It had been almost exactly ten years since the last time my husband and I were in downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia. What did I remember? Was it still just as quaint? Why did I have a warm feeling for it? Since it's now only two hours away, it felt worth revisiting, this time with our five year old son!
It was late afternoon in autumn when we arrived and the sun couldn't decide whether or not to shine. After spending two hours in the car, a free parking spot right next to the playground was a bonus. Mal (our son) was able to stretch his legs while I tried to find my bearings.
All along E Main St were specialty and locally made shops. Chris (my husband) found a record at a retro style store, while Mal was quick to spy a wooden pop gun at another. As we walked along, reminiscing at the familiar, we tried in vain to remember where the custom knife store had been from which Chris purchased a blade made from a railroad spike. Harvest on Main, however, hadn't changed at all. The restaurant still had the large, metal rooster sculpture out front and towering Moose topiary in the rear.
A top stop for us this trip was Pezrok. This store was like a treasure chest for Malcolm; full of gems and glittery rocks, some large enough to be made into furniture! We grabbed a bag, filled it with multicolored stones, and then at the checkout counter added a rock to our purchase with an insect INSIDE it!
For dinner, we found a burger bar, but not an ordinary burger joint; lining the walls were pinball machines and arcade games spanning the decades. The pings and chimes added a fun atmosphere to an otherwise cozy, laid-back evening. We purchased a game card and enjoyed ourselves until the food came.
As we headed back to the car we passed a bookstore themed coffee shop. It looked like a nice spot if we hadn't already grabbed drinks from Das Kaffee Haus, but it was the railcars across the street that caught my attention. Splitting E Main St from W Main St is a railroad track where visitors can ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. We had ridden it ten years ago through the Appalachian foothills but did not have time this trip. On that track were several little bicycle looking contraptions, and I squealed at the thought of riding them next time. We will have to go back, but hopefully not in ten years!
Tips for visiting Blue Ridge, Georgia:
- Plan enough time to take advantage of the train, whether the scenic tour or railbikes.
- It is easy to find outdoor gear here if your goal is to hike or fish.
- Although we didn't visit this trip, it's just a short drive to Mercier Orchards - a great attraction!
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