serenity – Escape to Blue Ridge Blog | North Georgia Cabin Rentals

March 9, 2022January 26, 2024

Rainy Day Fun in the Mountains

We love the great outdoors as much as the next person but the weather can’t always be perfect in the Blue Ridge mountains. When you come to town you want to get out and experience all that the area has to offer. You don’t want to miss out on all the fun just because of the weather, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a list of 12 indoor activities to keep you entertained on a rainy or cold day!

Get a Hole in One

Photo Courtesy of 2nd Floor Entertainment

2nd Story Entertainment is all about indoor family fun! Play an 18 hole game of Putt-Putt where you’ll weave in and out of 8 individually themed rooms in a 112-year-old hotel! The fun doesn’t stop there, they also have giant board games like giant Connect Four and Checkers, as well as magnetic dartboards and a wall maze.

And if putt-putt isn’t your thing 2nd Story Entertainment has its very own arcade, with games like Air Hockey, Ms. Packman, Big Buck Hunter, and so much more! You can stay there all day and have a blast with your family playing all kinds of great games!

See a Show

Photo Courtesy of Blue Ridge Community Theater

Looking for a little entertainment? Enjoy a show at Blue Ridge Community Theater! You’ll love seeing the local community up on stage singing, dancing, and acting their way through some of your favorite shows. Kick back, relax, and enjoy the show! Here’s their 2022 Season Line-up:

Trouble at the Tropicabana: March 3rd-20th
Women Playing Hamlet: March 24th-27th
The Play that Goes Wrong: April 7th-24th
Blithe Spirit: May 12th-29th
The Game’s Afoot: July 7th-24th
An Average British Evening: July 28th-31st
Death Trap: August 11th-28th
The Glass Menagerie: September 1st-4th
Same Time Next Week: September 15th-October 2nd
Elf the Musical: November 25th-December 18th

Read Something

There’s nothing more relaxing than curling up with a good book on a rainy day in the cabin. Head to the Fannin County Public Library and find yourself a great story to keep you entertained. And it’s right next to some amazing restaurants like The Black Sheep, Harvest on Main, and Southern Charm; so if you can bring yourself to put the book down, take a quick lunch break at one of these delicious local spots.

If you’re a superhero lover then you’ll love Mountain Man Comics! You could wander the aisles for hours finding cool figurines and special edition comics of some of your favorite heroes. Then show off all your cool finds when you get back home.

Go Antiquing

Photo Courtesy of Blue Ridge Antique Mall

Find all kinds of unique gifts and treasures when you go antiquing in Blue Ridge. Some of our favorite spots include Blue Ridge Antique Mall & Consignment and Blue Ridge Mountain Mall. What will you bring back from your day of antiquing? Unique and stylish jewelry, a beautiful vanity, or an item from your youth that makes you feel all kinds of nostalgic! You’ll find so many great goodies from your day out!

Have a Spa Day

Photo Courtesy of Serenity in the Mountains

Treat yourself to a day of pampering at Serenity in the Mountains Spa. Feel glam by getting a new hairdo and a mani-pedi. Get to relaxing with massages and facials, and then try out the Himalayan Salt Cave which will help your entire immune system! It’s a vacation, right? You deserve the time to relax so when you get back to the real world you’ll be ready to tackle anything!

Admire some Art

Did you know that Blue Ridge is listed as one of the Top 5 Art Towns in Georgia? Art lovers can take in some beautiful art at one of the many lovely art galleries downtown. We especially love High Country Art, Multitudes Gallery, Fishbone Studios, and the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. You’ll love seeing such gorgeous pieces of art created by local artists. Even bring home a piece and make it the centerpiece of your home as a reminder of your great trip to Blue Ridge!

Listen to Live Music

Jam out to live music all over town from great local artists! You can stay warm and cozy inside at venues like Tooney’s, Blue Coyote, and Misty Mountain Hops. While you listen you can enjoy a delicious meal and drinks with your friends and family.

Bowl a Strike

Hit the lanes at Fannin Lanes Bowling in Blue Ridge! Who doesn’t love a night of bowling with friends? Make it a competition and see who can bowl the most strikes. Snack on goodies from the cafe and snack bar like pizza, burgers, chicken, and more!

Discover Bigfoot in North Georgia

Bigfoot is a North American legend and he has been known to wander the forests of North Georgia. Learn all about him and discover new secrets at Expedition: Bigfoot! The Sasquatch Musuem! This fun, quirky museum is a great way to spend your rainy day. The whole family will love exploring the museum and learning all about Bigfoot through genuine bigfoot artifacts, life-sized exhibits, photos, sketches, large up-to-date sighting maps, and the World’s only Bigfoot Research and Tech Vehicle on display. You can find all this and more at Expedition: Bigfoot! The Sasquatch Musuem, the largest Bigfoot display in the U.S! After your journey be sure to stop by the gift shop and bring home your own Bigfoot souvenir!

Pair Grilled Cheese and Pinball

Become the ‘Pinball Wizard’ you’ve always dreamed of being at Vertigo Pinball! Play this classic game on dozens of vintage and themed pinball machines like Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Marvel, ACDC, and more! All you need is a handy dandy wristband to play for a few hours or all day if you want to. No coins or tokens needed! Enjoy your game while you munch on delicious comfort foods like Fripper’s hot dogs, paninis, and grown-up grilled cheeses! And pair your meal with your choice of a regional craft beer, cider or a glass of wine. You’ll feel young again at Vertigo Pinball!

Night in the Cabin

The weather got you down? You don’t even need to leave your cabin for a day of fun! With so many great amenities included right at your home away from home like a firepit, hot tub, and so much more why would you even want to leave!?

One of our favorite things to do on a cold rainy day is to curl up and watch a good movie. Cozy up by the fire, sink into the leather couch, and watch your favorite movie on your cabin’s large flatscreen TV! Nothing will have you feeling more relaxed than a cozy movie night by the fire.

Or you can gather the whole family together for family game night! Head to your cabin’s game room to play pool, air hockey, and as many board games as you want! And take a quick game break to prepare a delicious homecooked meal for the whole family in your cabin’s luxurious kitchen. Then get right back to a night of fun and games!

At Escape to Blue Ridge we want you to have all the comforts of home and then some; that way you don’t even need to leave the cabin to have a good time with the ones you love!

December 29, 2019September 9, 2023

TOP 20 THINGS TO DO IN BLUE RIDGE FOR 2020

As we ring in not just a New Year, but a new Decade, 365 opportunities await you to get out and explore the beautiful North Georgia Mountains. Here are a few of our favorite ideas to enjoy your 2020 Escape to Blue Ridge!

1. EAT BLACK-EYED PEAS & COLLARD GREENS

After all, it’s a southern tradition. Eat these as your first meal for the New Year and you will increase your luck and prosperity for the year ahead. The Village Restaurant will be open and ready to serve you the very best in Southern Cuisine

2. WALK THE LINE

Take a walk on the state line between the twin cities of McCaysville, Ga and Copperhill, Tn! This newly revitalized town features great shopping, delicious restaurants, and plenty of photographic opportunities.

3. HIT THE LINKS

Old Toccoa Farm is the seven-course meal of golf courses in North Georgia. It took a few years to fill out the full complement of 18 holes, but the first nine, which has been open since 2015, was enough to garner stupendous compliments and comparisons to the likes of Augusta National. Now with the back nine open, and the layout reconfigured, Old Toccoa is by far the best of the best in this neck of the North Georgia woods!

4. ENJOY LIFE ON THE LAKE

Beautiful Lake Blue Ridge offers 3,290-acres of crystal-clear water to explore. Bring your own water craft, rent a pontoon boat, or take a guided tour with Capt’n Joe. Whether you are kayaking, tubing, fishing, or just floating along, there is no prettier place in the world than where the mountains meet the water.

5. SADDLE UP & RIDE

There is nothing more enjoyable than unplugging form the digital world, saddling up on horseback, and heading out into the countryside. In Blue Ridge, forty percent of the county’s land is located within the Chattahoochee National Forest and has countless miles of trails to explore and enjoy.

6. TAKE IN A FESTIVAL OR 5

There is always something happening in these here mountains. Festival season begins in February and ends in October, plus holiday activities are abundant in November and December. You will be blown away with the ice sculpting that takes place at the annual Fire and Ice Chili Cookoff. Blue Ridge festivals are family friendly, pet friendly, and extraordinarily fun!

7. FLY FISH IN THE TROUT CAPITAL OF GEORGIA

Brown trout, rainbow trout, and native trout are abundant in our freshwater mountain streams. Stop by and see Andy Bowen at the Cohutta Fishing Company for some flies and a pole. Then head out to the headwaters of the Toccoa River, Noontootla Creek, or Rock Creek for premier trout fishing.

8. WALK IN THE WOODS

There are few better places to hike than on the hundreds and hundreds of miles of trails that crisscross the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Georgia. Not only is this an area that speaks to the hiker in familiar terms – Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail, Amicalola Falls – but it’s the wide variety of experiences, from the casual to the challenging, that make these hikes some of the most popular in America.

9. GET IN THE “SPIRIT”

You can’t visit the mountains without trying the refreshing flavors of Hard Cider at Mercier Orchards. While you are there, pick up a peck of apples and some of their fruit infused wines as well. If you are more of a purist, both Bear Claw Vineyards and Serenberry Vineyards have classic Chardonnays, Sauvignons, and more. If Craft beer is more your style, don’t fret, there are many options to choose from like Grumpy Old Men Brewing and Fannin Brewing Company.

10. HUNT FOR BIG FOOT

Plan to visit EXPEDITION: BIGFOOT! The Sasquatch Museum. You may be giggling on the way in the door, but you will leave with a new appreciation for your next walk in the woods. You’ll discover why Big Footers from around the globe make the pilgrimage to Blue Ridge just to explore this museum and its many relics.

11. SWING INTO THE NEW YEAR

Pack up a picnic and hit either the Benton MacKaye Trail or the Duncan Ridge National Recreation Trail to the Swinging Bridge. This 270-foot-long suspension bridge is the longest swinging bride east of the Mississippi River! If you do decide to jump in the middle, make sure you are faster than your travel buddies or you might get thrown off!

12. CHASE WATERFALLS

A short, family friendly hike makes Fall Branch Falls a must do activity for the young and young at heart. Explore both the upper and lower area of the falls and take time to relax on the rocks and enjoy the views. Don’t forget to bring your best friend. Dogs will enjoy the trail as much as their humans.

13. CHOO CHOO

The iconic Blue Ridge Scenic Railway is a must do when in town. Enjoy the scenery every season of the year as the train departs from Downtown Blue Ridge and travels the countryside to the revitalized towns of Copperhill, TN and McCaysville, GA

14. DRIVE IN

If you haven’t been to a drive-in movie since you were a kid, we encourage you to make plans to go to the Swan Drive In Theater and take in a show or a double feature! A throwback to yesteryears, there is just something so fun about watching a movie outdoors.

15. FAIRY CROSS & TRAIL TREES

Legend has it that as the Native Americans embarked on the Trail of Tears, they shed tears of sorrow that fell to the ground and formed tiny crosses of stone known as Fairy Crosses. Commonly known as staurolite crystals, these minerals are abundant in Fannin County.

16. HIT THE RAPIDS

The Southeastern United States is known for having some of the best whitewater around. Here in Blue Ridge we are within 1 hour of 3 action packed, exciting rivers and 2 hours away from one of the most challenging rivers in the state!

17. RELAX

If you are looking for a new hair style, a total manicure and pedicure, body scrub, massage, or a special facial treatment/peel, you will find an amazing staff of creative and accomplished cosmeticians, estheticians and stylists, the caliber you would only expect to find in a metropolitan area, at Serenity in the Mountains.

18. TAKE IN A SHOW

Immerse yourself in the culture of the area at Blue Ridge Community Theater. This cozy community theater offers quality productions, live music, and a robust children’s program. The 2020 line-up includes the first ever Blue Ridge Film Festival, surprisingly saucy comedies, musicals, and even a sweet summer farce!

19. SCENIC DRIVES

Mother Nature’s landscape specialist (shall we call her Flora?) takes a particular interest in altering our mountainscape on a quarterly basis, cloaking it in very different hues, depths of foliage, and fragrances. Drive the 41 miles of Georgia’s only national scenic drive, The Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway as it circles around the Chattahoochee National Forest.

20. BOOK AN ESCAPE TO BLUE RIDGE

There is just something about these mountains that is so good for the soul. Whether you want to come for a romantic getaway, to reconnect with friends and family, or to enjoy the abundant outdoor adventures, we have the perfect cabin for you!

We wish each of you and yours a prosperous year ahead filled with lots of love, exciting adventures, and many opportunities to make heartfelt memories. Happy New Year!

July 28, 2019July 28, 2019

Spa-cial Mountain Treatment

When you visit a new area, don’t you wonder where the “locals” choose to eat, shop and play? After all, they have the benefit of experience and “word of mouth” before they spend their hard earned dollars. If you are vacationing with us here in the North Georgia Mountains, and you want to know where the “locals” go to be pampered, we’ve already scoped it out for you. Today we shine the spotlight on Serenity in the Mountains.

Himalayan Salt Cave

If after a few days here you need a great change of pace to all the outdoor activities you’ve indulged, then may we suggest a session in Serenity’s Himalayan Salt Cave. During your 45 minute session, you can relax in one of the zero-gravity chairs, lay back and take a nap, or sit and enjoy the soft music and stress-free environment while benefiting from the Cave’s healing salt atmosphere. Serenity’s Cave was built by hand with pure Himalayan salt boulders, rocks, bricks and sand.

Spa Services

If you are looking for a new hair style, a total manicure and pedicure, body scrub or a special facial treatment/peel, you will find an amazing staff of creative and accomplished cosmeticians, estheticians and stylists, the caliber you would only expect to find in a metropolitan area.

Hey Fellas

Gentlemen, pay attention. Spas are not just for women. We know that you have bought countless numbers of pampering gift certificates for your Mom, wife and daughters over the years. And when you walk in to purchase it and you feel like a fish out of water, swiping your credit card on high speed just to get out of the girlie palace. Trust us. You won’t feel that way at Serenity in the Mountains’ Gentleman Spa. Serenity offers a gentlemen’s locker room with steam and sauna as well as a relaxation area. While almost all of the spa treatments are personalized, they are tailored for their male clientele, including facials, manicures, hair styles and hair colors.

Ladies, maybe it’s time to treat your man to an awesome experience he won’t soon forget. Serenity has a treehouse massage room. Yes, built very high in the clouds, this childhood fantasy style treehouse is equipped with the finest equipment and therapists.

Massage

One of the most popular services vacationers take advantage of at Serenity in the Mountains is the Couples Massage. With cozy, heated tables, in beautifully appointed private rooms, two therapists will give you the massage style you each prefer. Then afterwards, you both can relax alone in front of the fireplace, making this a total romantic experience.

If you are looking for a fun indulgence for your bridal party or best friend weekend, then look no further. Serenity’s staff wants to help you create the perfect memory. They will help you craft the ideal signature spa experience. And be sure to let them know that you want ample time to enjoy the sauna and steam rooms.

5 Stars

The reviews are all five star, with lots of mentions of “warm cozy atmosphere”, “friendly professional staff”, and “reasonable prices” as the most commented remarks. Many note that just arriving in the rustic relaxation lounge with its comfortable chaises and leather sofas is a charming experience, and we can whole-heartedly vouch for that!

Serenity in the Mountains makes it easy to book an appointment online or you can call them at 706-258-2244. We recommend that you book early. This is one very popular pampering destination! Their services are offered Monday and Tuesday from 9am-5pm and Wednesday – Saturday from 9am to 7pm. They are closed on Sundays, but if you are here during the week, be sure to ask about the mid-week specials.

We humans are very much like diamonds. We are created through the pressures of our lives, and very much like these precious stones, we can be massaged, buffed and polished to our full beauty. You came to the mountains to relax and renew. Let Serenity in the Mountains pamper you to a new brilliance. Don’t be surprised when this spa experience becomes one of your fondest vacation memories!