Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the city of Helen has a charming "Alpine feel," according to the town's official website. Bavarian-style buildings, quaint shops lining the cobblestone streets and the mountain scenery, all give the city an Old World European feel. Despite its small size -- just 430 people called the town home in 2000, according to the Census Bureau -- leisure activities on offer in Helen include shopping, visiting museums, hiking, golfing and fishing, making the area a tourist destination. Visitors will find a number of places to stay on a trip to Helen and lots to do.
Helen is remote, and before the 1960s it was just another nondescript mountain community that hardly anyone had heard of. But all that changed in the 1960s when city leaders regenerated the town with an Old World Bavarian theme, reports the town's official tourism site, the White County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Today, the city draws thousands of tourists. In fact, it is one of Georgia's top tourist destinations, despite its remote location in the state. From Atlanta, the journey will take about 1 1/2 hours. Drivers should head north along I-85 or Highway 400 and travel about 86 miles. Helen is approximately 15 miles off I-985 or Highway 365.
Downtown Helen has a number of activities to keep the tourists entertained, ranging from the Helen Art Gallery and History Museum, to the numerous shops, to Bigg Daddy's American Tavern on Edelweiss Strasse, which is Helen's only microbrewery. Innsbruck Golf Course and Nacoochee Village Tavern Pizzeria are nearby, and the town also features a variety of restaurants, many of which are in keeping with the city's theme, such as the Old Bavaria Inn and the Troll Tavern. However, despite the town's charm, it must vie with Mother Nature. Tourists may enjoy tubing down the Chattahoochee River, and the Unicoi State Park is just two miles outside of Helen.The park boasts the Anna Ruby Falls, dozens of hiking trails and fishing in a 53-acre lake.
Blue Ridge Cabin Rentals has an array of accommodations on offer. Guests after scenic vistas may choose a cabin perched on top of a mountain, or nature-lovers may opt for a creekside cabin or one in the forest. The Unicoi State Park and the Anna Ruby Falls are nearby, so visitors will never be without outdoor activities. Cabin amenities vary, but may include a hot tub, a sauna, a deck and a large flat-screen TV. An on-site store stocked with food and toiletries means that any items accidentally left at home won't ruin the vacation, and gifts, souvenirs and postcards are also available.
Visitors to Helen who prefer to stay in the town itself may enjoy the Carlson-owned Country Inn and Suites. The hotel offers a complimentary continental breakfast, and other amenities include a heated indoor swimming pool and free high-speed Internet access. The hotel boasts that their fitness center is "state of the art."
