I'll give downtown Blue Ridge a five out of five. We rented a cabin about 10 minutes away from…read moredowntown. When we arrived downtown, we saw parking on both sides of the street (if you don't get designated parking in downtown, you'll have to wind up paying to park). There were cute restaurants, boutiques, and shops lining the streets. Everything from a bear store (literally, it had toy bears lol), to cute coffee shops and ice cream shops, to restaurants (they had everything from pizza to perogies). They also had a bunch of t-shirt shops, ladies clothing shops, to toy stores for the kiddos. Downtown, you'll also notice a train (where you can take either a 2 hour or 4 hour ride....in the nicer weather months and during higher peak times like spring break, I'd recommend purchasing your tickets online, as they sell out regularly). The downtown area is walkable, but there is a bit of a hill, so beware for those that may have mobility issues. This is def worth a trip if you're staying the area, get out stretch your legs, and shop locally. Also, be on the lookout for their free range roosters and chickens that you'll hear regularly downtown and you'll be able to figure out why the chicken did cross the road.

When I brought some friends up here I had a hard time finding the area where all the shops and…read morerestaurants were located. It doesn't have a name but all the store and restaurants are all grouped together on the main street....I actually just typed in Blue Ridge Olive Oil Company because I know last time I was here I came specifically to that store and I know there are other places in the area... Since there isn't technically a "downtown" at least that's what one local person told me. I suggest if you're coming here you just type in E Main Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513 into your GPS or https://goo.gl/maps/avJ8TnjH1nxxtAtk6 You can also type in Blue Ridge Scenic Railway which is also in the same area... https://g.page/blueridgescenicrailway?share The area has at least 3 dozen or more fun and unique shops and there are lots of free and paid parking...most of the parking places I saw charged $5 and you have to bring cash.... Be sure to visit Stella the Dinosaur and get your picture taken with her https://goo.gl/maps/Diu8QH46zKZJvnfN7 Here is a list of some of the places in and around 1. Chester Brunnenmeyer's Bar & Gril https://goo.gl/maps/9fkM3Jw4z4FJPxFV7 2. P J's Rusted Buffalo https://goo.gl/maps/zEgBJeY8ZrpvRJFp6 3. E Quinn Book Seller LLC https://goo.gl/maps/BP7i7SoHpQyjqNZY7 4. Three Sisters Fudge https://g.page/3sistersfudge?share 5. Blue Ridge Adventure Wear https://goo.gl/maps/LbBpDAc1bGpZft65A 6. Silk Road Traveler https://goo.gl/maps/9tW1eX5ddotPLXx96 7. Tupelo Tea https://goo.gl/maps/U6aUjA8wfk9NgKd36 8. Cohutta Fishing Company https://goo.gl/maps/QAyCf4aUg4pSe7cg6 9. Blue Ridge Olive Oil Company https://goo.gl/maps/j9H1RXhy4dr1j2av5 10. Masseria Kitchen+Bar https://goo.gl/maps/DHJmu5PWyR7CoFeL9 You can check this website for more things to do https://www.blueridgemountains.com/things-to-do/ Please just double check the hours before you head on up there because some store are not open on Sundays and some are only open in the weekends!

We made a trip to one of my favorite stops when visiting my family's cabin in Ellijay…read more The place is huge with a vast selection of fresh fruits, bakery items, wines for tasting, and plenty of cute souvenirs to browse. The wine slushies was honestly one of the highlights for us. It was so good, we each had 2 before we left lol ! They have u pick seasons with a variety fruit so make sure you check out their website ! Beautiful place, friendly atmosphere, and definitely worth visiting if you're in Blue Ridge

Mercier Orchards was easily one of the highlights of our trip to Blue Ridge and is absolutely worth…read morevisiting. The U-pick apple experience was a blast, and the orchard is beautiful, well organized, and family-friendly. We spent hours here between picking apples, browsing the market, and sampling drinks. There is an incredible selection of local products, baked goods, jams, cider, wine, fresh produce, gifts, and souvenirs. Everything looked fresh and high quality, although many of the items are definitely on the pricey side. We also tried both the hard cider and wine flights, which were reasonably priced and a fun way to sample several of their offerings before deciding what to take home. Most of the staff we encountered were friendly and welcoming, and despite the crowds, the overall operation ran smoothly. Unfortunately, what should have been a five-star experience was overshadowed by one concerning incident. After returning from the U-pick orchard on the tractor, we noticed a family parked a couple of spaces away from us. The adults removed a younger child from the vehicle, and it appeared there may have been another child, approximately four years old, still inside the parked vehicle. We fully recognize the seriousness of making that assumption and cannot say with certainty what the circumstances were. However, with temperatures well above 90 degrees, we felt it was far better to report what we observed than ignore a situation that could potentially put a child at risk. What disappointed us most was the response. We informed staff of our concern, yet there seemed to be little to no sense of urgency. Even if it ultimately turned out to be a misunderstanding, I would have expected someone to immediately check on the situation or at least acknowledge the concern and verify that the child was safe. When it comes to a potential child safety issue, I'd much rather see staff respond quickly to a false alarm than risk overlooking a genuine emergency. Despite that experience, Mercier Orchards is still a wonderful destination. The U-pick experience, shopping, cider and wine tastings, and overall atmosphere make it a place I'd recommend to anyone visiting the Blue Ridge area. My hope is simply that management reinforces the importance of treating potential safety concerns with the urgency they deserve. Had it not been for that interaction, this easily would have been a five-star review.

Well after living in Canton for 3 years, checking in here and posting photos and reviews of all the…read morecool business in Canton I figured it's time to right a review. Canton is fantastic small City. Growing in popularity every year mostly due to the way city officials run and manage the City. Located near the center of Cherokee County in Northwest Georgia about 40 miles north of Downtown Atlanta. Canton lies in the foothills of the Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. I just love the location of Canton. 30 minutes to the Blue Ridge Mountains. About 5 hours to the Gulf Coast and about the same to the Shores of the Atlantic Coast. Also short drives to such cool cities as Nashville and Memphis TN., Charleston SC. Savanna and Augusta GA. Highly rated school districts and lovely parks and recreation are a standard in Canton.The Etowah River, a tributary of the Coosa River, flows from East to West through the center of the city which makes for very beautiful settings. It's so refreshing to see the police and fire Departments with programs that interact with the community. It seems to bring everyone together into one big happy family. The shops, retail and restaurants are so cool. Very few chains in Canton with almost all locally owned and operated business. I like it because they seem to care more than a chain and really want to do good. Most of my reviews are right in line with all other Yelpers as all are 4 or 5 star reviews. I love how the city officials continually create events that bring the business and people of Canton together. Saturday Farmers Market, First Friday (of every month) Concerts in downtown Canton at Cannon Park and Canton Cash Mob are just a few that are such cool events. And i just found out the Canton Ga has been nominated for #CoolestSmallTownInAmerica by Independent We Stand. Canton is no stranger to this contest as it finished 6th in the Nation last year! I'm so very proud to call Canton GA home.

My home town is a small historic town that needs to be seen to believe. When it comes to visiting…read morethe city of Canton, GA you really do need to drive here to enjoy it. There is a gazebo in the center of our town park. It's where they host second Fridays during the warmer months into fall. Our towns local eateries are fabulous. From the old fashion ice cream shop to five star restaurants we have it all. Local on the North, Queenies, Downtown Kitchen, Salty Mule, and Going Coastal are just a few of my favorites. The other shops and stores are the best retailers that offer a variety of beautiful items. We even have store fronts available to rent. Hollywood movies were shot on our streets ( including a Marvel movie). Come on by to our town and check out our parks, shops, and spectacular eateries. You'll be glad you did- shop local at Etowah Mills. Come back once Crystal Lagoons is built our beach front resort with Crystal blue waters. You'll remember our town once you do.

LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE SHOP PEZROK…read more Stella the dinosaur is a popular statue in the downtown area of Blue Ridge. It's located in front of the store called Pezrok. The dinosaur is a popular spot with tourists for photos and selfies. There is a sign in front of the dinosaur that says: Hello! My name is Stella. I am a baby Stegosaurus. My species names comes from the Greek words stego and sauros meaning "Roofed Lizard." I have 17 plates on my back I use to absorb heat fro the sun during the day to keep me warm at night. I lived during the late Jurassic period (about 150 million years ago) Although when grown I am around 9 meters (30 ft) in length, 4 meters (14ft) in height and up to nearly 5 metric tons in weight, my brain is only the size of a dog's. Think I'm interesting? Come on inside to see what else Pezrok has to offer! (Display only NOT for sale)

Family and dog friendly brewery with very good IPA's on tap. We sat outside and our son played with…read morethe wooden blocks/Jenga and cornhole. There were dogs inside and outside. No food, but they have some snacks for purchase like chips and peanuts. Service was fast and friendly. We got to sample the beers before purchasing. Really enjoyed the Scentsation IPA, and my husband liked the Grasshoppa.

Grumpy Old Men, a satirical name for such a great place!! They're always friendly and anxious to…read moreserve some of the best craft beer anywhere! Very dog oriented, assuming they're behaving...standards are similar for kids. Basically one rule for both species...No Biting. . Everyone is welcome, everyone is family.

Great staff! We traveled here to see the Youth Arts Month exhibit. Loved seeing all the other art…read more Friendly staff!

We checked this place out after returning from the scenic railroad excursion around 2 p.m. It is…read morelocated facing the railroad tracks about 2 blocks south of the train depot. It is beyond the new county courthouse building it what appears to be the prior courthouse. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged. Given that Blue Ridge is a fairly small town, the scope of their arts building was quite impressive. When we visited, they had a gallery exhibit that took up the entrance hallways plus what was the main courtroom. Many of the paintings were very good. My impression was that they host rotating exhibits like this periodically. There are certainly towns much larger than Blue Ridge that have nothing like this facility for their arts communities. In addition to this main exhibit, they also had an arts supply store in the building, as well as a kiln in the basement for pottery (including classes). They also offered classes in upstairs rooms, on various arts-related topics. I believe the town also hosts arts events a few times a year (like plein air sessions and festivals). If we make it back to Blue Ridge in the future, we'll likely return here to see what new exhibits are on display. I'm giving it a 5-rating due to it exceeding expectations by a wide margin.

Quaint little town with a great history and most of all my hometown!…read moreMany shops to browse and several restaurants to eat!

If you are handicapped and need help with steps, please find somewhere else to go.Almost all the…read morestores have steps from the sidewalk into the store, most with no hand rails and I found it impossible to browse and buy. I realize this is an older town, but a lot of visitors are older also and have to be able to get to the goods to buy them.

Great neighborhood dive bar with delicious food! Under new management, and you can tell -- the…read morewhole vibe feels fresh and welcoming. Good drinks, good eats, laid-back atmosphere.

Read below, but if not wanting to,…read more SKIP THIS PLACE!!! DO NOT COME HERE Staying at the hotel across the street, this place stuck out like a giant billboard saying "come here!!". I was looking forward to what it may have to offer. Once I arrived, it then turned into the Twilight Zone. It was Friday afternoon (in a tourist town) and the door was unlocked so I went in. I can't quite name the feeling, but it was surreal. It was pretty dark but there was a group of 3-5 people and a bar tender at the bar. So I approach and the bar tender who in all honesty seemed what I would describe as "crossfaded" ( drunk and high) looks at me and says "I'm sorry but I have to serve everyone I already have here and I can't serve you". I look down and there were open beer and what not and like a said people in the bar... I didn't argue but in shock I said ok well thanks... trying to think of any possible reason they would only be able to seat and serve 1 "group" at a time. Unless for some weird legal reason like having lost a license or something I couldn't come up with one. There were no signs posted about the "rules" either. Bewildered, I post this review.

Friendly staff, great beer! The venue is upstairs in the…read moreshopping center so don't get confused. Have a drink, enjoy the cool!

Beautiful view of the Mountain Mall. Workers are nice and the establish is very modern. Beer…read moreselections is good for all types of beer lovers. My fiance and I shared the Trackside Lager and another IPA I forgot the name of. Prices are what you expect for a craft brewery.

My wife and I were looking to get three growlers filled and stumbled upon this place. Walking into…read morethe shop, it was clear the only staff member was very much occupied with the four folks he was in the middle of giving a tasting. Actually, I'd characterize it as more of a performance than a tasting. Anyway, he was kind enough to give us a quick "hey guys" before going back into his routine, which included informing his guests receiving the tasting that he had a sour beer last night that tasted like a "jolly rancher". At first it was kind of funny. We walked around looking at bottles, and eventually just stood around holding our empty growlers in the middle of the store and watching this man's performance while being completely ignored. As we waited longer and longer, it was clear that he was completely occupied in his own show and could care less about serving us. How can you ignore customers holding empty growlers standing around in the middle of the store watching you? At this point we left, which he also ignored. I wonder if he cares that he lost our business? For what its worth, this shop has a decent selection of bottles and 4 taps ostensibly for filling growlers, should one actually be able to obtain service from the showboating staff. We ended up leaving and getting our growlers filled at Fannin brewing. Obviously, we won't be back.

This was the only spot to fill my growler after 8:00 pm in downtown Blue Ridge. The staff was nice…read moreand helpful but would not give out free samples of beer. They charge $2 for a big shot glass sample. They are also kind of expensive, it cost after taxes $44 to fill 2 growlers with one of Fannin Brewing Company's Lagers (the brewery itself is less than a mile away). They also do not fill their growlers with extra nitrogen to keep the beer fresh which for this price should be standard. I would not go to this place unless you had too.