I honestly can’t say enough great things about Helen, GA. It’s nice when a destination exceeds my expectations in the best way.
This destination checked all the boxes for me, offering a variety of outdoor adventures, art, wineries, an Alpine-themed downtown, amazing Bavarian-themed restaurants, quirky attractions… and it even has capybaras.
Thanks again to Alpine Helen/White County Convention and Visitors Bureau for hosting my visit. All opinions are my own, and this article contains affiliate links.
Stop at the Alpine Helen Welcome Center
726 Bruckenstrasse, Helen, GA
I always recommend visiting the welcome center upon arrival if you’re visiting a city for the first time.
The staff are a great resource for attraction and dining recommendations, as well as knowledge about special events happening during your visit.
The welcome center also has images of what Helen’s downtown looked like before its Alpine transformation.
Helen’s Transformation into “Georgia’s Little Bavaria”
The downtown transformation of Helen into an Alpine Village was the vision of three local businessmen.
They gathered at a local restaurant in January of 1969 to discuss ways to revitalize the main street and capture the attention of tourists already passing by, traveling to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
One of the men reached out to John Kollock, a local artist with family ties to the area. He drew inspiration from his time in the service in Germany when he visited Bavarian towns with a similar landscape.
His sketches for new facades for old buildings were exciting for residents and local business owners.
By the fall of the same year, Helen saw an increase in tourism, and it has continued to grow ever since.
The transformation story of Helen reminded me of Leavenworth, WA, with a similar story of creating a Bavarian-themed downtown to revive the city.
Explore Helen Alpine Village
Helen’s themed downtown allows visitors to be transported to Germany without a passport.
You’ll find an assortment of quaint gift shops, cobblestone streets, colorful architectural details and facades, delicious chocolates, pastries, beer, and German cuisine.
It’s hard to resist a sweet treat after experiencing the alluring smells of chocolate downtown.
Pledge Your Love
You may notice colorful locks in downtown Helen. There are designated spaces on art installations where you can pledge your love with a lock.
The original love lock tradition involved hanging a padlock on a bridge and discarding the key, but the additional weight from all the locks together on the bridges made it unsafe.
Owens Welding designed the hot air balloon–shaped metal sculpture in MarketPlatz, a nod to the annual Helen to the Atlantic Balloon Race.
Various shops throughout the Alpine village sell locks if you’re inspired to pledge your love.
Experience Oktoberfest in Helen, GA
Helen, GA is home to the longest continuous running Oktoberfest celebration in the United States, dating back to 1970.
Oktoberfest celebrations in Helen take place from late September until early November.
The nearly two-month-long celebration is the perfect excuse to enjoy fall foliage, festive music, and great German cuisine and beer.
The official Oktoberfest celebration in Helen takes place at the Helen Festhalle. Check the event calendar for the band schedule, keg tapping, and parade info.
Where to Eat and Drink in Helen, GA
Of course, the local cuisine and drinks also enhance your experience in Helen.
There are so many amazing restaurants in Helen to visit for American and German cuisine.
Here are some of my personal recommendations for local restaurants to try around Helen:
- Hofer’s Bakery – 9001 N. Main Street, Helen, GA
- Dottie’s Kitchen – 8287 S Main St, Helen, GA
- The Hofbräuhaus Restaurant – 9001 N. Main St., Helen, GA
- Caledonia Room at Valhalla Resort Hotel – 688 Bahn Innsbruck, Helen, GA
- Mully’s Nacoochee Woodfired Grill -7227 S. Main Street, Helen, GA
- Bodensee Restaurant – 64 Munich Strasse, Helen, GA
- Cowboy’s & Angels – 60 Chattahoochee Street, Helen, GA
- Cafe International – 8546 S Main St, Helen, GA
Enjoy Wine Tastings at Local Vineyards
Northern Georgia is beginning to gain national attention for their wines.
There are eight wineries in White County with ideal conditions in the north Georgia mountains for growing vinifera grapes.
Fun fact: Before Prohibition, Georgia was the sixth-largest wine producer in the US.
With VIP Southern Tours, you can experience 3 local wineries and lunch without the stress or hassle of coordinating your day. VIP Southern Tours takes care of all the details and, most importantly, the driving.
Another perk of our tour was our incredible prearranged picnic lunch from a local caterer that we enjoyed at one of the local vineyards.
I’m still dreaming about their pimento cheese and chicken salad plate that included sweet fire jalapenos.
What I loved about this tour was that each winery had a different vibe and wines that we enjoyed.
Our private tour visited The Cottage Vineyard and Winery, CeNita Vineyards & Winery, and Creekstone Vineyards & Winery.
The VIP Southern Tours offers public and private tours. Public tours are available for 12-16 passengers in custom Sprinters, and private SUV tours are for 2-6 guests.
Spring and fall tours book up quickly, so plan accordingly in advance for weekend tours. Midweek tours are typically easier to book, and most tours last between 4-6 hours.
If you’re looking for a unique wine tour, check out their exclusive “Waterfalls and Wine Tour” that takes guests to hidden gem waterfalls and boutique wineries.
Crush Fest Annual Wine Festival at Yonah Mountain Vineyards
1717 Hwy 255 S, Cleveland, GA
Wine lovers will want to have Crush Fest on their radar, too.
The popular annual wine festival takes place in August at Yonah Mountain Vineyards.
Crush Fest was also where I fulfilled my dream of “stomping of the grapes” in addition to enjoying live music, an artisan market, food trucks, and sampling award-winning wines.
I highly recommend participating in the stomping of the grapes because it’s pure joy and a lot of laughs.
Thrills for All Ages on the Georgia Mountain Coaster
8409 S. Main Street, Helen, GA
Thrill seekers of all ages will enjoy a ride on the Georgia Mountain Coaster, the first and only mountain coaster in Georgia.
You control your own speed with the brake and acceleration down the mountain with top speeds up to 28 mph.
The mountain coaster track has turns, switchbacks, and a really fun roundabout that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
The carts can seat one or two people. Drivers must be at least 54 inches tall, at least 16 years old, able to use the manual controls, and within the maximum weight limit.
Passengers must be at least 38 inches tall and at least 3 years old.
Visit the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia
283 HWY 255 North, Sautee, GA
The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia resides on the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center campus, which was formerly the site of a school.
Visitors can learn more about the tradition and handcrafted skills used for the art form of folk pottery in northeast Georgia.
Visitors can appreciate the architectural design of the museum that was inspired by an open-air kiln shed, as pictured above.
Exhibits in the museum highlight the evolution of pottery as it transitioned from being essential pieces used for daily life to a creative artistic expression.
I recommend watching the short Smithsonian film at the museum for a greater appreciation of the craft.
Check the event calendar for upcoming pottery classes, special events, seminars, demonstrations by local potters, and tours.
This museum was my first formal introduction to the “face jug.”
Most cultures have some form of face jug, and it’s fascinating to see the creativity and humour used to craft faces on the pottery.
The Ferguson genealogy displayed shows how the Ferguson, Hewell, and Craven families were instrumental in the folk pottery movement in the region.
Pieces in the museum date back to the 1840s up to the present day. Be on the lookout for signs that indicate if the art was created by a Ferguson descendant.
The Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia is free to visit and open year-round.
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM.
Visitors also have an opportunity to purchase art from local artists in the gift shop/gallery.
Visit the Old Sautee General Store & Market
2315 HWY 17, Sautee, GA
The Old Sautee General Store is a living history museum/the longest-operating general store, dating back to 1872.
The general store later incorporated a United States Post Office that operated from 1893 to 1962.
Location was instrumental to the general store’s success, formerly along the Unicoi Trail.
The route was used for trade and migration, connecting the region to Tennessee and North Carolina, and later at the junction of Georgia Highway 17 and Highway 255.
Inside the store, you’ll find a fusion of curated memorabilia, antiques, artifacts, gifts, and specialty foods, many of which you can sample.
Be on the lookout for locally sourced handmade pottery, which includes face jug-inspired mugs.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat or a treat, The Market at the Old Sautee Store specializes in southern classic sandwiches, baked goods, and ice cream.
You can enjoy live music at Old Sautee General Store on Saturday mornings starting between 10-10:30 AM, and they typically play until around 1PM.
Shop at Historic Nora Mill Granary
7107 South Main Street, Helen, GA
Visit one of the oldest and longest-running granaries in the south, dating back to 1876.
You can view equipment previously used and learn more about the process the mill uses for its operations today.
The Grist Mill and Country Store is a popular spot for picking up corn and wheat-based products, including stone-ground grits, cornmeal, flour, pancake, bread, and biscuit mixes.
Their white speckled grits are their best seller, and I’ve been told by more than one southerner that the best way to prepare them is with milk instead of water for a creamier texture.
The country store also has local honey, jams, jellies, and more.
Hike to Anna Ruby Falls
3455 Anna Ruby Falls Road, Helen, GA
You can hike to a rare double waterfall at Anna Ruby Falls Recreation Area in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.
Anna Ruby Falls is a 153-foot double waterfall formed by two creeks, Curtis Creek and York Creek.
The paved hike is 0.8 miles round trip and becomes a steeper incline with an elevation gain of 219 feet.
Keep that in mind if you’re pushing a stroller, especially while hiking back down. Dogs are permitted if they are on a leash.
Roadside Stop at Fred’s Famous Peanuts
17 Clayton Road, Helen, GA
Have you tried boiled peanuts before?
You can try a sample of fried and boiled peanuts at Fred’s Famous Peanuts.
Boiled peanuts are green or raw nuts that are cooked in salty water, and Fred’s Famous Peanuts has been a draw for tourists and locals since 1982.
In my opinion, boiled peanuts are an acquired taste due to their legume flavor and soft texture with a soggy shell.
My taste buds haven’t evolved to like them, but I did enjoy their Cajun fried peanuts.
Fred’s Peanuts also sells cider, canned jellies, jams, and more in addition to their famous fried peanuts.
Go River Tubing Through Downtown Helen
112 Poplar Stump Road, Helen, GA
A favorite pastime of locals and tourists in the summer is floating down the famous Chattahoochee River that passes through downtown Helen via an inner tube.
The regular tubing season is typically from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend. Additional weekends before and after those dates depend on the weather.
It’s the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure with some mini rapids along the way.
There are two river tubing companies in town, Cool River Tubing and Helen Tubing. Cool River Tubing is the only company to offer a 1-hour option.
Zip Over a Half Mile or Visit the Capybaras at Nacoochee Adventures
7019 S. Main Street, Helen, GA
Thrill seekers can choose their own adventure at Nacoochee Adventures, including a racing double zipline, Big Swing, and zipline canopy tour.
I went ziplining on the Big Zip Intimidator, which had incredible views of Yonah Mountain, with an elevation of 3166 feet, in the distance.
There is also a Capyfriends Cafe where guests can book an encounter with a capybara animal ambassador from North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park, in addition to their aerial adventures.
These capybara experiences are very popular, so plan accordingly and book in advance.
Capybara Encounter at North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park
2912 Paradise Valley Rd, Cleveland, GA
North Georgia Wildlife & Safari Park helps create connections between people and animals.
This family-owned business is dedicated to sharing its love of animals through close and personal animal experiences with their animal ambassadors.
General admission to the Wildlife Park includes a guided Wildlife Walk Tour, Safari Drive-Thru, and Petting Farm.
Animal experiences are priced per person and don’t include general admission. These experiences are very popular and can book up months in advance.
A Trip Down Memory Lane at Babyland General Hospital
300 NOK Drive, Cleveland, GA
If you owned a Cabbage Patch Kid as a child, you’ll definitely be intrigued by a visit to Babyland General Hospital.
You’ll learn more about Xavier Roberts, the folk artist who first created soft-sculpted “Little People,” which later evolved into the “Cabbage Patch Kids” we recognize today.
Babyland General Hospital has display cases with rare soft dolls from the early years, a large gift shop filled with Cabbage Patch Kids ready to be adopted, accessories, gifts, and more.
There are several photo opportunities, and dolls are typically “birthed” every hour the store is open.
Be on alert for an announcement over the intercom and watch the nurse deliver a new Cabbage Patch baby by the “Magic Crystal Tree.”
Lodging Option in Helen, GA
There’s an assortment of lodging options to choose from in Helen, GA, including hotels, resorts, cabins, and vacation rentals.
A Relaxing Stay at Valhalla Golf Resort & Spa
688 Bahn Innsbruck, Helen, GA
Located less than 2 miles from downtown Helen, Valhalla Golf Resort & Spa offers the best of both worlds with a convenient location that feels like a remote retreat.
My room at Valhalla Golf Resort & Spa was very spacious with a comfortable bed, and the extra-long counter space in the bathroom was an added bonus.
The upscale adults-only resort has a full-service spa, outdoor pool, tennis, bocce, golf, and an art studio. There are also pet-friendly suites.
The Caledonia Room, located on-site, is a wonderful option for a fine dining experience.
Their breakfast menu also included elevated classics.
For pre- or post-dinner drinks, try their Sky Bar, offering incredible mountain views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Are You Ready to Experience the Charm of Bavaria in Georgia?
With so much to offer, your biggest challenge is deciding which adventure in Helen you want to try next.
