Nestled in Northeast Georgia, the town of Helen is a re-creation of an alpine village, complete with cobblestone alleys. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and near the Chattahoochee River, it is a spot for nature-lovers as well as tourists, and the town itself hosts a wide variety of festivals and special events including hot air balloon races, Christmas parades and the Bavarian Nights of Summer.
Alpine Village
The city center is a re-creation of a European alpine village boasting more than 200 shops, including a bakery, sweet shop and several collectible stores. Oktoberfest is one of the city's largest celebrations, lasting two months with live music in the local beer gardens and Festhalle.
Carriage Rides
Carriage rides are available along Helen's main street and take you on guided tours of the town's historic district. Rides can be as long or short as you please, and usually include a photo with your horse and driver at the end.
Unicoi State Park
Visitors can enjoy the park for a day after paying a modest $5 a day use fee. Unicoi State Park offers more than 80 campsites for tents, RVs and camper trailers. Cottages and picnic pavilions can also be rented, and provide easy access to adjacent Unicoi Lake. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, swimming and boating are popular activities at the park.
Helen Tubing & Waterpark
Open seasonally, Helen Tubing & Waterpark offers water-based recreation just outside the Alpine Village. Tubing activities take visitors floating down the Chattahoochee River, while the waterpark contains large water slides, wading pools and a perimeter moat to have a more leisurely float around.
Anna Ruby Falls
Tucked within the Chattahoochee National Forest, this double-fall structure drops a whopping 153 feet before eventually continuing on to Unicoi Lake. A visitor's center, hiking trail and trout feeding stations all make the falls a stunning and educational stop.
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