OK all you N. Ga. mountain people....

[Cadcom]

Stay away from Mercier if you want to avoid crowds. Place is great - but there will be people. Lots of them. Most of them the types that wear black dress socks with sandals. Check out Reece Orchards just east of Ellijay for a little less chaos.

BJ Reece Orchards and Farm Market | Apple Picking | North Georgia | Ellijay

BJ Reece Orchards is a family owned and operated orchard in Ellijay, Georgia.

reeceorchards.com

 

[GaMudd]

If you mean Mercier (pronounced mehr-see-a), it's turned into Apple Disney World. Constantly slammed with fatties, methheads, and snot nosed kids.

This is exactly the vibe I want to avoid.

 

[Sven71113]

head up before October to beat the crowds. September up here is still pretty calm because the leaves haven’t changed.
Mercier’s (pronounced mer-seers) prob has the best selection of goods and u-pick, but I wouldn’t go near it in October.
Folk collaborative is another cool spot that you can pick your own and is a little bit more lowkey. Reeces cider house makes awesome hard cider. A lot of great orchards out that way on hwy 52 in Ellijay too.

 

[yellowhammer]

We are an elderly travel group of two. We are always welcome at PANORAMA in Ellijay. We go during the week, buy apples, drink coffee, and eat the delicious fried pies while there. We have tried them all and like PANORAMA the best. Later, half of this elderly travel group will return to Rich Mountain WMA, climb some hills and deer hunt.

 

[coletrain]

Jaemore Farms might be pretty good on a Friday. You can pick your own. It's right off 985 N of Gainesville, GA

 

[David and Goliath]

How did they prepare a 3 pound ribeye? What was the quality like, for $25?

Our standard is Texas Roadhouse in Gainesville. It wasn’t as good but pretty close. Damn worth the money.

 

[Poppa Mike]

Stay away from Mercier if you want to avoid crowds. Place is great - but there will be people. Lots of them. Most of them the types that wear black dress socks with sandals. Check out Reece Orchards just east of Ellijay for a little less chaos.

BJ Reece Orchards and Farm Market | Apple Picking | North Georgia | Ellijay

BJ Reece Orchards is a family owned and operated orchard in Ellijay, Georgia.

reeceorchards.com

A second recommendation for BJ Reece’s apple house, good selection of different types of apples, lots of canned goods, and great fried pies. Bigguns bbq on 515 for some good eats!

 

[BHPSteel]

Second vote for BJ Reece's, although the closer to October you get, the busier it'll be.

Once loaded up with apple products, you might want some scenery, you can take Rt 60 from Morganton down to Dahlonega via Suches. Take something to drink and you can have an apple products picnic near Suches. Gets busy at weekends though.

If the big circuit is too far, Amicalola Falls is pretty too.

 

[GaMudd]

Back in my college days, we used to camp around Suches, Cooper Creek and Amicalola. I loved being up there.
My camping days are way behind me now. Couldn't imagine trying to get up after sleeping on the ground now a days.

 

[Cruisers460]

Jaemore Farms might be pretty good on a Friday. You can pick your own. It's right off 985 N of Gainesville, GA

Years back that was our stop when going to Helen. always good but not over crowded.