Area Activities
While Sunset Mountain Lodge is perfectly equipped to allow you to stay put and enjoy yourself for weeks on end, endless activities await you just minutes from the lodge. There is truly something for everyone, young and old alike!
There are four excellent vineyards that offer tours and tastings within a short 20-30 minute drive of the lodge, and many more just a little further away.
North Georgia and North Carolina are famous for hiking, waterfalls, and nature! There are trails of all difficulty levels and lengths. Hikes can be found near rivers, streams, lakes, waterfalls, and of course, mountains!
Kayaking and white-water rafting are very popular activities near Blue Ridge and there are many options from lakes to gentle streams to raging whitewater depending on what you are looking for. The laziest float is 3-4 miles long and can be done on a kayak or even a tube - it’s that gentle! The water is nice and cool for the heat of summer, yet not too cold. There are multiple companies that will rent you a kayak and life-vest and pick you up at the end of the float. Guided tours are also available, including white water rafting on large rafts.
Rent a power boat and spend the day exploring the countless secluded coves on Lake Blue Ridge or Lake Nottely. The water temperature is an extremely comfortable 81 degrees in the summer!
Blue Ridge has some incredible zip-lining that is fun and safe for everyone over 6 years of age!
North Georgia is home to more than 4,000 miles of freshwater trout streams and is well-known to have outstanding trout fishing. The Toccoa River is just minutes from the lodge and is considered the best in the area, though there are many more smaller streams that also provide fantastic fishing - cast or fly, including Rock, Cooper and Noontootla creeks. Bring your gear or get outfitted by one of many outfitters on the Toccoa!
Take a scenic horseback ride through the Appalachian Mountains!
Take a ride on the historic Blue Ridge Scenic Railway! The rides are 2 or 4 hours and passengers are given the option to purchase tickets for an enclosed or open car. This is especially fun in fall when the leaves are changing colors!
Take yourself back in time to when prospectors mined creeks and stream beds for gems! There are several mining activity centers that provide a unique experience to mine for gems and fossils, and you are guaranteed success! Panning for gems is fun for kids and adults alike.
The towns of Blue Ridge, Murphy, and McCaysville offer many options for shopping and dining. There is truly something here for everyone!
If a relaxing, therapeutic, or romantic couples getaway is the experience you are after, book a massage at one of several local spas!
Visit the Casino in Murphy North Carolina, just 20 minutes from the lodge!
Go skiing, snowboarding, or tubing in the winter months! While Sunset Mountain Lodge often gets some snow during the winter, it is not consistent enough to support winter sports within a 15-20 minute drive, but good skiing is available within a 2-2.5 hour drive and makes for a wonderful day trip.
Asheville North Carolina is another great day-trip and the historic Biltmore Estate is not to be missed. You can easily spend a full day here taking a tour of the expansive, fascinating, and beautiful mansion, the grounds outside including historic botanical gardens - one of which even focuses solely on countless varieties of trees you have likely never seen before. A village at the end of the tour includes many options for shopping, dining, and even wine tastings from The Biltmore Winery! Asheville is a 2.5 hour drive from Sunset Mountain Lodge.
Helen, Georgia is just a one hour drive from the lodge. It is modeled after a Bavarian village and really looks the part nestled in a valley with high mountains on either side and a river running through the middle of it. There are many events in Helen such as Oktoberfest, hot air balloon races, and much more. Many shopping and dining options await visitors to this picturesque mountain village that will make you think you just stepped off a train in Southern Germany!
Take a helicopter tour of the Appalachian Mountains and Lake Blue Ridge!