Wanderlust Guidebook
Breweries, Wineries, Pubs
We had guests recommend this cute local vineyard, so we tried it. Very quaint and picturesque, literally 10 minutes from the cabin. The sommelier we had was a colorful and entertaining fellow!
From their website: A family owned and operated vineyard and winery established in 2008. The vineyard and winery occupies 10 acres of a 93 acre farm that has been in the family since 1820. The vineyard consist of high density plantings of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Primitivo, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and the French Hybrids – Chambourcin, Chardonel, & Seyval Blanc.
34 locals recommend
Nottely River Valley Vineyards, LLC
1150 Old Culberson RdWe had guests recommend this cute local vineyard, so we tried it. Very quaint and picturesque, literally 10 minutes from the cabin. The sommelier we had was a colorful and entertaining fellow!
From their website: A family owned and operated vineyard and winery established in 2008. The vineyard and winery occupies 10 acres of a 93 acre farm that has been in the family since 1820. The vineyard consist of high density plantings of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Primitivo, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and the French Hybrids – Chambourcin, Chardonel, & Seyval Blanc.
Classic Irish Pub fare in the heart of Murphy. Fish and chips, shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, burgers, Reubens and cold, craft beers.
41 locals recommend
Parson's Pub
19 Tennessee StClassic Irish Pub fare in the heart of Murphy. Fish and chips, shepherd's pie, bangers and mash, burgers, Reubens and cold, craft beers.
Decent brewpub in picturesque downtown Copperhill TN adjacent to shops and other restaurants.
50 locals recommend
Copperhill Brewery
105 Ocoee StDecent brewpub in picturesque downtown Copperhill TN adjacent to shops and other restaurants.
Dinner Spots
Places for dinner with good food and variety
Great food, decent prices, friendly staff, live entertainment on weekends.
72 locals recommend
ShoeBooties Cafe
25 Peachtree StGreat food, decent prices, friendly staff, live entertainment on weekends.
Upscale for Murphy. Good food, moderate to more expensive depending on your dinner budget. If you want something like trout, scallops or chicken parmesan, you'll find it here. They also have small plates and a good wine selection.
36 locals recommend
Bistro 29
29 Tennessee StUpscale for Murphy. Good food, moderate to more expensive depending on your dinner budget. If you want something like trout, scallops or chicken parmesan, you'll find it here. They also have small plates and a good wine selection.
Good food, moderately priced, decent steaks, more upscale but jeans are still fine to wear.
75 locals recommend
Murphy's Chophouse
130 Valley River AveGood food, moderately priced, decent steaks, more upscale but jeans are still fine to wear.
One of our favorite restaurants for Southern Cooking in an old house, located in Blue Ridge in front of the Scenic Railway tracks. Personal favorites are the fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and mozzarella balls. The sweet tea and desserts are not bad either.
95 locals recommend
Southern Charm Restaurant
224 W Main StOne of our favorite restaurants for Southern Cooking in an old house, located in Blue Ridge in front of the Scenic Railway tracks. Personal favorites are the fried chicken, fried green tomatoes and mozzarella balls. The sweet tea and desserts are not bad either.
Quick Bites
Sit down meals that don't take forever
Closest to our cabin- very casual, tasty diverse mix of southern cooking, sandwiches, burgers. They have two or three homemade cobblers daily. Since covid, they are only open Wednesdays - Fridays unfortunately.
7 locals recommend
Comfort Grub
5722 US-64Closest to our cabin- very casual, tasty diverse mix of southern cooking, sandwiches, burgers. They have two or three homemade cobblers daily. Since covid, they are only open Wednesdays - Fridays unfortunately.
Great rib and BBQ house with a rustic vibe and local art on the walls. They will serve you fast.. Once you get a table. There can be a wait during peak hours.
41 locals recommend
Rib Country BBQ (Murphy, NC)
2121 E U.S. Highway 64 AltGreat rib and BBQ house with a rustic vibe and local art on the walls. They will serve you fast.. Once you get a table. There can be a wait during peak hours.
Yummy breakfast and southern cooking as recommended by our neighbors, although we haven't managed to try it yet.
12 locals recommend
Julie's Place
30 NC-141Yummy breakfast and southern cooking as recommended by our neighbors, although we haven't managed to try it yet.
Adventures / Sightseeing
A fun half-day excursion departing from Blue Ridge, GA. Riders take a four-hour, 26-mile roundtrip journey along the Toccoa River through the Chattahoochee National Forest. The first leg of the adventure takes riders on a one hour trip to the quaint sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee, nestled deep in the mountains on each state’s line. After a two hour layover for shopping and dining, you take the hour ride back through the scenic forests.
We did this and thoroughly enjoyed it, although our child was a little too young at the time (pre-K) and got bored easily. Would be great for older kids or a couple's adventure.
381 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
241 Depot StA fun half-day excursion departing from Blue Ridge, GA. Riders take a four-hour, 26-mile roundtrip journey along the Toccoa River through the Chattahoochee National Forest. The first leg of the adventure takes riders on a one hour trip to the quaint sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia and Copperhill, Tennessee, nestled deep in the mountains on each state’s line. After a two hour layover for shopping and dining, you take the hour ride back through the scenic forests.
We did this and thoroughly enjoyed it, although our child was a little too young at the time (pre-K) and got bored easily. Would be great for older kids or a couple's adventure.
We have not tried this whitewater operator (yet) but heard that they are one of the better ones. We saw their location on the beautiful Tuckasegee River. The Appalachian Trail crosses the property as well.
446 locals recommend
Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 U.S. Highway 19We have not tried this whitewater operator (yet) but heard that they are one of the better ones. We saw their location on the beautiful Tuckasegee River. The Appalachian Trail crosses the property as well.
In the summer season, you can rent a pontoon boat for the day and frolic around Lake Nottley, swim, fish and enjoy the sun. The staff at this marina is very friendly. There's also a beach area in Lake Nottley with picnic tables and grills for cooking.
18 locals recommend
Nottely Boat Club & Marina
6036 GA-325In the summer season, you can rent a pontoon boat for the day and frolic around Lake Nottley, swim, fish and enjoy the sun. The staff at this marina is very friendly. There's also a beach area in Lake Nottley with picnic tables and grills for cooking.
It's not the destination, but the journey. The pics in this listing are for the Tail of the Dragon store, an interest unto itself. However, driving the Tail of the Dragon (highway) to get there is the adventure. You might see an occasional Porsche, Ferrari or motorcycle flipped or in a tree, when the driver overestimated his/her abilities... Or underestimated The Dragon! :-)
93 locals recommend
Tail of the Dragon
17555 Tapoco RdIt's not the destination, but the journey. The pics in this listing are for the Tail of the Dragon store, an interest unto itself. However, driving the Tail of the Dragon (highway) to get there is the adventure. You might see an occasional Porsche, Ferrari or motorcycle flipped or in a tree, when the driver overestimated his/her abilities... Or underestimated The Dragon! :-)
Entertainment
Fun place to visit for believers and skeptics alike. Presents artifacts, maps, stories and videos from eyewitnesses of the elusive cryptid; some from around the world and some in the southeastern US! Reasonably priced 60 - 90 minute attraction, about 30 minutes from the cabin near Blue Ridge.
131 locals recommend
EXPEDITION:BIGFOOT! The Sasquatch Museum
1934 GA-515Fun place to visit for believers and skeptics alike. Presents artifacts, maps, stories and videos from eyewitnesses of the elusive cryptid; some from around the world and some in the southeastern US! Reasonably priced 60 - 90 minute attraction, about 30 minutes from the cabin near Blue Ridge.
Nice casino about 15 - 20 minutes from cabin. They are family friendly and have restaurants, bowling and an arcade. Let your kids bowl while you take on Lady Luck in either the smoking or non-smoking section of the gaming floor. Obviously, kids can't go there, but it's setup nicely to prevent an underage person from wandering into the wrong place.
160 locals recommend
Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel
777 Casino PkwyNice casino about 15 - 20 minutes from cabin. They are family friendly and have restaurants, bowling and an arcade. Let your kids bowl while you take on Lady Luck in either the smoking or non-smoking section of the gaming floor. Obviously, kids can't go there, but it's setup nicely to prevent an underage person from wandering into the wrong place.
Hiking
Close to the cabin, this old firetower is a relatively unknown gem that hikers like to visit. After a 10 minute drive, you will need to hike about 1.5 miles up the hill to reach the summit and tower. The hike is listed as easy (on a closed off, grassy road) but some causal hikers will find the incline a challenge. Once at the top, the views make the effort worth it! You can climb the steps, but the cab on top is locked except on rare occasions when the U. S. Forestry Service opens it to the public.
16 locals recommend
Panther Top Lookout
Close to the cabin, this old firetower is a relatively unknown gem that hikers like to visit. After a 10 minute drive, you will need to hike about 1.5 miles up the hill to reach the summit and tower. The hike is listed as easy (on a closed off, grassy road) but some causal hikers will find the incline a challenge. Once at the top, the views make the effort worth it! You can climb the steps, but the cab on top is locked except on rare occasions when the U. S. Forestry Service opens it to the public.
Fires Creek is composed of a variety of paths of differing lengths. For those in search of a short stroll, look no further than the asphalt trail at the entrance. Located just across from the picnic area, this path parallels the stream, providing a variety of easy-access points for fishers, swimmers, and tubers. Fires Creek also offers the Leatherwood Falls Trail, a heavily-trafficked 0.7-mile loop that overlooks Leatherwood Falls. Additionally, the Fires Creek Rim Trail begins at the picnic area and spans over 25 miles through the Fires Creek Backcountry Area. This lightly-trafficked trail follows the ridgeline, providing fabulous views of the pristine national forest.
Courtesy Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce
54 locals recommend
Fires Creek Picnic Area
1767 Fires Creek Wildlife RdFires Creek is composed of a variety of paths of differing lengths. For those in search of a short stroll, look no further than the asphalt trail at the entrance. Located just across from the picnic area, this path parallels the stream, providing a variety of easy-access points for fishers, swimmers, and tubers. Fires Creek also offers the Leatherwood Falls Trail, a heavily-trafficked 0.7-mile loop that overlooks Leatherwood Falls. Additionally, the Fires Creek Rim Trail begins at the picnic area and spans over 25 miles through the Fires Creek Backcountry Area. This lightly-trafficked trail follows the ridgeline, providing fabulous views of the pristine national forest.
Courtesy Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce
Murphy River Walk
Paved, relaxing trail down by the river in the heart of Murphy.
Picturesque GA State Park in North Georgia, with a lake surrounded by gorgeous mountains and also has a long waterfall. The lake offers canoe and paddle boat rentals (no motorboats). We love this adorable park.
117 locals recommend
Vogel State Park
405 Vogel State Park RdPicturesque GA State Park in North Georgia, with a lake surrounded by gorgeous mountains and also has a long waterfall. The lake offers canoe and paddle boat rentals (no motorboats). We love this adorable park.
Shopping
Cozy antique & farmhouse shop selling old and new items alike. The shop is located in downtown Murphy.
12 locals recommend
Black & White Market
40 Valley River AveCozy antique & farmhouse shop selling old and new items alike. The shop is located in downtown Murphy.
We love to shop here for t-shirts, hiking shoes, hats, souvenir stickers and magnets. I bought a heavy flannel shirt here for crisp Fall nights and loved it so much, I went back a couple weeks later and bought another one! In downtown Blue Ridge.
8 locals recommend
Blue Ridge Adventure Wear
661 E Main StWe love to shop here for t-shirts, hiking shoes, hats, souvenir stickers and magnets. I bought a heavy flannel shirt here for crisp Fall nights and loved it so much, I went back a couple weeks later and bought another one! In downtown Blue Ridge.
Large antique store with a good variety of items. We've bought a few items here. By the courthouse in Murphy.
10 locals recommend
Marketplace Antiques
41 Peachtree StLarge antique store with a good variety of items. We've bought a few items here. By the courthouse in Murphy.