Where to Stay in Blue Ridge

The Blue Ridge Mountains have some of the most gorgeous views in the South. It’s no surprise so many Floridians travel to the mountains during Spring Break (in contrast to tens of thousands flocking to the sandy beaches off the Florida coastlines).

Blue Ridge has so much to offer, from good barbecue to adventurous hikes! The quaint little downtown area has plenty of shops and boutiques to buy gifts or maybe some hiking boots you may not have realized you needed until it was too late…

Ask me how I know. (Ha!)

If you’re into hiking, cabins, beer, and good places to eat on a family vacation, then we need to be friends. Check out our adventure and recommendations below.

The Toasted Marshmallow

This cabin is a three bedroom, three bathroom place to stay tucked away in the Necowa Overlook neighborhood. It’s three stories and has three separate decks to hang out on. The bottom deck has a fire pit and hot tub with porch swings that cradle you in relaxation.

 

The cabin has a fireplace inside and plenty of space to hang out on the main floor, along with the main deck that has a projector available upon rental!

Upstairs, you’ll find a cozy loft that’s perfect to read a book in or get some work done if you can’t escape from those work emails.

For more information and photos of the cabin, please read last year’s blog post here.

There is also public lake access only a couple minutes away, so bring those kayaks or paddle boards if you got ‘em! The views are amazing!

To book a stay at this warm and inviting cabin tucked away atop the mountain, check out their airbnb site.

Things to Do in Blue Ridge

Some people like to relax while some people like to explore. Downtown is the spot to imbibe and indulge while shopping the local boutiques. If you’re more apt to adventure, there’s plenty to do from fishing to zip-lining. Let’s also not forget about the art scene and the Sasquatch museum… have you ever seen him?

Grab a Beer at the Breweries

There are two breweries in the area, Grumpy Old Men Brewing and Fannin Brewing Company. Both are worth checking out!

Grumpy Old Men has a rustic feel with a sizable tap list that has a little bit of everything.

Fannin Brewing is a smaller, laid back brewery. Come as you are and have a great time! Enjoy the fresh air and mountain views while you drink locally crafted beers.

Go Hiking in Blue Ridge

There are two trails that we love to hike, one of them is close to the cabin and the other is about an hour away.

Aska Trails 

Aska Trails has a two mile loop about halfway down the mountain, near the cabin. The lush, greenery, tree tunnels, and creeks rippling through this moderate hike within the forest make it worth the burn!

This trail would be good for the family and pets if you have any—it does get steep in some parts and during the wet season I highly recommend hiking boots or proper footwear.

Amicalola Falls

If you’re willing to take a few hours out of the day to drive an hour for a gorgeous, majestic waterfall, this hike is a must.

Amicalola Falls is close to the Chattahoochee National Forest and Appalachian Trail. This waterfall is 729 feet high and is also the third highest waterfall that is East of the Mississippi River. The park also has a lodge and offers other outdoor activities, including zip lining, archery, and GPS scavenger hunts.

This hike is totally worth it!

It is classified as a strenuous hike with 425 steps to the top. If you don’t want to walk the entire staircase to the top, half-way is a good stopping point that will bring you so close to the waterfall you can feel the droplets misting your face.

Where to Eat in Blue Ridge

We tried two new places on our trip this time and you need to add them to your list!

Pink Pig BBQ in Cherry Log, GA

The food on our trip was gifted and hosted, but I was so impressed with the food, service, and hospitality at these places that I am highly recommending you grab food here in house or grab a bite to-go!

I am still recovering from this giant lunch at Pink Pig, and my trip was two weeks ago. You have been warned.

Everything on the menu sounded so delicious, so we sampled quite a bit of food:

• House Potatoes
• Mac N’ Cheese
• Fried Green Tomatoes
• Jalapeño Poppers
• Onion Rings
• Pulled Pork
• Brisket
• Barbecue Chicken
• Ribs
• Brisket Tacos
• Brisket Nachos
• Fried Chicken Livers
• Garlic House Salad
• Banana Pudding

I want everyone to give this place a taste on their trip to Blue Ridge! It was that good.

Check out the rest of their menu here!

Mona Lisa’s Dessert House

Craving something rich, decadent, and sweet? Look no further than Mona Lisa’s Dessert House which is right in the downtown area of Blue Ridge.

First, I had a glass of Luna Nuda red wine with a chocolate rim. This was a mouth watering berry and chocolate combination and I can’t stop thinking about it!

In addition to the wine, I also died and went to heaven in a chocolate coma with a slice of Mocha Cake. Topped with a bright red strawberry and chocolate icing, this dessert was to die for. Normally when I eat cake, I will be satisfied after a few bites, but not here! I almost ate the whole slice.

You know when something tastes so good you remember it so well? I wish I could recreate that in my kitchen, but there’s no way that I have the talent that they do here. I’m just going to have to go back for another visit.

They don’t have a website, but you should check out their Facebook to see what they have to offer.

The Sweet Shoppe of the South

The desserts here were fantastic: everything from the Lemon Bar, to the Strawberry Shortcake, to the S’Mores cupcake (a Cupcake Wars winner), and the cheesecake they made for us was so good. We didn’t get to stop in the shop, but the desserts were waiting for us upon arrival. It was so sweet. (See what I did there?)

Definitely indulge in one of their sweet treats, I promise you will not be disappointed. They have a variety of items on their menu that are fit for any chocolate lovers and all sweet tooth cravings.

Stay Inside & Call the Concierge

Finally, I have one last thing to mention–a concierge service. That’s right! If you are into maximizing your relaxation, this is the way to do it.

The Cabin Concierge

The beauty of Blue Ridge is a reason alone to book a stay. There’s something for everyone to do, and if you don’t even feel like leaving the cabin—you don’t have to!

The Cabin Concierge is a service you can book to bring groceries, food, music, and special occasion set-ups to you without having to step foot out of the door.

Us girls were hosted with a massage and this was my first one ever! I know, that’s hard for some to believe, and it was nothing short of amazing.

Side note: Ask for Silhouette, she made us feel so good and relaxed after our massages!

This service could not come at a better time with a pandemic still lingering around our communities. Speaking of community, they also raise money to Feed Fannin, a local volunteer organization that is helping to provide food for people in need.

PHEW! Are you ready to book a trip to Blue Ridge yet, or what? Feel free to comment below or send an e-mail if you have any questions about our trip! For more information on The Toasted Marshmallow or any of the places I mentioned, click on the links within the articles above!