If you haven’t visited North Georgia yet, add it to your list! This area is absolutely gorgeous in every season, and there are so many things to do. If camping, hiking, river adventures, wineries, farms, waterfalls, and cute little towns are things you enjoy, you’ll love exploring northern Georgia. There is plenty to do here throughout all the seasons of the year. Here is our list of our favorite family-friendly things to do in the area!

What to Do:

Visit Charming Mountain Towns

Nestled in the rolling hills and mountains are some of the most charming little towns. Here you’ll find shopping, local restaurants and breweries, and delicious treats! We love the German town of Helen, GA. They really do have some great German food. Helen, like many towns, has incredible holiday events and decorations starting in November.

Go River Tubing

In the warmer months, we highly suggest adding river tubing to your adventures! We ventured down the Chattahoochee (aka: shootin’ the Hooch) at Cool River Adventures in Helen. It’s fairly inexpensive and includes transportation to the drop off site and tube. There are a few options for tubing in Georgia, so search for on that is closest to where you’re staying.

Take a Hike in Tallulah Gorge State Park

This state park is not to be missed! I’d recommend being in decent shape to enjoy the hike and take in the beautiful views. There are hiking options that do not involve stairs, but to get to the base of Hurricane Falls, you’ll have to descent over 600 steps. The swinging bridge is a fun photo op and offers great views of the gorge. You also have to climb steps to get back up. It’s a great workout! If you arrive early, you can snag one of 100 daily permits to hike the gorge floor to Bridal Veil Falls. Here, you can slide down a waterfall and swim! The hike is extremely challenging and dangerous, but it was so much fun. The interpretive center is also really informative, offering the history of the area as well as science facts.

Hike Anna Ruby Falls

While visiting the alpine town of Helen, you can check this short, easy hike off of your list! It’s a perfect hike to take the kids- the trail is relatively easy (there is an incline), but it is paved and shaded by trees. This half mile trail takes you to the base of Anna Ruby Falls and is definitely worth a trip! FYI, there is a $5 entrance fee.

Hike Amicalola Falls

Close to Ellijay Georgia, Amicalola Falls is a challenging hike that leads you to beautiful views and an impressive waterfall (the tallest waterfall in Georgia!) This hike is relatively easy leading up to the stairs (around 600 in all) that takes to the top of the falls. The views from both the top and bottom are equally beautiful, so it is worth the hike! FYI, there is a $5 fee to enter the park.

See Cabbage Patch Kids at BabyLand General Hospital

If you have little kids, you must plan a trip to BabyLand General Hospital! Cabbage Patch Babies are born here in Cleveland, GA. Guests can experience a live Cabbage Patch Birth and see the newborn babies in the nursery. There are even paintings by Andy Warhol and antique dolls on display. The hospital is really a glorified toy store, but is a special trip for a young child for sure. You can officially “adopt” a baby (with official paperwork and all) or choose a doll ready to go. We found a baby that shared a birthday with our 5 year old, which she thought was pretty neat!

Visit Farm Animals at Mountain Valley Farm Store

This place is a little bit of a drive from the center of Ellijay, but perhaps you can plan a stop here along your route. The Mountain Valley Farm Store is a place to buy superior quality, grass fed meats and other farm products like milk, butter and cheese, plus canned goods. They also have delicious ice cream! We recommend stopping in for ice cream, and enjoying it outside at one of the picnic tables. The kids will LOVE petting and looking at the cows, goats, bunnies and chickens! The store is like a mini-petting zoo and this part is free!

Visit Wineries

The weather did not cooperate with our plans, but there are so many wineries throughout the area. The local wineries have beautiful outdoor settings where little ones can play while the parents enjoy a glass! We’ll be coming back to the area this fall and will for sure be checking a few out.

Take a Ride on the Scenic Railway

Again, weather did not cooperate for this trip, but we plan to head back in the fall for a ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. The fall ride will offer spectacular views of the fall foliage, and there is also a Polar Express train ride during the holidays! Tickets book up quickly- so be sure to purchase them in advance!

Where to stay:

Northern Georgia is known for its charming mountain cabins, offering peaceful views and away from it all. We highly recommend using Evolve Vacation Rental. You can search for the perfect cabin for you and filter your search for cabins with river or mountain views, have game rooms, hot tubs, and so much more. They guarantee the lowest rate available!

We found this serene river-front cabin located in Ellijay, GA using Evolve Vacation Rental. The search was easy and the entire booking process was flawless. Our cabin was well equipped with a stocked kitchen, plenty of space for us all to sprawl out, game room, hot tub, and a firepit right alongside the river. We enjoyed slow mornings sipping coffee in our rocking chairs on the porch, listening to the peaceful river sounds. We were surprised and delighted to find out we had access to the community pools too! You can find the listing for this rental here. Be sure to check out Evolve for booking a future vacation home, wherever your travels may take you!

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