Blairsville Things to Do

If you’re a fan of southern cooking then you’ll love Blairsville’s dining options! The Sawmill Place is a crowd favorite, thanks to its delicious southern favorites like biscuits, collard greens, fried okra, meatloaf, catfish, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and much more. You'll find all the fixin’s and then some! Another spot in Blairsville for southern eats is Grits & Greens! Their large menu offers breakfast, lunch, and supper options like the club sandwich, country fried steak, cajun shrimp, and biscuits smothered in gravy! Yum! And don’t forget to stop by Hole in the Wall. Union County’s oldest diner serves up breakfast favorites all day, everyday! And on top of breakfast you’ll find more delicious southern options that taste just like grandma made it! Blairsville truly has no shortage of southern cuisine! 

Looking to try something different? Check out Michaelee’s Italian Life Caffe, for an authentic Italian dining experience. Michaelee’s offers the best Italian food in North Georgia, featuring creative pasta dishes, a notable bourbon chicken, and the most flavorful chocolate shrimp. Yes, chocolate shrimp. Give them a try; you won't be disappointed! Blairsville is even home to a Cuban Cafe- Nani’s Restaurant, where you can enjoy a taste of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Latin America. Some of our favorite dishes are the Cuban Sandwich, the Chicky & Piggy Bowls, and the Shrimp Creo.  

Bet you never thought a small mountain town would have such a vibrant shopping scene did you? Well guess again! Blairsville is home to a variety of charming shops in the beautiful Downtown area! Art lovers should pay a visit to The Farmer's Daughter where everything is made from local artists. Pottery, canvases, soaps, jewelry and more, this shop is like a farmer’s market that’s open 5 days a week! Step back in time at Pappy’s Country Store with its unique & old fashioned canned goods and gifts; or pick out your next date night outfit at Moonflower Boutique.  Sunrise Grocery has quickly become a fan favorite thanks to its one stop shopping experience for snacks & artisan goods, mountain photography, handcrafted soaps, and the local delicacy of boiled peanuts! And Sundance Gallery Gifts and Mountain Life Mercantile offer a little taste of everything; from home decor, clothing & accessories, art, pottery, and more you’ll find a little something for everyone in your life at these two shops! 

Blairsville is also home to a wide variety of antique shops; which makes it the perfect getaway for those looking to find the most unique items at the lowest prices! Some of our favorite antique shops in town include The Picker’s Barn, Victoria’s Antiques & More, Mountain Creek Antiques, and the Blairsville Super Flea Market. What hidden gems will you find at these unique shops? 

Blairsville is known for its beautiful mountain trails, stunning waterfalls, and wonderful parks. In fact their town slogan is "Outside is our Best Side"! Learn what outdoor fun activities are in store for you when you visit Blairsville! 

Conquer the tallest peak in Georgia when you climb Brasstown Bald. Georgia’s tallest peak stands at 4,784 feet above sea level, offering views of four states from the top! The trek is a short but steep 1.1-mile trail, all uphill and quite challenging, but the breathtaking views make it worthwhile. Prefer to skip the hike? No problem! You can take the shuttle to Brasstown Bald, available Thursday through Monday from spring to fall, and enjoy a scenic ride to the top. Or climb to the top of Blood Mountain instead! This 4.3-mile round trip hike takes you along the Appalachian Trail via the Byron Reece Trail at Neels Gap. While Brasstown Bald is the highest peak in Georgia, Blood Mountain boasts the highest elevation summit on the Appalachian Trail in the state, promising a challenging trek. As you ascend, you'll encounter one scenic view after another. After about 2 miles, you'll reach the summit. Take your time to enjoy the views and capture some photos of the stunning mountains that surround you. Once you've taken your photos and a well-deserved break, start your 2-mile descent back to the Byron Reece Trail trailhead.

Enjoy a short and sweet hike with a “refreshing view” at the end at Helton Creek Falls! This scenic spot features a pair of large waterfalls: the smaller Lower Helton Creek Falls, which you’ll encounter first, and the larger Upper Helton Creek Falls, where water cascades down a 50-foot cliffside. You can easily access both falls with a brief 0.3-mile hike. Enjoy the beauty of the falls from the observation deck and be sure to snap a few photos!

And enjoy exploring some of North Georgia’s most beautiful parks & lakes right in the town of Blairsville! Located at the base of Blood Mountain, Vogel State Park is one of Georgia’s oldest and most beloved state parks! With miles and miles of trails to explore (with trails for a variety of skill levels) and 22 acres of lakes to enjoy, you’ll never run out of things to see here! And on top of hiking trails & lake fun Vogel State Park offers a wide variety of outdoor activities including fishing, boating, mini golf,  and geocaching. Meeks Park is a great place where families can come together to enjoy the great outdoors!  The park is home to seven ball fields, four batting cages, a playground, a skateboard park, basketball court, tennis courts, swimming pool, walking trails, nature trails, a dog park, a disc golf course, and several picnic areas. And oftentimes you’ll find live music events or festivals happening in the park as well! Lastly, take to the water on Blairsville's local lake, Lake Nottely, which is a 4,180-acre TVA lake with 106 miles of shoreline to enjoy. It’s the perfect place to boat, swim, and jet ski during the summer months! Boat rentals can be found at Nottely Marina or North Georgia Watersports. 

There’s no better place for mountain moonshine than at Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. Stop by for a sampling of their finest moonshine or take a tour of the distillery! Inside, you'll find a variety of eclectic relics, as well as an extensive collection of music memorabilia and instruments gathered by owner Tommy Townsend over the years. If you’re looking for great moonshine and even better music than Grandaddy Mimm’s Distilling Co. is the place for you! Learn more about one of North Georgia’s favorite moonshine distilleries here: https://www.escapetoblueridge.com/blog/the-marriage-of-moonshine-and-music 

There’s no need to ‘wine’ when you visit Blairsville because the Blairsville wine scene is hard to beat! Odom Springs Vineyards makes a delicious wine thanks to the uniquely fertile soil of the Appalachian Mountains. They plant French-American hybrid grapes in different soil conditions to produce various wine flavors. Enjoy a glass of their award-winning wines from the deck while taking in the mountain views at this family-owned vineyard. Located just outside of Blairsville in Young Harris, near Brasstown Bald, is Crane Creek Vineyards. At Crane Creek, their goal is for their wines to be enjoyed with food, family, and friends, creating a delightful experience. With a wide variety of wines to try, including reds, whites, rosés, and sweet wines, you’re sure to find something to delight your taste buds. And not only is Paradise Hill’s home to exciting monthly events, but they also have a variety of delicious, award winning wines to try at both their Blairsville location and Downtown Blue Ridge location, the Georgia Wine Depot. And don’t forget to check out one of North Georgia’s newest wineries, Living Water Winery, where you can enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains while sipping on estate grown wine or craft beer, on their 70-acre farm. 

And while Blairsville’s craft beer scene doesn’t have as much to offer as the large array of wineries do, Blairsville is home to the charming, Blairsville Brewing Co. This small, family-owned brewery has a deep passion for brewing and a commitment to using only the freshest, highest quality of ingredients. With a variety of beers like their smooth Golden Lager, The Queen’s Port, or the Luckin’ Stout; there’s something for every beer drinker here, with more beers on the way! For the non beer drinkers, Blairsville Brewing even offers an unflavored seltzer that you can customize with a selection of 12+ flavors that they have in stock, to make your perfect drink! 

In Blairsville you can find exciting annual events and festivals happening throughout the year! This year Blairsville hosted their very first annual Chocolate Walk in February in the heart of Downtown Blairsville. It was a sweet experience filled with truffles, artisanal chocolates, and other chocolate treats. Then in May, for Memorial Day weekend, Blairsville puts on the Spring Arts, Crafts, and Music Festival along with a Memorial Day Parade in Downtown Blairsville. In June put on your kilts and grab your bagpipes for one of our favorite annual events, the Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games. Every year this event is filled with traditional Scottish games, highland music, Scottish food, border collies herding sheep, and plenty of Scottish flair! For the 4th of July, enjoy a patriotic boat parade on Lake Nottely and then a firework show at Meeks Park. And later in the month Grandaddy Mimm’s Distillery hosts the Mountain Moonshine & Music Festival in Downtown Blairsville! This year’s event takes place July 26th-28th. September and October mark Fall Festival season in the mountains and Blairsville has no shortage of fun festivals to attend; from the Mountain Heritage Festival in September to the Sorghum Festival in October, every weekend this time of year is filled to the brim with exciting festivals and events! And finally end your year with holiday markets, Christmas parades, and tree lightings in Downtown Blairsville! Follow our monthly newsletters for more info on all these upcoming events!

Escape to Blue Ridge Cabin Rentals have expanded into Blairsville! Our 6 charming Blairsville cabins offer gorgeous mountain views, easy access to Lake Nottely, and the ultimate relaxation. Ready to plan your escape? Check out our Blairsville Cabin Blog for more details:  https://www.escapetoblueridge.com/blog/6-blairsville-mountain-cabins