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Helen, Georgia

 Helen, Georgia is a little bit of Bavaria in the United States.

This charming village was the brain child of 3 local businessmen along with the support of local government hoping to turn the old main street of the depressed mining/logging town into an attraction for tourists. Commissioned artist John Kollock designed the store fronts into the Bavarian style in 1969. Since then, it has continued to grow and thrive!

It is a picturesque alpine village set amongst mountains, forests and river banks.

Walking around early in the morning is quite a treat with virtually no one around! Afternoons are bustling here.

It is a place to feel transported to another country.


The nooks and crannies once you meander away from the main street are such a treat!


The Chatachoocee River runs through the village.

Tubers ride down it during the day. Dotted with restaurants and bars, visitors can sit by the river and watch the fun.

We saw many purple martins flying about and the village does a great job accommodating them as well as it does with humans.


It is meticulously maintained with plantings.

Signage is available if you want to navigate the old fashioned way without a smart phone.

Details are everywhere so it is important to look up and enjoy them all!

A cute surprise was wedding chapels! This village is super fabulous for a destination wedding.



One of the local parks is Unicoi Hill Park located on Main Street.  


Like the rest of the town, it features beautiful landscaping to wow its visitors.

The park even has its own waterfall, Alana Falls.


Helen is located in the northeast region of Georgia. It is a perfect place to visit for the nature lover as it is surrounded by mountains, waterfalls and nature trails for all fitness levels.

Thank you for stopping by! ~Val



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Artwork of Helen, Georgia

Building walls of Helen, Georgia are covered with wonderful artwork. John Kollock was the artist commissioned by the local government to design the village and his style of artwork has continued here over the decades. Scenes and thoughts of Europe are everywhere. Some pieces are business specific. Beer is a popular beverage at all the restaurants. Little villages make me think of handmade wooden toys. This alpine village holds a hot air balloon festival each year so it is common to spot balloon references. When visiting the village, it is important to stop by the Helen Arts & Heritage Center . Here there is quite a bit of history of this unique place. Besides wall paintings, sculptures and other types are artwork are prevalant. Sasquatch seeking seems to be a sport here. Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

Dukes Creek Falls

  Dukes Creek Falls is a 150 foot waterfall near Helen, Georgia. The relatively easy hike is 2.2 miles round trip. We hiked it on a June morning and it was comfortable as a shaded walk. The trail has steep edges so if the ground is wet, this could create a danger if not careful. Rhododendrums were still in bloom adding cheer to the stunning landscape. Awesome rock formations were abundant. Tree trunks were showing and growing around rocks creating a monster like presence. Rushing water greeted us when we reached the bottom of the trail. Mesmerizing sights and sounds soothed the soul. Scenic vistas of Yonah Mountain are in the area. This is a hike I would recommend to anyone visiting Helen, GA as it is a short drive from downtown, right of a main street. Thank you for stopping by! ~Val

Things to do in Helen, Georgia

Helen, Georgia is filled with fun things to do for all ages. Ride the Georgia Mountain Coaster. Mine for gems. Helen was once a mining town so this is an appropriate activity. Downtown has a fun setup for kids, but you can also find surrounding mines and try you luck for nature's goodies. Play mini golf. We played at Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf which had quirky, fun holes. Stroll through the picturesque Unicoi Hill Park. Stop and listen to live music which you can find in many spots. Enjoy a beer in the beer garden. Take time to enjoy the beautiful plants and flowers. These photos were taken in June but I have a feeling it is gorgeous year round here.   Go shopping. Here you can find a little bit of everything, with an alpine vibe! Go tubing on the Chattahoochee River. Not adventurous? Enjoy a meal or a beer along the river while watching the tubers. Besides people, dogs also tube this river adding to the entertainment! Bar hop to enjoy a variety of German beers. Yes, beer is