There are some things that define a specific area – classic activities or attractions that you always think of when you imagine a certain area. For North Georgia, and Blue Ridge specifically, it’s rides on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway…and apple picking in the fall. And what’s more quintessential fall fun than a day of apple picking and cider sipping? In comes Mercier Orchards in beautiful Blue Ridge, Georgia. A 4th-generation, family-owned, veteran-owned orchard founded in 1943, Mercier Orchards is a must-visit when you stay in a Georgia Cabins for YOU cabin. The sprawling orchard boasts rows of apple trees and family-friendly fun throughout the year, from U-pick events (pick your own fruits!) and shopping at the Market Store to tours at the Farm Winery (great for day dates) and treats at the Cafe at The Farm. And fall brings the always-popular pumpkin patch!
You could spend much of a day at Mercier Orchards, with the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains in the background and fields of strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, apples, blackberries, and nectarines all around! It’s a gorgeous, peaceful, and unique North Georgia attraction that you don’t want to miss! Read on to see what you can expect to find at Mercier Orchards – one of the top things to do in Blue Ridge!
Mercier Orchards Hours
Market + Bakery | 9 AM – 5 PM | SUNDAY – SATURDAY
Cafe at The Farm | 9 AM – 4 PM | FRIDAY – MONDAY
Closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
Dine at The Cafe
Start your day at Mercier Orchards with a hearty Southern breakfast at the cafe or take a break from U-pick apples, shopping, and touring to have lunch. Open Friday to Monday from 9 AM – 4 PM, the cafe features fried pies, apple cider donuts, fried apple pies, biscuits, bacon and eggs, coffee, and more great bakery treats.
Shop the Market
What better way to stock your Blue Ridge cabin than by loading up the car with goodies from the market at Mercier Orchards or your own apples picked fresh in the North Georgia mountains? Your cabin’s full kitchen will have appliances, space, and tools to store what you get and whip up snacks, treats, or meals made from fresh-picked fruits and more. A few favorites you’ll find in the farm market include:
- Jams + jellies
- Fruit preserves
- Apple butter
- Squash + zucchini
- Broccoli
- Beets
- Onions
- Cabbage
- Green beans
- Potatoes – white and sweet
- Tomatoes
- Varieties of apples – Crimson Crisp, Fuji, Gold Rush, and Pink Lady
You can start your mornings in your Blue Ridge cabin with a hearty breakfast of fluffy pancakes, buttery biscuits, homemade jam and jelly from Mercier Orchards, toast with local apple butter, and a bowl full of fresh-picked fruit from the orchard! In the afternoon, treat yourself to pastries (fritters, doughnuts, and more) and goodies for a snack. Then prepare a delicious dinner with potatoes, tomatoes, and veggies from the market. Zucchini and squash are great for tossing on the grill!
Pick Your Own Fruit!
U-Pick events at Mercier Orchards allow guests to spend the day roaming the orchard and picking their own fresh fruits during apple season. It’s a peaceful and fun thing to do in Blue Ridge that both kids and adults will love. Make a game with the kids to see who finds the most varieties of apples! During U-Pick events, you may find:
- Apples
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Peaches
- Strawberries
U-Pick events are $12 per person (kids 2 and under are FREE) and include a 1-quart container to fill up with fresh-picked fruit, a tractor wagon ride through the orchard, and tips on how to u-pick the best fresh apples!
Take a Tour
Looking for great Blue Ridge things to do for a day date, an afternoon with family, or a special outing with the kids? Enjoy an apple blossom orchard tour at Mercier Orchards! You’ll enjoy a lovely tractor ride around the orchard, gorgeous Blue Ridge views, and insight into this family-owned North Georgia gem! Tours are just $4 per person, and kids 2 and under are FREE! Tours are typically available mid-April 10 AM – 3 PM, but always check ahead of time as they are subject to change based on weather and availability.
Adults-Only Sips
Wonderful for a unique Blue Ridge date, a bachelorette outing, or an afternoon with friends, the hard cider tasting room at Mercier Orchards features hard-pressed ciders for guests 21 and older. The orchard is the only apple orchard in Georgia to grow, press, ferment, and bottle their own hard apple ciders! Enjoy a cider tasting flight and find the right bottle to take back to your Georgia Cabins for YOU cabin to sip on the deck beneath the stars or around the fire on a chilly mountain evening.
Hard Cider Flavors
- Adele’s Choice – crisp, dry, tart, traditional
- Cold Day in Hops – semi-sweet and dry
- Legends – semi-sweet and tart
- Old #3 – Gold Rush apples, sweet and crisp
- Out of the Blue “Ridge” – semi-sweet, blueberry, robust
- Grumpy Granny – Granny Smith apples, dry, very tart
- 1943 Reserve – dessert wine
- Spring Strawberry – 100% strawberries
- Fall Harvest – fall harvest apples
- Blackberry Winter – semi-sweet, blackberry
- Summer Sweet Peach – smooth, semi-sweet, peach
More North Georgia Apple Orchards to Visit this Apple Season
From U-pick orchards, hayrides, pony rides, and petting farms to hard apple cider, wagon rides, ice cream, and farmers markets, orchards in and around the Blue Ridge Parkway offer plenty of family fun! After you’ve explored Mercier Orchards, check out these other orchards in the Blue Ridge area.
Hillcrest Orchards | Ellijay, Georgia
U-pick apples, school field trips, pig races, apple cider doughnuts, petting farm, farm market, and more
B.J. Reece Orchards and Apple House | Ellijay, Georgia
U-pick apples, many varieties of apples, field trips, fried apple pies and fritters, and apple cider doughnuts
Deep Roots Orchard | McCaysville, Georgia
U-pick apples, wagon rides, movie nights, picnics, apple cider, jams and jellies, and more
R&A Orchards | Ellijay, Georgia
Wagon rides, farm tours, u-pick apple days, fresh veggies at the farm market, and more
