By: Gina Lanaux

Ellijay, Georgia, once a large Cherokee trading center, is named after an anglicized form of a Cherokee word that means, ‘Many Waters’. The headwaters of the Coosawattee River and the Cartecay and Ellijay Rivers' confluence are nearby. I rented a beautiful cabin through Mountain Oasis, overlooking the Coosawattee River, and invited my family to spend a week with me.

My cousin’s wife, Amanda Bacon, (owner of The Garage, a groovy boutique in Point Clear) is the landlord of the ‘Mountain River Lodge’ and it was beautifully decorated with her characteristic flair for design. Earthy and warm with all the amenities needed, we all let our stressors go, as we sat on the huge comfortable porch and did some ‘Forest Bathing’. 

Forest Bathing, originally a Japanese preventative healthcare practice, is an art and science of how trees can promote health and happiness. Communing with nature reduces stress levels, boosts energy, mood, and concentration, and can even help you live longer! 

We experienced so much of nature, even sharing our space with gentle deer, who came in the mornings and evenings to feed on corn we put out for them. My two grandchildren, ages 9 and 6, came up with names for them, my favorite being Deerie and Betty White(tail). Fawns, does and bucks were seen all over the mountain, along with Canada Geese, ducks, and one bear cub that my oldest daughter was privileged to see.

I am a grandmother who wants to give my grandchildren the gift of out-of-the-ordinary experiences, so I made some plans in advance and booked a fishing trip on Lake Blue Ridge with Lake and Stream Guide Service.  Captain Eric spent four hours with us, searching for walleye, stripper, and trout. My grands each caught huge channel catfish and my youngest daughter and I each caught Walleye. He made the children feel very special about their catch-and-release catfish by saying that” they were the biggest catfish in the lake and were probably record-setting” The filleted walleye went home with us for dinner.

Next, we tubed down the Toccoa River, in bright pink tubes, outfitted by Toccoa Valley Campground. About 45 minutes from Ellijay, it was worth the drive to experience the fast-running, cold, rapid-filled river. For over 2 hours, we laughed and screamed each time we reached a rapid or got stuck on a boulder. “More fun than a roller coaster,” said my granddaughter.  On the way back to Ellijay, we stopped at R and A Orchards with 60 acres of apples and 10 acres of peaches. We bought a jug of Apple Cider, Georgia Peaches, and some Peach hand pies. Ellijay is known as Georgia’s Apple Capital and heritage apple orchards are everywhere. 

Quaint and endearing, the historic downtown of Ellijay featured shops and restaurants around a courthouse square. We had lunch at Cantaberry Restaurant and dinner at The Roof Ellijay.  There are coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and pizza parlors, all necessary for tourists and locals alike. Twenty minutes north, Blue Ridge, Georgia, is a bigger town with more to see and do. With a thriving artistic community, craft breweries and restaurants dot the downtown. Antique trains head to nearby mountain villages along the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and I was sad we didn't have time to do it all. 

The north Georgia mountains area is an easy getaway, only six and a half hours from Fairhope. I look forward to another visit, perhaps in the fall, when we can take advantage of the hiking trails and waterfalls in the area. For more info on the location, visit Explore Georgia: Ready. Set. Georgia and find a fun adventure-filled holiday.