11+ Fantastic Things to do in Blairsville, Georgia (from a local)
Blairsville, Georgia is located in the North Georgia mountains in the United States. This gorgeous area is filled with so much beauty and lots of things to do. If you love being outdoors, checking out local restaurants, and supporting small businesses then you will absolutely love this small town.
Here are just a few of the best things to do in Blairsville, Georgia. They range from foodie fun to great outdoor adventures, and they’re sure to give you great memories of this Georgia gem!
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Favorite Things to do in Blairsville, GA (From a Local!)
Blairsville was founded in 1835 and named for Revolutionary War hero James Blair. The town sits in the Chattahoochee National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Below is an itinerary for the perfect 24 hours in Blairsville, Georgia.
Below is how to spend one perfect day in Blairsville; a 1 day itinerary from a local.
1. Best Breakfast in Blairsville, GA
Start your morning off right in downtown Blairsville, Georgia with a scrumptious breakfast.
My favorite local joint is located in the middle of downtown Blairsville and it’s called, Hole In The Wall (12B Town Sq, Blairsville, GA 30512). They serve some very large pancakes, delicious eggs and so much more. The food is absolutely amazing.
2. Favorite Blairsville Coffee House
While you can enjoy a cup of coffee at Hole In The Wall, you can also check out the coffee shop across the street called Cabin Coffee Co (44 Town Sq, Blairsville, GA 30512). Owners Wayne and Judy, have created an upscale coffee house and roastery for coffee lovers. They also serve breakfast and offer gluten-free options.
Take A Morning Hike
3. Helton Creek Falls Blairsville GA
Blairsville, Georgia is known for the outdoor activities and gorgeous mountain views that it has to offer. One great way to spend the morning is a hike at Helton Creek Falls. It is a short hike that is very family-friendly. It has two beautiful waterfalls and is definitely worth the trip. Overall it took us about 15 minutes to do the hike starting at the parking lot and going to the falls.
Directions to Helton Creek Falls from Blairsville: take the US 129/ US-19 S, turn left onto GA-180, then right onto GA-348 E. You’ll then make a right onto Hatchet Creek Road until you reach the trailhead.
4. Lake Trahlyta Falls
Another option for a morning hike is the Lake Trahlyta trail at Vogel State Park. It is a short hike to a waterfall at the end of the lake.
If you prefer something a bit more adventurous, opt for the Bear Hair Gap Trail through a beautiful forest filled with wildflowers in Spring and small tumbling waterfalls to views of Lake Trahlyta from a great overlook.
5. Anna Ruby Falls Hike
Located outside of Blairsville heading towards Helen, Georgia is one of my all-time favorite hikes in the area. It is called Anna Ruby Falls in Unicoi State Park. It is a short paved hike that overlooks numerous waterfalls all in one location.
6. Blairsville Town Square
If you prefer to learn more about the local history of Blairsville, head to Town Square and visit the Old Union County Courthouse. The historic courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the original old Blairsville courthouse.
One block south of Town Square is the Mountain Life Museum (25 School St, Blairsville, GA 30512). This museum was a private home and has many artifacts from the original family. It also had a recreated authentic small mountain village as well as several other buildings on the property that can be toured.
Afternoon Fun In and Around Blairsville, Georgia
7. Lunch – The Best Pizza in Blairsville
What a fun morning it has been but let’s grab some lunch. There are a few local spots to grab some delicious food in downtown Blairsville, Georgia. One of the places we like to go to eat at is Downtown Pizza Co (417 Blue Ridge St # C, Blairsville, GA 30512). We absolutely loved their pizza but they also have many other Italian dishes for you to choose from, wonderful fresh salads, a very good wine list and the staff is always friendly. It is considered one of the best places to eat in Blairsville GA.
Blairsville Afternoon; Shopping, Hiking or Wine Tasting?
Below we have a few fun options to fill your afternoon. You can take it easy and opt for a little shopping and a wine tasting. Or If you are in the mood for more outdoor adventure, we have an additional hiking option. Or you can simply take a beautiful mountain drive!
8. Go Shopping Like a Local
This is not your average shopping trip. One of our favorite shops to visit is Sunrise Grocery (7568 Gainesville Hwy, Blairsville, GA 30512). They have a wide variety of souvenirs, photographs and posters, and even locally grown fresh produce. It is a great place to find fun locally made items. It’s not just a gift shop, so don’t forget to try their roasted peanuts and delicious jams and honey.
9. Take A Mountain Drive
Driving through the Georgia mountains is pretty amazing. One of our favorite things to do on a drive through the mountains is to stop at all of the overlooks and take photos.
On a clear day, consider driving just 13 miles from Blairsville to Brasstown Bald. With a peak elevation of 4,784 feet above sea level, Brasstown Bald is Georgia’s highest point and overlooks four states including Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. If you are up for a hike, the Brasstown Bald Summit Trail is a steep half-mile trek with a paved footpath.
During our drive we also like to stop at all the cute mountain shops we find along the way. We have found some pretty cool items in these local shops. One of our favorite shops on the winding roads is Mountain Crossings (2471 Gainesville Hwy, Blairsville, GA 30512).
They have the cutest stuff ever. I got a whale mug there. It is also right next to the Appalachian Trail making it a rest stop for many through-hikers. If you sit and talk to them you can hear some pretty amazing stories. Walk to the back of the shop and you will be surprised with some gorgeous views as well.
10. De Soto Falls
Mountain Crossings is located very close to De Soto Falls so if you want to visit the store, this is a great option for a hike after lunch. This is a longer hike than the other ones mentioned so allow up to two hours to do them both loops. If you are traveling with kids, you might add on a bit more time for this hike.
11. Enjoy a Local Wine Tasting
There are a few places in Blairsville that have local wine but the one I have heard amazing things of is Paradise Hills, Winery Resort and Spa (366 Paradise Rd, Blairsville, GA 30512).
The winery is located on a 40-acre property. The vineyards include a variety of grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Reisling, Chardonnel, Traminette and Sangiovese. It is a family-run, “Grapes to Glass” winemaking process.
The tasting room is open 7 days a week. There are 3 types of wine flights to choose from that start at $11 and include a souvenir glass. They also offer craft beers, hard ciders, and an assortment of cheeses, charcuterie platters, and warm tapas.
Another wine tasting option is Odom Springs Vineyard (637 Odom Rd, Blairsville, GA 30512). This family-owned estate winery is located less than 15 minutes from Blairsville in the lush rolling hills of north Georgia. You can try wines in a tasting, by the flight, or by the glass. The winery also serves cheese boards.
12. Enjoy A Delicious Dinner in Blairsville
Blairsville has a good variety of country-style restaurants for you to choose from. If you are in the mood for Cuban food, then head to Nani’s Restaurant (51 D Earnest St, Blairsville, GA 30512). Their menu is a cross between Cuban and Puerto Rican, with bit of a Spanish twist. Lunch and Dinner are served Tuesday through Saturday.
Mike’s Seafood Market & Grill (40 A Butternut Crossing, Blairsville, GA 30512) is not fancy, but it’s delicious. It’s a casual option for dinner with seafood options such as shrimp, fish, hushpuppies. All are delicious and portions are hearty.
For Italian, head to Michaelee’s Italian Life Caffe. The restaurant is BYOB, which is good to know if you enjoy a beer or wine with dinner. They have wonderful chicken, beef and seafood options as well as delicious homemade pasta options.
After dinner, head to The Cellar at Michaelee’s (located in the basement) for a sweet treat. Homemade fudge, ice cream, homemade sodas and so many other desserts to choose from!
You can also ask locals you may have met during your day exploring Blairsville about their favorite restaurants. It is always best to get a good perspective from the locals in the area.
Blairsville GA Hotels & Lodging
Camping
We usually like to go camping so we opt for outdoor places such as campgrounds. Vogel State Park is usually where we go camping because it is very clean and well maintained. You can also stay at De Soto Campground but make sure to take cash with you as they only accept cash at check-in.
If you decide to camp at Vogel State Park I highly recommend making your reservations 3 to 6 months in advance depending on the time frame and if it’s during a holiday. They usually book up fast, especially during the summer months.
Blairsville GA Cabins and Inns
You can also find some great cabins to rent in the Blairsville area as well. Blood Mountain Cabins and Country Store is one of the best cabins in the area that was recommended to me by a local. There are alsoAlpine Cabins and Misty Mountain Inn and Cottages that have great reviews.
Hotels
Comfort Inn Blairsville GA is a great choice for a budget hotel. If you prefer the simplicity of a hotel this is a great choice for a budget stay.
Festivals in Blairsville
Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games
If you happen to be in Blairsville during the Blairsville Scottish Festival which usually takes place in June, it is a great time! The Scots have gathered at Meeks Park for almost two decades to celebrate their heritage with live music, Highland dancers, Scottish athletes, family clans, bagpipes and drums and traditional music.
Another fun festival that is a local favorite is the Indian Summer Festival. The two-day Mountain Music Day Festival tends to happen every October.
Best Time Of Year To Visit Blairsville, Georgia
The mountains of north Georgia are beautiful all year round. The seasons are stunning in Blairsville, but from my experience, the best time of year to visit is during the Spring and Fall seasons. During these seasons you will see fewer people on the trails and attractions as well as have the perfect cool weather to explore in. Winter will be the less crowded time of year but very cold. Summer, on the other hand, is fun too but very hot and more crowded. Spring and Fall are the best times in my opinion.
If you are looking to catch some beautiful fall colors during the Autumn season then the very best time to find these peak colors would be during the last 2 weeks of October.
Directions to Blairsville, Georgia
Blairsville is located in the North Georgia mountains and less than 20 miles from the Tennessee border.
It’s about 2 hours from Atlanta to Blairsville. Take GA-400 N/US-19 N from Atlanta and follow GPS into town.
It’s also about 2 hours from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Take I-75 N, US-64 E/US-74 E and US-129 S/US-19 S from Chattangooga.
5 Fun Facts About Blairsville, Georgia
- De Soto Falls was a location where the famous Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto.
- The population of Blairsville as of 2019 is 700.
- Blood Mountain holds the only man-made structure, The Walasi-Yi Center, that passes through the 2,175 mile-long Appalachian Trail.
- Blairsville is world-famous for its sorghum. Blairsville is the only area in all of Georgia that grows sorghum. The unique climate and soil conditions in Blairsville are perfect for harvesting it. The town celebrates this with its Blairsville Sorghum Festival every year in October.
- Byron Herbert Reece, the author of four books of poetry and two novels, is one of the most famous residents of Blairsville.
Hope You Enjoy Your Trip To Blairsville, Georgia
Well, that’s about it. Whether you are traveling for an overnight trip or going for a week, Blairsville and it’s surrounding areas have a lot to offer. With beautiful shops, delicious coffee, amazing wine and spas, and ever local restaurants, you are safe to say that the mountains of North Georgia will have a special place in your heart.
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