It’s The 2017 Apple Picking Season Around North Georgia

As the days begin to get shorter and the air becomes a little crisper, it is a sure sign that fall cannot be far away and that it’s apple picking time in Georgia. And with it come lots of things to do around our area. One popular weekend excursion is to the Georgia mountains for apple picking in Gilmer County – Georgia’s Apple Capital, and there are two weekends this fall to choose from. With over ten apple orchards and more than 20 varieties of apples, visitors have lots of options. Named Apple Orchard Alley, there are 8 apple houses on Georgia Highway 52 East just outside of Ellijay, GA offering items such as fried apple pies, apple funnel cake, apple cider, apple milk shake and more. Some have petting farms, hayrides, and entertainment. A map of the orchards is available from the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce.

Annual Georgia Apple Festival

One of the highlights of apple season is the Annual Georgia Apple Festival, offering over 300 vendors with handmade items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. See below for information on some the different varieties of apples you may find. Make sure you check the for details.
October 14th – 15th, October 21st – 22nd
http://www.georgiaapplefestival.org/

Apple Picking

The following is a list of area orchards offering u-pick apples.
Please check the individual websites for information about pricing, additional activities, exact dates and times, as well as any other information you might need.

Mercier Orchards
8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge, GA 30513
Phone: 800-361-7731
http://www.mercier-orchards.com/

Red Apple Barn
3379 Tailscreek Road, Ellijay, GA 30540
Phone: 706-635-5898
Farm tours and U-Pick every weekend in September & October (or until there are no apples left)
https://www.redapplebarn.com/pick-your-own-apples/u-pick-apples

Hillcrest Orchards Apple Pickin’ Jubilee
9696 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536
Phone: 706-273-3838
http://www.hillcrestorchards.net/festivals.htm

B.J. Reece Orchards
9131 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536
Phone: 706-276-3048
http://www.reeceorchards.com/

R&A Orchards
5505 Highway 52 East, Ellijay, GA 30536
Phone: 706-273-3821
http://randaorchards.com/

Looking for more fall season activities? Check out our Fall Magazine.

Interested in a cabin in the mountains?

Holiday Tour of Homes Around West Cobb

I just finished the Fall Season magazine and the holiday season around West Cobb begins with holiday home tours. This is my favorite time of year and it seems to go by the fastest with so many things to do! Some events happen so early, they are almost missed. So this post is to let you know about some of the events coming up and how to make sure not to miss them.

2017 Holiday Home Tours

  • Last year, the Milton Tour of Homes sold out within minutes. And this year, while they have expanded to offer FOUR tours, you can plan on the same thing happening – especially since it is a fall decor event. This year’s event will feature autumn decor and there will be two tours each day on October 21st and 22nd. Saturday tours will depart at 9:45 am and 1:30pm, and Sunday tours will depart at 10:45am and 2:30pm. Tickets will be $35 each and are limited to 4 tickets per purchase. Tickets will go on sale Monday, September 18th at 9am.
  • The Atlanta Home for the Holidays Showcase Home has been announced and it is 1800 Garraux Road NW, Atlanta GA 30327. Twenty designers will transform the home for the holidays and tours will be scheduled from November 16 – December 10, 2017. Tickets range in price from $25-$175. The event benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
  • The Marietta Pilgrimmage will again showcase six private homes in the Whitlock Avenue District that will be decorated for the holiday season. Organized by the Marietta Visitors Bureau and Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society, this year will be its 31st year. On Friday, December 1st, the event will kick off with a tickets only,  black tie gala – “The Marietta Pilgrimage Tour Gala,” offering an evening of dining, music, and dancing at the Whitlock Inn.  No tour homes will be open for the gala. The tour of homes will be held on December 2 and 3 and tickets will range from $20-$25.
  • The Virginia Highlands Tour of Homes will also be held December 2 and 3, with tour hours on Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday from 11am-4pm. There will also be food tastings both days from 12pm-4pm. There are 8 homes in this year’s tour including a 1920’s English country style home, a recently renovated Colonial Revival home built in 1916, a unique 1925 Cape Dutch home, a restored 1916 bungalow, and an historic building used as a combination art gallery and residence, as well as three other historic homes. Tickets will range from $25-30.
  • The 2017 Grant Park Candlelight Tour of Homes will be held on December 9 and 10, from 6pm-10pm. Advance tickets for the 2017 Candlelight Tour of Homes are $20 each through Friday, Dec. 8. Ticket prices increase to $25 each beginning Saturday, Dec. 9.
  • The Woodstock Junior Woman’s Club will host it’s 21st Annual Holiday Tour of Homes on November 11 and 12. This year’s event will include 5 homes decorated by 6 designers. The homes are:

Think you might want to create your own holiday home tours by having your home professionally decorated for the holidays? Here are some local companies that can help with the decorating:

  1. Acorn Home & Decorating
    3870 Due West Rd. NW
    Marietta, GA 30064
    Website
  2. Seasonal Designs
    Hiram, GA
    Website
  3. Lightning Bug Electric
    3605 Sandy Plains Road
    Marietta, GA 30066
    Website

Holiday home tours offer the opportunity to consider new possibilities. If you are looking for a new home, there are still historical homes for sale around West Cobb that you can buy and decorate for the holidays.  Contact us to help you with your home search.