Fall Getaway Adventures in Clayton, Georgia: Apple Orchards, Vineyards, Waterfalls & Scenic Drives
There’s a delicious moment in the North Georgia Mountains when Summer begins to give way to Fall.
The mornings turn cooler. Apples ripen in the orchards. Roadside markets fill with local produce, cider, jams, and freshly baked treats. And across the North Georgia wine country, vineyard crews begin bringing in the grapes that will become the next vintage.
It’s Harvest Season in North Georgia – and one of our favorite times of year to explore.
From Beechwood Inn in Clayton, Georgia, fill your days with winding mountain road trips, apple orchards and farm stands, vineyard afternoons, hidden waterfalls, and brilliant autumn scenery around every turn, and let us be your home away from home on a memorable adventure.
Here are some of our favorite ways to savor the fall season.
Slow Mountain Mornings at Beechwood Inn
A fall mountain morning at Beechwood Inn invites you to slow down before the day even begins. Step onto the porch with a warm cup of coffee and feel the crisp mountain air as morning light filters through shades of gold, amber, and crimson. The mountains are quiet, the leaves rustle in the breeze, and for a little while, there’s nowhere you need to be. Linger over a a seasonal homemade breakfast, talk a little longer, and watch the day unfold around you. It’s cozy, peaceful, and wonderfully unhurried – the kind of morning that reminds you how good it feels to simply be present.
Take the scenic road and see what you find along the way.
Take the Scenic Road
One of the pleasures of the season are the sights on the road – the color of the various trees against the blue sky.
Clayton is beautifully positioned for exploring mountain roads in nearly every direction. Pass through small communities and mountain valleys. Stop when you see a farm stand. Pull over at an overlook. Take a picture and take it all in. Most of the Fall’s magic happens along the way.
Apples, Farm Stands & Mountain Roads
No Fall Getaway to Clayton is complete without a stop at Osage Farms, our favorite local farm stand just up the road in Rabun Gap.
This is the kind of place that makes you want to grab a basket and start filling it. Set in the beautiful Rabun Gap Valley, Osage is a family-owned working farm. Depending on the season, tables overflow with colorful tomatoes, sweet corn, green beans, peppers, cabbage, potatoes and other freshly harvested produce.
Come fall season, there’s apples, pumpkins, squash, etc. – part of the fun is simply seeing what came out of the fields that day.
Take your time browsing, pick up something fresh for the road, and don’t be surprised if you leave with far more than you planned.
A stop at Osage is a little taste of what we love about mountain traditions and small towns.
Apples near Clayton
Just because you’re staying in Clayton doesn’t mean your Fall Adventure has to stop at the Georgia state line. Take the scenic route through the mountains in search of apples, cider, homemade goodies, and a few unexpected finds along the way.
Wander to Beechwood to Hillside Orchard Farms in Lakemont offering a relaxed country-market experience with baked treats, jams, jellies, honey, syrups, apple butter, and other local specialties.
Head east toward Long Creek, South Carolina, where Chattooga Belle Farm turns a farm stop into an afternoon adventure. With sweeping Blue Ridge Mountain views, seasonal fruits, a farm store, Bistro, and even a farm-to-bottle distillery, this is one of those places where you might arrive for apples and stay much longer than planned.
Add a Waterfall to Your Harvest Road Trip
Why choose between apples and waterfalls when you can have both?
While exploring the Long Creek area of South Carolina, add Brasstown Falls to your fall road trip. Tucked into the forest of Oconee County, this hidden gem rewards a relatively short hike with a series of beautiful cascades and waterfall views. Follow the wooded trail, pause at the viewing platforms, and enjoy the sound of rushing water surrounded by the colors of the season.
Pair it with a visit to Chattooga Belle Farm, and you have the makings of a perfect fall day: mountain roads, farm-fresh finds, apples, waterfall views, and plenty of reasons to stop for photos along the way.
Experience Wine Harvest Season
One of the joys of staying in Clayton is having wine country practically in the backyard.
At the same time apples are coming off the trees, another harvest is happening across the mountains.
Grape harvest – often called “crush” is one of the most exciting times to visit North Georgia Wine Country.
Depending on the grape variety and growing season, harvesting begins late summer and continues into early fall. During this period, the vineyards become working landscapes as grapes are picked, sorted, crushed, and transformed into the wines that will eventually reach the tasting room.
It’s a wonderful time to visit. The vines are full, the mountains are beginning their transition toward fall, and there’s a palpable sense of activity in the vineyards.
It’s the kind of experience that turns an ordinary winery visit into a great fall memory.
Spend an Afternoon Among the Vines
All you need is a beautiful setting, a bottle of wine, and nowhere else to be.
Savor these nearby vineyards just a scenic drive away.
Tiger Mountain Vineyards pairs award-winning wines with a stunning country barn setting and beautiful mountain views. Stroll among the vines, settle in with a glass of wine, and take in the scenery—it’s an inviting spot to linger and capture a few picture-perfect moments along the way.
Stonewall Creek Vineyards’ family-owned boutique vineyard surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery. Its intimate, farm-like setting and inviting outdoor spaces create a relaxed, personal experience – the perfect place to sip local wine and savor a relaxing afternoon in North Georgia wine country.
Terra Incognita Vineyards’ journey feels like venturing off the beaten path to discover one of the mountains’ best-kept secrets. Tucked away and surrounded by nature, the vineyard offers an intimate sense of place that makes simply arriving feel like part of the experience. It’s not somewhere you simply stumble upon – it’s a destination you seek out, making that first glimpse of the vineyard all the more rewarding plus a spectacular sunset show.
Crane Creek Vineyards charms with sweeping vineyard views, rolling hills, and an inviting Old World feel centered around its picturesque stone house. Find a spot overlooking the vines, settle in with a glass, and savor the scenery while discovering their award-winning wines and creative small-batch selections.
Yonah Mountain Vineyards is set against the dramatic backdrop of Yonah Mountain, this expansive estate vineyard pairs sweeping views with an elevated and refined wine-country experience. Settle into the beautiful tasting spaces, take in the surrounding landscape, and discover a diverse collection of thoughtfully crafted, world-class wines.
Prefer Not to Drive? Sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey.
Plan ahead and arrange a Luxury Private Car Transfer through Beechwood Inn for an effortless day of vineyard hopping in the North Georgia Mountains.
Home Away from Home at Beechwood Inn
After a day on mountain roads, farm stands, and vineyards, come home to Beechwood Inn.
As afternoon gives way to evening, enjoy a glass of wine on the porch or by the fire and settle in.
Pack a sweater, leave a little room in the itinerary, and follow the colors.
Cozy stays, scenic roads, apples, wine, and waterfalls—consider that your fall agenda.
Plan Your Fall Harvest Getaway to Clayton, Georgia
Whether it’s a girl’s trip, a romantic getaway, a wine-country escape, or simply an excuse to spend a few days in the mountains, harvest season has plenty to offer.
Pick. Sip. Savor. Repeat.
