Fall is a magnificent time of year. The air cools down and dinner warms up with soups and stews. The leaves blanket the trees with vibrant colors of red, orange and gold. Friday night football games and crackling bonfires become routine. Corn mazes, apple cider, and pumpkin spiced everything abound. Flip flops and shorts are traded for denim and flannel. Fall is welcomed with open arms in exchange for the hot Georgia summers. Here is my list of the top 10 things to do in Georgia in the fall.
Fall in Georgia – 10 Fun Things to Do:
Go Apple Picking
Georgia is home to multiple apple orchards, especially in the mountain region of North Georgia. The Red Apple Barn, located near Ellijay, is one to add to any apple picking list. Providing nearly 20 variety of apples, barn fun family activities, farm tours, field trips and a market to complete your visit.
Plan to visit during the 2nd or 3rd weekend in October and experience the Georgia Apple Festival and the Ellijay Apple Arts on the Square. Both events includes numerous vendors providing crafts, food, entertainment, music and more. The second weekend also features the downtown parade which is one of the largest parades in Georgia.
Get Lost in a Corn Maze
Corn mazes are always a family friendly fall activity. There are many to choose from across the state. This map will help you locate the one nearest you. The Buford Corn Maze is located 45 minutes northeast of Atlanta. In addition to the maze they offer a haunted forest, pony rides, hayrides and a children’s corner full of of outdoor fun activities. Concessions are available on site as well.
Get into the Halloween Spirit at a Pumpkin Patch
Even though there are a multitude of pumpkin patches in the state, the Pumpkin Patch Farm is our favourite. It is located 1 hour northwest of Atlanta and 1 hour southwest of Ellijay. The farm provides a vast array of pumpkins for carving, cooking and decorating. Along with a huge selection of gourds, Indian corn, hay, corn stalks, gifts and much more. Children enjoy a narrated hayride along the Oothcalooga Creek and through the pumpkin fields and fall in love with the critters in the barnyard.
Take in a Football Game
Football is a time honored tradition in the south. From Friday night high school games, to Saturday college games, and Sunday NFL games. Most families in the south have a favorite team they enjoy watching. Tailgating parties and cookouts are a great way to enjoy the cooler fall weather while cheering on your favorite team. Dressing in your team gear, challenging friends to a game of corn hole, and enjoying your favorite game day snacks turns a football game into a fun filled fall day.
Take a Scenic Drive in the Georgia Mountains
When visiting Helen and the Northeast Georgia Mountains, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway offers nearly 41-miles of gorgeous views surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest. One of the best views is from the top of Brasstown Bald, the highest natural point in the state. From here watch the leaves turn radiant colors. On a clear day you can even see Atlanta over 100 miles away. There are multiple cabins and airbnbs for rent in this area making it perfect for a weekend getaway.
While you’re in the Georgia Mountains, you might want to take a self-guided wine tour around some of the amazing vineyards in the area!
Go up a Mountain
In the most northwestern corner of Georgia on the Tennessee line you will find Lookout Mountain. Home to See Rock City, the Incline Railway and Ruby Falls. This area is a wonderful family friendly getaway anytime of year. However, the views are even more spectacular when the leaves change color in the fall.
Homeschool families will also want to tour the Civil War Battlefields in the area as they learn about the history of our country along the east coast.
Chase a Waterfall
The North Georgia Mountains are full of beautiful waterfalls. Many of them offering hiking trails that are perfect during the cooler fall weather. The top 8 in the state are located within 2 hours of each other providing the opportunity to see more than one in a day. Take along a picnic lunch and enjoy a full day of scenic outdoor adventures.
Experience the World’s Longest Zip line
The Guinness World Records longest zipline canopy tour is Screaming Eagle found in Historic Banning Mills. Located less than one hour southwest of Atlanta near Newnan. The park offers 4 levels of zipline adventure courses, horseback riding, extreme bridge challenges, scenic hiking trails and kayaking. Not to mention the tallest freestanding artificial climbing wall in the world. Fall is perfect time to visit and challenge 2 world records at the same time.
Go Hiking in a State Park
Did you know that Georgia has 48 state parks across every area of the state? Our favorites for fall travel include the ones in North Georgia like Unicoi and the Chattahoochee National Forest. Many of the waterfalls mentioned above are located in or near one of the state parks making it convenient to add into your experience. A number of the parks offer lodging options including cabins, cottages, camping and more. Whether visiting for the day or for the weekend, the state parks provide an opportunity to get back to nature this Fall.
Hit One of the Many Fall Festivals in Georgia
Oktoberfest
The alpine village of Helen loves Oktoberfest so much that the celebration begins in mid September and lasts throughout the end of October. Here in the Northeast Georgia Mountains you will find the brats cooking, the strudels baking, the beer flowing and polka music filling the air. One of the most authentic Oktoberfest outside Germany awaits in Helen, Georgia.
Georgia National Fair
Multiple cities throughout the state host an annual fair during the month of October. Complete with rides, entertainment, funnel cakes, prizes and more. However, the largest of these is the Georgia National Fair located in Perry Georgia. This 10 day event includes a circus, a multitude of concerts, livestock and horse shows along with the traditional fair attractions.
Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival and Halloween Event
Visiting Stone Mountain for their Halloween festival is a blast for everyone in the family. With parades, displays, activities for the kids, this makes for a fun themed weekend getaway.
Top 10 Things to Do in Georgia in the Fall
Georgia offers such an exciting array of fall activities. Hayrides, apple pickings, pumpkin patches, and fall festivals will get you in an autumnal mood. From relaxing waterfall hikes to exhilarating high speed ziplines there is something for the whole family. These top 10 things to do in Georgia in the Fall are just the beginning. Get outdoors this fall and enjoy all that Georgia has to offer!
Let us help you plan your Fall trip to Georgia,
with our full service Travel Agency!
Copyright © Endless Family Travels – all rights reserved. Photos and content cannot be used without express permission.
Endless Family Travels is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
These look like some awesome family activities to do in Georgia in Autumn! I’ve never been there, but it’s totally on my bucket list. The hiking areas look beautiful!
I love driving in the mountains in Fall. There are so many beautiful colors.
You had me at mountains and largest zip line. Definitely need to visit Georgia in the fall sometime!
Georgia looks like a great place to spend some time in Fall! Your photos are great! Thanks for the wonderful ideas!
All fantastic things to do in the fall. We have gone apple picking, gone hiking, seen a few waterfalls, and decorated for Halloween. Hoping to check off a few more things this weekend.
Loving all these top things to do in Georgia in the fall. I especially love chasing fall colors so would love to take that scenic byway drive as well as go hiking at Georgia state parks.
I want to visit the east coast in the fall so badly! Living in BC means we don’t get as many of the fall colours so I think that would be such a great time to see Georgia and the other states. I would love to visit those historic sites as well 🙂
I’ve never been apple picking. Would like to go! Hopefully I can get out to a pumpkin patch this fall too.
The Screaming Eagle at Banning Mills looks crazy cool – I can’t believe you guys did those long zip-lines! I bet you get the best views. The pumpkin festivals look fun too – especially for kids!
Georgia looks like a wonderful fall destination! I always love visiting the US during the season because there are pumpkins everywhere! We don’t get that many pumpkin farms in the UK so they’re always such a novelty! Hopefully, when it’s safe to travel again I’ll be able to pay Georgia a visit!
Ok… I do love summer but YOU have put me into the mood for fall. I love the beautiful colors and the hikes. The apples, chili and stews are also a draw. I would love to visit the Chatahoochee National forest at this time of the year. Your pics are gorgeous!
It looks like Georgia is an incredible place to visit in the fall! So much to see and do, plus the fall foliage looks beautiful. Thanks for putting it on my radar!
Wow, it looks like fall is the ideal time to visit Georgia! I love the beautiful autumn colours and there’s so much to do.
I love the fall! These are all great things to do. I would love to take a scenic drive to the mountains!
Georgia looks so dreamy in the fall! and i love how they have some festivals to compliment the beautiful weather.
Georgia looks like a perfect outdoors destination. I don’t know about the zip line though, sounds a bit fast for my liking, maybe sign me up for the Oktoberfest instead!! I love the fall colours in the images you have shared, in the leaves and the countryside, it looks so colourful and a beautiful state to visit!
I love the idea of a scenic drive and a wine tour in the Georgia Mountains!
Driving the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway in fall seems a wonderful way to enjoy the fall foliage. Did not know that Georgia has the longest zipline and so many waterfalls. Your post has convinced me to visit Georgia.
I had no idea the world’s longest zip line is in Georgia! 🙂 Would love to try that someday. The mountains and waterfalls there look gorgeous too!
Family fun is the best! Glad you enjoyed!
I do love a good fall fair, especially if there are competitions to see who grew the largest pumpkin. The world’s longest zipline canopy tour looks like a blast too!
These are activities are definitely perfect for autumn! The season is a great time to hike and discover nature, especially for kids.
I like the idea of visiting Georgia during the fall. A very inspirational post. Fall is my favorite season. I’d love to go to the mountains and check out the World’s Longest Zipline. It looks so thrilling! Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival seems fantastic, too!
Georgia looks like a great place to visit in the fall. My mind usually goes to the Northern states when thinking about all, but it seems there is just as much to do down South. I would love to visit Lookout Mountain and the zipline sounds like a lot of fun.
The Georgia mountains are phenomenal this time of year
Georgia is definitely a place I want to explore more, Fall looks like an incredible time with all the colorful parks and foliage. The pumpkin patches, Apple picking, hikes and waterfalls sound great!
You can never go wrong with going to a fall festival! Growing up in Jersey, I always loved to go apple picking or to a fall fest.
Fall is my favorite time of year and this looks like the perfect place to visit for fall fun! I love the corn maze and the view of seven states.
All fun fall activities! I am envious of your mountains.
It has been a long time since I have picked an apple from a tree. I love how juicy they are.
I love the pumpkin circle! Those are some great colors for Georgia. I have never thought of Georgia as having fall colors.