Rainy Day Itinerary
You’ve arrived in Blue Ridge, have a bucket list of all the great outdoor activities you want to jump into… then it rains! Here’s a great little secret for you… a rainy day in Georgia’s Blue Ridge can be enjoyed with plenty of cozy indoor activities. Gather some games and books, plan some delicious indoor breakfasts and lunches at fun Blue Ridge eateries, and even include a little treat to take care of yourself. Here are some suggestions to make those rainy days super fun...
Things Around the Cabin
Arriving at your cabin in the afternoon and settling in, if you bring a little something for dinner you can relax and cozy up to a fire in the fireplace without having to go out. Explore the plentiful amenities in your home away from home. Most cabins have high speed internet, big screens, fireplaces, hot tubs, game rooms and more… make some s’mores and cuddle up with a quilt and a good book. It usually doesn’t rain for more than a day before the sunshine returns, so if your cabin has a Welcome Binder, check out Things to do in Blue Ridge and go online to BlueRidgeMountains.com for complete information on the web. Also, if you get a chance, plan to stop by one of our 3 Welcome Centers for ideas you might not have thought of. Our Visitor Centers are staffed with locals that give great advice and lots of free information to share.
Cozy Places to Hang Out
Blue Ridge has no shortage of intimate little hangouts. Check out Mountain Mama’s Coffee Lounge for a cozy hour or two of cappuccinos and books. The Yellowphant Café, Serenity Garden Café and Bumblebees Café Blue Ridges are great choices for delicious comfort food breakfasts. Yellowbird Coffee Shop in McCaysville is a cute little stop literally feet from the River. Mercier Orchards Bakery, Deli & Market is a one-stop for a food, yummies and shopping adventure on a rainy day. As the south’s biggest apple orchard and family-owned farm, they have been pleasing folks since 1943. In Blue Ridge, Trackside Station is a two level mini-mall filled with restaurants and places for libations!
Cozy Inside Dining & Drinking Spots
Blue Ridge and McCaysville are quaint little towns with plenty of cozy places to while away a rainy afternoon. Cantaberry couldn’t be more perfect for a rainy day, with home made soups, sandwiches and salads. Harvest on Main has the ambience of a country lodge with farm to table lunches and dinners. Harvest Underground is a secret hideaway spot downstairs off the courtyard to have a leisurely drink. Check out Chester Brunnenmeyers, a local favorite, whether you want to have a drink at the bar, or a meal from their extensive crowd pleasing menu. The Pasta Market is a fun way to spend a rainy afternoon with cheeses and charcuterie boards and glasses of wine to pair. And our local Irish bar, The Boro Inn, is a comfy little watering hole in the Irish tradition, replete with local bard and storyteller, Father Doyle.
Places with Covered Decks
It might be raining but we’ve got you covered! Since the weather is generally so mild in Georgia’s Blue Ridge, many restaurants have outside decks and covered patios with heaters, so dining in the mountain air, even when it’s raining, can be fun. Try Fightingtown Tavern, The Black Sheep and The Dogwood. For an even more scenic locale right on the river, Toccoa Riverside Restaurant outside of Blue Ridge and Burra Burra on the River & Twisted Tomato in McCaysville are great rainy day outside picks.
Shops to Duck Into
Even though it’s cloudy upstairs, an ambling shopping adventure in Blue Ridge and McCaysville might be more to your liking. The shops at Riverwalk Shops in McCaysville are filled with unique little shops, and so is Trackside Station in Blue Ridge. If you want to pick up some comfy fleece or if you forgot your raincoat, check out Blue Ridge Mountain Outfitters and Blue Ridge Adventure Wear. And sweets & treats always make a rainy day go away… get cabin supplies at Taste of Amish, Out of the Blue and Chester’s Provisions. Or grab some local sweets at Mercier Orchards’ bakery, The Sweet Shoppe of the South or The Chocolate Express in Blue Ridge. You might want to check out some more unusual shopping at Southern Comfort Quilts or Blue Ridge Antique Mall. And for a longer day adventure, follow our Thrift Store Trail with dozens of treasure filled stops.
Rainy Day Relaxation to Take Care of... YOU
How about a hot stone massage to warm you up on the chilliest rainy day? Try one of our great local day spas and massage therapists, like Serenity in the Mountains, Willow Creek Falls, or Teatree Spa.
Unusual Inside Fun
If you want to add a stop that’s unique to Blue Ridge, check out the Blue Ridge Knife Company, play a couple hours of vintage gaming fun at Vertigo Pinball, explore the crystals, fossils and geodes at Pezrok, or book a thrill at The Escape Room of Blue Ridge.
(Family Fun Bonus)
If you have kids tagging along, Blue Ridge has some ‘don’t miss’ kid pleasers. Try indoor mini-golf and games at 2nd Story Entertainment, do some old-time bowling at Fannin Lanes Bowling Center. And THE place to find things to entertain the kids for hours starts at Huck’s General Store. It’s an old-timey General store filled with unique toys, games, penny candy and kid favorites that are guaranteed to thrill the littles.