Get your girls together and head to the mountains for an ULTIMATE GIRL’S WEEKEND! Blue Ridge has everything you and your best gal pals need to have an amazing get together. Incredible wineries, fun outdoor activities & adventures, trendy shopping, delicious restaurants and so much more! Plan your girl’s trip with these great girlfriend friendly activities:
Cover Photo Courtesy @sydneyyshort
NO WHINING, ALL WINE
The North Georgia Mountains are home to some of the very best wineries in the state! The mountains put the grapes high above sea level which greatly helps them to grow, and the cool mountain breezes and rich soil help the grapes to flourish as well. This mountainous region of Georgia was made for growing grapes that turn into high-quality wine. A fan favorite winery of our guests is Bear Claw Vineyards. At this local Blue Ridge winery, you can enjoy delicious wine all year long! In the warmer months you can enjoy live music outside every weekend and in the cooler months you can stay cozy by the fire with your favorite glass of wine. Pair your wine with some of their delicious wine truffles for a super fun day out. Wine and chocolate? What more could a girl want!? Another great winery to check out is Serenberry Vineyards. This Morganton based winery offers guided wine tastings, wine flights, and bottles to share with your girls. You can relax here surrounded by the beauty of Chattahoochee National Forest while you sip on your “Apple-lachian” wine made from local apples. Or head to Cartecay Vineyards in Ellijay for more great wine and incredible mountain views. See our North Georgia wine blog for more wineries to explore: https://www.escapetoblueridge.com/blog/8-north-georgia-wineries/
SHOP TILL YOU DROP
You and your best girls can shop till you drop in Downtown Blue Ridge! Find trendy clothes and accessories at stores like The Owls Nest and Blue Ridge Cotton Company. You can pick out some unique and beautiful jewelry here for a night on the town. For souvenirs Hucks General Store has a little bit of everything. Hats & t-shirts, old school candies, artisan goods, canned & pickled fruits and vegetables, nostalgic gifts, games, soaps, and more! Huck’s has exactly the old school mountain feel that you’re looking for when you come to the mountains for an escape. At Gather and Mitzi’s on Main you can find rustic and stylish home décor to bring back with you. Use your décor finds to spruce up your home with a little Blue Ridge flair. And you can grab everything you need to prepare a delicious home cooked meal at the cabin from The Blue Ridge Olive Oil Company and The Pasta Market; who offer unique and delicious artisan goods ready to be used in your next meal. And don’t forget the wine; stock up at Out of the Blue for the very best of wines from around the world!
HORSEBACK RIDING
Us girls love our horses, right? Then take your girls on an adventure of a lifetime and explore North Georgia on horseback. Take a trail ride through the forest, past mountains and peaceful streams. Admire the beauty all around you as you chat with your gals and catch up. Appalachian Trail Rides and Cowgirl Up Stables can help guide you on your adventure! With experienced guides and horses available to work with a rider of any level of experience; you and your girls are sure to have a great day on horseback! You’ll probably even make some new (four-legged) friends on your journey!
AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
Do you and your girls love the great outdoors? North Georgia has miles and miles of hiking trails just waiting to be explored! For scenic views we’d recommend climbing to the top of Springer Mountain, Brasstown Bald, or Fort Mountain. You’ll be amazed at the views that await you at the top! To discover beautiful mountain waterfalls, check out Amicalola Falls State Park or Long Branch Loop. Be sure to take a few photos in front of the falls with all your favorite hiking buddies! And if you want to discover something new on your hike explore the Benton McKaye Trail. Along the trail you’ll pass by the Toccoa River, more beautiful waterfalls and the famous Toccoa Swinging Bridge. This cool bridge is 270 feet long and stretches across the Toccoa River. It’s the longest swinging bridge east of the Mississippi, so you won’t want to miss the chance to venture across it! Discover more trails to explore here: https://www.escapetoblueridge.com/blog/8-blue-ridge-hiking-trails/
GET A TAN AND COOL OFF
In the summertime you can head to Morganton Point on Lake Blue Ridge. Soak up the sun and get a tan while you lounge in the sand. Then cool off and take a dip in the lake. Splash in the water, dip your feet in, or even play a game of chicken with your girls! And just a skip, hop, and a jump away is the Lake Blue Ridge Marina where you can rent a pontoon boat, kayak, canoe or paddle board for a day of fun on the water. After a day well spent on Lake Blue Ridge stay for dinner and drinks at the Boat Dock Bar & Grill. They offer great appetizers, delicious sandwiches, and awesome cocktails that will hit the spot after a busy day of lake fun!
SPA DAY
Treat yourself to a day of pampering with a spa day from Serenity in the Mountains Spa. Here you and your ladies can get mani/pedis, a massage with a style of your choosing, a facial, a body treatment, have a relaxing experience in the one-of-a-kind Himalayan Salt Cave, or enjoy all the above! Just don’t forget to pair your treatments with wine, a charcuterie board, and delicious chocolate covered strawberries. You can even partake in the cosmetic services that are offered by Southern Surgical Arts Beauty Bar on weekdays. They offer laser and technology treatments, injectables, and fillers to keep you looking youthful and refreshed. You can enjoy peace, relaxation, and ultimate pampering at Serenity in the Mountains Spa!
EAT DOWNTOWN
Who doesn’t love a delicious meal paired with a yummy cocktail, beer, or wine? Bring the girls for a night out on the town! Dress to impress at one of these fine dining restaurants in Downtown Blue Ridge and enjoy an incredible meal made with fresh and local ingredients. Some of our favorite fine dining spots are The Black Sheep, Chester Brunnemyer’s Bar & Grill, Whiskey & Water, Harvest on Main, or ROE. For a great ambiance and fun drinks, we’d recommend Hook & Eye, Bin 322, The Dogwood, Misty Mountain Hops, or The General Ledger. Then end your fun night out with the girls with a sweet treat from Mona Lisa’s Dessert House or The Sweet Shoppe. The best part is that all of these restaurants are conveniently located downtown so you can come back each night and try something new!
GAME ON
Enjoy some girl bonding time and play some games downtown! Blow off some steam and throw axes at Axe Throwing Therapy! They are unique because everything is done digitally so you can easily play a wide variety of interactive games & keep score. You can also enjoy mead and beer next door at Shezmu Cellars. Throw axes, drink, and have a ton of fun with your best girls! Become a pinball wizard at Vertigo Pinball! Play on a variety of new and classic machines with fun themes like Star Wars, Jurassic Park, and more. Plus they have craft brews and delicious comfort food like their adult grilled cheeses ready to be enjoyed while you play games all day long! And put your mini golf skills to the test at 2nd Story Entertainment. This 18-hole mini golf course weaves in and out of 8 individually themed rooms of a 112 year old hotel! How cool is that!? And they have giant games like connect 4 and checkers as well as arcade games! You can find all kinds of fun in one place at 2nd Story Entertainment!
CABIN FUN
You don’t even need to leave the cabin to have fun with the girls! Read a book in the hammock or take in the views from your porch. Enjoy a glass of wine from the hot tub and play pool & board games in the game room. Come together to make a delicious homecooked meal in your luxury kitchen and end the evening with a movie night in your cabin’s family room or media room. Want to really relax and wash your hands of all responsibilities? You can enjoy pampering right from the comfort of your own cabin by hiring a private chef who will prepare an incredible meal for you and your guests. Or hire Tea Tree’s Boutique Spa to bring the massages and treatments right to you. The newly opened, 34th Degree Wine Merchant will even bring wine tastings right to the cabin so you and your girls can try the best wines of the area without ever having to leave the cabin! You can even hire a local photographer to come on out take some group photos to commemorate your girl’s getaway mountain vacation together. Learn more about in-cabin pampering & services here: https://www.escapetoblueridge.com/blog/in-cabin-pampering/
