Taking the Back Roads to Bavaria (a.k.a. Helen, Georgia).

Although I am often drawn to the hustle and bustle of big cities, one country music song that captures my attention is Take a Back Road, by Rodney Atkins. There is something alluring about turning off the freeway, following a winding path that leads nowhere in particular, and discovering unexpected sights along the way. We did just that during our recent trip back from Atlanta.

Having seen the sights along Interstate 75 enough times to have mental landmarks as to where we were, we set the GPS to “Avoid Highways” and headed out. I often forget that the Appalachian Mountains (and subsequently the Appalachian Trail) extend all the way through northern Georgia. The roads take you on a scenic byway where you can view breathtaking vistas along with charming little towns along the way.

Our destination on this backroads trip was Helen, Georgia. We had seen clips from the town on TikTok but set out with moderately low expectations. Let’s just say, the town did not disappoint, and we ultimately wished we had planned to stay longer.

Helen unabashedly brands itself as 'The Charm of Bavaria, in the Heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains'. It truly is a bustling Alpine Village set against a scenic backdrop of mountains, forests and river banks. You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to the cobblestone streets of Germany’s famed Bamberg or Lindau as colorful shops dot the landscape and the heavenly aroma of authentic German fare takes to the breeze. (If German cuisine is not your thing, rest assured there are plenty of other offerings to suit any discriminating diners!)

Helen boasts a multitude of activities including:

Outdoor:

- Exploring numerous waterfalls

- Hiking national, state, and preserve trails

- Watersports (river tubing, water park with slide and pools)

- Horseback Riding

Arts and Culture:

- Numerous museums

- Local art studios

- Sautee Indian Mound

- Helen Arts and Heritage Center

Family Fun:

- Alpine Express

- Mountain Roller Coaster

- Mini Golf

- Covered Wagon Rides

- Dukes Creek Mines

Wine, Vineyards and Breweries:

- Alpine Brew Deck

- Centina Vineyards

- Creekside Winery

- Habersham Winery

- Kaya Vineyard

- Limoges Cellars

Spas and Retreats:

- Lucille’s Mountain Top Inn and Spa

- Trinity Living Waters Day Spa

- Valhalla Resort Hotel and Solasta Spa

All those activities will work up an appetite and you may need to rest for a bit. With over three dozen eateries dotted around Helen’s downtown area, you will never be far from a unique restaurant to try out. Many of them sit along the Chattahoochee River and provide great views to watch folks navigate down the river in tubes (trust me . . . from my experience, it’s entertaining!). Also, a charming town square, often alive with the sound of live music, serves as a perfect resting spot to sip a drink and unwind.

When your tummy is full, and you’re ready to do some shopping, Helen has a store for everybody.  They are, of course, the typical tourist shops. However, dig deeper and you’ll find intricate craft shops, unique candy stores and bakeries, handmade jewelers, wooden toy makers, potters, hatmakers, glassblowers, clockworks, and antique stores.  I could go on and on with this list, and still leave some specialty off.  Trust me . . . it’s probably there.

If you’re planning on passing through the area, Helen is absolutely worth taking the time to divert your plans and explore.  Likewise, we’d love to plan another trip back and stay for several days so we can fully explore all Helen has to offer.

Visit Helen’s official website here: www.HelenGa.org