I began my solo hike from the Smithgall Woods Visitors Center. There I was given a map and a few…read morebrief highlights of points of interest, like the waterfalls and gold mine. I then set off one what turned out to be a 4.5 hour adventure. The trail starts off as a fairly steep incline. Along the way I saw a sign saying "caution - bees". I thought that was a curious warning until I noticed the white honey bee houses in the woods nearby. Next came the wetlands with a one mile looping trail and a boardwalk into the marshes. Here you have a strong possibility of seeing a beaver at work on a dam. I decided to save this area for my return hike and I'm glad I did. My energy on the return leg was running very low and I needed the benches here for a nice long rest. I reached the covered bridge about 37 minutes after leaving the visitors center. It was a real beauty made in the simple Town Lattice style. The memorial plaque at the entrance was titled "Bay's Bridge In loving memory of 'Bay' Elizabeth Smithgall Watts", whom died the year the land for the state park was gifted. It crosses the amazing mountain stream known as Duke's Creek. The creek from here will be a large part of your journey. The trail turns to gravel just past the bridge. Had I returned to the parking area from the bridge it would have only taken me a tad over one hour, but I pressed on. ----- FINAL THOUGHTS In total I hiked approximately 7.5 miles today and Bay's Covered Bridge was one of my favorite highlights! Smithgall Woods State Park is indeed a wonderful place for those who love nature and peaceful hiking venues. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND giving them and this magnificent bridge a visit. 2016/33

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous hike! 3.2-ish miles one way (6.4 round trip). Paved for half, gravel…read moretrack for a portion, and the final leg is a narrow winding trail through the woods and along and down a mountain side. Falls were gorgeous and super rewarding to see at the end. Would not recommend this for those in poor health or with very small children. It was a challenging hike with a lot of steep hills and narrow paths along steep drops. Definitely off the beaten path - we didn't pass any other hikers during the entire hike.

The hike out to this waterfall is not for beginners (like me). It's a six-mile round trip, the last…read moremile of which you will spend side-winding your way thru the bushes on a dirt trail six inches wide (the brochure lied). I brushed off no less than three deer ticks. My wife and I sat for about half an hour at the base of this waterfall. Not to admire its beauty - we were just that damned tired. There is indeed a pool at the base of the falls (and I seriously considered drowning myself in it rather than face the trip back). It actually IS uphill both ways.

Toccoa Falls sits deep within the campus of Toccoa Falls College, a private Christian institution…read morefounded in 1907 and spread across 1,100 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The waterfall drops 186 feet, making it one of the tallest free‑fall waterfalls east of the Mississippi, a height confirmed in the college's own materials and widely cited in public references . On a quiet Sunday morning with off and on rain, we followed the campus road to the visitor parking area and made the short, level walk to the entrance. There is a small admission charge, and while modest, it clearly supports the upkeep of the site, which remains clean, orderly, and well maintained. Inside the gift shop, the two young women (definitely students as they were working on a class paper) working the counter were friendly and quick to point me toward their display of fridge magnets amongst so many other trinkets and mementoes. After paying for admission and the magnet, Mrs. K. and I stepped back outside and followed the path along the creek toward the falls. Even in late winter, with the drizzle coming and going, the setting felt peaceful, the kind of place where the sound of water takes over long before the falls come into view. The waterfall itself is undeniably impressive. The free‑fall drop is higher than American Falls at Niagara, and the roar was loud enough to fill the entire basin even on a rainy morning. We stood for a while, taking in the height, the mist, and the steady power of the water before snapping our pictures and heading back toward the dry Sprinter. As quick stops go, it was exactly right: easy to reach, beautifully maintained, and worth every minute of the detour. [Review 254 of 2026 - 951 in Georgia - 25443 overall]

Visited the beautiful waterfall today! It was a short 3-5 minute walk through the back of the gift…read moreshop. Price is $2 per person and it was worth it. We arrived at 1:05 and they were setting up for a wedding. It wasn't crowded when we first got there, but after about 30 minutes it started to fill up with tourists/visitors. Saturday hours are only 4 hours from noon to 4:00, so keep that in mind.

As Confederate Memorials go, this one in the square at the center of Gainesville is in good…read morecondition. Commonly referred to as "Old Joe," he has been standing guard since his unveiling in 1909. And if you're keeping score, that would be 44 years after the signing of the surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse. Though originally he had a longer rifle (with a bayonet?) it has since shortened either due to aging or human interaction. The status is inscribed with "Our Confederate Soldiers. The Confederate Patriots. The record of whose fortitude and heroism in the service of their country is the proud heritage of a loyal posterity. Tell ye children of it and let your children tell their children and their children another generation" It turns out that while the Square is owned by the city of Gainesville, the statue stands on land that was leased to the Daughters of the Confederacy who still have 10 years (as of 2023) remaining on their lease. And as is usual, there are some who want it removed and some who don't care and some who want it to stand. I'm just reviewing it and not expressing an opinion. [Review 20350 overall - 685 in Georgia - 1328 of 2023.]

Phickles has a retail location near downtown Athens at 720 Baxter Street. I've been interacting…read morewith Angie a number of years over Twitter and Facebook but we'd never met in person. I really hadn't expected to this day either considering her schedule, but I wanted to go by the store and pickup a few things and just had the good fortune that Angie was there. I was really overwhelmed at the vast array of products that was available! What started out as just pickles, has grown into a big business for this small town girl. While it's easy to understand pickling green beans, carrots and jalapeños; its another thing reaching out to sauces, jams and spreads. Speaking of spreads, Phickles is going all out distributing cheese spreads and even Angie isn't sure just how far this is going to go! From the taste of Pimento Cheese and Hot Mess cheese spreads, I think people are going to go absolutely nuts for it! Later that night, when we got home from our evening at the Gwinnett Braves game, we couldn't wait to have out own Phickle Pheast! Picking up some gourmet crackers from Kroger on our way home, we couldn't wait to dig in to the cheese spreads. I also had a couple of those Phickled Carrots and they are SO tasty! You'll be surprised at all of the restaurants and markets that carry Phickles products. Try them! I think you'll enjoy! Guten appetit! DISCLOSURE: ANGIE AND I HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER THROUGH TWITTER AND FACEBOOK FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, ALTHOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE MET IN PERSON AND I HAVE NOT PREVIOUS WRITTEN ON THIS TOPIC. SHE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO RING MY PURCHASES UP AT THE EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT PRICE, BUT THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN MY POST ARE PURELY MY OWN.

Phickles brand pickles have been a favorite of mine since I was first introduced to them about four…read moreyears ago. They are available in specialty food shops around the southeast, and now straight from the source at the company store. Items are all produced in small batches from locally sourced ingredients. I'm especially fond of their Okies and Stix. Complimentary items from other artisan vendors are also available here. Complimentary as in "similar to, or goes well with," not as in "free."

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!

Standing tall in the Oconee Rivers Greenway, this art installation is designed as a "public example…read moreof creative architecture" by Los Angeles-based designer and educator Andrew Kovacs. The artwork is thirty-six twelve-foot brightly-colored columns at the entrance to the new Greenway Trail. The columns are spaced six feet apart and are standard 8" by 8" by 8" concrete masonry units. Each column is painted in two different colors, dematerializing the columns and providing an array of coloration to the field of columns. According to the statement, "The colors can be read in myriad ways, from diversity and individualism, to race and sexual liberation, while also commenting on the long history of brightly colored public art work." They are completely weatherproof but not weedproof. The ground has certainly picked up some local flora since it was installed. There is parking along the roadway and there are no barriers to enter the artwork. You can certainly selfie with them or use them as a background to a photo shoot. [Review 18063 overall - 538 in Georgia - 1585 of 2022.]

Having been to the Chihuly museum in Seattle, I was so happy to see this monument erected at the…read moreend of my swamp rabbit trail walk. Walking up on it, it seemed like a huge rose-colored Rock sugar sucker. The base is surrounded with flowers and benches to sit near by. It's simple yet beautiful. The little ladies walking by had to stop and touch the glass. It's inviting. I love little artistic surprises that show up in cities and towns as you walk around. Greenville has so many wonderful qualities all over town. I've enjoyed my short visit and look forward to next time.

We saw this on a map while walking in the park and knew we had to check it out. A little…read moreunderwhelming in person but still very cool!

We really enjoyed visiting Blue Ridge. The downtown area is so cute. I wish I had taken more…read morephotos. Great little shops, delicious food. The olive oil store is great, make sure to sample the expresso balsamic it's yummy and taste so good over vanilla ice cream. Southern Charm restaurant is clean, food is fresh and yummy. Make sure to get the mozzarella bites. Get the full order, they are that good. If you want some fresh amazing poke bowls you have to try Poke Jon's. We enjoyed this place so much. We had fresh tuna, spicy shrimp and spicy crab. They have perfect Yelp reviews for a reason. I look forward to our next visit. Spring is so beautiful here.

Blue Ridge is one of my favorite cities and over the years I have been here dozens of times and…read morenever had a bad experience. It's a beautiful drive in the fall about 90 minutes North on 575. Here are some of the places you may want to check out if you're in the area... 1. Harvest on Main https://www.yelp.com/biz/harvest-on-main-blue-ridge?uid=FdPioXvctMq8lhBtd_NnTg&utm_campaign=www_biz_share_page_share_business&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) 2. Cucina Rustica https://www.yelp.com/biz/cucina-rustica-morganton?uid=FdPioXvctMq8lhBtd_NnTg&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) 3. Treo Blue Ridge https://www.yelp.com/biz/treo-blue-ridge-blue-ridge-2?uid=FdPioXvctMq8lhBtd_NnTg&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) 4. The Sweet Shoppe https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-sweet-shoppe-blue-ridge?uid=FdPioXvctMq8lhBtd_NnTg&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) 5. Joe's BBQ https://www.yelp.com/biz/joes-bbq-mccaysville?uid=FdPioXvctMq8lhBtd_NnTg&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) Don't forget to take the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway https://www.yelp.com/biz/blue-ridge-scenic-railway-blue-ridge?uid=FdPioXvctMq8lhBtd_NnTg&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) and be sure to check out their year round family festivals https://www.blueridgemountains.com/things-to-do/festivals/ 1460th review 7/7/2018 380th for 2018

The festival always has plenty of vendors and their tents setup to keep people busy. Cars are…read morebeautiful and interesting to view at leisure. The foods are always delicious.

Great car show, good vendors with some food options. It's an area tradition. Our first time and was…read morevery impressed they had an electric scooter rental which makes the day "do-able" if you have endurance or walking issues. My fav Vendor was "The Zoo: Groovy Yard Art" from Mineral Bluff, GA around the Blue Ridge area. Bought a sweet little cat us sculpture for the front years traditional green with blue flowers and definitely will be f going to their 7 acre property to check out the rest of the selections. They had all your seasons covered along with some pretty interesting and unusual pieces. I want to add a couple large cactus to our new collection A surprising lack of actual moonshine, which I guess with liquor laws, children of all ages etc. understandable. Just thought maybe they'd play up the name. The dog got to try some