You might expect residents of Helen, Georgia, to greet you in this fashion since their entire town is decorated in the Bavarian style, but Helen’s history is far from German. In this post, learn why this logging and gold-mining town transformed into the unique alpine village it is today, and then discover the fun you can have there!

Historically Cherokee territory, Helen had been a stopping point for traders and militia units since Colonial times, and beginning in the 1830s, gold miners and loggers settled here. There was no trace of German flair in Helen until 1969, when three local businessmen met to discuss how to spruce up the town and encourage tourists to stop here en route north into the mountains. They consulted a local artist who, inspired by his service in Germany and visits to Bavarian towns in similar mountain valleys, created sketches that were popular to both Helen’s citizens and merchants. By the fall of 1969, Helen had covered many of its buildings with new Bavarian-styled facades, which transformed a dying lumber town into Georgia’s third most visited city.

For such a small town (pop. 430) Helen offers lots of activities for the whole family! Read on to discover the fun offerings in this quaint and welcoming spot.

Oktoberfest

Although Helen’s Oktoberfest was cancelled this year, 2021 will mark its fiftieth beer festival, making it the longest-running Oktoberfest in the United States. Expect multiple weeks of lively German music, traditional dancing, and plenty of beer, wine, and German foods.

Shopping

From candy to pottery, toys to quilts, Helen has anything your heart desires when it comes to shopping! Hang around Main Street for beautiful and well-made products or venture just a few minutes away to the Nacoochee Village Antique Mall to browse its tasteful wares.

Local Cuisine

Helen has an incredible array of quality restaurants, from German (obviously) to Thai.

However, you will find Helen’s BEST eating experience at Bernie’s Restaurant, just outside town. At my meal, the house special of quail and fillet mignon was absolutely divine, as both were melt-in-your-mouth tender and seasoned to perfection in a fig sauce. Whatever you do, do not miss a stop at Bernie’s!

Why not take home some local food as a souvenir, too? The Nora Mill Granary offers a wide variety of stone ground products such as cornmeal, pancake mixes, and bread mixes. Most of these products are ground daily on the site’s centuries-old mill stones inside the water-powered mill. I took home their grits and was thoroughly impressed!

Wine Tasting

Helen is situated along the Unicoi Wine Trail, comprising six local wineries, where you may enjoy wine tastings, vineyard tours, and local dining. Habersham Winery, just a few minutes from downtown and across the street from Nora Mill Granary, is the most convenient option. Savor a tasting of five local wines for $10.

Hiking

There are endless hiking opportunities around Helen – both short, easy walks around town and challenging treks along the nearby Appalachian Trail. The most popular local hike is the Raven Cliff Falls Trail. This moderate five-mile trek offers beauty around every corner, as it maintains almost constant contact with a picturesque creek and forests with colorful foliage. At the end, you are rewarded with up close and personal views of the roaring falls erupting from a crevice in the cliffside.

Tubing

In the summer, Helen is known for tubers dotting the Chattahoochee River, which cuts through the center of town. You can either gaze at them with a drink in hand from your perch at a bar along the river or be one of them! Choose from Cool River Tubing and Helen Tubing and Waterpark for a 2- to 2.5-hour tubing adventure.

Georgia Mountain Coaster

For more thrills, try whirling through Helen’s forests on its new roller coaster! Choose to go at top speed, or take it slow using the sled break, all while enjoying views of the alpine town.

Falls

Anna Ruby Falls, just a twenty-minute drive from Helen, is known region-wide for its thundering twin waterfalls. These falls mark the junction of Curtis and York Creeks; Curtis Creek drops 153 feet and York Creek 50 feet to form these iconic falls. Legend has it that a Confederate soldier, Colonel John H. “Captain” Nichols, found the waterfalls while horseback riding in the area and decided to give both falls the name Anna Ruby, after his only daughter. A moderate 0.4-mile paved footpath leads from the parking lot inside the Chattahoochee National Forest to the base of the falls, or more ambitious hikers can enjoy the challenging 4.6-mile Smith Creek Trail from Unicoi State Park to Anna Ruby Falls.

History

Connect with the namesake of Anna Ruby Falls at Helen’s historic site of Hardman Farm, an 1870s Italianate mansion where you can view the bedroom belonging to Anna Ruby in addition to learning about the house’s interesting telephone and climate control systems. The most iconic part of the farm is the Sautee Nacoochee Indian Mound topped by a gazebo, demonstrating that this area has deep Native American ties.

From exercise to relaxation, wine tastings to historical sites, Helen is one-stop shopping for whatever you crave in a vacation! But no matter what you seek, you will definitely find escape here, as you slip out of the American everyday into an alpine haven.