Educational Things To Do Blue Ridge
When you tell your kids that you are going to take an educational trip to Blue Ridge, don’t be surprised when the response you receive is filled with moans and groans. BUT if you tell your kids that you are going to escape to Blue Ridge for fun and adventure, the response is much more likely to be cheers and squeals! Because after all, what kid doesn’t like the thought of an exciting adventure filled with ancient folk lore, Native American ties, and forests filled with fairies?!
A few things to consider before embarking on your Great Blue Ridge Adventure:
1. Have Fun! Yes, your real intention is to provide some solid real life and educational experiences, but your kids will lose interest quickly if you are super serious and take all the fun out of the adventure.
2. Screen Time! This is the right kind of screen time. Having computers in our pockets will come in handy when your child asks you “how long do bears hibernate for” or “how are rainbows made” or the most dreaded question “why is the sky blue”.
3. Tour Guide! While it’s natural for you to want to take the lead and direct your child to what you want them to see, kids usually notice the most nuianced things we would never even think twice about. So, give them the freedom to guide your talks and walks and you might even take time to smell the roses with them.
4. Family Time! The change in our culture over the past few months have been harder on our kids than it has been for us, but good quality family time where you are laughing, sharing, and making memories will help your family to create a stronger bond to weather any storms that we may face physically or mentally.
5. Homework! Well, this is actually for you not for the kids! Take some time to research our area and plan the activities that you want to experience. We are here to help and make your adventures special and memorable.
BLUE RIDGE ACTIVITY BOOKLET
Photo Courtesy Of: Escape To Blue Ridge
Fun Print and Play Activity Booklet
We put together this fun educational activity booklet for kids to enjoy. You can print this PDF and follow along with Ricky the raccoon as he helps you identify trees, animal tracks you're likely to find, spotting different wildlife and more!
BLUE RIDGE ACTIVITY BOOKLETHISTORY
Photo Courtesy Of: Trevor McIntyre
Fannin County Veterans Memorial Park & UH-1 Huey '446
The Fannin County Veterans Memorial Park is a place to honor our most brave heros that fought to defend the freedoms we so graciously enjoy today. Not only can you pay homage to these brave men and women, but you also have the opportunity to tour a UH-1 Huey'446 helicopter!
Photo Courtesy Of: Google Maps Guru
Statue of Liberty
In the heart of downtown Blue Ridge, proudly standing tall in front of the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, which was the original Fannin County Courthouse, stands a replica of Lady Liberty herself.
Photo Courtesy Of: Ducktown Basin Museum
Burra Burra Mine
The Burra Burra Mine in Copperhill Tennessee mined for ore and copper for 60 years in the early to mid 1900s. Detailed displays are available at the Ducktown Basin Museum which consists of 16 historic structures. We encourage you to take the FREE 33 stop walking tour where you can take in 150 years of history in about an hour!
Photo Courtesy Of: BRSR
Historic Blue Ridge Mountain Scenic Railway
Dating back to the late 1800s, the Blue Ridge Mountain Railway tracks originated in Marietta, Georgia and ran east towards Copperhill, TN to assist in the mining and tree timber industry. In the early 1900s, the railroad had been purchased and called the Louisville & Nashville railroad transporting products and people until operations ceased in 1987. Today the railroad has been restored and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway runs for a 26 mile roundtrip ride from Blue Ridge to McCaysville.
Photo Courtesy Of: Angie Barr Palmer
Baugh House Museum
The Baugh House was built in 1890, by James Walden Baugh for his wife Mary Theresa Geiser. The Fannin County Heritage Foundation resorted the home and it now displays many historical items and records like the first "library" in Blue Ridge.
Photo Courtesy Of: Fannin County Chamber
Historic Blue Ridge Walking Trail
The town of Blue Ridge was once considered an elite health resort because of its pure mineral waters. Tourists would ride the train to town, eat dinner at the Blue Ridge Hotel, and take a leisurely walk to the mineral springs after dinner. Today, tourists can still ride the train and take a leisurely walk along Main Street and the other quaint streets of downtown, enjoying the antique and specialty shops, galleries, restaurants and small town atmosphere of Blue Ridge.
NATURAL SCIENCE
Photo Courtesy Of: Escape To Blue Ridge
Hiking in Aska Adventure Area
The Aska Trails Area consists of a 17-mile trail system where hikers and mountain bikers of all skill levels can explore. This trail system highlights the landscapes of North Georgia by revealing mountain peaks, shorelines of Lake Blue Ridge, and a series of hardwood trees among thickets of Mountain Laurel and Rhododendrons.
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Photo Courtesy Of: Brasstown Bald
Brasstown Bald
Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia rising 4,784 feet above sea level. From the observation deck, you have a spectacular 360° view of the surrounding mountains including four states - GA, TN, NC, & SC.
Photo Courtesy Of: Vogel State Park
Vogel State Park
Located at the base of Blood Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest, Vogel State Park is one of Georgia's oldest and most beloved state parks. An outdoor lovers paradise, here you'll find a waterfall, lake for swimming, fishing & non-motorized watersports and plenty of hiking trails to explore!
BIOLOGY
Photo Courtesy Of: Project Chimps
Project Chimps
A 236-acre sanctuary dedicated to rescuing chimpanzees from research facilities across America. Currently 78 chimps are safe and happy to roam with open skies overhead.
Photo Courtesy Of: KC Outfitters
Trout Capital – Trout Trail – Toccoa River
Blue Ridge was designated as the Trout Capital of Georgia because of the 550 miles of pristine streams, federal trout hatchery, and 13 bodies of water that were designated by the Georgia DNR as trout waters! Of course there are more than trout in our rivers, streams and lakes you can also fish for walleye, catfish, white bass, smallmouth & largemouth bass, bluegill, and more!
Photo Courtesy Of: John Smitherman
Sunflowers
Sunflowers turn according to the position of the sun. They chase the light. What happens on cloudy and rainy days when the sun is completely covered by clouds? The Sunflower turns toward another Sunflower to share its energy.
GEOLOGY
Photo Courtesy Of: Ashley Williams
Gem Mining in Blue Ridge
Geology is the study of fossils, rocks, and minerals and here in Blue Ridge you can go mining for your very own gemstones! As you uncover each new stone you can learn about it's unique characteriscs. Afterall, almost all gems are minerals, but very few minerals are gems. To be a gem, a mineral must be beautiful, rare, & durable!
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Photo Courtesy Of: Amy Cole
Blue Ridge Area Waterfalls
Not only are waterfalls beautiful to look at, but the formation of these cascading waters is intriguing! Typically thought to be formed by a geological change like earthquakes, changes in the sea level or by climate changes, but what if they could also be self forming over years and years and years of erosion?!
Photo Courtesy Of: Escape To Blue Ridge
Blue Ridge Mountains
When we say the old Blue Ridge mountains, we mean it! As part of the Appalachian mountain range, the Blue Ridge mountains are the second oldest range in the whole world. Over 1 BILLION years ago, shifts in our Earth’s tectonic plates caused the Blue Ridge mountains to form in a system of peaks and valleys that span eight states!
NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE
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Fairy Crosses
Legend has it that Fairy Crosses are crystalized tears of fairies that used to roam freely over 2,000 years ago! However, scientifically speaking, these Fairy Stones are actyally Staurolite crystals that twisted under pressure.
Photo Courtesy Of: Donna O'Neal
Trail Trees
Trail trees are trees that are not naturally occuring, but modified by human activity rather than deformed by nature or disease. The legend is that Native Americans intentionally shaped these trees for navigational purposes or to mark important places, such as sacred burial grounds.
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Photo Courtesy Of: Cindy Hushon
Swinging Bridge
The Swinging Bridge is the longest swinging bridge East of the Mississippi River! What's a swinging bridge you ask? Well this one is a 270' suspension bridge crossing the Toccoa River! When you walk across this swinging bridge, you'll notice there is no support underneath allowing the bridge to sway! Are you brave enough to cross?
HANDS ON ACTIVITIES
Photo Courtesy Of: Kary W. Kaley Jr
Trout Trail
Adventure around Blue Ridge locating each of the 7 colorful trout around town. Bonus: A brand new trout was just hand carved out of wood at the downtown playground!
EDUCATIONAL BLUE RIDGE VIDEO
Take it from Bryce Zamir (age 7) who knows Blue Ridge Georgia can be both fun and educational!
