Photograph by Explore Georgia
FALL ORCHARD TOUR
When summer fades into fall, it’s time for Atlantans to head north to the mountains, where the apple orchards await. Reaching the orchards is easy. Drive about 90 minutes north of the city and you’ll find a pastoral landscape of gently sloped mountains dotted with apple trees. If you’re not sure where to start, go to Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge, which has been around since 1943. The orchard grows more than 40 types of apples, with certain varieties becoming available throughout the season. The U-Pick option costs $12 per person and includes a container that you and the kids can load up with the fruit. The market sells baked goods such as apple pie, as well as candy and produce.
If your family enjoys activities beyond apple picking, Hillcrest Orchards in Ellijay has you covered. Here, options include an apple tree maze, giant slides, mini golf, and a petting farm. To go all in on the apple festivities, consider visiting during the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, held October 11 to 12 and 18 to 19 at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds. The popular event buzzes with live music, craft vendors and, of course, apple treats. During the festival, restaurants in downtown Ellijay also get in on the fun with apple-infused dishes.
Photograph by Explore Georgia
KAYAKING THE ETOWAH RIVER
If you’re looking to take your beginner paddlers out on water, the Etowah River is considered one of the best in the state to do so. It runs for 163 miles, but the 36-mile stretch through Bartow County is especially approachable. A Class I river, the Etowah is gentle, with few rapids, which makes it a great introduction to kayaking. It happens to be beautiful, too, as the river winds through wildlife management areas, the Chattahoochee National Forest, and other parks. Several boat launches are along the river, so you can bring your own kayak.
If you don’t have your own, there are companies ready to help with rentals, too. Euharlee Creek Outfitters offers first-come, first-served kayak rentals for small groups. The launch is near a charming covered bridge that spans Euharlee Creek, which connects to the Etowah River, and after your river journey, the outfitters pick you up and take you back to your car. Kids older than eight years old (and comfortable enough to paddle) can experience the magic of a moonlight paddle with Etowah Adventure Company (your ticket even comes with a headlamp). The tour starts right before sunset and allows paddlers to see the river in a whole new way. This company also offers daytime kayak rentals for self-guided exploration.
Photograph courtesy of Jekyll Island Authority
GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER
There are plenty of reasons to vacation with the family on Jekyll Island, and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, among the island’s newer attractions, is one of them. The center opened in 2007 and houses a care facility for sick and injured sea turtles, as well as a museum with exhibits about turtles in Georgia and glimpses of prehistoric turtle skeletons. Visitors can also peek in on a treatment room, where veterinarians tend to and treat the turtle patients.
The best part, however, is found outside, where the open recovery tanks serve as a sort of sea turtle hospital. Kids can peer through the windows to see the turtles swimming along as they heal. The center serves as a reminder to the next generation that it’s important to take care of our beaches and oceans; so many threats to sea turtles are imposed by humans. More than a treatment and educational facility, the center offers special programs, too, such as evening turtle walks, during which groups look out for nesting sea turtles. Or, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the center, which includes up-close and personal encounters with the turtles. Children ages 10 and up are welcome to join these programs.
Photograph by Explore Georgia
DETOUR
Rum Cake Lady Cuban Cafe brings a taste of Miami to Blue Ridge. The casual counter service restaurant appeals to families with its laid-back atmosphere and flavorful dishes such as the classic Cuban sandwich and beef empanadas. There’s a small market, too, with jams and, of course, rum cakes, for the road.
This article appears in our August 2025 issue.
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