Adventures

The Perfect Weekend in Blairsville

Here’s our favorite Friday-to-Sunday plan. Drive times are approximate, and hours change by season, so check before you go.

Friday

Evening

Settle in & dinner in town

Check in, then head into town for a scratch-kitchen dinner at Vincent’s Coppertop (~16 min): drunken mushrooms, fried green tomatoes, catfish and hush puppies, often with live music. Stroll the Downtown Blairsville square (~16 min) afterward.

Saturday

Morning

Bakery breakfast, then Helton Creek Falls

Grab donuts, pastries and coffee at G & G Bakery and Café (~15 min) (open Tue–Sat mornings). Drive to Helton Creek Falls (~27 min), a free, short (0.2 mi) Forest Service trail to two waterfalls. Rocks are slippery, so wear good shoes.

Midday

Neel Gap & Vogel State Park

Stop at Mountain Crossings at Neel Gap (~21 min), the 1930s stone outfitter where the Appalachian Trail passes through the building (open 9–5 daily). Then picnic at Vogel State Park (~22 min) (ParkPass required). Note: Lake Trahlyta is drained for dam repairs in 2026, so the lake loop and Trahlyta Falls are closed; the Bear Hair Gap loop and the CCC museum are open.

Afternoon

Wine on the patio

Spend an afternoon at Redtail Mountain Vineyard, a family winery in Blairsville’s Coosa Valley owned by the Taylor family. Sip wines made from estate-grown, hand-picked grapes while you look out over the vines, and watch for the red-tailed hawks the vineyard is named for. 400 White Road, Blairsville; Thu–Sun 12–6 pm.

Evening

Date-night Italian

Dinner at Michaelee’s Italian Life Caffe (~16 min), a chef-owned boutique Italian restaurant on the square with imported pasta and a gelato and coffee cellar.

Sunday

Morning

Top of Georgia

Drive to Brasstown Bald (~37 min), the highest point in Georgia. Staffed hours are 10–5; admission includes the summit shuttle (no shuttle 12:30–1:10, last up 4:30), or walk the steep 0.6-mi paved Summit Trail.

Afternoon

Trout by the creek before you head home

A late lunch of local Bramlett rainbow trout on the creekside deck at The Flying Trout (~29 min), inside Copperhead Lodge between Blairsville and Blue Ridge. Check its Sunday hours before you go.

More planned getaways

Find Your Kind of Trip

Families with kids

Family Fun

Short trails, waterfalls you can actually reach with little legs, and a picnic with the ducks. Two easy days with no long drives.

Spring · Summer · Fall

View the plan

Day 1: Breakfast at Hole in the Wall (~16 min), Union County’s oldest diner (breakfast all day). Picnic at Meeks Park (1 mi west of downtown on Hwy 515) and see the seasonal ducks on Coosa Creek. Afternoon at Vogel State Park (~22 min): mini golf, playground and the CCC museum. Dinner at Dan’s Grill (~17 min) for Cuban comfort food.
Day 2: Helton Creek Falls (~27 min) (0.2 mi to two falls). Ride the shuttle to the summit at Brasstown Bald (~37 min) (kids 15 and under are free). Dinner at Grits & Greens (Blairsville Restaurant) (~17 min), with fried chicken and cornbread from the menu or the buffet.

Couples, anniversaries, honeymooners

Romantic Escape

Slow mornings, a winery patio with mountain views, and two of Blairsville’s best date-night dinners. Pairs well with our Weddings & Honeymoon package.

Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter

View the plan

Day 1: Late breakfast at G & G Bakery and Café (~15 min). Afternoon tasting at Redtail Mountain Vineyard. Candlelit dinner at Michaelee’s Italian Life Caffe (~16 min).
Day 2: Sunrise views at Hogpen Gap overlook, Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway (~34 min). Walk among giant poplars at Sosebee Cove Scenic Area (~23 min). Creekside dinner on the deck at The Flying Trout (~29 min).

Experienced hikers

Hiker’s Paradise

Summit Blood Mountain, the highest point on Georgia’s Appalachian Trail, then the top of the state. Big days, then big plates.

Spring · Summer · Fall

View the plan

Day 1: Early start for the 6.2-mi Blood Mountain loop (Byron Reece trailhead) (~21 min) loop via the Freeman Trail to the 4,461-ft summit. Park at Byron Reece, not at Walasi-Yi. Afterward, gear and AT history at Mountain Crossings at Neel Gap (~21 min). Dinner at Vincent’s Coppertop (~16 min).
Day 2: Bear Hair Gap 4-mi loop at Vogel State Park (~22 min). Afternoon summit at Brasstown Bald (~37 min). Recovery dinner at Dan’s Grill (~17 min).

Fly and lake anglers

Angler’s Getaway

Cast in the local streams, take a boat out on Lake Nottely, and finish the day eating trout that someone else caught.

Spring · Summer · Fall

View the plan

Day 1: Diner breakfast at Hole in the Wall (~16 min). Morning on the streams near the cabins (a Georgia fishing license is required). Afternoon boat rental at Lake Nottely boat rentals (Nottely Marina) (open Mar–Oct, closed Tuesdays; off-season hours vary).
Day 2: Easy casting at Meeks Park (1 mi west of downtown on Hwy 515). Lunch at Sweet Pea’s Downtown Eatery (~16 min) (Tue–Sat, 10:30–2:30). Dinner of local rainbow trout at The Flying Trout (~29 min).

Wine lovers and friend groups

Wine Country Weekend

Blairsville sits in the Upper Hiwassee Highlands AVA, Georgia’s first wine region. Taste estate wines on a farm and on the square, and take a bottle to dinner.

Spring · Summer · Fall

View the plan

Day 1: Lunch at Sweet Pea’s Downtown Eatery (~16 min). Afternoon tasting at Redtail Mountain Vineyard in Blairsville (call ahead for groups). Dinner at Michaelee’s Italian Life Caffe (~16 min).
Day 2: Brunch at Vincent’s Coppertop (~16 min). Visit the family-owned, 100% estate Odom Springs Vineyards farm tasting room (Mon 11–3, Wed–Sat 11–5, Sun 1–5) or its tasting room downtown, Odom Springs Vineyards, Blairsville Square tasting room (~16 min) (Tue–Sat 1–6).

Leaf-peepers and photographers

Fall Color Tour

High ridges turn first, so start up top and work your way down. Finish with apples from a family orchard and its market and bakery.

Fall

View the plan

Day 1: Breakfast at G & G Bakery and Café (~15 min). Drive the scenic byway to Hogpen Gap overlook, Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway (~34 min) for views of Brasstown Bald. Then up to the deck at Brasstown Bald (~37 min). Dinner at Grits & Greens (Blairsville Restaurant) (~17 min).
Day 2: Morning photos at Sosebee Cove Scenic Area (~23 min). Drive to Mercier Orchards (Blue Ridge) (~47 min): u-pick apples run roughly Aug–Oct, and the market and bakery are open daily. Check the Georgia Forestry Commission Leaf Watch for peak dates.

Anyone when the clouds roll in

Rainy Day / Cozy

Mountain rain is part of the charm. Keep it short and indoors: history, wine, a long lunch, and the fireplace back at the cabin.

Spring · Summer · Fall · Winter

View the plan

Plan: Breakfast at Hole in the Wall (~16 min). The free Union County Historical Courthouse museum (~16 min) on the square (Mon–Fri 10–4; also Sat 11–3, May–Dec). Long lunch at Sweet Pea’s Downtown Eatery (~16 min). Indoor tasting at Odom Springs Vineyards, Blairsville Square tasting room (~16 min). Shopping and AT gifts at Mountain Crossings at Neel Gap (~21 min). Dinner at Vincent’s Coppertop (~16 min), then a fire back at the cabin.

Guests traveling with pets

Bring the Dog

Leashed dogs are welcome on many of the trails and patios nearby. Here’s a plan you can do together. Ask us about our pet policy when you book.

Spring · Summer · Fall

View the plan

Day 1: Leashed walk to Helton Creek Falls (~27 min). Trails and picnic at Vogel State Park (~22 min) (leashed dogs allowed, but not in buildings or the swim area). Afternoon on the patio at Redtail Mountain Vineyard (check with them ahead of time about pets).
Day 2: Summit Trail at Brasstown Bald (~37 min) (leashed; no dogs in the visitor center). Stroll Meeks Park (1 mi west of downtown on Hwy 515). Dinner at Dan’s Grill (~17 min).

Off-season guests who want quiet

Winter Retreat

Fewer crowds, clear long-range views from the bald, and cozy dinners in town. Several outdoor spots stay open year-round.

Winter

View the plan

Day 1: Late breakfast at Hole in the Wall (~16 min). Bundle up for Sosebee Cove Scenic Area (~23 min) (open year-round, free). Dinner at Michaelee’s Italian Life Caffe (~16 min).
Day 2: Brasstown Bald (~37 min) (outdoor access year-round; closed Dec 24–25; staffed services seasonal, and weather can close the road). Call Redtail Mountain Vineyard (706-745-7850) first, since winter hours may change. Dinner at Vincent’s Coppertop (~16 min).

Want help planning? Call us at 770-354-3675.

More Things To Do!

A condensed list is a great place to start when planning your trip with us. All activities are within 20 minutes to an hour, making Highland Falls Cabins the perfect spot for you and your family to rest & relax after a long day of adventure. If you’d like any help planning activities during your stay, please contact us!

Golf

Mini Golf

Blood Mountain

Downtown Blairsville

Mercier Orchards

Downtown Blue Ridge

Hunting

Rock Climbing

Swimming

Tennis

Water Tubing

White Water Rafting

Antiquing

Bird Watching

Boating

Horseback Riding

Shopping

Water Sports

Ready To Book Your Stay?

View Available Cabins Here

Adventures

The Perfect Weekend in Blairsville

Here’s our favorite Friday-to-Sunday plan. Drive times are approximate, and hours change by season, so check before you go.

Friday

Settle in & dinner in town

Saturday

Bakery breakfast, then Helton Creek Falls

Neel Gap & Vogel State Park

Wine on the patio

Date-night Italian

Sunday

Top of Georgia

Trout by the creek before you head home

More planned getaways

Find Your Kind of Trip

Family Fun

Romantic Escape

Hiker’s Paradise

Angler’s Getaway

Wine Country Weekend

Fall Color Tour

Rainy Day / Cozy

Bring the Dog

Winter Retreat

More Things To Do!

Ready To Book Your Stay?

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