With its Bavarian architecture, traditional German restaurants, and kitschy gift shops, Alpine Helen GA is arguably the most popular small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. And while there are a plethora of interesting places to stay in Helen, some of the most colorful options for lodging in Helen GA are right near the … Read more
The Top 15 Helen GA hiking trails, including the distance, difficulty, elevation gain, and descriptions of each trail’s highlights.
10 Fun, Festive Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Helen GA, including the Helen Christmas Parade, Lighting of the Village, Santa photos & more.
On a recent “Moms Only” weekend getaway to the Sautee-Nacoochee Valley in North Georgia, I convinced my girlfriends to join me on a morning excursion, which included hiking the Yonah Mountain trail. We had all celebrated my 40th birthday a few years ago at the nearby Yonah Mountain Vineyards. But none of us had ever … Read more
All across the North Georgia mountains, you can find rolling hills, lush forest, and an outstanding assortment of eye-catching waterfalls. To some people’s surprise, you can also find an array of superb vineyards and wineries, many of which are less than an hour from metro Atlanta. Thanks to the region’s unique climate and geography, wine … Read more
[Updated March 20, 2022] Widely known as “Georgia’s Alpine Village,” Helen is a former mining town nestled near the southern end of the Blue Ridge Mountains range. The tiny Georgia mountain town (population: 582) resurrected itself in the late 1960s and early 1970s as a quaint re-creation of a traditional Bavarian village, providing a taste … Read more
From the minute I first step foot onto the trail at Raven Cliff Falls, hear Dodd Creek flowing nearby, and see how quickly the forest swallows me, my breathing begins to normalize. I know I’m in for some breathless moments on this moderate hiking trail in North Georgia, but my immersion into the forest canopy … Read more
Helen GA is a relatively small mountain town, measuring just 2.17 square miles, with a population of around 600 people. Yet it attracts around 3 million annual travelers with its unique shops, delicious restaurants, intriguing roadside attractions, and quirky reputation as “Georgia’s Alpine Village.” The town is also home to Oktoberfest, one of the longest-running … Read more
[Updated April 3, 2022] It’s not difficult to understand why Horse Trough Falls is one of the least visited waterfalls in Helen GA once you decide to explore the area for yourself. The Horse Trough Falls trailhead is located at the back of the Upper Chattahoochee River Campground, which is tucked about 5 miles off … Read more
[Updated December 30, 2021] Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, about an hour north of the I-285 perimeter, Helen GA is known for its Alpine architecture, quirky character, impressive array of hiking trails, and annual Oktoberfest festival. There are lots of great attractions and activities in “Alpine Helen.” But until recently this unabashedly unusual … Read more