Fall; leaves change color, the weather gets cooler, and you get to break out sweaters and long pants again! Fall is by far the best time to travel around in the mountains. The vistas alone make it worth the trip, but perhaps you need a little more motivation to take advantage of the great time of year.
Photo credit to north-georgia.southerncomfortcabinrentals
Coming up from the South it’s easy to come right on up to North or South Carolina, explore the area and then pick a direction to slowly make your way back home again all the while stopping to smell the roses.
Enjoy the quiet time in September with Wildwater Nantahala for rafting and canopy tours near Bryson City, NC. Bryson City is a cool little town with the September highlight being the 13th Annual Railfest Celebration. It is a short trip over to Asheville to visit the Biltmore Estate, a gorgeous historic mansion and winery with tours of both as well as trail rides and mountain bike rentals on their 8,000 acres. Wildwater Asheville is located right across the river from Downtown Asheville for lots of fun in the trees!
South Carolina has just as much to offer as their northern counterpart. If you enjoy the water and want to try something new, Stand Up Paddle Boarding or Lake Kayak Tours are just your ticket. Fall colors and a slower pace with make this trip a perfect Fall activity with Wildwater Chattooga. Plan ahead and you can make it over to Anderson, SC for the weekend of Oct. 10th-12th for the Balloons Over Anderson Hot Air Balloon Festival. Or, go for the afternoon to Lake Jocassee which offers great trout fishing on clear water. Scuba diving on Lake Jocassee is also a thrill because of the man made structures that are still intact after the flooding of the lake. For more information, the Upcountry visitors guide holds tons of information about the surrounding South Carolina mountain area.
Mercier Orchards Baked Goods
Located between Wildwater Chattooga and Wildwater Ocoee is Brasstown Valley Resort and Equani Spa offering a gorgeous golf course and trail riding. If neither of those intrigue you, then a relaxing day at the spa might be what the doctor ordered. While at the Ocoee, make sure to take the short trip down to the Blue Ridge area of Georgia to visit Merciers Orchards. Like Wildwater, they are a family owned and operated business now in it’s 4th generation who grow apples, peaches, and assorted other fruits. Weekends thru October they have U Pick Apples and a store/bakery with homemade apple products as well as other goods. Be sure to try out the new apple cannon! Once in Ducktown, take the short trip over to the Ducktown Basin Museum to learn about the history of the area and why it’s covered in pines unlike the rest of the area. Worley’s Cave in Bluff City is the one of the best spelunking spots with over 4,000 ft of caverns and tunnels to explore.
Take time to enjoy all that the Southeast has to offer in the Secret Season!