Fall colors - Georgia

[smilejenn]

We were hoping to make a fall trip back to Asheville this month, but unfortunately my husband can't get off from work until the very end of October and the leaves will likely be gone by that point.

So we're thinking of taking a trip to Georgia since it looks like their season extends more into the end of Oct/early Nov. Unfortunately, we know nothing about the area. Can anyone provide advice about where some scenic areas with nice hiking would be?

We travel on Starwood discounts, so we were thinking of staying in Atlanta and making the drive to scenic areas during the day if they are within a couple hours. It's not ideal, but it's hard to beat the rates we get with Starwood properties.

[neonpink]

I'm in Atlanta and agree on the Starwood rewards. A lot of people go "leaf peeping" up in North Georgia. Many people go around Helen, Georgia and drive around that area. Helen is known for its Oktoberfest so it could be a fun stop. Vogel state park is fun to drive through and has decent hiking. I take my car up that area and ride. It can be a pretty area.

www.getoutdoorsgeorgia.org/parks/index.asp?parkId=62
www.helenga.org/

[Deleted]

Lots of people love Helen, but I'm in the minority and hate it. It's basically a small version of Gatlinburg, TN, but with a Bavarian theme. Think fudge and trinket shops, and overpriced mediocre food. Lots of people love it, though.

I would try to do North GA in late October. That will be when leaves are at their peak. My favorite towns are Blue Ridge, Blairsville, and Hiawassee.

Blue Ridge has an apple orchard that people like to visit.
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34778-d633496-Reviews-Mercier_Orchards-Blue_Ridge_Georgia.html

There is a small downtown area with cute shops. There is also nearby hiking.
www.blueridgemountains.com/hiking.html

Blairsville's downtown area isn't as cute as Blue Ridge, but the mountains are prettier in that area in my opinion. They also have the Union County Farmer's Market there, which is fun to visit. Local sellers sell produce, a few crafts, and homemade stuff like jams. Georgia's highest mountain, Brasstown Bald, is here and is great for hiking. If you scroll down toward the bottom of the page at the link below and click on the "hiking" drop down menu, it will show four trails you may want to check out.

www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72BTJw8jAwjQL8h2VAQAzHJMsQ!!/?ss=110803&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&cid=FSE_003693&navid=100000000000000&pnavid=null&position=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&recid=10542&ttype=recarea&pname=Chattahoochee-Oconee%2520National%2520Forest%2520-%2520Brasstown%2520Bald%2520Visitor%2520Information%2520Center

My favorite is Hiawassee. There is no cute downtown area for shopping, but Hiawassee is very pretty. The Georgia Mountain Fair is going on in October and is fun. There is a winery there that I like to visit, as well as Brasstown Valley Resort, which has a really yummy Sunday brunch in a restaurant with pretty views.
This brochure has some good info on hiking in the Hiawassee and Blairsville area (the two towns are only about 20 minutes apart).
www.mountaintopga.com/files/pdfs/waterfall_hiking.pdf

[AAM2012]

We've rented a cabin in Blue Ridge, Ga and had a wonderful time.

[Deleted]

Raleigh should pop around the last week in October into the first two weeks of November and the trees are already looking beautiful around here.

[mrsd2006]

Ditto Blue Ridge and also Ellijay. You can hike at Amicalola Falls and Ft Mountain state park

www.amicalolafalls.com/

[frlcb]

We were in Ellijay today and the leaves are just starting to turn, barely, so end of the month should be nice.