During our recent stay in Blue Ridge, we were able to snag last-minute tickets on the Blue Ridge Railway. My only experience with passenger trains is a couple of trips on high speed trains in Europe years ago and let me tell you... this was not the same. Bing Crosby wasn't there either, which was slightly disappointing but to be expected. We went with the open-air car because Covid is still haunting the south like a malicious ghost that won't move into the light. Currently, masks are required in all the train cars - enclosed and open (they must follow the TSA requirements) - but the open seemed safer overall and I loved the idea of the wind blowing our hair around. Turns out, that was a big assumption on my part because the cruising speed of that trip, which is a two-hour roundtrip up to Copperhill, Tennessee, and back to Blue Ridge, is about 10 miles an hour. I could've made more breeze with a sneeze.
It was hot and the kids were fussy but we soothed them with sugary snacks from the canteen, which has a surprisingly large selection of goodies considering it's a little car on a little train. They even have fresh popcorn, hot cocoa, and kitschy souvenirs you definitely need.
The highlight of the ride is that it follows the Toccoa River (if you sit on the side of the car that faces the food shops, you're on the "scenic side" aka the river side) and not only is the river beautiful and serene, but the people tubing and kayaking and sitting on the banks wave at the train and the train people wave back and for some reason, in times like these, that just felt really good.
One thing that was noticeably missing from the train ride was... mountains. If you're thinking this is like the train to Hogwarts on a mountainside or the Polar Express cruising the open wilderness, go ahead and take those expectations down a notch. This is a slow train ride under a canopy of trees that follows a river. We know from looking for so long for a cabin to buy that the river experience is totally different from the mountain view experience, although both are magical in their own right.
Even though it wasn't perfect, it was a great experience. If I'd had enough room, I probably could have stretched out and fallen asleep to the lull of the train and the river - it was relaxing and simple and full of friendly people and snacks. There is also a longer version (time-wise) where you can get off the train in Copperhill and go explore for a couple of hours, then ride back. It would be a great opportunity to grab some delicious food and hit a few shops before coming back to Blue Ridge to eat more delicious food and do more shopping. Also, if you're visiting between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there is a Holiday Express experience that's only an hour and includes music, a reading of The Night Before Christmas, and some little gifts for the kiddos. Or for grownups who demand them - I'm just saying.
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