Blue Ridge is located in northern Georgia’s Fannin County. It is home to roughly 1,300 people and one of TDS’ 44 stimulus projects. A lot of activities in Blue Ridge are related to or involve the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Blue Ridge Mountains are a segment of the Appalachians and make up Georgia’s highest mountain range. The rugged ridges and rounded peaks vary from 1,600 to 4,700 feet high. They’re called Blue Ridge because under certain lighting conditions they actually appear to be shrouded in a blue haze.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are also home to several waterfalls including Amicalola Falls. Its name comes from the Cherokee language and means “tumbling waters.” At 729 feet it’s the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. 
Passengers can take in all the area’s beauty by boarding the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. The four-hour, 26-mile trip, winds alongside the Toccoa River and stops in McCaysville, Ga. and its sister city Copperhill, Tenn. During the two-hour layover you can grab a bite to eat and take a walk across the “Blue Line” which separates Georgia from Tennessee.
Recently in an article that appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mary Ann Anderson wrote, “Blue Ridge is quaint, small-town America where the scenery is only part of the show.” It’s no wonder that Blue Ridge is a popular destination for so many vacationers. 
