Attractions Near Helen, Georgia

The Chattahoochee River flows gently through Helen Ga, a re-creation of a Bavarian Alpine village, complete with cobblestone streets. Once a lumber town, it now has more than 200 specialty and import shops offering everything from candle making and glass blowing to cuckoo clocks and quilts. Dining options range from traditional German fare to traditional southern. Visit Hofer’s Bakery for fresh pastries and breads and Old Bavarian Inn for authentic German food including an out of this world pretzel. BBQ is a mountain favorite and there are several excellent places to choose from.

A favorite getaway is Unicoi State Park with lots of trails for hiking and biking as well as swimming and boating on Unicoi Lake. Nearby Anna Ruby Falls, a twin waterfall is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Stop for a wine tasting at Habersham Winery or at Nora Mill Granary for some “Georgia Ice-Cream”, otherwise known as grits!

Recreation is in abundance with mountain biking, fly-fishing, golfing at Innsbruck Resort, horseback riding, hiking, as well as tubing through town and paddling. Area attractions include the Live Tarantulas Gallery, Charlemagne’s Kingdom, Scarlet’s Secret, the Black Forest Bear Park, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway and area waterfalls just to name a few.

Sautee Nacoochee
Music, dancing, art, food, history and culture are the heartbeat of the small mountain hamlet of Sautee Nacoochee. Native Americans built the Sautee Nacoochee Indian Mound which stands today as a testament to their lasting footprint upon the land. The Heritage Slave Cabin on the grounds of the Sautee Nacoochee Center offers a look into a small portion of the area’s heritage and culture along with the renowned Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia with functional works of art created by mortal hands but often displaying the creative soul within. The Centre Gallery has some of the most beautiful works of art that visitors can claim for the right price!

The Stovall Covered Bridge, the smallest covered bridge in Georgia stands as a testament to an era gone by. The “Gourd Ladies” at The Gourd Place mix the new with the old, sprinkling a little imagination. People often send their personal gourds from around the world to add to the collection at the International Gourd Museum. Vineyards dot the landscape and several tasting rooms including Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards, Yonah Mountain Vineyards and the new Frogtown Cellars have opened up giving visitors the chance to enjoy the local “fruit of the wine”.

Cleveland
The town square features a Historic Courthouse turned museum dating back to the 1800's and on the National Register of Historic Places. The shops on the Square include Nix Hardware with everything from appliances and furniture to Meaders Pottery, Jills Gifts and Collectibles carries jewelry, and Willow's Figurines, souvenirs and more.

Stop by the Old Fashioned Soda Fountain Cafe for fresh squeezed lemonade and other delightful treats. Smokey Mountain Trader is the largest Carhart dealer in the North Georgia Mountains specializing in outdoor recreation equipment. Little Bit of Everything located just one block from the Square is a shoppers dream. Neaby activities include fly fishing at Cannon Falls Lodge, gold panning at Gold ‘n Gem Grubbin’ Mine, golfing at Mossy Creek and paddling on the famous Chattahoochee River.

North Georgia Zoo and Petting Farm is a family friendly zoo with over 400 animals including Georgia's premier petting zoo with over 100 breeds of rare and miniature livestock. Visitors can see baby animals being born, take a ride on the camel encounter, go on a wagon pony ride, take a guided wildlife walk and more. A trip through North Georgia is not complete without a visit to the home of the Original Cabbage Patch Kids, Babyland General Hospital.

Attractions

	White County Courthouse Museum - Cleveland GA The old White County Courthouse was completed in 1859 more information
	Unicoi State Park - Helen GA Nestled in the Northeast Georgia Mountains and in the Chattahoochee National Forest, lies the Unicoi State Park, a 1050 acres of natural beauty and activities. Located just two miles north of Alpine Helen Ga, the Unicoi State Park offers a wide variety of group meeting space, wedding facilities, church and family retreats. The park offers 12 miles of nature and hiking trails, 8 miles of mountain biking, fishing, swimming, canoe and paddle boat rentals, tennis courts, softball and volleyball areas, and picnic facilities. more information
	Stovall Mill Covered Bridge - Sautee GA Stovall Mill Covered Bridge over Chickamauga Creek near Helen Ga more information
	Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen GA Smithgall Woods is an angler’s paradise. One of north Georgia’s premier trout streams, Dukes Creek, runs through this spectacular mountain property and is a favorite for catch-and-release fishing. more information
	Sautee-Nacoochee Indian Mound The famous Nacoochee Indian Mound is located in White County, Georgia at the corner of highways 17 and 75, just before entering the town of Helen. The legend of the Nacoochee Indian Mound states that Indian lovers from opposing tribes are buried within the mound. During the summer of 1980 Nacoochee Valley, in which the Mound is located, was placed on the National Register of Historical Places as a historical district. more information
	Sautee Nacoochee Valley “The Heart & Heritage of the Georgia Mountains” more information
	Raven Cliff Falls Trail - Helen Georgia This is absolutely one of the top trails in Georgia. One of the most popular Waterfalls near Helen Ga. more information
	Oktoberfest - Alpine Helen Ga Currently, Helen has the longest-running Oktoberfest, lasting a full eight weeks in the fall, and brings in the most tourists for the year. Starting in mid-September until early November, the town of Helen transforms into a festive Oktoberfest party, complete with German music, attire and dancing. The Oktoberfest is held in Helen’s Festhalle, an enclosed building that houses the German music, dancing, food and drinks, located one block from the downtown Helen area shops and restaurants. more information
	North Georgia Zoo & Petting Farm Home of Wildlife Wonders & Paradise Valley Farm in Cleveland GA more information
	Fishing in White County The area of Alpine Helen has many opportunities for fishing, not just in the city limits of Helen, but also in the immediate surroundings as well. Helen has many stocked streams and lakes for people to choose from when fishing, the best known is the Chattahoochee River, from which you can fish in the city or have a guided fishing tour. One can fish trout in the Chattahoochee River, using real or artificial bait, catching up to eight fish a day. more information
	Dukes Creek Falls Trail Dukes Creek Falls Trail is a 1.9 mile round-trip hike more information
	Chattahoochee River Tubing - Helen GA Through the middle of Alpine Helen runs the famous Chattahoochee River, and during the summer months, the river is flooded with people taking a relaxing ride in innertubes. With two tubing companies in Helen and a water park as well, there is not a lack of water activities for the whole family to enjoy. Tubing season in Helen starts in late May and runs everyday until the first weekend in September, then runs on weekends to October. Enjoy seeing Alpine Helen from the comfort of a lazy river ride through the downtown area of the city. more information
	Anna Ruby Falls - Helen GA Spectacular Anna Ruby Falls lies in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest in Helen Ga more information
	Andrews Cove Hiking Trail - Helen GA Fairly short but very scenic Hiking Trail near Helen Ga more information
	Alpine Helen Ga Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and only two hours north of Atlanta, lies Helen, Georgia, a re-creation German Town. For many years, people have asked why Helen is the way it is, and here is the story of how a logging town became a bustling recreation German town. more information