in Brevard, North Carolina). Both scenic railway listings redirected to a search page when opened with our partner link, so we don’t link them. The third is a full-day tour from Atlanta. We couldn’t check Viator (the site blocked our checking browser), so we don’t link it. Most of this guide therefore points to official sites, with plain links that earn us nothing.
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
The train leaves from the depot at 241 Depot Street in downtown Blue Ridge and runs along the Toccoa River. The rides, per the railway’s site:
| Ride | What it is |
|---|---|
| 2-Hour Express | 26-mile round trip; select dates |
| 4-Hour Extended | About 1 hour to McCaysville, GA / Copperhill, TN, a 2-hour layover in the twin towns, then about 1 hour back |
| Premier Car | Adults 18+; 4-hour ride only |
| Locomotive cab ride | Ride up front; 18+ |
| Rail bikes | Pedal the rails; from $62.99–$69.99 (as listed Oct 2026) |
| 1-Hour Holiday Express | Holiday-season ride with Santa (see our fall & holidays guide) |
- Prices: train fares vary by ride, date and car, and are shown in the railway’s booking calendar. We didn’t capture a fare we could quote, so check the tickets page.
- Book early: the railway says rides sell out weeks in advance.
- On the day: board 30 minutes before departure. There are about 5 steps to board; wheelchair-accessible car #405 must be booked by phone. Groups of 15+ get a group rate. Ticket office: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. ET daily, (877) 413-8724.
Booking the train: buy from the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway’s own site. We found no affiliate program, and the GetYourGuide train listings redirected when opened with our partner link, so the train links on this site earn us nothing. The railway’s FAQ says that if you book through a third party, changes and refunds go through that third party.
Mercier Orchards
A fourth-generation, family- and veteran-owned orchard founded in 1943, with a market, bakery (apple cider donuts, fried pies), U-pick seasons for strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches and over 40 apple varieties, and its own hard cider and fruit wines. Mercier says it is the only apple orchard in Georgia that grows, presses, ferments and cans its own hard cider.
- Where & when: 8660 Blue Ridge Drive. Open Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri–Sun 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Easter (official site).
- Tasting room: wine flight $15 (as listed Oct 2026); no reservation needed. Pouring Mon–Thu 11 a.m.–4:45 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–5:45 p.m., Sun 12:30–5:45 p.m.; Georgia law means no alcohol sales before 12:30 p.m. on Sundays, and ID is required.
- Apple picking: typically August through October, depending on weather and harvest; crowds are biggest in late September and early October (Chamber guide).
Wineries and breweries
The Chamber lists these in and around Blue Ridge (check each one’s hours before you go):
- Bear Claw Vineyards: 2281 Tennis Court Rd, Blue Ridge, 706-223-3750.
- Kerith House: boutique farm winery with tastings and food on 124 acres; 611 Maple Grove Rd, Morganton, 706-780-3008.
- Mercier Orchards: hard cider and farm wines (above).
- Breweries downtown: Grumpy Old Men Brewing (1315 East Main St, est. 2012) and Angry Hops Brewing (341 East Main St), among others on the Chamber list.
A day tour from Atlanta (no car needed)
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you. Details
Full Day Tour from Atlanta to Amicalola Falls and Blue Ridge
- Price $495 per person on GetYourGuide (as listed Oct 2026)
- Route Pickup in Atlanta; Amicalola Falls State Park; downtown Blue Ridge (about 75 minutes); Mercier Orchards (about 1 hour); Vogel State Park and Trahlyta Falls
- Includes Air-conditioned vehicle, water and guide; food and gratuities not included. Limited to 14 people
- Cancellation Free up to 24 hours ahead (GetYourGuide listing). Provider: PLATFORMPOINTS LLC
More from the Chamber
The Chamber’s things-to-do page also lists horseback riding in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Ocoee River whitewater rafting, a treetop canopy adventure, golf at Old Toccoa Farm on the Toccoa River, and trout fishing. It calls Blue Ridge the “Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia.” For water and trails, see our river & lake and waterfalls guides.
Sources
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway — Tickets (rides, rail bikes from $62.99–69.99, Premier Car 18+, cab rides 18+)
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway — FAQs (board 30 min early, steps, car #405, group rate, sell-outs, third-party bookings)
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway — Plan your trip (241 Depot St, ticket office hours, phone)
- Fannin County Chamber — Fall Foliage Tours (26-mile round trip; 2-hour Express and 4-hour Extended with 2-hour layover)
- Mercier Orchards — home (since 1943, hours, closures, U-pick, bakery, hard cider)
- Mercier Orchards — Hard Cider & Winery (tasting hours, $15 flight, Sunday sales)
- Fannin County Chamber — Mercier Orchards guide (apple season, crowds)
- Fannin County Chamber — Breweries & Wineries (addresses, phones)
- GetYourGuide — Full Day Tour from Atlanta to Amicalola Falls and Blue Ridge (price, 9 hours, stops, inclusions)
- Fannin County Chamber — Things to Do (activities, “Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia”, 90 miles from Atlanta)