Posts Tagged ‘Blue Ridge’

What a magnificent time it is to come and visit the North Georgia Mountains! Springtime is here, and much like the flowers that bloom during this magical season, Blue Ridge is blooming as well with a slew of activities, events and adventures for the whole family to enjoy.

When March ends and April begins, people from around the state know that it is officially time for The Taste of Blue Ridge. Back for a sixth consecutive year, the Taste of Blue Ridge is bigger and better than ever! Last year this important event brought in over $35,000 for the Humane Society of Blue Ridge and was a gathering place for hungry attendees to experience the true talent that local restaurants, caterers, and chefs have to offer in our beautiful city.

Make sure to cleanse your pallet, because this year’s Taste of Blue Ridge features over 30 participants that will take your taste buds on a culinary journey that you will never forget. Add to that a repeat performance by the one-and-only Buckner Brothers Band, and you will be telling your friends about this event for years to come!

Of course The Taste of Blue Ridge would not be complete without auctions! This year will feature both a live and a silent auction, with all proceeds going to the Humane Society of Blue Ridge.

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals and its adventure partners is proud to announce that for the third year running we will be offering a fantastic “Blue Ridge Vacation Package” for attendees to bid on during the live auction. Package items include: A cabin rental package for two nights and two guests at the prestigious Choctaw Mountain Lodge, a thrilling adventure for two  Zipping and White Water Rafting with the awesome guides of RaftOne, a $50 gift certificate to the always happening microbrew pub (an event sponsor) Blue Ridge Brewery, and a ‘Gold Package’ scenic helicopter ride with Blue Ridge Helicopters above our lovely city of Blue Ridge gem of North Georgia! and the surrounding area.

The Taste of Blue Ridge will be held at Willow Creek Falls, which can be found at 13 Trackside Court next to the Cohutta Country Store. Tickets can be ordered online for $40 at http://humanesocietyofblueridge.org/taste-of-blue-ridge-2/, or for $45 at the gate. Last year tickets sold out fast, so make sure you secure yours for you and your family today!

Enjoy food, drinks, good times for a good cause and BID it up!

Is this the Southern Comfort Secret ingredient?

Blue Ridge Fire & Ice – Chili Cook Off is February 16

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals will be at it again this year! This time the “Chicks”…  Heather Stam and former Cooking Chick Kathryn Harris will be preparing  a Top Secret chili. This recipe is so Top Secret that we will feature it in the SoCo Cabins March newsletter! This annual event is sure to be a hit so show up early and taste your way down Main street. Fire and Ice Chili Cook Off will feature Interactive Professional Ice carvers as well as demonstrations. Chili Cook off, Live music, Ice skating rink set up in the City of Blue Ridge Park. Lots of fun for the whole family!

Blue Ridge Fire and Ice event information – 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Live Music from 1 to 4pm. All located in the Downtown Shopping district. Entry fee is $35, tasting tickets $5. Activities for Kids too!

Make it a weekend and book a Luxury or Cozy cabin rental near Blue Ridge or tucked away in the forest near a mountain stream. Visit the SCCR website to learn more and check availablity.

The Blue Ridge Fire and Ice Chili Cook Off is sponsored by the Blue Ridge Business Association

Carve your name in ice and check out the hottest winter attraction in Blue Ridge, GA!

What a great time of year to visit Blue Ridge, Georgia! The leaves around the Trout Capital of Georgia are in all of their fiery glory, and the holidays are right around the corner. This is the time of year that Blue Ridge truly turns into a winter wonderland.

We’re happy to announce that a brand new attraction, the Blue Ice of Blue Ridge ice skating rink, will be open for business! Visitors to North Georgia and locals all agree there’s nothing quite like ice skating during the Late fall and winter months in  such a beautiful and convenient location. Blue Ice of Blue Ridge is located in the Blue Ridge City park across from the Blue Ridge Arts Center (same location as the Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ). The Blue Ice of Blue Ridge ice skating rink will be conducting a soft opening on November 17^th for all to enjoy, and will celebrate its Grand Opening on November 24^th during the annual Light Up Blue Ridge festivities in Downtown Blue Ridge and will stay open through  February 18^th, 2013.  Plan a trip for the Grand Opening and experience what it’s like to ice skate in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains alongside pro ice skater and Olympian Kimberly Dewolf!

If you’re looking for a romantic way to spend Valentine’s Day, make sure to plan a trip and visit the Blue Ice of Blue Ridge skating rink for an evening on the ice that you and that special someone in your life will remember for years to come.

Want a great way to burn a little bit of that turkey and dressing off? The Blue Ice of Blue Ridge is a great option, and will be open on Thanksgiving Day for a fun post-meal adventure. And don’t forget Christmas Day and New Year’s Day too! Families will love to skate around this state of the art mobile 49x82ft ice skating rink in Blue Ridge. Visitors at Blue Ice can enjoy food and drinks at the concession stand conveniently located near the rink, sponsored by Dairy Queen and Coca-Cola. If February fits better with your schedule, make sure to come out the weekend of February 18^th and enjoy the finest chili in Blue Ridge at the annual Fire and Ice Chili cook-off.

The Blue Ice of Blue Ridge is open Monday and Thursday from 2:30pm until dark, 10am-8pm Friday and Saturday, and 12pm-7pm on Sunday. Rent your skates at the skating rink and skate for $10, or bring a pair of your own and skate for $8!

Make this holiday season one that you and your family will never forget in Blue Ridge, Georgia with Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals and the brand new Blue Ice of Blue Ridge skating rink!

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN and AROUND BLUE RIDGE, GA

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals and the Blue Ridge Adventure Center are located in downtown Blue Ridge directly across the street from the downtown visitor’s center and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway depot at 240 West Main Street. Because of this prime location we have countless walk-ins looking for all the “fun stuff to do”. We have compiled a list of the top 10 Activities / things to do near Blue Ridge.

* For Everyone  ** For the Adventure Seeker

1. * The Blue Ridge Scenic Rail Road – The perfect family activity. This is a great way to spend quality time with friends or family. The volunteer scenic tour begins in Blue Ridge, GA and travels along the Toccoa River to McCayesvill, GA / Copperhill TN.
2. ** Whitewater Rafting on the Ocoee River – There are several great outfitters on the Ocoee River. Often referred to as “America favorite river” because of its easy access and thrilling rapids it’s a real treat for anyone who is looking for a rush! (Raft1 pictured above)
3. * Mercier orchards – This family owned and operated orchard provides countless options for visitors in the area. Activities and amenities include Upick fruits, General store, farmers market, and bakery severing world famous fried pies and homemade ice cream!
4. ** Zip Line Canopy Tour – Going had in hand with whitewater rafting adventure enthusiasts love the zip line canopy tours for its off the ground rush and free flowing feeling of flying tree top to tree top.
5. * Lake Blue Ridge – This man made reservoir managed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) offers crystal clear waters and multiple access points for enjoyment. Boat and personal watercraft rentals are available at the marina Public beaches, camp sites and access points are available. Thanks to Surf Blue Ridge stand up paddle boarding has become a very popular activity on Lake Blue Ridge.
6. * Guided Fly Fishing – Known as the Trout Capital of Georgia there is no shortage of opportunities to fish for trophy trout. Increase your chances and hire a guide to navigate public waters or better yet gain access to private steams abundant with large good fighting trout in the cool year round north Georgia streams.
7. ** Blue Ridge Scenic Helicopter Tour – A new addition to Blue Ridge but not to the skies of Georgia. Blue Ridge Helicopters has operated commercially in Georgia for years they are now offering several scenic helicopter packages that will give you a whole new perspective on the area.
8. * Hiking & Waterfalls – This could really go both ways for everyone or the adventure seeker based on the trail system. The Blue Ridge Area is dotted with several well marked and mapped trail systems.
9. ** Tubing or Canoe the Toccoa River – One of the best spring, summer and fall activities. With several outfitter providing the gear it will be easy foryou to find that free flowing feeling on the Toccoa River. Float the upper Toccoa or Tail water (Toccoa below Lake Blue Ridge Dam) in a canoe or Tube, pack a lunch and let your worries melt away on the most scenic river in North Georgia
10. ** Horseback Riding in Cashes Valley or the Cohutta Wilderness Area – What better way to feel in charge than by horse back! Blue Ridge, Ga horseback riding is available through several family owned and operated stables.

Find out first hand why Blue Ridge, GA is often referred to as the base camp for adventure. You’ll discover that Blue Ridge is right in the center of the North Georgia Mountains and its close proximity to fun places such as the Aska Adventure Area, Toccoa River, Lake Blue Ridge, Appalachian Trail, Ocoee White Water Rafting, numerous Fly fishing streams and seasonal mountain festivals like the Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ every September in the city park downtown.

The staff at the Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals is ready to help you find the fun things to do while you’re visiting Blue Ridge, GA so be sure to stop by because “Any Time of Year You’ll Find Southern Comfort Here!”

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals & Blue Ridge Adventure Center
240 West Main Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513
706-258-3737

Looking for FREE Tickets to the Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ?!

Everybody Loves Good Music, Good Food and Good Beer!

September is approaching fast, and as the air gets just a little cooler and the leaves begin their yearly transformation from green, to orange and to red, the 2^nd annual Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival is back for another year of the best BBQ and Blues North Georgia has to offer!

Thousands came last year, and this year we expect an even better turn out for what promises to be a memorable weekend in gorgeous Blue Ridge, Georgia. Start booking your vacation cabin rental early this year and stay for the weekend, because the fun starts on September 21^st, the day before this year’s Blues and BBQ Festival with the first annual Blue Ridge Blues Crawl!

Brought to you by the Blue Ridge Lodging Association, the Blues Crawl takes place from 6pm-10pm and allows Blues and BBQ enthusiasts from all parts of the Southeast to make their way through Downtown Blue Ridge, where local restaurants Blue Orleans Bistro, Blue Ridge Brewery, Christy Lee’s Courtyard Grill, The Vine Wine & Bistro, and The Whistle Stop Grill will all put a distinctive, exciting twist on their versions of BBQ!

Stay the night in the beautiful North Georgia Mountains and have ease of access to the Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival the day after the Blues Crawl. Gates open at 12pm, and the festivities last until 9pm. Attendees will sample the tasty culinary treats of local vendors like Merciers Orchards and the Blue Ridge Inn Bed and Breakfast, and also the regionally recognized BBQ  of cookers such as Sam’s BBQ 1 and Grillin Gangsters BBQ, just to name a few.

And what would a Blues and BBQ Festival be without Blues? Wash that BBQ down with a Sweetwater Brew, and listen to some of the most talented Blues musicians in the nation all in Downtown Blue Ridge. Rolling Bones, Roger “Hurricane” Wilson, Frankie’s Blues Mission and Revenge will provide soulful, energizing blues tunes throughout the afternoon and evening. And fresh off this year’s tour with legendary artist BB King, E.G Kight will make her presence known at this year’s festival, as she delights fans with her powerful, moving voice and blues rhythms.

Last year we were at capacity before the Blues and BBQ Festival took place, and this year properties will go even faster! So make sure to book soon and make your getaway vacation on September 21^st and 22^nd into an exciting weekend that you’ll remember for years to come! If you rent a blue ridge cabin two nights or more before September 1, 2012 Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals will buy up to 6 tickets to the Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ festival. Tickets to the Blue Ridge Blues and BBQ Festival will be included in your arrival package!

Team Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals gets another podium finish at 2012 Tri the Mountains!

Matt Maddox (Swim), Elliott Dement (Cycle), & Ryan Squibbs (Run)

The Tri the Mountains Triathlon in Blue Ridge, Georgia is quickly becoming an attraction for those who love to challenge themselves in a rewarding, vigorous and adventurous way.  Composed of three legs, health conscious individuals and relay teams come from far and wide to try and accomplish their goals while also contributing to a good cause, with a portion of the proceeds from the event going towards St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital.

This event begin with a 600 yard swim which starts in the clear, pristine waters of Lake Blue Ridge and is a one loop lap around a triangular course, which is arranged for a competitively fast first leg of the day.

Once out of the water athletes run up the boat ramp to the transition area, where the biking leg of the race begins. Bikers will explore an 18 mile out and back course crossing over Lake Blue Ridge with the picturesque North Georgia Mountains towering in the background. The racers will then cycle up a slight climb out of the Blue Ridge Marina to a right on Old Hwy 76, and then enjoy the first of many enthralling downhill rides.

Finally comes the 3.2 mile run, which leaves the Blue Ridge Marina on a slight climb and eventually leads downhill towards the shopping and restaurants of Historic Downtown Blue Ridge. Participants are applauded as they enter, running past the shops, restaurants and lines of raucous fans until they cross the finish line.

Known for its post-race festivities, including fun activities for kids like a race around Downtown, Tri the Mountains Triathlon hosts a ceremony and meal for competitors underneath the trees of Downtown Blue Ridge City Park. Racers can be seen congregating around a host of North Georgia cuisine catered by Harvest on Main, a fine dining establishment in the heart of Downtown Blue Ridge. It is recommended that all attendees stick around for the after party and congratulate those who took part in the event.

More often than not those looking for a full vacation getaway experience will book a vacation cabin rental the weekend of the event, so they can see everything Blue Ridge, Georgia has to offer!

Looking for something unique to do when you visit Blue Ridge, Ga? Feel the ground rush and experience Blue Ridge in an unforgettable way… Check out the scenic tour of the North Georgia Mountains by helicopter! The one and only 600 Feet above the rest!

“It was awesome!” exclaimed two guests of Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals. They created a customized tour and flew over the cabin where they were staying then we went on to fly over Downtown Blue Ridge, Lake Blue Ridge, the Dam and the Toccoa River. The icing on the cake was the Texas two step and the ground rush experience, both which were executed on a private farm. The Texas two step is a special maneuver where the pilot holds the helicopter about 5 to 10 feet above the ground and starts to move it side to side. This motion creates a type of shimmy as you float right above the ground. After that they flew very fast across a field and a small lake then lifted off straight up to 600 feet. The pilot was extremely knowledgeable and you could tell he was very comfortable operating the helicopter and talking with us about the area.

Blue Ridge Helicopters has several tours available starting as low as $40 per person. Custom tours are also available for a special occasion (such as a proposal). The staff is very professional and accommodating.  Learn more about helicopter rides in Blue Ridge, GA with Blue Ridge Helicopters.

Stop in to the Blue Ridge Adventure center for more details or visit their helipad  located just south of Blue Ridge on hwy 515 at 1512 Appalachian Hwy. Blue Ridge GA 30513 Click here for a Google Maps Link

the 2012 Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race returns to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia April 14,2012!

Bikes lined up at the final transition 2011

Adventure for everyone! The 15th Annual Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race  now offers 2 races, sport and elite. The Sport Race will be 4-6 hours and a longer Elite Race which is 6-10 hours.  There will be festivities and a celebration during and after the race in Downtown Blue Ridge. Up to 100 teams of two or three (plus one support person) will run along the forested trails of the Chattahoochee National Forest, paddle on the Toccoa River and/or Lake Blue Ridge, mountain bike steep trails and complete mystery challenges along the way. Spectators can arrive early to enjoy music and an exciting finish as racers complete the race.

The Blue Ridge Mountain Adventure Race began in the spring of 1998 as Georgia’s first adventure race.  Fifteen years later the race continues to be a Southeast favorite.  Race organizers promise a challenging contest with lots of surprises and some of the most stunning scenery anywhere plus the new format with two race levels to choose from.

The Elite Race is similar to the traditional Blue Ridge race experienced teams love, with a six to ten hour finish. The new Sport Race will offer teams a shorter four to six hour course. The 15th annual race will once again finish in downtown Blue Ridge Park in front of The Art Center.

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals is proud to support the race through volunteering man power to the organizers and by offering top notch lodging to the racers, their families and support crews. Note to racers, Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals has cabin rentals in the Aska Adventure Area. If you are a Team and are looking for a sponsor. Please email cj@southerncomfortcabinrentals.com.

More details on the Blue Ridge Adventure Race are available on their website www.adventureracega.com.

Cool off this Summer and find your next adventure on the Ocoee River!

The Ocoee River is a tributary of the Hiwassee River. It was an important river for both the Cherokee and Creek tribes. Most people visiting Blue Ridge today are most familiar with The Toccoa River because of its close proximity to town.  A lot of people don’t realize it, but the Ocoee and the Toccoa Rivers are actually a single 93-mile-long river that flows north through the southern Appalachian Mountains from the North Georgia mountains into South Eastern Tennessee. The Rivers name changes when it reaches the twin cities of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee, at the truss bridge. This is where 3 different state routes converge and the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway drops passengers for some sight seeing. The river continues as the Ocoee flows through Tennessee. This is the section that is well known for its whitewater rafting. Most people may also remember that this section of river was 100% engineered and made made for the 1996 Summer Olympics. This created an exciting venue for the whitewater kayak slalom events less than 2 hours from Atlanta. The Ocoee River water flow is controlled by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) via three dams. The ten-mile stretch is used for whitewater rafting and other water sport activities such as kayaking. The TVA uses a scheduled volume controlled release table which allows for a great control of flow ultimately making this an ideal recreational area.

Dusty Rogers guiding raft "Hells Hole" on the Ocoee River

The three Ocoee dams are numbered sequentially, with #1 being the farthest downstream and #3 (1996 Olympic section) being the farthest upstream. This may sound funny but upstream  is actually south of where the Blue Ridge Dam is, which creates Lake Blue Ridge. So the water that you raft on the Ocoee River is the same water you can swim in at Lake Blue Ridge or fish for mountain trout on the Toccoa River! The Middle Section contains some 20 + named rapids ranging from class 1 – 4! This provides amazing recreational opportunities throughout its eight-month season (March – October). One of the largest rapids on the Middle Ocoee, “Hell’s Hole,” runs right beneath the bridge leading to the power station, with “Powerhouse,” a significant ledge with a strong hydraulic… This makes for  ONE BIG wave. For real thrill ask your guide to “ride the Bull”!  Ocoee whitewater rafting schedules vary based on the releases and are planned around the best and peak times to raft. The two sections used for whitewater rafting on the Ocoee are the one-mile Olympic whitewater course released from Ocoee #3 and the “middle” a 4.5-mile whitewater rafting area downstream from the Olympic  section released from Ocoee Dam #2.

Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals recommends Raft One on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. Raft one wants customers to have the best adventure-filled trip they can possibly have. With over 20 years of experience on the Ocoee river, Brent and Dusty Rogers, the owners of Raft One, have worked every aspect of whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River. Adding to their diversity both brothers have taken every opportunity possible to work with or experience other whitewater rafting companies across the country.

To learn more contact Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals or Raft One in the Blue Ridge Adventure Center located in downtown Blue Ridge. 240 West Main Street across for the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Raft One Outfitter provides the best Ocoee Whitewater Rafting experience and most exciting Ocoee Zipline Canopy Tours in the region!

It was a beautiful 59 degrees on Saturday over presidents day weekend for the annual Fire and Ice Chili Cook-off. This annual event took place in historic Downtown Blue Ridge right across the tracks from Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals and Blue Ridge Adventure Center and behind the main street businesses. Hungry chili-eaters of all ages lined up in anticipation, waiting for the 12 o’clock hour to hit and the chili sampling to begin.

It was a jubilees event, with classic “golden oldies” playing over the sound system and happy event-goers dancing unabashedly in the streets, often times with pets and children.  Vendors from around Blue Ridge flocked to the Chili Cook-off to show off their wares, and more importantly, give away their one-of-a kind chili samples.

Some recognizable names included Harvest on Main, who prepared a savory concoction of different cuts of meat in what they called a “classic style chili”, or one without any beans. Christy Lee’s Courtyard Grill, and Mercier Orchards came prepared with strong showings, with both chili’s containing unique spices and ingredients that had people asking for more. Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals made a huge impression on the crowd, showcasing their people-friendly approach with their own sound system and what was perhaps the most original chili blend of the day, which included several secret ingredients that provided chili lovers with “sweet heat”. People swarmed for the innovative chili batch, using sample cups and utensils faster than SoCo could keep up with them.

And the winners, you ask? Christy Lee’s won People’s Choice, Trout Unlimited won best organization, and Mercier Orchard the coveted judges award for best tasting chili.

In the end the event was a huge success, bringing great attention to Blue Ridge with a crowd three times the size of last year’s event, 1/3 of which was local and the rest reportedly from Atlanta and Florida. The night was capped off with the soulful sounds of Francene Reed, veteran of the Blue Ridge Blues & BBQ Event and master of Blues music.

Plan on attending next year and make it a weekend… Southern Comfort Cabin Rentals will provide the setting, you make the memories!