10 Favorite Fall Family Activities in North Georgia

If you’ve never experienced fall in North Georgia, next to New England, I think it deserves a place at one of the top spots of autumn beauty. There are so many gorgeous places to visit as the leaves turn, but I think part of what makes North Georgia so special is the variety in landscape, types of geography, and activities. Georgia has a little bit of everything — mountains, beach, and city… lakes, woods, farms, and parks. There’s city, country, and everything in-between. But I think the fall magic in North Georgia — specifically in the mountains and foothills — reigns supreme. Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, today, I’m sharing my 10 top favorite fall family fun activities in North Georgia.

*Posts on KelleyNan.com may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn commissions from qualifying purchases. Click HERE for full disclosure.

engagement photo, courtesy of Ed Hetherington Photography

There are so many areas spanning North Georgia with SO much to do. So many cute mountain downtowns with cute shops and cute restaurants. So many trails and waterfalls and adventures. But, below are our family’s faves that we’ve experienced.

1. Burt’s Pumpkin Farm

This pumpkin farm has been iconic for decades and is one of the few pumpkin patches that actually grows their own pumpkins. They sell 50-70 acres of pumpkins each year and you can find every size, shape, and color — grab a wheelbarrow and prepare to have a hard time deciding. I visited as a little girl, Dave and I would make trips when it was just the two of us, and I think Eliza has been every year since she was born. The later in the season, the busier it gets so arrive early in the day to secure those pumpkins and to make the most of the rest of the activities and photo ops. There aren’t restaurants close by so unless you want to dine in a nearby town or back in Dawsonville, you can always bring a picnic lunch or plan a snack with their hot boiled peanuts and treats 😉

What they have…

Pumpkins in all sizes that are grown on property
Hayride
Creek and picnic area
Homemade jams, pickles, treats, etc.
Tractors and photo ops

Favorite Fall Activities in North Georgia

Day at Burt's Pumpkin Farm -- A Pumpkin Patch in North Georgia Mountains

2. Amicalola Falls State Park

Just down the road from Burt’s is Amicalola Falls State Park, where you’ll find lots of trails, wooded picnic areas, creeks, and the third highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi. There’s also a lodge at the top — which we’ve never stayed at but it has its own activities to check out. The hike to the top of the falls is classified as moderate to strenuous because of the number of stairs — you don’t reach stairs until more than halfway up — but Eliza was able to scale it on her own at 4 years old… I just had to carry her back down on my shoulders, haha. You can also drive to the top of the falls.

What they have…

Hiking trails
Fishing pond
Picnic areas
Nature talks
Gift shop
Lodge

Hiking in general in North Georgia is fantastic in the fall. You’ll see changing leaves, cooler temps, and there are SO many parks, trails, and adventures for all levels of experience and difficulty. While Amicalola is around the start of the Appalachian trail and is super popular and well known, be sure to check out other hikes in the area.

Speaking of fall hikes, we took advantage of the slowly cooling morning temps and hiked up to the Indian Seats on Sawnee Mountain, just down from our house. It’s a pretty simple trail and while we just went up and back, there are other, longer trails you can take across the mountain.

3. Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze

Our favorite fall activity with ALL the things, Uncle Shuck’s is probably most well known for their huge corn maze, but they have so many fun ancillary activities that make it easy to spend a full day on property. We’ve been there at night with friends and we stick to the day as a family.

What they have…

Huge (15-acre) corn maze with multiple “games”
Haunted corn maze at night
Bonfires and marshmallows at night
Kid maze
Tire mountain for climbing
Petting zoo
Wagon ride
Corn cannon (like a potato gun)
Food trucks
Large jumpy pad
Pumpkin patch
Vendors
Photo ops

4. B.J. Reece Orchards

Ellijay is known for its apple orchards and I don’t think you can really go wrong, but B.J. Reece is another fun fall experience with so many varieties, so many acres, and so much to do! It gets crowded so bring your patience and if the temps haven’t cooled yet, prepare to wear lighter clothes. Go early and hit up the market first thing in the morning! It ends up getting SUPER crowded, as does the cash-only concession line. They close before the end of October so if you’re into apple picking, plan this one earlier than later! Don’t leave without grabbing some yummy pies inside 😉

What they have…

Apple picking orchards
Market and bakery
Corn box
Tunnel slides through the hill
Petting zoo
Jumping pillow
Cow train
Wagon rides
Tube slide
Apple cannon
Pig races

5. RENT A Mountain CABIN

Decide on a main activity/primary town and choose a home base at one of a TON of mountain cabins. There are lots of small bungalows but plenty of huge multi-family cabins with full levels dedicated to game rooms, too. Especially if you aren’t from here, this is your best chance to get to experience several activities over a few days/weekend — keep your eye open for bears 😉 And, even if you end up hibernating in your cabin for the majority of the time, you can hot tub, grill, relax, roast marshmallows, light a bonfire, explore the trails around you, make your way into town… it’s such a great area to grab a cute cabin.

6. Downtown Dahlonega

One of the CUTEST mountain towns for the cooler months, we love coming here during the Christmas season, too. It looks like the set of a Hallmark movie and, it actually has been the set of Hallmark movies. Look up a calendar of events but there are great restaurants and small shops that cater to locals, college students, and tourists. Don’t miss picking out fudge at the Fudge Factory! The annual Gold Rush Festival is a longtime staple in October and there’s always fun wine and musical events, too. These are a few snaps from closer to the holidays, but you can get a glimpse of the cute town square.

7. Winery tour

North Georgia is home to 120 (!!) wineries and from boutique to large, you’ll find just about any style with any vibe you like. Choosing a few for a day of tastings is a favorite past-time and if you don’t have a designated driver, there are actually car services you can hire for the day. Some wineries have fun outdoor spaces, have great dining options, tours, etc.

8. OKtoberfest in Helen

It’s super touristy, super well known, and it stays packed each fall. Dave and I got married 13 years ago on October 13, in Cleveland, GA, and one of the favorite things from our wedding guests was checking out Oktoberfest in the Dutch/German town. We’ve also had family come back to experience it many times since. Expect all things German, beer festivals, lots of kitschy shops, enthusiastic crowds.

9. Farmer’s MarketS & Fall festivals

I already mentioned a few festivals but there are a LOT of fall festivals in the mountain towns of North Georgia and all over metro Atlanta. There’s also some fabulous farmer’s markets. You’ll find stands and roadside stands with homegrown produce in the mountains and at cute little stops, and more “defined” farmers markets around metro Atlanta. Our current favorite farmer’s market is in Alpharetta on Saturday mornings from 8AM til noon. They have all kinds of different growers and vendors. You’ll find produce, flowers, baked goods, small culinary businesses and more.

10. Cumming Country Fair & Festival

Our city’s annual fall fair is kind of famous in Georgia — people travel from all around the metro area to visit one of the 10 days it’s open each fall. Of course, there’s the rides and the food, but there’s also a haunted house, petting zoo, pig races, big (country) musical acts, and more. Our Octobers always tend to be busy so it’s a hit or miss if our schedule lines up, but it’s always a highlight for Eliza when it does. She’s already insisted that it’s at the top of her fall wishlist this year!