Nestled at the southern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains is a small town that brings the charm of Bavaria to northern Georgia.
Alpine Helen, Georgia encompasses just over 2 square miles and boasts a population of 430 but its beauty and small town feel are only part of its appeal.
Despite its size, it is the third most visited city in Georgia. That may be in part to its proximity to Atlanta: It is an easy 90 minute drive to the north. The rest is due to the friendly residents and quality atmosphere.
The allure of Helen draws you in with its iconic Bavarian style architecture, giving many nods to European mountain towns.
Our short time here allowed us to experience a mere portion of what Alpine Helen and the surrounding area has to offer.
The main street of Helen is lined with restaurants and filled with shops offering a large variety of authentic German food and wares, along with some of the usual touristy stuff, of course.
You will be missing out if you don’t take care to explore all the alleys in this quiet, but far from sleepy, mountain town.
Who knows, you might even find Santa Claus, or Kris Kringle if you prefer, hanging out at the Christmas Shoppe.
For incredible chocolates, stop by Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen. There you will find sweet confections hand crafted right before your eyes, but please don’t lick the glass!
If you’re looking for a little pick-me-up, check out Higher Ground Coffee and More. While all of their selections are tasty, for a sweeter treat try their famous Bee Sting, a honey latte of sorts. Its unique natural sweetness with the right touch of honey is a welcomed change from the norm.
When you need to stock up on some essentials or great baked goods, be sure to stop by Betty’s Country Store, offering a good selection of nearly everything you will need for your weekend getaway.
In the back of Betty’s Country Store is a bee hive where you can safely watch the busy honey bees crafting their natural sweetness.
For the more adventurous, you can float down over 2 miles of the Edelweiss Strasse that meanders through the middle of town by yourself…
with family or friends…
or in a style all your own.
After all that activity you will be famished. Fortunately Helen boasts a variety of restaurants interspersed from one end of town to the other.
Our choice was Cafe International which we found to be a great choice. The portions were large and our sandwiches were piled high with tasty, quality meats.
Cafe International offered us great views of the Edelweiss Strasse…
and even turned us into real Bavarian citizens. Well, almost.
After devouring all that food, you may want to kick up your feet and take a relaxing ride around town in a horse-drawn carriage from Alpine Carriage Company.
One thing is for certain, you won’t forget the time you spent in Alpine Helen, Georgia, and look forward to your next return.
For a good campground just over the mountain to the north of Helen, you might want to check out Enota Mountain Retreat.
Happy camping!
