As the foliage changes and temperatures start to drop, fall easily becomes the best season for a good old-fashioned road trip. North Georgia is the perfect place to experience all that fall has to offer, complete with natural wonders like Amicalola Falls, outdoor adventure and seasonal food festivals. It's safe to say that the crown jewel of North Georgia, especially during fall, is Ellijay, home to the annual Georgia Apple Festival where 40,000 apple enthusiasts descend on the tiny town to celebrate the sweet fruit.
Nicknamed the "Apple Capital of Georgia," Ellijay and Gilmer County produce over 250,000 bushels of apples annually in more than 30 varieties harvested from late summer into early winter. Visitors to Ellijay can take part in U-Pick season, bringing the entire family to orchards like Red Apple Barn (3379 Tails Creed Road, Ellijay. 706-635-5898, redapplebarn.com/), Hillcrest Orchards (9696 GA-52, Ellijay. 706-273-3838, hillcrestorchards.net/) and B.J. Reece Orchards (9131 GA-52 East, Ellijay. 706-276-3048, reeceorchards.com/) to pick a bushel of Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples right off the tree. The Apple Pickin' Jubilee at Hillcrest Orchards is a U-Pick festival held every weekend through the months of September and October. Little ones will love to take part in wagon rides, giant slides and pedal cart and trike races, while parents will get a kick out of the moonshine museum and live bluegrass music. If you're more a fan of apple products, indulge in fried pies, fritters and apple cider at R&A Orchards (5505 GA-52, Ellijay. 706-273-3821, randaorchards.com/), then fill the trunk with applesauce, pecan-apple butter, Dutch apple preserves, and apple chutney from Aaron Family Orchards (8350 GA-52, Ellijay. 706-273-3180, aaronfamilyorchards.com/) to enjoy at home.
The biggest event of the year in Ellijay is the Georgia Apple Festival Arts & Crafts Show (1729 South Main St., Ellijay. 706-636-4500, georgiaapplefestival.org/) held during the second and third weekends in October. Celebrating its 45th year, the Georgia Apple Festival has grown from humble beginnings into one of Georgia's largest and most well-attended festivals. The Apple Festival features handmade arts and crafts, live entertainment, a beauty pageant, vintage car show, parade and delicious apple confections. On the same weekends as the Apple Festival, historic downtown Ellijay hosts Apple Arts on the Square, a smaller version of the festival with crafts, face painting and apple treats.
If you happen to indulge in more fried and baked apple treats rather than apples themselves, burn off the extra calories on the many hiking and biking trails surrounding Ellijay. A favorite is the Benton MacKaye Trail, which loops out of Ellijay and into the Smoky Mountains. Adventure seekers can also take to the water an hour north on the Ocoee River with a guided whitewater rafting trip with Ocoee Adventure Center (4651 US-64, Copperhill, TN. 423-548-2112, ocoeeadventurecenter.com/). In downtown Ellijay, those with a keen eye can score unique finds at area antique shops: Antiques on North Main (44 N. Main St., Ellijay. 706-669-1950, facebook.com/AntiquesonNorthMainEllijayGA/), known for its fine English porcelain and stained glass; Southern Flare Antiques and Interiors (1362 GA-52 East, Ellijay. 706-635-6330, southernflarega.com/), filled with hand-painted furniture and locally made jams and jellies; and Black Bear Antiques (Old Orchard Square, Ellijay. 706-635-2327, facebook.com/BlackBearAntiques/), with unique decorative items, such as deer-antler chandeliers and vintage safes.
Gilmer County is considered to be the heart of Georgia wine country. The elevation, soil and climate of the Southern Appalachian mountains make for the perfect grape growing environment, and Ellijay is home to three large vineyards, with two more located just outside of town. Cartecay Vineyards (5704 Clear Creek Road, Ellijay. 706-698-9463, cartecayvineyards.com/), has nearly 13 acres of vines, producing Merlot, Vidal Blanc and a seasonal Chimney Noel wine available during the holidays. At the family owned Engelheim Vineyards (127 Lakeview Road, Ellijay. 706-635-9463, engelheim.com/), husband and wife team Gary and Jan Engel combine their German heritage with their Appalachian land to produce Riesling and Traminette wines. Ellijay River Vineyards (111 River Birch Lane, Ellijay. 770-315-9121, ellijayrivervineyards.com/), Fainting Goat Vineyards & Winery (201 Vineyard Way, Jasper. 706-692-9463, faintinggoatvineyardsandwinery.com/) and Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard & Winery (1862 Orchard Lane, Talking Rock. 706-502-1608, chateaumeichtry.com/) are also worth a visit.
The Martyn House is an 18-acre adults-only glamping retreat where guests stay in luxury sleeping tents from India with private baths, deep in the heart of the forest. For those not keen on sleeping outdoors, you can instead book one of the bedrooms in the cozy farmhouse or the private studio. themartynhouse.com. From $220 per night. 706-635-4759
Hearthstone Lodge is a traditional, adults-only bed and breakfast with stone fireplaces and a large front porch for guests to relax in rocking chairs and enjoy the fresh mountain air. www.hearthstonelodge.net. From $169 per night. 706-264-5957
