Blue Ridge

We have a cabin rented around Blue Ridge during the week of the 4th. This will be our first trip to this area and other than the normal fishing and just "hanging out," is there anything that we need to see while we are there? Are there any gun shops close by?

Not Much in the way of gun shops. One Pawn shop and Stanley's Pro shop. Both are low on guns this time of year. And if they have something nice their Pretty Proud of it. Good Fishing on the river, But it'll Be arm to arm this time of year. To Be truthful not much goes on up here, Pretty Laid Back.

You will have to drive a couple of hours but you can go to Sliding Rock or whitewater rafting on the Nantahala or Ocoee Rivers.
I also recomend heading up to Blairsville to the Logan Turnpike Mill to pick up some stone ground pancake mix!

gblrklr said:

We have a cabin rented around Blue Ridge during the week of the 4th. This will be our first trip to this area and other than the normal fishing and just "hanging out," is there anything that we need to see while we are there? Are there any gun shops close by?

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You can go tubing down the Toccoa or rafting down the Ocoee River in Tennesse which is about an hour away.

If you have a GPS, just follow Aska road in Blue Ridge about 10-11 miles until you start seeing the tubing places. A landmark would be Shallowford bridge. It's an all metal bridge going over the toccoa. The only one you'll see on that entire road!

Mercier's Apple Orchard is another "tourist" spot on Hwy 5.

If you wish to watch the fireworks, head to either Blue Ridge Marina or Morganton Point Beach. I would suggest Morganton Point because if you have a truck you can more than likely park close to the water. A car could make it, but I'd rather be in a truck. I haven't been over there lately so I'm not sure if the water is up. If it's down, you can definitely park in a nice area.

I'd scout it out first before making that drive. Traffic will be terrible in either location. Alternatively, you can rent a pontoon boat that weekend. I'd make your reservation now and I can't remember the rate for the 4th.

You can also rent jet skis on the lake.


Also, you can go down to McCaysville (follow Hwy 5 all the way -- about 10 minutes) and you can watch them shoot them off Tater Hill and usually catch it on fire. Some think it's better. Traffic will be a nightmare there too.

If you are staying through to the 5th, you can go to the dirt track races in Brasstown, NC. They will have fireworks as well, and usually put on a decent show. Visit www.tricountyracetrack.com to check it out. I'll be racing more than likely. If you go, and see the car (and are in the pit area) stop by and say hey. "olered" recognized me up there last weekend and he really enjoyed everything. Pricing should be about
$15/adult, $10/senior & children, children under 12 free and pit admission is $20 for everyone.
If it's a special show, it could be $17/adult, $10/senior & children, children under 12 free and pits are $30.
The races usually start "practice" at 7 and racing at 8. They have a midnight curfew and usually we leave between 10:30 and 11 PM, so it's not bad.

That's about all I can think of in BR.

merc123 said:

Y
Also, you can go down to McCaysville (follow Hwy 5 all the way -- about 10 minutes) and you can watch them shoot them off Tater Hill and usually catch it on fire. Some think it's better. Traffic will be a nightmare there too.

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great input on things to do in BR.

Blueridge Speedway

j_seph said:

Blueridge Speedway

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Sugar Creek is shut down right now...

ryano said:

great input on things to do in BR.

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Maybe I should have put THEY catch it on fire

Thanks for all of the advice. Merc, if we get out to the races, I'll be sure to look you up. Has anyone been to the "underground lake" thing in Tennessee? It looks like it might be too touristy, but my boys (12 and 10) might like it?

Lake Blue Ridge is a beautiful lake....very scenic. We spent the entire day yesterday on that lake...dragged the boat up there and launched at the Lakewood ramp. Got a $50.00 ticket for parking the truck and trailer on the side of the road because all 6 parking spaces were taken. It was my first time on that lake. The Blue Ridge Marina advertises that they sell live bait on their website and on the signs. They don't sell minnows....just worms. The lady said she doesn't like minnows. OK. They say there's walleye in there but I don't believe them. I think I'm going to go let the water out of that lake if I can find the plug. If there's a walleye in there I'll find him that way. On the way home we were starving so we decided to stop in at the Burger King and get some food. The sign on the door said the dining room closes at 10:00. It was closed, doors locked, and some old goober was in there mopping the floor.....it was 9:26. When I tried to open the door to go in, Old Goober looked at me like I'd just asked him to eat a handfull of night crawlers.

I don't know what I was thinking. I live 1.5 miles from a boat launch for Lake Allatoona.

gblrklr said:

Thanks for all of the advice. Merc, if we get out to the races, I'll be sure to look you up. Has anyone been to the "underground lake" thing in Tennessee? It looks like it might be too touristy, but my boys (12 and 10) might like it?

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Your talking about Lost Sea, it's pretty cool. They used to take you out in a glass bottom boat

My girlfriend and I went to the lost sea thing. It was pretty neat. They still did the glass bottom boats when we went. If you are going to travel to Chattanooga and the area around there then hit Rock City and Ruby Falls. Ruby Falls is an underground cave tour, but not glass bottom boat. I'd do both the Ruby Falls and Lost Sea.

I'd go to the aquarium while you're in Chattanooga too.

germag said:

Got a $50.00 ticket for parking the truck and trailer on the side of the road because all 6 parking spaces were taken...They say there's walleye in there but I don't believe them.

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There's a ton of parking spaces at the Lakewood ramp? It's just busy. Shoulda went over to Morganton Point boat ramp or to the Marina.

There's walleye in the lake, just REALLY hard to find them and fish them. As far as Burger King, yeah they suck.

I think they were actually having a tournament or something...anyway, as far as public boat ramps go, it's a pretty small one. There's only the one ramp and realistically probably 30 or 35 parking spaces. My mistake was that I only printed out directions to that one ramp. Not being familiar with the area I didn't want to go driving around trying to find another one, and there were already people parked on the side of the road....I assumed that since they were parked there it must be OK. I was wrong about that. When I got back to the ramp at about 10:00 to go get some minnows, everybody that was on the side of the road had a ticket on their windshield. Oh, well....I saw the signs, I should have just found another place to launch.

I guess I'm going to just have to find someone to show me how to catch the walleye.

Don't forget the Swan Drive in, Brasstown Bald, Helen, Amicalola Falls, and antique places from Talking Rock to Dahlonega. Your also just a couple hours drive from the Great Smokies and the Cherokee NC casinos. There are a lot of us folks up here that take for granted what we have to do just because we have "been there done that" already.
There is also an indoor shooting range/gunstore here in Ellijay called Rick Mtn Traders. Right up the hill from McDonalds just off 515.

Go to the Flea market in Murphy. A good day trip is Lake Kindasoggy (Conasauga) up in the mountains.

I'm going to hit it tomorrow... been up to Canada and lived in MN (I'm a FL boy) for 3 years and caught my fair share of walleye. About the best eating fish around, Cobia is a close second, Crappie 3rd.... but if you bread it and fry it I'll probably eat it. Would love to get into walleye... I've fished blue ridge once before and put a smallie or two in the boat, neat little fish... but walleye... may be too late but if I can find them.... I have oil and will travel.

or maybe I'll hit Burton...

ryano said:

great input on things to do in BR.

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I went to Copper Hill last year!!!

Branchminnow said:

I went to Copper Hill last year!!!

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Hey! Watch there branchminner...all of my folks are from Copper Hill and McCaysville.

Flea Market is intersting in Murphy, NC. It's only on the weekends and I'd go at about 9 or 10 before it gets too hot. The kids won't be too happy

Hard to believe there is so much to do in BR. I live there and complain there's nothing to do, but I guess when you've been there and done that it gets boring

I have decided I won't be racing that weekend though. I'm leaving to go overseas a week earlier than I had thought so I have to take that weekend.

One other thing, even though Ive never done it before............You can catch the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway from downtown Blue Ridge and it takes you on a 4 hour roundtrip scenic tour into downtown McCaysville/Copperhill and then back to Blue Ridge..You will have some time to sightsee in the thriving metropolis of McCaysville LOL!.........Pretty cool little shops in McCaysville and also a new gun shop right beside the train depot where you get off. It aint cheap but Im sure it would be enjoyable and the scenery would be awesome.

http://www.brscenic.com/pages.cfm?ID=14