30 Fun Things to Do with the Kids

1. Ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

Downtown Blue Ridge at the Historic Depot. Ride the train alongside the beautiful Toccoa River or on a railbike along the countryside. Fun for the whole family! Call 877-413-8724 or visit Blue Ridge Scenic Railway.

2. Visit Huck's General Store

500 East Main Street, Blue Ridge. Fill your bag with “penny candy” at Huck’s General Store, a special place for kids – and adults too! See their website at: Huck’s General Store.

3. Sweets and Treats

While you’re in downtown Blue Ridge, treat yourself and the kids to some homemade fudge at The Chocolate Express, 634 East Main Street and Three Sisters Fudge, 662 East Main Street, or a cupcake at The Sweet Shoppe, 576 East Main Street, or a slice of cake at The Little Bakery, 3558 East 1st. St. Just up the road visit Riverwalk Sweets in The Copper Basin for a variety of nostalgic and fun candies and popcorns. Looking for something to cool the tastebuds? Try Blue Ridge Creamery in Blue Ridge or Happy Bear Ice Cream & Treats in McCaysville!

4. Take a Waterfall Hike on the Appalachian Trail

Take a hike to Long Creek Falls on the Appalachian Trail. Find directions on our hiking or waterfalls Self Guided Tour Maps.

5. Visit a Working Farm! Cress Creeks Farm, Mercier Orchards, & The Folk Collaborative

Only 1 mile from Blue Ridge on Georgia Highway 5, Mercier's has tractor tours and U-pick strawberries, blueberries and apples in season. Yummy fried pies, apple cider, apples, peaches, jams and preserves. Bring your fishing pole and enjoy catch and release in their pond. At The Folk Collaborative you can enjoy U-pick, wagon rides, fried pies, the mercantile and events. Cress Creeks Farm is open for visitors to learn about sheep farming with a corn maze and tractor rides in season.

child and mother apple picking at Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge Georgia

6. Stand in Two States at the GA/TN Blue Line

Downtown McCaysville on Toccoa/Ocoee Street. Look for the Blue Line and stand in two states at one time!

7. Picnic at Horseshoe Bend Park on the River

McCaysville on Hwy 60. Horseshoe Bend is a pretty park located in the bend of the Toccoa River on River Road with fishing, a playground, picnic tables, and restrooms. For other places check out this picnic blog.

8. Have fun at a Playground

Enjoy one of the many area parks in Blue Ridge and McCaysville.

9. Discover the Lilly Pad Village

Located 7.5 miles from Blue Ridge on Aska Road at 24 Adelaide Drive, the The Lilly Pad offers gem mining, fishing (poles and bait provided) and a round of mini golf in the woods! Lots of family fun to be had.

10. Rent a Pontoon Boat or Take a Guided Tour

Rent a pontoon, a paddle board or a pedal boat at the Lake Blue Ridge Marina, 335 Marina Drive, Blue Ridge, or Blue Ridge Boat Rentals, 7715 Old Hwy. 76 and spend the day on the most beautiful lake in the mountains. Take a scenic guided tour of Lake Blue Ridge with Capt'n Joe's Lake Adventures.

credit@flagstafflodge

11. Swim at Morganton Point Recreation Area

Morganton Point is a recreation area on Lake Blue Ridge with fishing, swimming, picnicking, boating, kayaking and camping. Pebble beach – wear water shoes. Take Hwy. 515 south from Blue Ridge to Hwy. 60/Morganton. In Morganton, turn right on Lake Drive, go one mile. More about Morganton Point here.

12. Kayak, Canoe or Raft the Toccoa River

Fun for all ages. There are lots of options for rentals along the river above and below the Lake Blue Ridge dam. See a list of outfitters here.

13. Kayak or Stand-Up Paddle Lake Blue Ridge

Rent a kayak or paddle board at Morganton Point Recreation Area, Lake Blue Ridge Outfitters, Lake Blue Ridge Marina or The Paddle Zone for some smooth sailing and beautiful scenery.

14. Go on a Horseback or Carriage Ride

Lots of choices of riding stables in Blue Ridge and McCaysville. Riding for all ages, plus hayrides and overnight trips. See a list of riding stables here.

15. Catch a Fish!

Fish for trout at Tammen Park, Hwy 515, Blue Ridge; or Morganton Point, Morganton; or Horseshoe Bend Park on the Toccoa River, Hwy 60 in McCaysville. For a sure catch, try out the Lilly Pad Village pond on Aska Road or 6 Ponds Farm in Morganton. Many more places to fish – Download one of self guided tour maps here. Or get our Go Fishing in Blue Ridge Brochure click here.

16. Visit the Chattahoochee National Fish Hatchery

The Chattahoochee Fish Hatchery has a visitor center and exhibits on raising trout, as well as a large insect display. Fish Rock Creek while you’re there. Open all year, Monday – Friday. Highway 60 South between Morganton and Dahlonega.

17. Explore The Ocoee Whitewater Center

Site of the 1996 Kayak competition in the Olympics located on Highway 64 between Ducktown and Cleveland TN., the Whitewater Center has hiking and biking trails, swimming holes, nature exhibits and a legacy bridge.

18. Escape Room Adventures

Visit the area's escape room for this interactive game of clues and puzzles, Escape Blue Ridge, 644 East Main St. Blue Ridge.

19. Go Hiking

Hike the Aska Trails on Aska Road or visit the Swinging Bridge over the Toccoa River on Hwy 60 south of Morganton. Download a self-guided tour hiking map here. Before you go read our Tips for Hiking with Kids blog.

20. Go Gem Mining

Discover treasure in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Aska Mining Company, Cohutta Cove Mini Golf, Huck's Lost Mine or The Lilly Pad, all Gem Mining operations.

21. Visit the Burra Burra Mine

See a real copper mine at the Ducktown Museum off Highway 64 in Ducktown TN.

22. Go Ziplining!

Have a blast at Blue Ridge Adventure Park on Highway 515; or Zipline Canopy Tours of Blue Ridge, 891 Old Cashes Valley Road.

23. Go Bowling!

Bring your family, friends and all of the kids bowling at Fannin Lanes Bowling Center, 4115 East First Street, Blue Ridge. Open bowling 7 days a week and holidays.

24. Play a round of Mini Golf

Play a round of putt putt golf at Cohutta Cove Mini Golf at Cohutta Country Store, Highway 515; at The Lilly Pad on Aska Road; or at 2nd Story Entertainment in Downtown Blue Ridge.

25. Family Fun Games!

Trout Art Trail - The trout statue's names have fallen in the fish bowl and we don't know who is who! Using the map, visit each fish statue at it's location, find it's name, and fill in the names of each fish on the sheet. This adventure is also available as a challenge on our app! where you can check in at each location and receive a badge upon completion. Once you have found all the trout names and filled them in on your sheet, return it to the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center for a prize!!

Light's Off, Fireflies On! Game - Travel around to our 5 area parks to find the 5 secret words about the fireflies. Learn firefly facts, play at each park and have fun on this adventure! See the game here. This game is also available as a challenge on our app! where you can enter a secret word at each location and receive a badge upon completion. Once you have completed the game, go by one of the three Visitor Centers for a prize!

Family Adventure Game - Go to each page in the game booklet and answer the questions about what’s on that page. Your parents can help you, and they’ll be taking you to cool places where you can see all the mountains, rivers, wildlife and fun that’s all around our area. Click here to learn more.

credit@monyalathem

26. Take Flight

Go on a helicopter ride with Blue Ridge Helicopter Tours and see Blue Ridge from the sky. 1010 Appalachian Hwy. (706) 946-1010

27. Pinball and Arcade Fun

2nd Story Entertainment, The Zone and Vertigo Pinball, each have a selection of pinball and arcade games for the whole family to enjoy!

28. Tube the Toccoa River: Fun for all ages

Enjoy a relaxing time on a tube with Toccoa Valley Campground, Rolling Thunder River Company and Toccoa River Tubing Company in McCaysville.

29. Visit a Tongue in Cheek or Petting Zoo

Stroll around the zoo and learn fun facts about the over 25 species of artistic renditions of animals at The Zoo Groovy Metal Yard Art. Creekside Petting Zoo, and Hooves and Feathers Petting Farms are fun stops where kids can meet and interact with the animals on the farm!