Southern Serenity Cabin — Blue Ridge, GA
Top 13 Family Fun Activities Near Blue Ridge
From vintage train rides to gem mining, here are the best things to do with the whole crew in the North Georgia mountains.
Thirteen family activities near Blue Ridge, GA, all within 32 minutes of Southern Serenity Cabin, from the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and the Swan Drive-In to horseback rides at Cowgirl Up Stables, the Blue Ridge Adventure Park ropes course, Expedition: Bigfoot!, Huck's Lost Mine, and indoor mini golf. Most are 14 to 21 minutes away.
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Blue Ridge is one of the best mountain destinations in the Southeast for families with kids of any age. Whether you're looking for outdoor adventure, old-fashioned Americana, or something that will keep the kids talking for years, this area delivers. These thirteen spots are our personal favorites — all within 32 minutes of the cabin and worth every minute of the drive.
Family Favorites — Blue Ridge, Georgia
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
Step back in time aboard a vintage train that winds 26 miles round-trip from downtown Blue Ridge along the Toccoa River to the twin border towns of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN. The open-air cars and covered coaches work for all ages, and kids love counting trestles and spotting wildlife along the way. The 4-hour excursion includes a 2-hour layover in McCaysville for shopping and lunch. A true mountain memory that kids will talk about for years.
Mercier Orchards
A fourth-generation family farm operating since 1943, Mercier Orchards is the Southeast's largest apple orchard and a full-day family destination. Kids can pick their own strawberries, blueberries, peaches, or apples depending on the season, ride tractor-drawn wagon tours, and cast a line at the catch-and-release fishing pond. The on-site bakery turns out fresh fried apple pies and cider donuts daily, and there's a full market and hard cider tasting room for the grown-ups.
Cohutta Cove Mini Golf & Gem Mining
An 18-hole outdoor mini golf course paired with a 50-foot covered gem mining sluice makes this one of Blue Ridge's best rainy-day or any-day family stops. Kids (and adults) sift through bags of rough material to find gems, fossils, and shark teeth from over 40 varieties — everything goes home as a souvenir. The course itself is creatively designed with mountain views, a sound system, and a Plinko-style ball return on hole 18 where a lucky shot earns a free round. Pets welcome.
Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge
Set on 165 acres of North Georgia mountain forest, this ACCT-certified zipline operation offers a two-hour tour with 13 zip lines (up to 1,100 feet long) and a one-hour option with 7 lines for younger or first-time zippers. Heights range from 25 to 75 feet, and sky bridges and towers add to the adventure. All tours are fully guided with no experience required, and the minimum age is generally 7 years old. The scenery through the Blue Ridge Mountains canopy makes this one of the region's most memorable outdoor activities.
Swan Drive-In Theatre & Diner
Open since 1955, the Swan is one of only four drive-in theaters left in Georgia and holds the distinction of being the highest-rated drive-in in the country. You pull in, tune your FM radio to the movie channel, and watch a double feature under the stars — new releases paired with classics. The carhop service delivers loaded pub burgers, funnel cakes, and fried Oreos directly to your car, and there's also a picnic lawn for blankets and lawn chairs. Pet-friendly and pure Americana, this is a Blue Ridge tradition the whole family will want to repeat every trip.
Huck's Lost Mine
Huck's Lost Mine is a family-run gem mine on Appalachian Highway, open since 2009. Kids buy a bag of gem rough and crack open geodes hunting for rubies, sapphires, amethyst, and topaz. The gift shop sells mining helmets and polishing stones, and the activity works for kids from about age 3 up.
Blue Ridge Adventure Park
Blue Ridge Adventure Park is an aerial ropes and challenge course set in the trees, with zip line combinations. The park's website says its self-guided course is for ages ten and older. Summer (June, July, and August) runs on a regular schedule, and the rest of the year the park operates by reservation with a minimum purchase, mostly on Saturdays.
Cowgirl Up Stables
Cowgirl Up Stables offers guided horseback trail rides in the mountains, just minutes from the cabin. Easy walking rides for ages 6 and up are listed at $30 for 35 minutes or $40 for an hour, and longer rides with trotting are available for riders who want more. Rides are by reservation.
Expedition: Bigfoot! The Sasquatch Museum
Expedition: Bigfoot! is a quirky museum devoted to the legend of Sasquatch, a fun stop for curious kids and adults. It is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, with the last admission at 4:30 PM. Admission is $9 for adults and teens, $6 for ages 5 to 12, and free for children under 5 and active military.
2nd Story Entertainment
2nd Story Entertainment is an indoor family fun center in downtown Blue Ridge with an 18-hole mini golf course that winds through eight themed rooms of a 112-year-old hotel. The course includes giant Connect 4, giant checkers, and magnetic dart boards, and the arcade has Air Hockey, Ms. Pac-Man, and Big Buck Hunter. Water, sodas, and ice cream are sold, and there is an outside deck.
The Lilly Pad Village
The Lilly Pad Village is a family spot in the Aska Adventure Area with mini golf, covered gem mining, a stocked fishing pond, a koi pond, and a gift shop selling snacks, ice cream, and drinks. Picnic tables, shaded decks, and free Wi-Fi make it easy to stay a while, and it is kid and pet friendly. Its site lists fall hours of 11 AM to 4 PM daily.
Lake Blue Ridge Marina
Lake Blue Ridge Marina rents pontoon boats, kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards, and has a fuel and gas dock and a watercraft showroom. It is a good way to get the family out on the water at Lake Blue Ridge. Its website lists the office and fuel dock open 9 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Friday, and closed Saturday through Monday.
Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area
Lake Blue Ridge Recreation Area is a free U.S. Forest Service site on the west side of the 3,290-acre lake, with lake views for picnics, fishing, boating, and day hiking. The Forest Service lists it as open year-round with no fee.
Questions about family fun near Blue Ridge
How long is the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway trip?
The train runs 26 miles round-trip from downtown Blue Ridge along the Toccoa River to McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN. The full excursion takes about 4 hours, including a 2-hour layover in McCaysville for shopping and lunch.
What is the minimum age for Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge?
The minimum age is generally 7 years old, and participants must weigh between 70 and 275 lbs. The one-hour tour with 7 lines is the better pick for kids under 10. Call ahead to confirm the limits for your group.
When can you pick fruit at Mercier Orchards?
It depends on the season. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches and apples are each available only during certain weeks, so check the U-Pick calendar on the Mercier Orchards website before you go. Apple season (September to October) gets very crowded on weekends.
What is a good rainy-day family activity in Blue Ridge?
Cohutta Cove Mini Golf & Gem Mining has a 50-foot covered gem mining sluice. Kids sift bags of rough material for gems, fossils and shark teeth from over 40 varieties, and everything they find goes home as a souvenir.
How does the Swan Drive-In in Blue Ridge work?
Gates open about 30 minutes before showtime. You tune your FM radio to the movie channel and watch a double feature, and carhop service brings food to your car. Arrive early for a center spot, and pre-order food online to skip the line.