Girls' Trip to Blue Ridge, GA: A Friends' Weekend Planning Guide

A weekend away with friends needs a few things: one or two plans everyone looks forward to, room to do nothing, and a place where five people can actually sleep. Here's how to plan a girls' trip to Blue Ridge, with prices and rules linked to official sources.

#Girls' trip at a glance

#Is Blue Ridge a good place for a girls' weekend?

For friends in Atlanta, the drive helps. Routing puts downtown Blue Ridge about 1 hour 50 minutes from downtown Atlanta with no traffic, so you can leave after work on a Friday. Our Atlanta drive guide has the route.

The Blue Ridge Mountains Chamber has its own girlfriends' getaway itinerary. It suggests starting on Main Street in downtown Blue Ridge "shopping for antiques, art and unique clothing and gifts," a spa day at Serenity in the Mountains, and wine tasting as an alternative. If your group is still choosing a town, see Blue Ridge vs. Helen vs. Ellijay.

#Book a spa day

Serenity in the Mountains lists several day packages. Listed prices, Monday–Thursday / Friday and Saturday:

A few things to know before you book:

• Serenity says "Holiday rates (weekend prices) apply for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year weeks," and there are "No substitutions available on Spa Packages."
• Its Girlfriends "Weekend" and "Weekday" Getaway packages include a two-night stay in Serenity's own Luxury Suites, so they're built for groups staying at the spa. If you're renting a cabin, look at the day packages above.
• Hours are 9 AM to 5 PM Monday and Tuesday, 9 AM to 6 PM Wednesday through Saturday, and closed Sunday. Bookings go through 706-258-2244 or the appointment request form on its site.

Booking a weekday trip? The Monday–Thursday prices are $40 lower per package than Friday and Saturday. For TeaTree Spa downtown and the salt cave, see our Blue Ridge spa guide.

#Pedal the rail bikes

Blue Ridge Rail Bikes leave the depot in downtown Blue Ridge for an "11-mile round-trip" on "custom-built, four-person electric rail bike[s]," with a guide and a photo stop halfway. The ride lasts 90 minutes, and the bikes "operate every day our train is in service." What matters for a group:

• Each bike has 4 seats, and "Odd-numbered parties are not guaranteed to sit together." A group of five will need two bikes.
• Arrive 45 minutes before your tour. Parking downtown is limited.
• No alcohol, smoking, or vaping. Closed-toed shoes are required, and there's a 250-pound maximum per rider.
• Small bags fit behind the seats, but not backpacks, large purses, totes, or coolers.
• Trips go rain or shine. You can cancel up to 48 hours before departure for a refund minus a $10 fee (plus tax) per ticket.

Torn between the bikes and the train? Our rail bikes vs. scenic train comparison lays out prices and rules side by side.

#Or take the scenic train

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway runs a 4-hour ride with a 2-hour layover in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, and a 2-hour express that's "Only available on select dates." Its homepage lists fall rides through Nov. 3, 2026 and winter rides from Nov. 5, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2027. For spring and summer, it says "2027 dates to be released soon!"

If no one in your group is under 18, look at the Premier Car, which is "Ages 18+" and "only available on 4 hour rides" (plan your trip). Group discounts start at 15 people. Our railway guide covers the cars and seasons.

During the layover, the Chamber's breweries guide names two breweries in downtown Copperhill: Copperhill Brewery and Buck Bald Brewing. Check their hours before you plan around them.

#Taste cider at Mercier Orchards

Mercier's tasting room needs no reservation. Pouring and tasting hours are 11 AM to 4:45 PM Monday through Thursday, 11 AM to 5:45 PM Friday and Saturday, and 12:30 PM to 5:45 PM Sunday. A wine flight is $15, and "IDs are required to purchase alcohol at any time." Our Mercier Orchards guide has the bakery, market, and u-pick details.

#Breweries and dinner downtown

The Chamber's breweries guide includes Angry Hops Brewery and Tipping Point Brewing Co in downtown Blue Ridge. Tipping Point is "on the 2nd floor of Trackside Station" across from the city park. The guide doesn't list hours, so check with each brewery before you go.

For dinner, the Chamber's downtown restaurants guide has a section called "For a Great Place to Hang with Friends" that names Fightingtown Tavern ("shuffleboard, darts, and outdoor dining"), Misty Mountain Hops, and Chester Brunnemeyer's Bar & Grill. Call ahead about reservations and hours for a group, especially on a Friday or Saturday. For karaoke, trivia, and closing times, see things to do in Blue Ridge at night.

#If the weather turns

Rain doesn't have to sink the weekend. Our rainy-day guide covers indoor options, and the events calendar shows what's on during your dates.

#A simple girls' weekend plan

Friday

• Leave Atlanta after work. Check-in at our cabin is after 4:00 PM.
• Groceries, then dinner off the grill on the deck.

Saturday

• Shopping downtown in the morning, then rail bikes or the train.
• A brewery stop, dinner downtown, or a fire pit night and board games back at the cabin.

Sunday

• Coffee from the coffee bar and a slow morning. Checkout is by 11:00 AM.
• A Mercier tasting before the drive home. Sunday tastings start at 12:30 PM.
• Taking Monday off? Book the spa that day, since Serenity is closed Sunday and weekday packages cost less.

For more ideas, see things to do in Blue Ridge and our 48-hour weekend from Atlanta.

#Where to stay for a girls' trip in Blue Ridge

The Black Ember is our modern A-frame about 10 minutes from downtown Blue Ridge, Mercier Orchards, and the scenic railway's depot. It sleeps up to 5: Bedroom 1 on the main level has a queen and a single bed, and Bedroom 2 is an open loft with a queen and its own full bath, so there are two full baths in all. Up a built-in ladder there's a hideaway library with books and a TV.

Outside, there's a cedar barrel sauna, a private hot tub, a wood fire pit with Adirondack chairs, and a dining deck under string lights with a propane grill. Inside, there's a fully equipped kitchen, a stocked coffee bar, board games, and a telescope.

A few honest notes for groups. The house rules are no pets, no smoking anywhere on the property, and no parties or events, so it's a fit for a relaxed weekend, not a party house. The sauna and hot tub get hot: stay hydrated, skip them after drinking, and keep glass away from the hot tub. See the cabin with a hot tub for more.