The train track and locomotive train right in the middle of Blue Ridge. You can not miss it!!
Spent a charming, fun, festive weekend in Blue Ridge full of fine food, good drinks, lively friendly scenes, and the last day was spent on the Blue Ridge Scenic train, and it was one of our favorite North Georgia experiences! The train sits right in the middle of Blue Ridge, literally, and you pass around it or between the parked train cars to go from one side of Blue Ridge to the other. We strongly suggest the longer 4 hour tour that takes you to the border with Tennessee and the chance to have lunch, bar crawl, shop and party on the literal border between between Georgia and Tennessee, where McCaysville, Georgia meets Copperhill, Tennessee, and where you get to cross back and forth between two states and also two time zones!
We highly recommend paying the premium for the Premier Car that offered the most comfortable seats, a proper charcuterie snack (photographed) from The Pasta Market (very fine local Blue Ridge market for meats and cheeses, kitchen items and more), easy access to the bar, no kids, and A/C. *North Georgia Culture Tip* – When you hear the announcement that the bar and snack car is going to be open, due yourself a favor and go ahead before it opens to be very early in line. The line fills up quickly and we wanted two Bloody Marys and they were proper. The bartender made them from scratch and the olives and celery were fresh and you have the option for a splash of tabasco too. Be sure to tip that bartender well!
While riding on the train, the journey is narrated through the speakers by a tour guide pointing out historic, geologic, and natural landmarks and points of interest along the way, so you actually learn about North Georgia on the ride!
When you arrive in McCaysville, you have about two hours to have lunch, or bar crawl, or shop between McCaysville and Copperhill. We opted for our own bar crawl and visited the following fine establishments of Buck Bald Brewing (Copperhill) and Copperhill Brewery (McCaysville) where we had fine beer and fine conversations and socializing at both locations that we also recommend! We saw a lot of other riders go to lunch with their families and there are plenty of choices from Mexican to American food that can suit anyone young or old.
Keep in mind there is a strict time when you need to return to the train back to Blue Ridge, and must confess, we were having such a good time at Buck Bald, we considered our options if we missed the train! We were pleased to get back on that train however, and the ride back to Blue Ridge was just as delightful as the ride to the Georgia and Tennessee border. Remember to tip the attendants on the train and please tell them you read this review on North Georgia Culture!
