I’m a tourist. I admit it. I like going and seeing all the things that my neighbors or distant relatives have discussed over dinners. I like getting the little stickers for our car and the magnets for our refrigerator. Some people say that I should seek out the “real” places and immerse myself in those communities. But if I wanted to hang out with locals and eat at a local restaurant, I could have stayed at home. Fannin County, Georgia may not seem like a very “tourist” type place, but there are so many things to do that appeal to my tourist mentality.
Tourism exists because there are things that people find interesting enough to travel to them. Fannin County, Georgia fits this description perfectly. Incorporated in 1853, its existence owes greatly to the discovery of copper in the area of McCaysville. A railroad system was established in the town of Blue Ridge in the 1880s. Blue Ridge also took center stage as the county seat in 1895, taking the title away from Morganton. The Cohutta Wilderness extends into Fannin County and is the largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi River.
Most people do not travel to Fannin County for the history. They travel to Fannin County for the things available to do. And those things are things that make a tourist like me salivate. I enjoy visiting the city of Blue Ridge and spending time at The Depot. When do you get to meet a train these days? From there, I jump on the train and enjoy the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway as it travels along the Toccoa River. The train ride is a 3.5 hour trip, but what I enjoy the most is the layover in McCaysville, Georgia where there is an actual blue line in the street where you can step over into Tennessee! Those are Kodak moments for tourists, let me tell you.
After the scenic train ride, I will often visit Mercier’s Orchard. You like apples? They’ve got your apples! Plus, they have pies, cider, pastries, jellies, jams, and more! Busloads of people visit Mercier’s Orchard and it is easy to see why. In the fall you can even pick your own apples! Rumor has it that Gwyneth Paltrow visited this location while pregnant and influenced the name of her child, but that can not be confirmed.
Remember the 1996 Summer Olympic Games? Well, the Ocoee Whitewater Center north of McCaysville was built for the Olympic kayak competition.There are plenty of hiking and biking trails there as well. In fact, there are over 21 miles of trails! My favorite is a one mile hiking trail that boasts a 330 foot suspension bridge.
Without a doubt, Fannin County does not lack things to do.
In addition to all this, there are plenty of gift shops, antique stores, restaurants, specialty shops, art galleries, and more. I am very happy for those places, as I can compare and shop smart for a new car sticker and fridge magnet.
It’s good to be a tourist.
Our cabin had a fishing spot, but our 4yr old is a big princess and worms are icky.
