Shopping in Blue Ridge and McCaysville

High Country Art & Antiques in downtown Blue Ridge

During the early 1900's, visitors journeyed to Blue Ridge by train to enjoy the health resort's pure mineral waters. Today, growing numbers of tourists are coming to historic Blue Ridge and McCaysville to shop in our specialty shops and galleries for fine furnishings, art, antiques and unique crafted items.

Artists are especially attracted to live and work in the Georgia mountains because the peace and quiet, misty mountains and clear starry nights provide time, tranquility and inspiration for creating wonderful art, from tradition art and craft to contemporary painting and sculpture. The Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association has the goal of making Blue Ridge a Top Art Town in the U.S.

Blue Ridge has been called the Antique Capital of Georgia

Examples -- blacksmithing, pottery making, wood carving, weaving, folk art and jewelry, handcrafted furniture, watercolor and oil painting, hand blown glass -- all and more are produced by fine local artists and craftsmen. Fine art galleries in the area include High Country Art and Antiques, Multitudes, Turning Leaf Wood Art, Abreau Fine Art Gallery, Fishbone Studios and All Fired Up Pottery, in downtown Blue Ridge. Artist Rip Mann at Christmas is Here in Copperhill, has examples of his hand honed bowls in the Smithsonian Museum and the White House, and craftman Shannon Oyster, of Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods, has created handmade bamboo fly rods for President Jimmy Carter.

Other nationally recognized specialty shops in the area include Gatewood Hall Gracious Home, Wrapsody in Blue, Blue Ridge Adventure Wear, Out of the Blue, just to name a few. New fun places to shop include Huck's General Store in and Cohutta Country Store in Blue Ridge, where you can find a little bit of everything, from baby chicks to cowboy boots.

Don't forget to sample our southern food specialties! Mercier Orchards, one of the largest apple orchards in the southeast, grows 50 varieties of apples and makes delicious fried pies, apple cider doughnuts and apple bread from scratch. Take home some pickled okra, hot pepper jelly, locally smoked trout or sourwood honey. Buy some homegrown vegetables from a the Blue Ridge Farmer's Market every Saturday in downtown Blue Ridge. Or visit Smelter's Grist Mill in Copperhill for some stone ground corn meal and grits.

Handmade & Homemade Self-Guided Experience
Antiques & Gifts
Art Galleries
Furniture
Specialty Shops