Travel Excursion – Helen, Georgia

Charming, scenic mountain town draws visitors

By Patrice Raplee

Photos by © Patrice Raplee

The echo of polka music drifts through the small Alpine village nestled in surrounding lush hillsides. A peaceful, dreamy kind of day encourages visitors to leisurely stroll by charming, Bavarian-designed shops. Farther ahead, bistros emanate aromas of rich, tantalizing sausages and frothy German beer in the scenic mountain town of Helen, Georgia.

The enchanting Bavarian town of Helen, residing on the banks of the Chattahoochee River, is tucked into Georgia’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains and is located 75 miles from Atlanta. Originally, the community of Helen began as settlers arrived in the early 1900s, mined for gold and cut timber for the booming lumber industry. As the town began to wane in the late ‘60s, local businessmen created a plan to revitalize Helen. With the vision and drawing talents of a local artist who had been stationed in Germany and the natural surrounding area resembling Deutschland’s Alpine region, the renovation of Helen into a Bavarian town began. Forty years later, the town has burgeoned into a lovely Alpine village that draws over two million visitors annually. Moreover, as the third most popular destination in Georgia, Helen and surrounding White County have a great deal to offer visitors. From horseback riding, golf, camping, canoeing, river tubing, excellent fishing, hiking, biking, Bavarian shopping and one of the best and longest Oktoberfests in the U.S., Helen is a perfect locale place for a superb holiday getaway.

Downtown

Helen is truly charming, landscaped with multitudes of blooming flowers and vine-covered porticos, set against a crystal-clear running river and horse-drawn carriages conveying visitors along scenic venues and forested foothills. The town’s easily walkable Main Street is lined on both sides with colorful Blake Forest-styled shops filled with European goods and gifts. Local artisans are also in attendance with their products of fine glassware and pottery, intermixed with unique shops such as Magic & Mischief (cool magic shop) and Dream Catcher, offering beautifully-crafted Indian arts. And, if you’re looking for a Delft porcelain, Windmill Dutch Imports purveys an impressive selection of reasonably-priced Delft treasures and Dutch food specialties. Walk across the street to King’s courtyard, adorned with an Alpine stone water fountain that leads to dozens of alluring shops. Specialty toy stores, sport shops, fine china, gorgeous German porcelain dolls and fabulous apparel are just a few of the shops to peruse. However, one store is a must visit, Hansel and Gretel, the best candy kitchen in northern Georgia. The family-owned business started in Helen some 30 years ago, producing hand-made delicious confections of divine peanut brittle, chocolates, pecan pralines, butter toffee and a host of additional sweet delights that make the candy kitchen a first stop for many visitors. For additional information, visit www.hanselandgretelcandykitchen.com.

There is an abundance of excellent dining options in town; three recommended establishments are Nacoochee Grill, Hofer’s Of Helen Bakery-Konditorei-Cafe and Café International. The café is a full-scale restaurant that features a covered outdoor dining section built out over the picturesque and forested Chattahoochee River. This is a popular café due to the locale and they offer a myriad of wonderful cuisine specialties from several European countries including American. Hofer’s is downright famous in Georgia and features authentic German cooking; their Bavarian bakery is to die for, as well as their luscious breakfast and lunch menu. The atmosphere is busy but comfortable and they offer outdoor seating as well. www.hofers.com. Nacoochee Grill, located on South Main Street, proffers fine cuisine encompassing continental specialties with a gourmet regional flair and live-wood fire grill. The restaurant’s historical house reflects a tasteful accompaniment to the simple yet upscale farmhouse décor. www.nocoocheegrill.com

Throughout the year, Helen is brimming with festivals, dances, events and the especially popular Oktoberfest that begins in mid-September and lasts through October. Christmas season is also special with parades, Christmas markets, stunning lights, traditional decorations and celebrations that are heart-warming and fun. For additional information on Helen, visit www.helenga.org.

Just before entering into downtown Helen on Main Street, visitors will find a special park, the Black Forest Bear and Reptile Exhibit. The bear park rescued black bears, a grizzly, Syrian grizzly, Asian and Cinnamon bears from being destroyed. The bears are well-cared for by the park and provide visitors an educational and close-up look at these majestic and fascinating animals. At certain times of day, visitors are even allowed to feed the bears (from a very safe vantage point) a variety of fruits provided by the park. The Reptile Exhibit is exciting for snake enthusiasts and showcases Boas, Pythons and most native snakes to Georgia. The Bear Park is a fun place to visit for the family and their large gift shop is a blast to peruse. For additional information, visit www.blackforestthearpark.com.

Sautee

Georgia’s White County encompasses areas of natural beauty and unique small towns that offer heritage arts, enticing attractions, working farms and plantations. Just driving through these towns, visitors are afforded the opportunity to view ancient Indian burial mounds and historical homes, such as the beautiful Hardman Estate and Baptist Church from the 1870s (most photographed church in northern Georgia).

An excellent town to visit for heritage and folk art is Sautee, located a few miles east of Helen. The Sautee Nacoochee Center and the Folk Pottery Museum of North Georgia is one of the best and fascinating museums to visit for incredible living heritage folk pottery. Collectors fly from around the world to obtain these indigenous and sometimes unusual pottery pieces. The museum and the pottery pieces tell the story of Mountain Heritage and folk traditions of Southern Appalachia that goes back 200 years. The pottery collection is widely varied, from lovely ornamental grape motifs and landscape scenes to the highly collectible face or head jugs. The museum has created an outstanding exhibit that leads visitors through the years of folk pottery art and presents video chronicles on families and their generational technique. For additional information, visit www.folkpotterymuseum.com.

North Georgians are known for their highly creative art forms and one especially captivating art shop in Sautee is The Gourd Place. The shop and museum is located on picturesque grounds adjacent to a small lake. Owners Priscilla Wilson and Janice Lymburmer created intriguing usable art with gourds years ago and the pieces were a big hit. The gourds are intricately carved and turned into everything from gourd dolls and kitchen vessels to plates with a clay overlay and highly decorative art pieces. It is amazing to see the fine carving of a needle’s width on the gourds and the wide color variation used to create art pieces. For additional information, visit www.gourdplace.com.

Sautee definitely possesses a wide variety of interesting attractions, as well shops, teashops, B&Bs, superb restaurants and a special little place called the Old Sautee Store. Built in 1872, the general store has kept its period ambience. It is worth a visit to explore the old-fashioned artifacts and great new specialty foods, gifts and even apparel and jewelry.

If you wish to stay in the Sautee, the Stovall House Country Inn & Restaurant is a located in the foothills with stellar views of rolling fields and serene mountains. The rooms are comfortable and fashioned with period décor. The Stovall House’s cuisine is absolutely divine with the distinction as rated one of the top 50 restaurants in Georgia. And, with seating in front of windows that face pastoral views, you won’t want to leave. Stovall House is a perfect retreat and the service is impeccable. For additional information, visit www.stovallhouse.com.

State Parks

Northern Georgia’s state parks are pristine and magnificent. Anglers will find some of the best trout fishing in the state, campers will have a surfeit of unspoiled sites and hikers will revel in the abundant trails and waterfalls. Smithgall Woods Duke Creek Conservation Area envelops over 6000 acres with bear and deer and allows hunting and catch-and-release fishing in one of the top trout streams in America. The Conservation Center provides educational exhibits and videos on the history and time-line of the woods and animals. In addition, there are fantastic trails for hiking and biking within the park and something rather unusual for a state park, a famous culinary lodge! The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is a combination of five beautifully decorated cottages (gorgeous modern log A-frames) with a total of 14-rooms secreted away in the middle of the state park, surrounded by prolific rhododendrons and wild mountain laurel. The unbelievable setting of pristine streams and private, forested surroundings is awe-inspiring. The lodge provides group meetings and corporate retreats, as well as catering to regular guests. And, the lodge staff prepares exquisite cuisine that is listed in every top magazine in the country for its fresh ingredients. This lodge provides an escape into a woodland dream and is a destination for a perfect getaway to peace and serenity. Take a peak online and visit www.smithgallwoods.com.

Unicoi State Park & Lodge is located two miles northeast of Helen. This outdoor haven offers hiking, mountain biking, canoes, fishing, swimming, boating and numerous tents, RV and trailer campsites. The park also offers Squirrel’s Nest Platform Campsites (you have to see these cool sites!), 30 cottages and a 100-room lodge and conference center. Yes, this park is huge! It is also carefully managed to maintain an unspoiled, natural park for all to enjoy. One of park’s big advantages is Unicoi Restaurant’s delicious fare. You don’t have to eat camp food all week. The restaurant is located in the lodge and serves quality buffet meals at inexpensive prices; try the fresh fish and berry pies. For additional information, visit www.gastateparks.org.

For a short and easy hike with a big payoff, venture to Anna Ruby Falls, located a few miles from Unicoi State Park. The spectacular falls lie in the heart of Chattahoochee National Forest and is a paradise for photographers. The quarter-mile footpath leads to the falls and is paved; it takes about 30 minutes to reach the falls from the parking lot. For more ambitious hikers, there is a 4.6-mile hike from the base of Anna Ruby Falls to Unicoi State park.

Attractions

Did you ever wonder where the world-famous Cabbage Patch Kids are, ah…born? Well yes, they are born in a cabbage patch and those cabbage patches are located at Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia. Cleveland is located about 40 minutes south of Helen on Highway 75. The kids are the creation of Xavier Roberts. When Roberts was 21, he was an art student at McConnell College in Georgia. He originally hand-stitched each kid and started to sell them at fairs. At first, the kids weren’t too popular, but with the advent of an accompanying birth certificate, Roberts’ business was born! The kids have been a huge success for over 26-years and continue to win the hearts of children everywhere; just try to get your child to leave Babyland.

The Cabbage Patch Kids Babyland General Hospital has Disneyesk-design qualities that are quite visually appealing and fun to explore. Visitors can watch the birth of a Cabbage Patch newborn or preemie under the Crystal Tree where Mother Cabbages deliver and then wander through the unusual but captivating hospital. Visit the schoolroom where multitudes of Cabbage Patch Kids of every ethnicity, hair and eye color are on display, or stroll to the Adoption Center and adopt a Cabbage Patch Kid of your own. Babyland is an impressive kids’ paradise and features an interesting history, as well as information on the Collector’s Club. Moreover, Babyland is moving to a larger home in the fall of 2009, located two miles north of the existing Babyland in Cleveland. If you think the original Babyland is special, prepare to be WOWED! The New Babyland General is a spectacularly architected southern-style home with 70,000 square feet of space on 96 acres. Parents will have the opportunity to book parties for their children at the new Babyland amid a whole host of other surprises that will make Babyland General a fun and exciting destination for children everywhere. For additional information, visit www.cabbagepatchkids.com.