For the last two years, Toyota enthusiasts have enjoyed a one-of-a-kind meetup in the Southeast US to combine a few of their favorite things: camping, trail rides, and community. Known as Destination Outdoor, the free event is hosted by Team4Runner and Trails and Trucks in association with Toyota, ClicOutdoor (the company that runs social accounts like Overland Nation, Team4Runner, and Wheeling with Dogs), and more than a dozen industry partners.
Plenty of time on the trails will be included at Destination Outdoor! Photo courtesy of ClicOutdoor.
The 2022 event is planned for Saturday, October 1, starting at 9:00 am at the beautiful Toccoa Valley Campground in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Destination Outdoor is a full day of fun and includes trail rides, a “Restore the Outdoors” trash cleanup challenge, giveaways, and a cookout. And of course, plenty of brand-new Toyota and Lexus vehicles will be on display, including X Series vehicles which are available exclusively in the Southeast!
Part of the day’s focus is a trash cleanup challenge – like these old tires collected in 2021. Photo courtesy of ClicOutdoor.
Last year’s event included more than 250 participants, showcasing a wide range of incredible and capable Toyota products. And, of course, four-legged friends are welcome; make sure to review the campground's pet policies beforehand.
Never been to Destination Outdoor? Here’s a recap of the 2021 event. Video courtesy of ClicOutdoor.
Many attendees also camp overnight to keep the merriment going. Whether you’ve participated in the past or are considering Destination Outdoor for the first time, it’s easy to turn the event into a long weekend getaway, with so many things to do in the Blue Ridge area.
You should expect to spend approximately two relaxing hours floating down the Toccoa River, though there are also boulders to watch for. But don’t let the boulders intimidate you – experience is unnecessary for tubing. In fact, tubing is so effortless that even children as young as 4 years old are welcome, assuming they weigh at least 30 pounds and always wear a life jacket.
TVC also offers kayaking on the Toccoa River, for a more hands-on water adventure. You can choose a single or double kayak and should also expect roughly 2 hours for this activity, depending on your experience. The river flow is generally relaxing, though there are class 1 and 2 rapids during part of the experience. The same children’s policy applies for kayaks, too – 4 years or older are welcome and must wear a life jacket.
Larger groups of 4 or 6 people may want to consider rafting down the Toccoa River. You’ll follow the same path as the kayakers and tubers, with a float time of approximately 2 hours. Children as young as 2 years are welcome for this activity if they always wear a life jacket.
No matter your water activity, launch times are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Saturday.
More on-site outdoor activities
Tubing, Kayaking, and Rafting
The Toccoa Valley Campground (“TVC”) is credited as the first tubing company in the state of Georgia, having pioneered the activity decades ago. Though TVC started with large truck inner tubes, tubing has evolved over the years, and today you’ll find lightweight tubes made with a bottom and handles for the best and most comfortable experience.You should expect to spend approximately two relaxing hours floating down the Toccoa River, though there are also boulders to watch for. But don’t let the boulders intimidate you – experience is unnecessary for tubing. In fact, tubing is so effortless that even children as young as 4 years old are welcome, assuming they weigh at least 30 pounds and always wear a life jacket.
TVC also offers kayaking on the Toccoa River, for a more hands-on water adventure. You can choose a single or double kayak and should also expect roughly 2 hours for this activity, depending on your experience. The river flow is generally relaxing, though there are class 1 and 2 rapids during part of the experience. The same children’s policy applies for kayaks, too – 4 years or older are welcome and must wear a life jacket.
Larger groups of 4 or 6 people may want to consider rafting down the Toccoa River. You’ll follow the same path as the kayakers and tubers, with a float time of approximately 2 hours. Children as young as 2 years are welcome for this activity if they always wear a life jacket.
No matter your water activity, launch times are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Saturday.
In 2021, more than 250 guests registered for Destination Outdoor! Photo courtesy of ClicOutdoor.
Places to go and things to do, northbound
There are plenty of options in a close radius to the campground to keep you busy, so we’ve organized the list by the general direction you’ll need to travel. First up, we’ll head north of Toccoa Valley Campground.Mercier Orchard in Blue Ridge
How does a U-Pick event and tractor tour sound? At Mercier Orchards, you can experience fruit straight off the vine after a tractor drives you through the orchard, where you’ll stop to select sun-ripened fruit full of flavor.If picking fruit isn’t your thing, you can also stop by the orchard’s bakery for pies, fried pies, donuts, fritters, and other specialty items. There’s also an on-site market where you’ll find various kinds of butters, jams, jellies, honey, and more, plus a candy kitchen for treats like candy apples, fudge, and chocolate turtles, to name just a few.
After all the delicious treats, you’re sure to need a beverage, too – luckily, hard-pressed drinks are available all year round at Mercier. In fact, they were one of the first apple orchards in the state to grow, press, ferment, and bottle their hard cider. For a sweet and crisp refreshment, try Old #3, Mercier’s original hard cider, or you can check out a seasonal or specialty offering. And if cider isn't your thing, you can choose from several wine offerings from local vendors!
Pink Pig BBQ in Cherry Log
The Pink Pig is an institution in North Georgia. Originally built around 1950 as a country store and grist mill, in 1967, Bud Holloway and his family purchased the site and turned it into the restaurant it is today.Though most well-known for pit-cooked BBQ, Bud's Original sauce, and slow-cooked homemade Brunswick stew from a cast iron pot, plenty of mouthwatering choices are available. Everything is fresh and prepared to order – so kick back and relax with family or friends while your food is made just for you.
The Black Sheep Restaurant in Blue Ridge
For an upscale dining experience, you’ll want to visit The Black Sheep, where creating dishes made from fresh, local, seasonal ingredients has always been the approach.The Black Sheep is located in the historic Butt House, circa 1914, built by Colonel William Butt, once the Blue Ridge mayor and a Georgia Legislature member. Though the home has had some restorative work, most of the character of bygone days remains, with the original marble steps and most of the original windows still in place.
Consider an outside table, where time slows, sitting under a 200-year-old oak tree while the fresh Appalachian air refreshes your senses. Supper service is offered Tuesday – Sunday, and The Black Sheep also serves brunch on weekends.
No matter when you choose to go, remember your reservation – seating is limited.
Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in Blue Ridge
How does lunch or dinner with a view sound? At Toccoa Riverside Restaurant, home of “Mountain Time Seating,” the dining room overlooks the river – perfect timing for your autumn visit.Here, you’ll find award-winning steaks and seafood, like Fresh Local Rainbow Trout served how you like it (fried, broiled, smoked, or blackened). Or, if your tastebuds are more suited to meat than fish, consider the Double Cut Pork Chop with Jalapeño Blackberry Glaze or the Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon with Charbroiled Herb Butter.
Of particular note at Toccoa Riverside Restaurant is the River Rest, a beer garden located directly on the banks of the river, serving a wide range of wine and local beer options. Best of all, this spot is dog-friendly, so nobody in your group gets left out of the adventure!
Four-legged friends are welcome at Destination Outdoor and at plenty of the local things to do! Photo courtesy of ClicOutdoor.
Fall Branch Falls in Cherry Log
Autumn is the perfect time of year for a hike, and there is no shortage of options in the area. For an easy to moderate hike, try the Benton MacKaye Trail. Though this trail stretches for 300 miles through the Appalachian Mountains with varying skills required, you can focus on a small stretch leading you to the serene Fall Branch Falls.Leaving the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant on Aska Road, you’ll see the intersection for Stanley Creek Road; about 3 miles down the road, you’ll see a well-marked trailhead on the right with a free parking area. Leashed dogs are welcome on this trail!
As you approach, the trail will lead you to a wooden observation deck for the best views of the multi-tiered waterfall – a 75-foot tall, cascading, double waterfall that flows into a mountain stream below. Expect to spend about 30 minutes roundtrip on this trail, though you could easily extend it into a longer hike.
Places to go and things to do, southbound
B.J. Reece Orchards and Reese’s Cider Company in Ellijay
The timing of your early-October visit couldn’t be more perfect for harvesting season, and B.J. Reece Orchards offers a wide variety of U-Pick apples and plenty of other seasonal vegetables and fruits, including peaches, nectarines, and Asian pears. Plus, you can visit the on-site Market and Bakery for apple cider donuts, pecans, peanut brittle, and so much more, though fried pies are likely the most popular offering.The fun at B.J. Reece goes beyond just the food with “Farm Fun” offerings. Ticket prices start at $8 per person, depending on your package: choices like petting farm play time, a wagon ride around the farm, admission to the pig races, a pony ride, and many other options.
It wouldn’t be an apple orchard visit without hard apple cider: luckily, next door is Reece’s Cider Company, started by the 4th generation of the Reece family. Licensed as a Georgia farm winery, Reece’s crafts their ciders using fresh fruit picked from the orchard and fermented low and slow, so you always know you’re getting premium-quality cider with no unnecessary extras. Additionally, you'll find a rotating selection of craft Georgia beers, local wines, and live music on weekends.
Cartecay Vineyards in Ellijay
For wine lovers, north Georgia doesn’t disappoint. That’s because the elevation, soil, and climate of the Southern Appalachians combine to make a unique Terroir (a French term that describes the environmental factors of a crop’s specific growth habitat) that produces quality wine grapes. The result? Fine wines, of course!To try some Georgia-produced wines, head to Cartecay Vineyards, where you'll find a tasting barn serving nearly a dozen wines produced with grapes grown on the 14-acre property. Whether you prefer red, white, or blush, Cartecay has something for everyone.
On weekends, good weather will mean Cartecay offers live music featuring local and regional artists and food trucks. As a bonus, if you can’t make it out to the vineyard and tasting barn, there’s also Cartecay Wine & Craft, a tasting room located in historic downtown Ellijay, featuring Cartecay’s wines, plus other Georgia wines and craft beers.
Mountain Valley Farm in Ellijay
While in the Blue Ridge area with your favorite Toyota, there’s no better time to stock up on a few grass-fed, pasture-raised favorite cuts of meat to take home. Since 1840, Mountain Valley Farm and Store has been owned and operated by the Wright family, whose dedication to healthy animals and humane practices has always been at the forefront of their business.You'll find free-range pork favorites at the farm store like baby back ribs, pork chops, sausage, tenderloin, and more. The beef options are equally plentiful, with choices like filet mignon, short ribs, and ground beef, to name just a few. Kitchen staples are also available, like pastured chicken eggs, handmade pasta sauces, homemade ice cream, fresh mushrooms, and more – and it's all locally grown or produced.
Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville
In between Ellijay and Dahlonega, Dawsonville is home to the tallest waterfall in Georgia, Amicalola Falls, with a stunning 729-foot cascade. The falls are located within the Amicalola Falls State Park, and you can choose from several hikes based on varying lengths and skills necessary.A popular choice is the 2-mile roundtrip hike to the crest of the falls; it’s considered moderately challenging and a popular choice in the area, so consider going early in the morning when there are fewer hikers. Leashed dogs are welcome on this trail, though the terrain makes it difficult for some dogs.