Shadows cast by the humpback Appalachian foothills wash over little Blairsville, a secluded mountain town tucked in one of thousands of gaps near the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Blairsville is only a couple of hours from Chattanooga, Atlanta and Asheville, N.C., but the town offers a refreshing change of scenery from asphalt and steel to trees and cornfields.
It's the place to go for outdoor lovers - whether for the waters of Lake Nottely, the woods of the Chattahoochee National Forest or the walkable Appalachian Trail.
Blairsville also boasts a handful of too-good-to-miss annual festivals, including the Downtown Spring Arts and Crafts Festival, the Memorial Day Parade, the Sorghum Parade and the Christmas Parade, among others.
As a certified Appalachian Trail Community and Georgia Better Hometown, Blairsville is a great place to live, but it's also a great place to visit. It has history, events and the great outdoors - which are always open for business.
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Blairsville’s Best-kept Secret> Lake Winfield Scott: An 18-acre mountain lake located south of Blairsville, inside the U.S. Forest Service’s Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area. The spot offers camping, fishing, hiking and picnicking.
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Let’s Get FestivalSorghum FestivalA tour-de-force of small-town Appalachia, with delicious sorghum syrups, craft vendors and complete with dancing and biscuit-eating competitions. Too good to miss.> When: Oct. 10-11 and 17-18> More info: blairsvillesorghumfestival.comScottish Festival and Highland Games Blairsville’s annual celebration and remembrance of its strong Scotch heritage. Music, food, games, dancing, workshops and a mess more offerings included. > When: Every June> More info: blairsvillescottishfestival.orgGreen Bean FestivalBlairsville celebrates all things green bean, but also uses this time to pass down farming knowledge and support green living, encouraging the locally grown produce scene.> When: July 25> More info: ucfarmersmarket.com/Events/GreenBeanFestival.aspx
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Blairsville Bites> The Sawmill Place: Lip-smackin’ Southern dishes, with made-from-scratch biscuits drenched in thick, locally grown sorghum syrup. A favorite breakfast spot. thesawmillplace.com> Aviator Cafe: A quirky sandwich storefront downtown with delicious cold cuts and a flair for flight-themed decor. Pilots get a discount. theaviatorcafe.com> Jim’s Smokin’ Que: No small Georgia town is complete without gut-busting, “low-and-slow” barbecue. Jim’s Smokin’ Que provides it. Famous for its “Kickin’ Butt” sauce and a brand-new putt-putt course, Jim’s is sure to please. jimssmokinque.com> G & G Bakery and Cafe: Doughnuts. Lots of doughnuts. Also, a full breakfast, brunch and lunch menu. Catch spur-of-the-moment doughnut giveaways at facebook.com/GGBakeryCafe
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Fast Facts> Population: 652 (in 2010) | Union County — 21,356 (in 2010)> Nearby landmark or geographic feature: Brasstown Bald | 4,783 feet tall. Brasstown Bald is the highest natural point in Georgia.> Date founded: Dec. 26, 1835> History: Blairsville is said by many to be named after Francis Preston Blair, a prominent 19th century American who for a time edited the Washington Globe. Union County is named for a mid-19th century political party. Today, Blairsville remains the sole incorporated community in Union County.> Most Famous residents: Byron Herbert Reece (1917-1958), American poet and author> Unique tradition: The Sorghum Festival, a yearly celebration of the sorghum cane harvest and sorghum syrup> Unique characteristic: The city of Blairsville is just over 1 square mile in size and shaped roughly like a key.