Things to Do in Blue Ridge, GA | Lodge at Deer Crest Insider Guide
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Your Insider Guide
to Blue Ridge
You could spend your entire stay without leaving the Lodge — and honestly, that's a legitimate choice. But when you're ready to explore, here's exactly what we'd tell a close friend about what's worth your time in one of the most beautiful mountain towns in the South.
Distance from the Lodge
- Downtown Blue Ridge ~10 min
- Aska Adventure Area ~10 min
- Lake Blue Ridge ~12 min
- Old Toccoa Farm Golf ~15 min
- Appalachian Trail Rides ~20 min
- Swan Drive-In Theater ~18 min
- Atlanta, GA ~90 min
💡 Download the Blue Ridge Mountains app before your trip — the best local planning tool in the area.
🥾 Outdoor Adventures
4 picks~10 min
Aska Adventure Area
The Aska Adventure Area is arguably the best trail system in North Georgia — and it's practically in your backyard from the Lodge. The Long Creek Falls trail is the crown jewel: a moderate 2.2-mile round trip through old-growth forest that ends at a stunning 50-foot waterfall. Stanley Gap Trail offers more elevation and longer ridge views for experienced hikers. Flat Creek Trail is ideal for families with young kids or anyone who wants a flat, scenic walk along a creek.
The trailheads are well-marked and the parking areas are free. Go early on fall weekends — it gets busy by 10am and the parking lots fill up fast.
The trailheads are well-marked and the parking areas are free. Go early on fall weekends — it gets busy by 10am and the parking lots fill up fast.
Pack a picnic from the Lodge kitchen and eat at the waterfall. There's a clearing right at the base of Long Creek Falls that's perfect for a group lunch.
Trail Guide
Trail Quick Reference
Long Creek Falls2.2 mi · Easy–Mod
Stanley Gap6.8 mi · Moderate
Flat Creek Loop3.4 mi · Easy
Deep Gap4.4 mi · Moderate
Best in fall for foliage, spring for wildflowers and waterfalls running full. Bring water and bug spray in summer months.
~12 min
Lake Blue Ridge
A gorgeous 3,300-acre reservoir tucked into the mountains. Perfect for kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing (largemouth bass and trout), and swimming. Boat rentals are available nearby if you want to get out on the water without hauling gear. The lake is quieter than most Georgia lakes — no jet ski chaos, just calm mountain water.
September and early October offer the best conditions — water still warm, fall color starting on the hillsides, crowds thinning out after summer.
Plan Your Visit
~15 min
Old Toccoa Farm Golf Course
One of the most scenic mountain golf courses in the Southeast. Old Toccoa Farm is a private-feel course that offers public tee times, set across rolling farmland with mountain backdrops on every hole. Not a course you play for the score — you play it for the experience. Carts available, full pro shop, and a club house worth the stop.
Book tee times at least a week out on fall weekends. The course books quickly and doesn't take same-day reservations on busy dates.
Book Tee Times
~20 min
Appalachian Trail Rides
Guided horseback trail rides through the North Georgia mountains on genuine Appalachian trails. Suitable for beginners and experienced riders. The scenery is exceptional — deep forest, ridge views, and creek crossings. One of the most memorable activities you can do in the area, full stop.
Book as early as possible — they fill up months in advance, especially for fall and spring weekends. Don't leave this to the week before your trip.
Reserve a Ride
🍽 Food & Drink
4 picks~10 min
Carroll's BBQ
Our personal favorite in Blue Ridge, and the place we send every guest who asks where to eat. Carroll's is an institution — no-frills mountain BBQ done exactly right. Pulled pork, brisket, and ribs that have been smoked low and slow. The sides are just as good as the meat. Cash-only, closes when they sell out, and worth every bit of the short drive into town.
Go for lunch, not dinner. They sell out early most days, especially on weekends. If you're feeding a big group, call ahead.
More Restaurants
~10 min
Downtown Blue Ridge Dining
Blue Ridge has punched well above its weight for a small mountain town — farm-to-table restaurants, wood-fired pizza, upscale Southern cuisine, and casual spots line the main strip. The Blue Ridge Mountains website has a current, well-maintained restaurant guide that covers everything from coffee shops to date-night dinners. Worth scanning before your trip to make reservations for any must-dos.
Full Restaurant Guide
~10–25 min
Breweries & Wineries
The North Georgia wine trail is genuinely impressive — several award-winning vineyards are within a 30-minute drive of the Lodge. Grapes grow exceptionally well at elevation here, and the winery settings are as beautiful as anything in Napa or the Finger Lakes (minus the crowds and the prices). Local craft breweries downtown are equally worth a stop for a post-hike pint.
Pair a winery afternoon with the scenic drive through the mountains — the roads between vineyards are half the experience.
Winery + Brewery Guide
~15 min
Mercier Orchards
A Blue Ridge institution. One of Georgia's largest and oldest family-run orchards — come for the apple picking in fall, the fresh-pressed cider, fried apple pies, and the farm market. The bakery alone is worth a stop even if you're not picking fruit. In spring and summer, peaches and berries are the stars.
Pick up fresh produce and local jams for the Lodge kitchen — the gourmet chef's setup deserves ingredients to match.
Plan Your Visit
👨👩👧 Family Fun
4 picks~10 min
Lilly Pad Village
Mini golf and gem mining in a beautifully designed mountain setting. Gem mining (sluicing for real gemstones and minerals) is one of those activities that surprises adults as much as it delights kids. Everyone gets to keep what they find. The mini golf course is genuinely fun — not a dusty parking lot course. A reliable rainy-day backup plan too.
Visit Lilly Pad Village
~20 min
Tank Town USA
Exactly what it sounds like — you drive a real military tank. Tank Town is one of the most genuinely unique experiences anywhere in the Southeast. Guests of all ages can operate tracked military vehicles through an obstacle course. It's loud, dusty, totally impractical, and completely unforgettable. One of those things everyone in the group will still be talking about months later.
Book online in advance — popular sessions sell out, especially on weekends and during fall season.
Book Tank Town
~18 min
Swan Drive-In Theater
One of the last surviving drive-in movie theaters in Georgia, and a legitimate gem. Bring blankets, tune your car radio to the broadcast frequency, and watch a double feature under the mountain sky. The Swan is a time capsule — the concession stand, the speaker posts, the whole experience is authentic. Best on a clear night in fall when the stars are visible over the screen.
Check showtimes the day before since they change weekly. Cash is preferred at the gate.
Check Showtimes
~10 min
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
A beloved historic excursion train that runs from downtown Blue Ridge along the Toccoa River into Tennessee and back. The round trip takes about four hours and passes through some of the most beautiful river gorge scenery in the South. Particularly stunning during fall foliage season — book far ahead if you're visiting in October.
The Toccoa River layover stop is a great opportunity to wade in the river if the weather's warm.
Learn More
👨🍳 Private Chefs
3 vetted optionsThe Lodge's gourmet kitchen is built for serious cooking. If your group wants a private chef to handle meals — whether it's a single celebratory dinner or full multi-day catering — these are the people we trust and recommend. Book early; weekend dates in fall fill up fast.
T
Chef Trey Gourmet
Multi-course dinners and event catering with a refined approach. Chef Trey specializes in elevated Southern cuisine and farm-to-table menus tailored to your group. A top pick for special occasion dinners and corporate retreat catering.
cheftreygourmet.com →
B
Blue Duck Eats
Casual and approachable but executed beautifully. Blue Duck does the kind of communal, sharing-style meals that feel right around a big table at a mountain lodge. Great for family reunions and relaxed group gatherings where the vibe matters as much as the food.
blueduckeats.com →
J
Chef Jeff Servin
Versatile and personable — Chef Jeff works well with large groups and is particularly good at designing menus around dietary restrictions and preferences. A reliable choice when your group has varied tastes or needs.
chefjeffservin.com →