Exploring North Georgia with Little Kids: A 5-Day Itinerary

We spent five slow-paced days in toddler-friendly mountain towns in North Georgia — Dahlonega, Ellijay, Blue Ridge, and Ball Ground. After a weekend in Atlanta, early morning adventures paired with relaxing afternoons at a cabin near Jasper made for the perfect summer trip with our toddler and preschooler.

This is a trip we return to often, and while it doesn’t include everything North Georgia has to offer, it’s a thoughtfully chosen mix of small towns and nature that keeps us coming back.

Quick Glance: 5-Day North Georgia Itinerary (Toddler-Friendly)

This 5-day North Georgia itinerary for families with toddlers and preschoolers balances early-morning adventures, small-town stops, and cabin downtime. It’s designed for parents who want a calm, slow-paced trip with plenty of outdoor time, short drives, and opportunities for memorable “mini journeys” along the way.

Before You Go: A Few Notes That Made This Trip Work

Our family has done a version of this trip to the North Georgia mountains more than ten times now, and here are the key things that make the trip work for our toddlers and preschoolers:

• Choosing the right place to stay.
  • A cozy cabin with both indoor and outdoor space makes a huge difference. Room for kids to snuggle in with a toy or craft and have a safe space to play outside. It also makes toddler naps and slow, relaxing afternoons much easier.
  • I’ve found that the area around Jasper is a great central location since it’s accessible to both Dahlonega and Blue Ridge without making either drive over an hour.
• Plan meals (and your grocery list) ahead of time! Having a plan means you can be strategic at your first grocery stop and even bring a few staples from home if you’re road tripping. (If you are, here are my favorite road trip tips with toddlers!)
• Arrive early to outdoor spots. It’s cooler in the summer, far less crowded, and — let’s be honest — my kids are already up.
• Leave intentional space in your itinerary. Unplanned time at the cabin leaves room for resting, resetting, and small memories that everyone remembers (like s’mores around the bonfire).

Day 1: Amicalola Falls, Mountain Valley Farm Store, & Ellijay

Morning: Amicalola Falls State Park (Early & Quiet)

We’ve been going to North Georgia for years — and this was our very first visit to Amicalola Falls with toddlers. I was intimidated by the stairs. I kept imagining either carrying my two-year-old or how painfully slow it would be to have them climb the stairs. But it is doable — you just have to start at the right spot.

Practical Notes

• Buy your $10 Georgia State Park Pass online before leaving the cabin. It must be purchased same-day.
• Arrive early. We were there just before 8AM on a Monday in June and were one of 2 groups on the path and had the base of the falls entirely to ourselves.
• Park at the Reflection Pool. Plenty of parking and the easiest access to the falls.
• A hiking carrier is helpful for kids under 3-ish. The path is fully paved but slightly steep in spots, and I could see a toddler doing a little roll if they’re trying to go too fast.
• It takes around 30 minutes round trip to hike up to the Amicalola Falls with toddlers.

Toddler Friendly Highlights

• The path up from the Reflection Pool is fully paved and shaded, with benches and viewpoints where you can pause and watch the smaller waterfalls.
• We turned around at the main viewing platform (skipping the stairs), then drove up and walked to the top viewing area from another parking lot instead.
• Once you’ve explored the falls, check out the Visitor Center (opens at 8:30AM), use the restrooms as needed, and enjoy your snack. Be warned — I got eaten by no-seeums while the kids played on the playground!

Mid-Morning: Mountain Valley Farm Store

One of our favorite local businesses, the Mountain Valley Farm Store, has become a “must stop” every visit. They’re open 10AM-5PM every day, and you’ll want to bring a cooler.

After driving down the winding dirt roads, grab meat for dinner (and always ask for cooking tips — they’ve even had a handout in the past) along with a few of their farm-made items. Their other inventory is amazing quality, too.

But our kids’ favorite part of the store is visiting the animals. Right outside, there are well-kept pens with fresh hay and a variety of animals. We’ve met baby calves, bunnies, and even ducklings.

It’s an easy stop that feels special without taking up a full morning — and I love adding a stop that helps make our meals back at the cabin feel special, too.

Afternoon: Cabin Lunch & Cabin Downtime

Head back to the cabin with your groceries and plan for an easy lunch, followed by nap or rest time. We had just wrapped up two busy days in Atlanta, and this slower afternoon was key to making this part of the trip actually feel relaxing. We colored, read books, and our littlest napped while everyone reset.

Optional: Ellijay Visit

After a bit of a rest, Ellijay is the perfect mountain town for a low-key afternoon outing! We love Ellijay and have visited many, many times. For an afternoon stroll, I recommend parking in the church parking lot off of Old Highway 5 (as long as it’s not a Sunday). Unfortunately, the church now charges $5 for parking – but I still recommend it as an easy way to visit the shops nearby.

Grab an iced coffee from Mountain Town Coffee at Hemlock Bazaar and browse their wonderful book selection. The kids brought along a few favorite travel puzzles and sticker books to work on while they enjoyed a quick snack.

Finish your coffee to-go and stroll down the street to Gumdrop Fun Shop. It’s a sweet little toy store that even has “gem mining” out back. Our purchases for the summer — the best retro airplanes and sun paper for our time at the cabin.

While we ate many of our meals at the cabin on this trip, I highly recommend — The Roof Ellijay, Ellijay Wood Fired Pizza, or The Shack if you’re looking for family-friendly restaurants in Ellijay.

Day 2: Harris Branch Beach + Cabin Campfire

Morning: Harris Branch Beach (Carter’s Lake)

If I ask my kids what one thing they want to do every time we head to North Georgia, the answer is always swim at the lake. Harris Branch Beach is one of our favorite hidden gems in the Ellijay area. There are plenty of picnic tables nearby, so feel free to bring a lunch!

Practical Notes

• Harris Branch Beach is a part of Carter’s Lake (and run by the US Army Corps of Engineers).
• The beach is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and is closed on Wednesday for cleaning.
• Entrance fee: $5 (cash, or tap-to-pay recently added)
• As with all things, arrive right at opening – 9AM. We’ve gone the last two summers, both on weekdays around 9-9:30AM, and were one of a few families there.
• There is no lifeguard — swim at your own risk.
• Another “risk”? Porta-potties are the only facilities, so plan accordingly.

Afternoon: Cabin Exploration, Crafts, + S’mores

After the lake, head back to the cabin — expect a car nap on the way, because nothing tires kids out like swimming!

I usually bring a craft or two to relax, enjoy the mountain air, and spend time together. On this trip, we brought Create-A-Puppet™ kits from the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta.

If the weather’s good, it’s the perfect night for s’mores! Gather sticks, chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers and enjoy around the fire. Side note: we’ve tested different types of chocolate, and I’ll never make s’mores without dark chocolate again!

Day 3: Mercier Orchards & Blue Ridge

Morning: Coffee Stop + Farm Visit

Begin your day in Blue Ridge, GA’s best coffee shop. This was my first time at Mountain Mama’s Coffee Lounge and I highly recommend it for anyone that loves a well-crafted coffee. All of the syrups are made in-house and the seasonal lattes are amazing! The baked goods are top notch, too.

Another favorite part? It’s very family-friendly and run by a local Mama.

Next, drive up to Mercier Orchards, a Blue Ridge staple. Most know them for apple picking, but over the summer they have u-pick berries!

Practical Notes

• Check their website for up-to-date u-pick information before you go! We were there the second half of June, and picked blueberries.
• It opens at 10AM, so arrive a few minutes before to pay at one of the registers. Our 2-year-old was free!
• Use the restroom before you head out. They’re located in the back of the store.
• Blueberry bushes provide very little shade! Bring hats, sunscreen, and water to make the experience more enjoyable.
• Plan to spend about an hour picking blueberries at Mercier with toddlers.
• Bring a cooler if you plan to eat lunch out afterwards.

Toddler Friendly Highlights

• My 2-year-old’s favorite part — you ride on a tractor up to the blueberry fields. It was almost more exciting for him than the blueberries!
• My 5-year-old’s favorite part — they let you eat as many berries as you want.

Lunch in Blue Ridge

We tried a new-to-us restaurant in Blue Ridge (The Pasta Market), and it won’t be a return for us.

Our go-to stop for lunch in Blue Ridge has always been Harvest on Main. I’m still open to trying a new stop next time! Blue Ridge has so many restaurants to choose from, so I’m sure you’ll find something your family will love.

Day 4: Dahlonega Day (With Flexible Add-Ons)

Morning: Breakfast & Downtown Dahlonega with Kids

Our next small-town visit is the historic gold-mining boomtown — Dahlonega! Did you know that the gold on the capital dome in Atlanta is actually from Dahlonega? I love little towns that make me feel like I’m a Hallmark movie, and Dahlonega (no matter the season!) is one we especially love visiting with kids

Grab a simple breakfast and coffee from Picnic Café. It’s a restaurant that’s more for its nostalgic, small-town vibes than for the food, but I still recommend as an easy breakfast stop in Dahlonega with toddlers.

Dahlonega Gold Museum

Stroll through town to the brick building in the middle of the square and visit the Dahlonega Gold Museum! I do have to caveat that we are museum people, but overall this is a great one with little kids. It took us a little over 30 minutes to explore the exhibits.

We had the best volunteer giving us a tour (and I do think he made the experience much more fun!). I learned a lot, too!

Favorite Shops

There are so many cute shops on the Dahlonega square. My favorites for families:

• Fudge Factory: homemade chocolates + small town vibes
• Giggle Monkey Toys: honestly the best, most educational varieties I’ve seen from a toy store anywhere
• Dahlonega General Store: classic general store meets tourist variety (think geodes + bigfoot snowglobes)

Afternoon: Cabin Time or Weather-Dependent Hike

Considering this trip was for relaxing, we decided we just wanted to spend time on the cabin deck. I had a cup of coffee while the kids played with sticks and leaves.

But, if you’re looking for a bit more adventure, check out the hike below.

Fall Branch Falls

This is a 0.5-mile hike into the woods to a gradual waterfall just outside of Cherry Log. There are some reviews that say it’s an easy hike, but considering toddlers and preschoolers — it’s probably better to label it “moderate” since many mention exposed roots on the path. The road to the trailhead is also off of a long, gravel road, so factor that in as well!

If you do attempt this hike and it’s Thursday-Sunday, grab some local BBQ from The Pink Pig!

Day 5: Gibbs Gardens & Ball Ground

Morning: Gibbs Gardens (Early)

Gibbs Gardens, located just outside of Ball Ground, is one of my favorite North Georgia hidden gems! This botanical garden was created entirely by one man — Jim Gibbs — and it is still privately owned. It’s a great way to get outdoors for a few hours, with paths that work well for strollers or toddlers who want to walk on their own.

I also love the variety of gardens — from the colorful water lilies to the carefully curated Japanese maples to the wildflower meadow. Be sure to ask a volunteer what is in bloom!

Practical Notes

• Arrive early to beat the heat — Gibbs Gardens opens at 9AM in the summer and is closed during the winter months.
• Plan for food before or after your visit. Food isn’t allowed inside, so we ended up eating a quick snack on a bench in the parking lot, which worked fine but isn’t ideal if you have hungry kids.
• There are a few bridges with steps (especially in the Fern Dell), so be prepared to lift a stroller occasionally.
• Skip the hill up to the Manor House if you have a stroller. Between the summer heat, the gravel path, and the weight of my two-year-old, I genuinely wasn’t sure I’d make it up. If you want to visit that area with littles, a carrier is a better option.
• Restrooms are located at the admissions building and near the Manor House.

Toddler Friendly Highlights

If visiting Gibbs Gardens with toddlers, the paths are very walkable, there are statues and art scattered throughout, and the staff and volunteers are the nicest. It’s a great spot to stretch little legs, see new things, and be outdoors.

Lunch & Coffee: Our Ball Ground Favorites

I saved the best for last! Ball Ground is my favorite small town in North Georgia. It’s only 20 minutes from Gibbs Gardens, and is the perfect stop for lunch, shopping, and a latte.

My only caveat — plan your visit for later in the week. Many of the shops and restaurants in Ball Ground, GA are closed on some combination of Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, even in the summer.

Dominic’s Wood Fired Pizza

Our favorite family-friendly lunch stop in Ball Ground is Dominic’s. The restaurant itself has an Americana diner feel, complete with checkered floor, Coca-Cola decor, and even a jukebox. From the Fig Pig pizza to the pulled pork tacos, everything we’ve ever ordered is delicious. Bonus — kids eat free if you order an adult meal and dine-in!

If the kids need a treat, order a cup or two of their homemade ice cream. Be sure to ask about the seasonal flavors!

Frankfurt Doner & Meats

One other “must-stop” in Ball Ground is always Frankfurt Doner & Meats. This local butcher makes fresh wurst in-house — from traditional bratwurst to specialty summer flavors like blueberry. We always pick up a few different sausages, pair with our own homemade German potato salad, and have a celebratory dinner back at the cabin. It’s one of our favorite traditions, and I hope it becomes one for the kids, too!

Barrel House Coffee Co.

If you need an iced latte before heading back to the cabin, head to Barrel House Coffee Co! Turn right on Mound Street to park behind it. We’ve been fans since before their recent renovation — the space is bigger and better now, though it’s gotten busier, too.

The most unique aspect of their menu is that they offer barrel-aged coffee. It’s not my favorite, but if you like the warm, oaky flavor of bourbon, it might be a good order for you! (Just be sure to specify what kind of beans you want!)

Final Afternoon: Back to the Cabin + Special Dinner

Now it’s time to relax, enjoy your German wurst, and watch one more mountain sunset. Let the kids play with leftover craft supplies or a puzzle while you savor the view. Snap a few last family photos, reflect on your favorite moments, and enjoy the calm before packing up for tomorrow.

If You’re Planning Your Own North Georgia Trip

Whether you’re planning a first visit or a return trip, this itinerary is designed to help families of toddlers and preschoolers make the most of small towns, outdoor adventures, and cozy cabin downtime. Pin it for later, and start dreaming about your own slow-paced summer in North Georgia!