Your Entry To Paradise

We don’t usually relate the word “Alpine” with the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, but the community of Helen is a small piece of the Bavarian Alps that found its way into this area of Dixie.  In addition to the hiking trails and whitewater rafting you would presume to find in this part of the southern Appalachians, there is a three month Oktoberfest that lasts from the late summer until the midpoint of fall every year, a traditional Bavarian Christmas Alpenlights celebration, and yet another transplanted Germanic tradition, das volksmarch. The best place to enjoy Oktoberfest is from one of the numerous cabin rental accommodations in the area, or a deluxe room in one of Helen’s lovely European themed inns.

Originally inhabited by Cherokee Indians, the area was the locale of a gold discovery in 1828. For over seventy years, prospectors and commercial mining companies labored deposits that rivaled those in the Rockies and the Sierras. The gold fields were mostly mined out by 1900, but the lumber industry moved in shortly thereafter. With the approach of the railroad, the town of Helen was founded in 1913. The timber trade was short lived.  By 1931, the trees were gone and by 1960, all that remained was a string of cement block houses. The town’s resurgence commenced in the early 1970s as it began to reinvent itself in the Bavarian style, influenced by an artist who had served with the U.S. Army in Germany. These days, Helen is one of the peak destination resorts in the region.

The Chattahoochie River supplies recreational opportunities for whitewater rafting and inner tubing, while the adjoining mountains offer hikers a chance to participate in nature and the different woodland species up close and personal. Mountain inns that include hot tubs are available for romantic getaways, and the town itself is residence to various specialty shops and four star bistros, including an authentic Bavarian Hofbrau Haus, featuring the delicious food of Germany’s southern region. German and northern Italian cuisine should also be tried at The Troll, one of Helen’s more unique eateries.

Easily accessible family outdoor activities include golf, mountain biking, fishing and horseback riding. In fact, there is practically no better means to tour this portion of the Blue Ridge than from the back of a horse.  Check out Chattahoochie Backcountry Treks and  Sunburst Stables for more information.

For hikers, one of the most wonderful places to visit is Anna Ruby Falls, one of the four waterfalls in the immediate area within Unicoi State Park. The falls are slightly over 800 yards from an improved public access area, and are in fact two separate falls with the better of the two topping out at greater than 150 feet high.

Of course, just because you are out in and amongst nature does not mean you have to rough it. North Georgia romantic getaways possess all the comforts of home including cable TV and wireless internet access.  The owners of these bed and breakfasts are more than pleased to impart the rich history of the area as well as recommend other interesting site seeing tours and delicious regional dining establishments.