BEST WALKING TOURS OF NEW ORLEANS

BY MEGAN HILL

New Orleans is rich with the fascinating history of the many cultures that have collided here over the centuries. Tours are a common way to experience the various aspects of the city with the help of an expert—and there are plenty of them out there. Whether you’re excited to try various local dishes or explore the bar scene, learn some local history, or even dabble in the occult, there’s a tour for just about every interest.

But not all tours are created equal. The best combine expert local knowledge with fascinating storytelling—and occur on foot. By walking with your tour guide, you’ll gain a more intimate perspective of the city than if you were stuffed into a tour bus, limited to looking out of a window. Here are a few of the best out there.

FREE TOURS BY FOOT

These pay-what-you-can tours cover a range of topics and parts of town, from the leafy Garden District neighborhood to the French Quarter to Bayou St. John. The company also offers a voodoo tour and a ghost tour, with outings lasting 1.5 to 2 hours each. The company’s philosophy is that every traveler should be able to afford a tour, so visitors can set their own prices based on what fits their budget. And they acknowledge that sometimes, that means a tour is free! TOURS BY STEVEN

These small group tours explore various areas of the city on foot—and there is even a French Quarter jogging option for those who choose to go at a slightly faster pace! Other tours explore the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery, St. Louis Cemetery, and the French Quarter. There’s an option focusing on the women of New Orleans, and the company allows visitors to customize private tours if they’re looking for something outside of these offerings.

PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL BROUSSARD (BOTTOM, MIDDLE), ZACK SMITH (RIGHT)

NEW ORLEANS GHOST ADVENTURES TOURS

The city of New Orleans has acquired a long list of paranormal encounters over its long history. Plenty of tour companies want to show off the haunted side of the city, but New Orleans Ghost Adventures Tours is one of the best. They focus on the historical aspects of these ghost stories, rather than just being theatrical. The tours are given by history teachers and historians, not actors. Their walking tours cover several topics and neighborhoods, from the French Quarter to the Garden District to New Orleans famous cemeteries. There’s also a haunted pub crawl, for those who like to combine their libations with ghost stories.

DOCTOR GUMBO TOURS

No trip to New Orleans is complete without a significant amount of eating. The city’s rich cultural history often manifests itself in restaurants and bars, and Doctor Gumbo Tours are a great option for accessing it. These walking tours bring visitors to a handful of spots that cover the city’s range of culinary experiences, so you’ll have a chance to try classics like boudin, muffulettas, poboys, pralines…and, yes, gumbo. You’ll learn about New Orleans’ culinary history while you walk and eat, and may have a chance to meet some of the chefs behind the dishes you try. There are also customizable tours for those looking for something outside of the usual offerings.

DESTINATION KITCHEN

This tour company offers something for everyone – from food tours to pub crawls to history, architecture, and ghost tours. There are walking tours of neighborhoods like the French Quarter and the Garden District, plus other options that focus solely on food or cocktails. These tours visit standby favorites as well as hidden gems. And, Destination Kitchen offers customizable private tours as well.

EllijayGeorgia

After the wintertime chill passes, the mountain town of Ellijay, Georgia wakes up from its Winter slumber with an energy all its own. Located in the Southern Appalachians, Ellijay is a prime location for anyone looking to hit the “reset” button.

Known as Georgia’s Mountain Biking Capital, Ellijay is home to endless mountain trails perfect for bikers and hikers of all skill levels. If you’re looking for a relaxing family hike, don’t miss Tumbling Waters Trail. This relaxing hike features a relaxing waterfall, a gradual incline, and a bridge over the inlet that is the perfect place to snap a photo.

Looking for more adventures on the water? With three rivers winding their way in and out of the area, Ellijay offers countless ways to have fun. From boating to paddle boarding to kayaking and tubing, there is a way for everyone in your crew to have a splashing good time. For avid fly fishers and those with high angling aspirations, consider booking a guided fishing trip with a company like Reel ‘em In Guide Services. Their personable team of guides will take you to some of the best fishing spots in the area.

If you’re looking to experience a new kind of sanctuary, consider booking a stay at Wagging Tails Farm. This unique farm stay offers a one-of-a-kind opportu-

nity to get plugged into as much or as little of the farm life as you want. With chickens, goats, bunnies, and more all on site, this location is the perfect place for families with young ones to relax.

For those seeking an even more secluded escape, Gingershack Farms’ gorgeous selection of cabins just beside a running creek. Imagine roasting marshmallows over a firepit or rocking on the porch of your cabin while watching free range chickens roam the property. The Gingershack Farms team has perfectly designed their property to help you reset and recharge.

When you’re ready to venture back into the world after relaxing at your lodging don’t miss the awesome agricultural offerings in Ellijay. Check out an apple orchard like R&A Orchards for farm-fresh berries, summertime produce, baked goods, and more. Visit later in the summer season to enjoy new family experiences like flower picking at R&A Orchards.

Another great way to experience Ellijay’s agricultural heritage is by sampling local wine at an area vineyard. The lush, verdant summer vines are the perfect place to relax and unwind. The boutique feel at Grapes & Ladders Vineyard, one of the area’s newest vineyards, offers gorgeous views of the North Georgia Mountains in a luxurious, quiet setting.

No trip to Ellijay is complete without browsing the shops and restaurants in Downtown Ellijay. The historic square has experienced a revival and is brimming with new life. Classic dining and shopping favorites like Cantaberry (known for their famous chicken and wild rice soup) and The Loving Bull (a womenswear staple for over a decade) are complimented well by newcomers like The Shack of Ellijay who serve up delicious Asian fusion dishes or Imbali Wellness Spa who rounds out downtown Ellijay’s relaxation options with their wide range of day spa services.

If you’re looking for a warm weather reset that will leave you with a fresher perspective on life, there’s no place like Ellijay, Georgia.

Ellijay’s Delectable local wines

Known throughout the Southeast as “Georgia’s Apple Capital,” Ellijay, Georgia is quickly rising in notoriety for another agricultural product: delectable local wine.

What began as one single vineyard (Cartecay Vineyards) surrounding the chimney stack of an 1800s barn in 2007 has quickly grown to a true destination for wine lovers with almost a dozen area vineyards and counting. Each vineyard offers a distinct ambience and thoughtfully crafted selection of local wines. Several local vineyards serve their award-winning wines crafted straight from their own vines.

On the west side of the county, Engelheim and Grapes and Ladders complement each other well. Engelheim (meaning angel home) features rolling hills, gorgeous mountain views, and an all-new event space ready to host weddings to remember. Grapes and Ladders’ boutique feel, Rockin’ the Ladder music nights, and friendly staff are certain to make you feel right at home.

On Gilmer County’s east side, Buckley Vineyards, Cartecay Vineyards, Chateau Meichtry, and Ott Farms and Vineyard form a robust wine trail that no wine connoisseur will want to miss.

With charming tasting rooms, a gorgeous greenhouse, a garden, and chickens, Chateau Meichtry feels like being transported to the European countryside. Ott Farms and Vineyards serves delicious snacks that pair perfectly with their wines with names like “Worth the Wait” that will make you feel like you are stepping into a Hallmark movie. Just a short ride down the road from Ott Farms, Buckley Vineyards has a distinctly modern feel and features a selection of wines named after members of the Buckley family.

Visiting wine lovers will also love Cartecay Wine & Craft located in downtown Ellijay and Ellijay River Vineyards’ outdoor ambience.

With several other vineyards with offerings to rival any national wine destination slated to open soon, those looking to visit Ellijay, Georgia will find themselves returning again and again.

Georgia's Blue Ridge

If you live anywhere in the southeast you’re within driving distance of Blue Ridge, one of Georgia’s top mountain destinations, only 90 miles north of Atlanta via I-575, but a million miles away from the city. 106,000 acres of Chattahoochee National Forest, 300 miles of hiking trails and 100 miles of trout streams make Blue Ridge a perfect place for a outdoor getaway. The Blue Ridge area is also home to five local breweries, three farm wineries and Mercier Orchards, the largest familyowned orchard in the southeast.

The most pleasant surprise is the town of Blue Ridge, once considered an elite health resort because of its pure mineral waters. It was established as a railroad town, with the depot at its heart. Visitors would ride the train to town, eat dinner and take a leisurely walk to the mineral springs after dinner. Today, visitors still ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and take a walk along Main Street, shopping for local treasures in surprisingly upscale shops and galleries.

Local food is an essential part of the trip when you visit Blue Ridge. Harvest on Main and Masseria are two of four popular restaurants owned and operated by local Chef Danny Mellman. Chester Brunnemeyer’s Bar and Grill, The Black Sheep and The Dogwood are also favorite eateries; all owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. New to the scene are two fine dining spots, Whiskey and Water seafood and bourbon bar and grill and the General Ledger, located in a historic bank building

across from the rail depot. Another new addition is the Hook and Eye, rooftop bar and restaurant of the new Hampton Inn. The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway ride is a half day trip from Blue Ridge to McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, Tenn. The Toccoa/Ocoee river runs through these quaint towns, where you can stand in both states at one time at the Blue Line, which marks the spot where Georgia ends and Tennessee begins. Cross the river over the historic steel bridge and explore the Riverwalk shops, a recently renovated historic series of buildings converted into a mini-mall. Take the time to visit the visitor center across the street, which contains interesting info and artifacts relating to the area’s copper mining past. The Blue Ridge area has more luxury mountain vacation rentals than anywhere in the Georgia mountains, including cabins with spectacular mountain views, on rushing creeks, the Toccoa River or Lake Blue Ridge. For those who prefer to be closer to town there are also hotels, including the new Hampton Inn, bed & breakfast inns and intown Blue Ridge lofts. Rent a luxury mountain cabin and wake up to cool, quiet mornings and stunning sunrises. After a day of fun and adventure, finish the day in the same place you started, enjoying a glorious mountain sunset.

Two of the greatest outdoor adventures in the world begin in Fannin County. Both the Appalachian and Benton MacKaye Trails start at the top of Springer Mountain. There are 16 waterfalls within a short drive. Blue Ridge is also recognized as the Trout Capital of Georgia, with more than 100 miles of trout fishing rivers, creeks and streams in the area, including world class fishing in the tailwaters of the Toccoa River. World class whitewater rafting on the Ocoee is just minutes away, and tubing across the Georgia/Tennessee line is a favorite local sport. While Blue Ridge was once Georgia’s best kept secret, the town has been discovered by visitors from nearby Atlanta, Chattanooga, Birmingham, Greenville and most of Florida, so make your plans early, especially for peak months of July, October and the holidays. Find more information on the Fannin County Chamber/CVB website, blueridgemountains.com and be sure to download the app before you go.