Visiting Blue Ridge and stoped by Mercier Orchards on a perfect cold day. Let me just say this is a…read morepopular tourist attraction so it had its fair share of people so come with some patience. Outside it has some beautiful views worth stopping for a photo and stopping at the bakery inside for some fried pies and cider donuts are a must! The fried pies were okay but the Cider Donuts are a show stopper. They also have tons of other things like fruits and veggies, toys, books, figurines, wine and more!

First things first -- get ready for a drive. This place is…read morenot just "down the street." It's a journey. But let me be very clear: it is 100% worth it. From the moment you arrive, you can tell Mercier Orchards is something special. There is so much packed into this one location that it almost feels like a small village built around apples and everything that comes with them. Inside the main store, the selection is honestly overwhelming in the best way possible -- home goods, gifts, jams, jellies, preserves, baking mixes, sauces, butters, ciders... anything and everything apple-related, plus plenty of other fruit-based goodies. It's the kind of place where you say "I'm just going to browse" and then walk out with bags of stuff you didn't know you needed. Then there's the bakery. Seven lines. All long. And all moving surprisingly well. I eventually stepped out of line after about 15 minutes, but not before getting a solid look at the pastries, pies, breads, and desserts -- everything looked incredible. Even without buying anything that round, the bakery alone is worth the stop. Now let's talk about the apple picking experience -- because this is where the magic really happens. Riding out on a trailer attached to a tractor felt like something straight out of a fall movie. The views, the air, the vibe -- it's peaceful, exciting, and nostalgic all at the same time. The apples change with the season, and the ones we picked were delicious and lasted a long time. No pesticides, just straight calcium. Fresh, crisp, and perfect. And yes... get a bag or three like I did. You're going to want them. The entire place also makes for amazing photo opportunities. Whether it's the orchard, the tractor ride, the store, or the scenery -- this is one of those spots where your camera roll is guaranteed to fill up. The only negative moment of the day happened when I went to grab some cider and one of the guys behind the counter completely ignored me. I actually had to call him out -- like, "Did you not see me standing here?" Not great. But that one interaction couldn't even come close to outweighing everything else this place offers. Bottom line: If you're anywhere in the area -- or even thinking about making a day trip -- you absolutely have to go. It's a little off the beaten path, so I don't expect most people to just "stumble" upon it... but if you plan it, you won't regret it. This is an experience, not just a stop.

Love the apple cider yummy ice cold so good Looking…read moreforward to my next visit and take my grand children they just moved here to Tennessee

Apple a day keeps a doctor away! Super old fashioned service got a classic feeling being here ! I…read morethink all the apples were cool my favorite is the honey crisp ! The black apples we went there for not going to be ready for another 2 weeks !!!! But at least got my donuts that's all matters ! The people all around and just such a cool fresh smelling building.

This is the kind of place where your healthy alter ego stays buckled up in the car--and you waltz…read morein guilt-free, ready to eat like it's your birthday. Their cheese selection? Chef's kiss. We sampled a few, and the views while snacking were straight out of a postcard--peaceful, pretty, and perfect for pretending you're in a cheese commercial. Whatever you do, don't skip the Café. It's in this gorgeous, huge old barn that's been lovingly renovated into a temple of ooey-gooey grilled cheese goodness. It's basically sacred ground for sandwich lovers. Grilled cheese is their thing, and oh boy, do they do it justice. My husband went for the Smoked Bologna, I had The Big Cheese (because... obviously), and our friends followed our lead. No regrets. These sandwiches are THICK, golden, buttery slabs of bread hugging melted cheese like it's a warm embrace from grandma. Pro tip: One whole sandwich is basically a cheesy Everest. My husband took half to go. I, on the other hand, showed no restraint. Dessert? Oh yeah. We shared a chocolate peanut butter shake (sin in a cup), and our friends had the cake batter one--because balance, right? Also, they have a super cute shop where I snagged some Tennessee jams to bring home. Gifts, I said. For others. (Probably.) It's a lovely spot--perfect for a chill picnic with family or friends... or to just sit quietly while your food coma gently sets in.

The BLT and seasonal shake are amazing! Always love visiting Sweetwater Valley Farm and sitting on…read morethe porch of the barn to enjoy the views and a shake. The cafe also has a store with home good items, cute clothing, and gifts. The perfect place for a fun family visit or to take folks from out of town. The owners are often in the cafe and are super nice and welcoming. Every time we visit the workers are extremely nice and helpful!

I remember taking my daughter there maybe 20+ years ago. Not much after they opened. Kids love it…read moreand my 6 year old grandson wanted to stay when I was ready to leave after 3 hours :-) If you go be sure to look around because there are tons of activities and things for kids to do and explore. They also have a cafeteria, which I found by accident. The only complaint I might have is some of the activities on the second level were in disrepair or not well maintained. Still if you have kidlets, highly recommended. Don't forget if you have an aquarium membership, you get a discount!!

We took our son to Chattanooga for a surprise birthday trip and concluded our weekend visit with a…read moretrip to the Creative Discovery Museum and I am so happy that we got a chance to visit. This place is absolutely amazing and so much fun for both kiddos and parents! Since we stayed at a nearby hotel, we walked about a block to the museum but there is plenty of parking available behind the building but I am not sure about the cost. We arrived just as they opened and the staff member that assisted us was super sweet and because it was my son's birthday, she gifted him with free admission which was a huge win for our budget. As soon as walked into the actual museum, the first thing my kiddos saw was the water area which of course the only thing they wanted to play with. The water area is setup in a way that kids can play with toys, learn about water conservation, build bridges, and have a wonderful time prior to getting into the nitty gritty of all the museum has to offer. They have aprons so my kiddos weren't drenched but just know that area gets a bit congested. There are sooooo many things to do from art to a robot car build and challenge to playing musical instruments. There is also a fun little outdoor space with a cool play area, fun artwork, and games. We had sooooo much fun and it is truly a wonderful place to try and learn new things. There is also an area for the tinier ones where they can "ride a tractor", take care of bunnies (stuffed of course), set the dinner table, cook, and do other household chores. I mean there is soooooo much to do and so much fun to be had. I cannot recommend this place enough and I promise by the time your leave, the kiddos will definitely have a blast as will you!

Bear Claw Winery is a nice place to sit by a cozy fire pit on a cool day, listen to music and…read moresample wine ( coffee for me) my wife and daughter loved the place and the people are friendly and accommodating to their guest. They have a large variety of snacks, and gifts, as well as an abundance of wine. Nice open spaces to walk and enjoy the scenery as well! I highly recommend Bear Claw Winery.

After arriving in the Blue Ridge area Friday we were on the hunt for a little family fun and found…read morethis gem on Yelp! The vineyard is kid and dog friendly so we decided we'd go explore! Bear came with us and was the perfect pup just chilling and loving all of the attention! The service was great we went to the counter and ordered our drinks. My kiddo even got to have a blue raspberry slushie which made her night she ended up with blue lips and teeth too! They also have a gift shop full of adorable merchandise: cups with the bear claw logo etched on (I got a wine cup lol! ) , cork bracelets (we got two), dog clothes, goat milk soap, t shirts etc. They have lots of seating options indoor tables as well as lots of tables with little fire pits outside and lots of games. On the weekends, they have live music. When we visited artist Russ Stills was there. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. He even came around the audience meeting and greeting with each table and taking requests. This is a fantastic spot to grab a drink and listen to good music and take in the beauty of the vineyard. 10 out of 10 for sure!

In town celebrating a few birthdays and taking the tour at the distillery so we booked reservations…read morefor dinner. Have to email for reservations but they replied quickly and we were set. Cute small restaurant and hostess greeted us warmly and got seated. Drinks - nice selection including some of their own bourbon and shine. Everything tasted fresh and delicious. Food - had fun trying a variety. We had appetizers (fried green tomatoes and spinach dip), broccoli cheddar soup, burgers and chicken cordon blue. Only minor complaint was the soup wasn't quite hot enough but everything tasted so great we were pleased. Service- our waitress hustled and the staff all worked together to keep things moving. Would definitely recommend!

Accountability starts at the top. What was once an nice…read moreplace to eat while enjoying beautiful surroundings now I'd say save your trip. Sad to see, I'm not sure outside of the obvious recession if that is playing a part but the customers were there, however the complete lack of service was not. We got water 30 minutes after I complained, tables full of people or full of trash. Food came at the 2 hour mark and we watched group after group leave. Only sandwiches on menu now and fries well they took order for it but served fried tomatoes which we also had as an appetizer, said they didn't have any fries. No one paid attention to anyone unless you were sitting at the bar for drinks. Unfortunately once a place we enjoyed will not go back to. Everything Changed and the Resturaunt seems it's sadly on its way out. Just my opinion.

Had a very nice visit here for an event. The vineyard and event space is beautiful. The place…read moreoverlooks the vineyard and the mountains. It's a gorgeous view and well worth the visit! The owner took us on a tour, explaining how they process the wine and what barrels they use which made it a very fun and intimidate experience. The wine themselves are good. They have a large variety and it's helpful starting with a tasting to see which you like best.

We will definitely be coming back here. It is very kid and dog friendly, with a bowl of water and…read morecontainer of dog treats on the screened porch. There are kids books near the fireplace as well, in the indoor seating area, full of windows and ample seating overlooking the gorgeous views. We sat on the elevated screened porch (which has a beautiful view of the vineyards) with a few wine flights and our pup. We played Uno with our kids for a bit and then they tossed a baseball down in the grass below. It was a relaxing, tech free day with no complaints for anyone. Loved it. It is clearly a go-to spot for locals, as there were many people conducting remote work from the space as well. I think it's telling that people feel "at home" here. Regarding the wine, we had great recommendations from the owner and liked all that we sampled. My husband's favorite was the Chardonnay and mine the house Riesling, which we purchased a bottle of to bring home.

Not only is it beautiful, the wine is wonderful, and the staff are very knowledgable and…read morefriendly!!!! We are from CA and have visited many wineries there. This winery rivals some of the best in CA. Can't wait to go back. Don't miss this one!

A nice tucked away, dog friendly winery with plenty of room for roaming! Lots of outdoor and indoor…read moreseating. Beautiful scenic drive. Pro: Wine was well priced and there was a good selection. Con: Charcuterie boards are pretty much DIY. It's pricey, and they hand you over packages of the items and you pretty much put it together lol. I would return for the wine but bring my own "snacks" next time :)

Top orchard in the area in my opinion. This popular orchard can be packed on the weekends with…read moretroves of cars and people enjoying everything they have to offer. Love the variety of apples when in season from sweet to tart to crispy to tangy! BJ Reeces also has a variety of fresh honey and jams/preserves of all different flavors. Love their dehydrated apple chips as they are so addictive. From novelty candies to fried pies and smoothies and apple cider and wines ....whats more you can ask for all in one spot. Their nostalgic barn feeling decor that's spacious and clean and organize is easy to get around. Offering tours of the orchard and hay rides and seasonal u-pick options makes BJ Reece Orchard a nice family friendly weekend destination!

I think my review may be hurt because the weather that day was so cold and rainy. It's cute! Don't…read moreget me wrong. And I love their Apple room with all their different type apples! We got their Apple cider, cinnamon apple donut, and apple fritter. The Apple cider and cinnamon apple donut were really good! But their Apple fritter was disappointing. I think if it was warmed it would have been better. There is also no indoor seating (which usually is probably not a problem). But since it was rainy and cold we couldn't sit outside, and there were zero seats inside, so we went back to our car to eat. Everyone was very nice and I would go back, but I would also have better expectations

Very easy to navigate through the website , great prices and deals…read more First time shoppers, super excited to receive my new plants

Garbage. I bought 25 bare root purple coneflowers for $59.99…read more I have attached pictures of the box of dirt I received. It appears to be seedlings in a partial flat of potting soil. The plastic in the pictures is a bag that was cut in half and the flat was shoved in the bag. So basically, I paid $59.99 for a box of loose dirt and some seedlings. The pictures on their website and that they emailed to me representing how my "bare roots" would look are a clear misrepresentation of the product. This is clearly a bait and switch.