Hey y’all! We live for our Friday adventures and last Friday was no exception! We explored one of our absolute favorites, Ellijay, Georgia! Home of our sweet Papa Jim (oh how we miss him) and of ALL things apple! If you love the mountains, award winning vineyards and the juiciest honey crisp apples ever, then Ellijay is the place for you!
We began our adventure at the most darling coffee spot y’all, Ellijay Coffeehouse. Like most coffeehouses they have a variety of coffee, espresso and tea beverages to choose from. We had lattes that were as pretty as they were tasty! For breakfast we tried one of their scones and a delicious parfait with house made granola, both of which were delicious! It was eclectic and cozy, and we could have curled up in there with books for hours!
Ellijay has an adorable downtown scenewith lots of unique boutiques and restaurants. We recommend any of the lovely shops and we really like Cantaberry’s for lunch! Fresh soups and sandwiches make it the perfect place to fill up after a hike.
We opted out of hiking last week, but thought it was worth mentioning, Tumbling Waters Nature Trail is near by. It’s absolutely beautiful and kid friendly! Definitely worth the short drive outside of Ellijay. There is a rather tall bridge on the hike, so if heights aren’t your thing, this may not be your favorite trail.
So, after coffee and downtown exploration, we drove about 10 miles toward East Ellijay to the small community of Cartecay and stopped by BJ Reece Apple Orchards. One of the most well know orchards in North Georgia, they have a large variety of apples, vegetables, pumpkins, locally jarred jellies and honey. They also have a case full of fresh baked goods. We give the fried apple pies two thumbs up!
Afterward we swung by one of our favorite wineries, because wine, duh! At first sight Cartecay Vineyards is just a simple little barn nestled in the countryside, but once you step inside its cozy tasting room and grab a glass of their Cabernet, you’ll know why we keep coming back! They have wonderful wine and a kind, friendly staff! You can enjoy a glass or a bottle, we won’t judge, on their beautiful back patio or out front on their larger fireplace patio, both overlook their lush vines.
For lunch we indulged in some mouth watering brick oven pizza at Cartecay River Pizza. It was cheesy, it was meaty, it was perfection! Hand tossed dough and fresh ingredients, doesn’t get much better than that.
After lunch we had one more stop to make, Engelheim Vineyards. A gorgeous vineyard with award winning wine and picture perfect views, a true Georgia Gem! We tried a tasting and then enjoyed a glass of wine on their beautiful patio overlooking the vineyard and mountains. We even got to meet Mr. Engelheim himself! He was super friendly and even showed us a little bit of the wine making process! They are Georgia Winery of the Year for 2019 and it’s easy to see why. We absolutely loved this winery and can’t wait to take the girls back!
Y’all, Ellijay is everything you need in your life this Fall! Mountains, coffee, apples, pumpkins, pizza, wine. Need we say more?! Throw the kiddos in the car and head north to Enchanting Ellijay!
Georgia Sisters Adventures 