One of my favorite things about road trips is discovering places I never would have found otherwise.

Recently, my husband and I were traveling to North Georgia for him to play a round of golf at McLemore Golf Resort. While planning our route, we came across Rosie Mae’s, a charming coffee shop in North Georgia with an unexpected bonus—an alpaca farm. Coffee and alpacas? Needless to say, I added it to our itinerary immediately.

Just a little over two hours from home, Rosie Mae’s turned out to be one of the highlights of the entire day.

The coffee alone was worth the visit. I ordered a Honey Bun Latte made with local honey, cinnamon, brown sugar, and oat milk. As someone who is admittedly a bit of a coffee snob, I don’t hand out compliments lightly—but this was one of the best specialty coffees I’ve had in quite some time. The flavors were perfectly balanced, comforting without being overly sweet, and exactly what I needed for a day of exploring.

The staff at Rosie Mae’s were just as wonderful as the coffee. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely seemed happy to share their little corner of Georgia with visitors. The shop itself was warm and inviting, with a carefully curated selection of gifts, home décor, and local items that made browsing almost as enjoyable as sipping my latte.

Then there were the alpacas.

Outside the coffee shop, visitors can wander over to the farm and interact with these adorable animals. Feed is available for purchase, and several families were already enjoying the experience when we arrived. Since I happened to be wearing a white shirt and alpacas aren’t exactly known for keeping things tidy, I decided to admire them from a slightly safer distance.

Even without food, several of the alpacas wandered over to greet us and happily accepted a few gentle pets. Watching them interact with visitors against the backdrop of rolling hills and peaceful farmland made it easy to forget about schedules, deadlines, and the rest of the world for a while.

The farm itself is beautiful, with plenty of photo opportunities and scenic views. Whether you’re traveling through the area, heading to McLemore, or simply looking for a unique day trip from East Tennessee, Rosie Mae’s deserves a place on your list.

Great coffee. Friendly people. Adorable alpacas.

What more could you ask for?

TN Gypsy Girl Rating: 10/10

I would absolutely make the drive again.