Things to do Near Helen, Georgia

Smithgall Woods State Park - Helen GA

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.