Dickey McCay Insurance Shares Some Local Tourist Activities

Local Community and Tourist Favorite Activities

Whether you are vacationing in the Southeast, are a new resident, or were born & raised in one these charming southern towns, there are places and activities that we regail as the “things to do” in the areas we serve. Dickey McCay Insurance has chosen a few of our clients favorite areas to visit, places to eat, and activities to do during your trip or staycation; take it from the locals, these are the places you do not want to miss & the best time of year to see them!

Andrews & Murphy, North Carolina:

1. Andrew’s Brewing Company: Operating out of the town’s first jail, this place is where the locals come to hang out & where tourists come to see the views of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains. With a fire to sit around come autumn, this is the place to finish your day with friends or make a few new ones.
2. Fire’s Creek is one of the best kept secrets of this area for hiking, horseback riding, swimming & camping. Located in the Nantahala National Forest, you can drive in for some nice creek-side car camping, or enjoy the 23 mile Fires Creek Rim Trail ideal for hiking and horseback riding. This is the perfect place to escape the summer heat with a swim or an easily accessible weekend camping trip. Fire Creek Falls is the waterfall at the end of the dirt road & certainly worth the drive or hike.
3. Harrah’s Casino: The newest attraction in Murphy is Harrah’s Casino boasts 50,000 feet of gambling as well as a massive food court.  With an affordable hotel attached, this is the perfect night or weekend getaway to the mountains for some casino fun!
4. North Carolina’s pristine & scenic Nantahala River offers river rafting through family-friendly rapids that are mild but exciting. The Nantahala features eight miles of practice on easy Class II rapids before splashing through the exciting Class III whitewater of Nantahala Falls. You can go with a guide or rent a raft & take your friends & family down yourself! We recommend going with Nantahala Outdoor Center, one of the most experienced river companies in the Southeast. It also boasts a river-side restaurant & bar to watch as paddlers float down the river & play in the wave!

Blairsville & Blue Ridge, Georgia:

1. Lake Winfield Scott: Lake Winfield Scott Recreation Area offers year-round recreation opportunities including camping, stand up paddling, fishing,  picnicking, boating, swimming and hiking, all centered around beautiful Lake Winfield Scott. A Man-Made reservoir, this is the best start and end loop trail in the area on a hot summer day. The Slaughtercreek Trail in the area climbs the less trafficked area of Blood Mountain with the same beautiful foilage. With camping along the way, this 6 mile trail is both difficult and rewarding. 
2. Blood Mountain Hiking:  One of the tallest mountains in Georgia, Blood Mountain is one of the first views along with Appalachian Trail where you can get a 360 degree view & the tallest peak along the AT in Georgia. A short, steep hike, this is one of the most frequented hikes in the area, and on a clear day you can even see the Atlanta skyline. Called Blood Mountain for the fables Cherokee & Creek Native tribe’s battle, this hike holds as much lore as views that you do not want to miss. 
3. Vogel State Park: Vogel State Park, the second oldest state park in Georgia, sits at 2500 feet above sea level right at the base of Blood MountainThe North Georgia Mountains around Vogel were linked to Native American people for generations before European settlement. With family-friendly camping, easy hikes, a lake with a variety of recreation opportunities, & several waterfall views, Vogel is a must stop when passing through Northeast Georgia. 
4. Mercier’s Orchard:  When passing through Blue Ridge, Merciers Orchard is the local spot to take a stroll, explore orchards, pick your own fruit, & find local produce, art, & goodies hailing from the Southeast. Our favorite time to go is in April to pick fresh strawberries straight from the vine to your mouth! And be sure to try and apple pie and Mercier’s wine slushie on the porch; you won’t want to leave!

Tellico Plains, TN & Copperhill, Tennessee:

1. Fishing the Tellico River: The drive to the Tellico River is worth the trip even if you never make it to the river, but we definitely suggest not stopping until you reach Baby Falls, a small waterfall on the Tellico River, & taking a moment to take in the magnitude of the large Bald River Falls (pictured here). Beyond just great views, The Tellico also offers incredible kayaking for experienced boaters & is nationally recognized as a premiere trout stream, renowned for brook, brown, and rainbow trout. For fishing, the best time to visit is when the Tennessee Wildlife Agency stocks trout in the Tellico River from March through August. Fishermen here enjoy unspoiled wilderness settings and, more often than not, no company from other fishermen & boaters. 
2. Rafting the Ocoee River: One of the most rafter rivers in the world, the Ocoee river offers rapids ranked from Class III-IV & was even the host of the 1996 Olympics! There are over 42 rafting companies in the area that takes customers down the Middle or Upper Ocoee. The Upper Ocoee boasts the Olympics Whitewater Park & bigger rapids, while the Middle Ocoee is a more scenic, all-natural flow with continuous, class-III fun rapids!
3. Tour the Breweries: Copperhill, TN hosts a quaint downtown area with a diverse selection of restaurants, local shops, & new breweries! We suggest taking a stroll around the downtown area & stop in at the three newest breweries: Copperhill Brewery, Buck Bald Brewing, & Copper Ale Station. These hills and their families have been brewing for years & are happy to share their new brews with locals & visitors alike! 
4. Cherohala Skyway: Known to motor-bike enthusiasts simply as “The Dragon’s Tail,” the skyway offers 43-miles of National Scenic Byway from Tellico Plains, Tennessee, to Robbinsville. As you ride, you will experience ridge after ridge of forested mountain views as far as you can see. Named one of the 10 best rides in North America, there is little evidence of civilization from views that rival or surpass any from the Blue Ridge Parkway, & you will feel like you stepping back in time! We recommend traveling along the road during the fall as the colors are changing & the mountain air is a bit cooler.