1. Get Fit!   Fitness Hiking in the Mountains - Try Fall Branch Falls for a short, beautiful hike up the Benton MacKaye Trail. A double waterfall with Mountain Laurel and Rhododendron growing along the trail and creek bank. The hike to the falls is about 30 minutes round trip. In Blue Ridge, follow Aska Road south for eight miles. Turn right on a paved road (Toccoa Riverside Restaurant is on the left). The trailhead is about three miles on the right (.2 miles from where pavement ends). Ready for more strenuous hiking workouts? Georgia's Blue Ridge boasts some of the most famous and challenging hikes in the South, including the famous Appalachian Trail which begins here. Our self-guided hiking maps are available here: Hiking Trails Access or Waterfalls. The US Forest Service has a great website full of useful information at: USDA Forest Service Chattahoochee NF plus you want to be sure to Leave No Trace, so please check out : www.LNT.org

2. Learn Something New!  Fly Rod Classes with Bill Oyster - William "Bill" Oyster is a full-time career bamboo fly rod maker with a workshop in one of the south's most authentic mountain towns, Blue Ridge, GA. Each Oyster Bamboo Fly Rod is intensely hand crafted. Bill is the only professional bamboo fly rod maker in the world who personally hand engraves his own rods. The performance and aesthetics of each rod is truly remarkable. Bill has been commissioned to make rods for many of the world's finest anglers including President Jimmy Carter. As the most prolific teacher of this rod making art alive today, Bill draws students from as far away as England and Scotland as well as every corner of the US to his southern mountain town studio. Each year, Oyster introduces a little more of the world to this traditional craft and a look into the life of a bamboo fly rod maker. Let Bill Oyster guide you personally through the process of creating your very own custom bamboo fly rod. Each student works at their own solid maple work bench which is outfitted with an arsenal of the highest quality tools, such as Lie-Nielson planes and Bellinger planing forms. In fact, these are the very same tools and methods used to create every Oyster bamboo rod. Our year-round trout fishing will afford you the opportunity to put your new rod to good use. This, after all, is the true test of a complete rod making class. At Oyster Bamboo they make sure you finish what you start, the crafting of an instant heirloom. (complete your very own rod from a raw culm to a ready-to-fish fly rod in a 6-day class. Apply online on their website) http://oysterbamboo.com/index.html or visit them in Historic Downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia at 534 East Main Street . 706-374-4239.

3. Improve Your Mind!  The 15th Annual Blue Ridge Writers Conference - The 2012 Blue Ridge Writers' Conference will be held the last weekend of March 30th and 31st in Blue Ridge, Georgia at The Art Center. Get all the info here: http://www.blueridgewritersconference.com/ A reception on Friday, March 30th, will be open to the public, and will feature a book fair where many local authors will have books available for sale. Festival attendees can enjoy an art town experience through the many interesting activities provided by our unique downtown: Community Theater, many shops & galleries, the Scenic Railroad plus the beauty of our mountains. Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. Locatedin the old courthouse, Historic Downtown Blue Ridge. 706-632-2144 on the web at http://www.blueridgearts.net

4. Relax in a Luxury Mountain Cabin (or one of our Gracious B&B's) - Georgia's Blue Ridge has the most unique lodging in the south. Over a thousnad unique lodging spots, from quaint B&B's to fully equipped luxury mountain cabins. Want the perfect Warm Winter experience? How about a toasty fire in your cabin with hot apple cider, and gorgeous mountain views from your bubbly hottub. Georgia's Blue RIdge has literally hundreds of luxury mountain cabins you can rent by the day or week and they come in all price ranges. Winter is a great quiet time to rent because many cabin rental and lodging companies have Winter specials. For lodging information, click: rental cabin link and for Real Estate Agents click: real estate agent link.

5. Get Into the Romance!  Valentine Day Getaway - Nothing beats a special Valentines Day like booking a weekend in our charming mountain town. Filled with lots of warm Winter activities, fabulous restaurants and mountains of fun, you can make your Valentines Day celebration as active, or relaxing, as you please. How about a warm fire in your luxury cabin, a day of shopping in Downtown Blue Ridge, dinner at a quaint local restaurant, and a massage at a local spa? Check out lodging by clicking this link, download our free restaurant guide by clicking here, and see our Itineraries and Self-Guided Tours pages for lots of free information on local activities. And how about the absolutely perfect Valentines present... go shopping for a Getaway Cabin of your own! Our professional real estate agents can show you listings all over gorgeous Fannin County real estate agent link.

6. Spend Time With Friends and Family!  Friend Getaway Weekends in the Mountains - when you get tired of the daily grind, gather up a group of friends or family... and head up to Georgia's Blue Ridge! Perfect for Girlfriend Getaways, Romantic Couples Weekends, and Family Reunions, our mountain area is filled with Winter fun. And the good news is that during the quiet Winter season, many of the lodging companies run specials so you can save big on accomodations. Check it out here at our lodging link. Download our free restaurant guide by clicking here, and see our Itineraries and Self-Guided Tours pages for lots of free information on local activities.

7. Have Some Fun!  Fire & Ice Chili Cookof and Ice Sculpting Event - Saturday,  February 18th from Noon to 5PM it's hot and cool fun during this annual event. Amazing ice sculptures all over town and in the Downtown City Park, and live carving demonstrations by master ice sculptors. Heat up with the Chili Cookoff where you can sample the hot stuff from dozens of local chefs and aspiring chili cooks from Noon to 4PM. Live music from 1PM to 4PM, food, shopping and even an ice skating rink set up in the City of Blue Ridge Park. Lots of fun for the whole family! Sponsored by the Blue Ridge Business Association. Get more info: click here and on their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/fireandicechilicookoff

8. Get Outdoors!  Trout Fishing on the Toccoa River - It's the perfect 'Boys Weekend'. Trout fishing is spectacular in Georgia's Blue Ridge. Named in 2010 by the Georgia House of Representatives "The Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia" good fishing waters abound. For a special fishing experience, nothing in the state beats Delayed Harvest Trophy Trout Fishing. The section of the Toccoa River near Shallowford Bridge is one of only 3 trout streams in Georgia that have been designated as Delayed Harvest. From a point 0.4 mile above the Shallowford Bridge upstream 1.3 mile to a point 450 feet above the Sandy Bottoms Canoe Access. From November 1- May 14 anglers must release all trout immediately and use and possess only artificial lures with one single hook per lure. From May 15 - October 31 anglers fishing delayed harvest streams can keep fish. More info: http://www.georgiawildlife.org/node/1884. Toccoa River Trout Fishing below the dam - these trout waters are renowned statewide. Fish the Toccoa River just below the dam at Hwy. 515 in Tammen Park. Call in advance for water-release information 800-238-2264. Another good place is Horseshoe Bend Park, a beautiful spot with good trout fishing on the Toccoa River. From Blue Ridge take Highway 5 into McCaysville. Turn right onto Highway 60 then drive a short distance and turn right on River Road. The park has a playground, picnic pavilions and restrooms. All of the Water Spots and many of the great fishing spots are listed on our Water Maps, available free, by clicking right here for the southern, wild portion of the Toccoa River (above the dam) and here for the northern portion of the Toccoa River (below the dam). Blue Ridge also has great fishing guides if you want a local expert to show you the best fishing spots. For info on experienced fishing guides be sure to see our web listings here. And for even more information on trout fishing waters in the Blue Ridge area check out our website information by clicking here.

9. Listen to Some Live Music!  Blue Ridge Live Music Scene - The local music scene in Blue Ridge has really grown over the past year. Blue Ridge Community Theater is presenting a live music schedule, kicking off with Gretchen Peters on January 28, 2012, then presenting Michelle Malone on Fenruary 24th. Call them at 706-632-9223 or on Facebook at http://www.blueridgecommunitytheater.com. Whistlestop Grille 500 East Main Street, Blue Ridge has entertainment nightly and great live music 706-946-2466 or on the web at www.wix.com/sinawilson/whistle-stop. Christie Lees Courtyard Grille, 588 East Main Street presents live music with Francine Reed, Friday and Saturday, February 17th and 18th. Call 706-946-5100 for reservations http://christylees.com/. The Vine, 632 East Main Street presents live music on weekend nights. Call them at 706-946-VINE (8463) http://www.thevineofblueridge.com/.

10. Explore The Past!  Ancient Indian (Mayan?) Ruins at Brasstown Bald, Track Rock Gap and Fort Mountain - A hot debate has broken out about the possibility of Mayan ruins in the North Georgia Mountains in the areas of Track Rock Gap, Brasstown Bald and Fort Mountain. On December 21, 2011, Georgia architect and researcher Richard Thornton published an explosive article which suggested an archaeological site on the side of Brasstown Bald, Georgia's highest peak, was an ancient Mayan site. Read all about the discoveries and theories, link to the story here on examiner.com and see directions to these ancient ruins. You can see the Track Rock Gap petroglyphs (web info here), and make a trip up to Brasstown Bald (weather permitting, road sometimes closed in Winter). Georgia’s highest mountain offers a visitor panoramic view of four states. For the best sunset in the south, the huge parking lot near the top has a picnic table and grassy area in the southwest corner that you can drive right to. If you get there early enough before sunset, you can also hike up to the top on a paved path (strenuous). Take warm winter clothes and a thermos of hot drinks. Drive Highway 515 east from Blue Ridge to Blairsville. From Blairsville, take U.S. 19/129 south for 8 miles. Turn left onto Georgia 180. Go 9 miles to Georgia 180 Spur and turn left. Go 3 more miles to the Brasstown Bald parking lot. Make sure the road to the parking area is open (can be closed because of weather). On the web at this link. For information, call 706-896-2556 or the Blue Ridge Ranger District at 706-745-6928. Fort Mountain, a short distance from Georgia's Blue Ridge, is another interesting, and mysterious archeological site. An ancient rock wall stands on the highest point of the mountain. The mysterious 855-foot-long wall is thought to have been built by early Indians as fortification against more hostile Indians or for ancient ceremonies. Could it have been built by Mayans? Get directions to Fort Mountain State Park here.

11. Hunt for Fairy Crosses Horseback Rides! There is nothing like riding horses through the beauty of the North Georgia Mountains. And now Adventure Trail Rides offers you the opportunity of a lifetime. Join them on one of their beautiful trail rides with a twist.... a chance to go home with a souvenir that can be found in very few places in the world. Fairy crosses can be found in Blue Ridge but only if you know where to look. On this ride they offer you a chance to find one of these special stones along with garnets and other semi-precious stones. A great adventure for the whole family that you will not find anywhere else. For more information on Fairy Crosses go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staurolite. Please make your reservations in advance for these Special Fairy Cross Rides, availability is limited and schedule can change if not enough people are signed up for the ride minimum. Call Adventure Trail Rides at 706-258-2276 for reservations. See more info about the horses and stables on their website at www.adventuretrailrides.com.

12. Scenic Drives!  Mountains & Country Drive Around Georgia's Blue Ridge - This day trip, originally produced by the U.S. Forest Service, is beautiful any time of year. The drive begins and ends at the intersection of Georgia Highway 5 and 515 in Blue Ridge. Round trip mileage is 102.4 miles and approximate driving time without stops is three to four hours. The drive offers some great opportunities for stops and side trips and can easily become a day trip. The Chattahoochee National Forest covers 749,550 acres in North Georgia, managed by five ranger districts. The Blue Ridge Ranger District consists of 147,017 acres of forested public lands in parts of five counties (Fannin, Gilmer, Union, Lumpkin and Dawson) in North Georgia. For more information, contact the Blue Ridge Ranger District at (706) 745-6928. This drive has numerous places to stop and have a picnic or take scenic photos. Download a free Self-Guided Tour Driving map by clicking here.

Please do not exceed your level of experience and fitness when
undertaking any activity, especially in wilderness areas.

A Word to the Wise … Many mountain roads are unmaintained and randomly effected by sudden weather and may not be suitable for your vehicle. Roads are closed by the USFS without prior warning and may be impassable. The law of the forest is “leave no trace.” Please pack in all you will need and pack out all your trash. If you build a fire, never leave it unattended. Use good judgment when hiking, particularly around waterfalls where rocks are often wet, moss covered and slippery. If hiking during hunting season, wear a brightly colored vest. Never exceed your level of fitness or experience, including that of all the members of your party. Wilderness and Mother Nature are unpredictable and often unforgiving, especially in Winter. Be prepared and aware of the dangers of hypothermia. Unexpected encounters with animals can be pleasurable or problematic. A hawk or owl soaring silently above is a pleasure. Watch for woodpeckers, turkeys and mountain grouse near the forest edges. The flash of a white-tail deer is an every day occurrence. More rare is sighting a black bear or bobcat. Most animals will flee the presence of humans, but be on the lookout for copperheads, wasps, yellow jackets and other biting, stinging critters. For more info on proper behavior in the wild, please go to www.LNT.org (Leave No Trace). And as a suggestion, if you are going out for a scenic drive, try to do it in a high mileage/per person vehicle. Fannin County Chamber & Welcome Center, 152 Orvin Lance Drive, Blue Ridge, GA 30513 1-800-899-mtns www.blueridgemountains.com