Georgia's Apple Capital — orchards, cider, and the Cartecay River.
Ellijay, Georgia is the seat of Gilmer County and the officially designated Apple Capital of Georgia. Set at the confluence of the Cartecay and Ellijay rivers, which form the Coosawattee, the town's downtown square is anchored by a working courthouse, the Bourbon Street Grille, and small mercantiles. Its apple heritage is centered on Highway 52 east of town, where more than a dozen family orchards — Hillcrest, Panorama, R&A, BJ Reece, Mercier, and Aaron Family among them — draw families every fall for u-pick apples, fried pies, cider donuts, and hayrides.
Ellijay anchors the annual Georgia Apple Festival every October, one of the state's largest craft festivals, along with Cartecay River tubing and kayaking at Cartecay River Experience, mountain biking at the Bear Creek and Pinhoti trail systems, and the drive up to Fort Mountain State Park for its stone wall ruins and panoramic overlooks. The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest wraps the town on three sides, putting Amicalola-area waterfalls, the Benton MacKaye Trail, and Carters Lake within a short drive.
Ellijay pairs naturally with Blue Ridge to the north and Jasper to the south, and its combination of apple orchards, river tubing, and cabin rentals makes it a year-round pick for families looking for a quieter alternative to Helen or Gatlinburg.
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AnchorEllijay, GA
Georgia's Apple Capital — orchards, cider, and the Cartecay River.
AnchorEllijay, GA
Tubing, kayaking, and SUP on the Cartecay near Ellijay — Class I–II floats through orchard country.
Wineries & Culinary
Cartecay Vineyards
Ellijay, GA
Ellijay's apple-country winery — restored 1940s barn, live music weekends, and easy-drinking estate wines.
Top experiences
AnchorEllijay, GA
Georgia's Apple Capital — orchards, cider, and the Cartecay River.
AnchorEllijay, GA
Tubing, kayaking, and SUP on the Cartecay near Ellijay — Class I–II floats through orchard country.
Chatsworth, GA
Georgia's deepest lake — clear, undeveloped, and ringed by national forest.
Wineries & Culinary
Cartecay Vineyards
Ellijay, GA
Ellijay's apple-country winery — restored 1940s barn, live music weekends, and easy-drinking estate wines.
Wineries & Culinary
Engelheim Vineyards
Ellijay, GA
European-style estate winery and chapel-front wedding venue surrounded by Ellijay vines.
Wineries & Culinary
Ott Farms & Vineyard
Ellijay, GA
Family farm winery with U-pick blueberries, a tasting porch, and views over the Cohutta foothills.
Wineries & Culinary
Buckley Vineyards
Ellijay, GA
Small Ellijay estate vineyard with a relaxed tasting patio and seasonal events.
Wineries & Culinary
Chateau Meichtry Family Vineyard & Winery
Talking Rock, GA
Swiss-style family winery in Talking Rock with a covered patio and pavilion events.
Annual events
Festival
Ellijay, GA
Two-weekend harvest festival celebrating Ellijay's apple country.
Food / Arts / Crafts
Ellijay, GA
Apple-season festival with vendors, handmade crafts, demos, music, and food.
Food / Arts / Crafts
Ellijay, GA
Second weekend of the Georgia Apple Festival.
Arts / Crafts / Food
Ellijay, GA
Sister festival to the Georgia Apple Festival in downtown Ellijay.
Arts / Crafts / Food
Ellijay, GA
Second weekend of the downtown Apple Arts Festival.
Nearby stays
0 stays in the requested town · 6 nearby · 30-mile search area
Dates and rates must be confirmed with the owner. Distances shown are approximate straight-line distances; town-only locations have no property distance.
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Nearby in Blairsville GA, pondside flat-access · about 30 mi
⭐ PartnerReal listingBook direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Nearby in Blairsville GA, hillside setting · about 30 mi
Real listingBook direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Nearby in Blairsville GA, North Georgia Mountains · about 30 mi
Real listingBook direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Nearby in Blairsville GA, Trackrock area · about 30 mi
Real listingBook direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Nearby in Blairsville GA, studio cabin · about 30 mi
Real listingBook direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Nearby in Blairsville GA, near Appalachian Trail · about 30 mi
Real listingBook direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
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Add Your BusinessFall · Sep – Nov
Matched from what each experience is actually known for.
Ellijay, GA · Known for apple
Best time: September – November for apple season & foliage
Ellijay, GA · Wineries & Culinary
Best time: Spring through fall; harvest season Aug–Oct
Ellijay, GA · Wineries & Culinary
Best time: Spring through fall; harvest season Aug–Oct
Ellijay, GA · Wineries & Culinary
Best time: Spring through fall; harvest season Aug–Oct
Ellijay, GA · Wineries & Culinary
Best time: Spring through fall; harvest season Aug–Oct
Talking Rock, GA · Wineries & Culinary
Best time: Spring through fall; harvest season Aug–Oct
Plan by season
Spring
Mar – May
Wildflowers, waterfalls running full, and shoulder-season cabin rates before the summer crowds.
Summer
Jun – Aug
Rafting, lake days, downtown festivals, and long evenings on the porch.
Fall
Sep – Nov
Peak foliage drives, harvest festivals, and the busiest weekends of the year — book early.
Winter
Dec – Feb
Quiet trails, fireside cabins, and holiday markets in the mountain towns.
Pair these with your stay — most are within a 60–90 minute drive.
