North Georgia, GA · Whole-home rentals on VRBO
🌾 Farm stays in North Georgia
Come autumn, the mountains around Ellijay fill with the smell of apples and cider doughnuts. Gilmer County, with Ellijay at its center, is the Apple Capital of Georgia, and orchards like B.J. Reece, R&A, and Red Apple Barn have grown fruit on these Blue Ridge slopes for generations, harvesting more than 20 varieties from late summer into November. Nearby Blue Ridge adds Mercier Orchards, the state's largest, while Dahlonega to the southeast has become the hub of Georgia wine country. A whole-home farm stay here means a cabin or farmhouse tucked into the mountains, minutes from u-pick rows, roadside markets, and the trout streams and trailheads of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Renting an entire property gives you a porch over the ridgelines, a fireplace for cool mountain nights, and a kitchen for all the apples, cider, and mountain honey you will inevitably carry home.
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Where to look
Ellijay and East Ellijay sit at the center of the apple orchards, the town of Blue Ridge to the north adds Mercier Orchards and a lively main street, and Dahlonega to the southeast anchors the wineries, all within the Blue Ridge Mountains.
When to book
Fall is by far the peak, when apple harvest, the Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, and mountain foliage draw big crowds and higher rates; spring and summer are greener, quieter, and better value.
What you'll pay
Whole cabins and farmhouses typically run about $175 to $400 a night, with larger mountain lodges and leaf-season October weekends reaching higher.
Common questions
When is apple season in North Georgia?
Apple season around Ellijay runs from about late August into November, peaking in September and October, when Gilmer County orchards such as B.J. Reece and R&A open for pick-your-own and sell cider, fried pies, and fresh-pressed juice.
Are there wineries near the North Georgia apple orchards?
Yes. Dahlonega, southeast of Ellijay, is the heart of Georgia wine country with numerous vineyards, and Ellijay itself has wineries like Engelheim, so a farm stay can easily combine apple orchards and tasting rooms.
What is there to do besides apple picking in North Georgia?
Plenty. The Blue Ridge Mountains around Ellijay and Blue Ridge offer hiking and waterfalls in the Chattahoochee National Forest, trout fishing, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, and mountain-town shopping, making it a well-rounded outdoor base.