Alpine trappings flavor this tourist town set in a mountainous region that abounds with historical attractions, wineries and recreational opportunities
By Randy Mink, Senior Editor
Quick—what are the three most visited cities in Georgia?
If you said Atlanta and Savannah, you’d be correct. Surprisingly, No. 3 is Helen, a German-inspired tourist town in the foothills of Northeast Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
The town of Helen offers a touch of the Old World. (Photo credit: Alpine Helen/White County CVB)
Helen has a population of 525 and covers only 2.1 square miles, but it offers 23 hotels/motels and last year attracted 2.6 million visitors. The place was jammed during my recent trip there.
A sleepy Chattahoochee River town with not much going for it after the lumber industry faded in the 1940s, Helen decided to reinvent itself in 1969. Downtown businesses took on an Alpine flavor by outfitting their buildings with half-timbered facades, painted stucco exteriors, gingerbread trim, balconies with flower boxes and Old World towers, the kind that adorn fairytale villages in southern Germany and Austria. The idea was to attract tourists on their way to Chattahoochee National Forest and other recreation spots in the mountains.
Because of my ancestry and the fact that I studied German on a summer-abroad program in Salzburg, Austria, I’ve long had an affinity for that part of the world. As soon as I entered Helen, it reminded me of Oberammergau, one of the prettiest mountain towns in Bavaria. Poking around Helen—going into shops, taking pictures of the storybook architecture—was a virtual trip overseas.
What do German and Austrian visitors think of this bit of Bavaria in America? According to Jerry Brown, executive director of the Alpine Helen/White County Convention & Visitors Bureau, “They say, ‘I love it. It feels like home.’”
Fans of German cuisine will find lots to like in Helen, Georgia. (Photo credit: Alpine Helen/White County CVB)
Eating the Bavarian Way
I’m always on the lookout for hearty German food when I travel around the U.S. but usually don’t have much luck. Happily, I found that Helen has several restaurants serving up things like schnitzel, sauerbraten, sausages, goulash, dumplings and spaetzle (egg noodles). With a German wheat beer at Bodensee Restaurant, I enjoyed a plate of sauerbraten (marinated roast beef) in a rich gravy, a potato dumpling and red cabbage. The friendly owner hails from the German town of Konstanz on the Bodensee (Lake Constance in English).
For shared appetizers at Bodensee, our group feasted on smoked mountain trout, potato pancakes with sour cream and applesauce, and warm Bavarian-style pretzels served with beer cheese and German sweet mustard. Dessert choices included Black Forest cake, German chocolate cake and apple strudel.
Besides a dining room, Bodensee has a Biergarten with outdoor seating.
At Hofer’s Bakery & Cafe, a breakfast and lunch spot started by a couple who came from Bavaria in the 1950s and now run by their son, I ordered Hofer’s Biscuits and German Gravy—two fresh-baked buttermilk biscuits smothered in a creamy gravy made from Nuremberg sausages—along with a delectable apple fritter. Next time I would get the Apfelkuechle—sliced apples dipped in batter, pan-fried, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and topped with whipped cream. And I would try a pregel, a combination pretzel and bagel.
All the furniture at Hofer’s is imported from Germany, and some of the waitresses wear the traditional dirndl dress.
Also serving German fare are the Hofbrauhaus and Heidelberg restaurants.
The culinary scene in Helen extends to Eastern European cuisines. Margo’s Polish Kitchen, for example, offers plates of pierogis, kielbasas and sauerkraut. Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe advertises “authentic German & Czech cuisine.” Its entrees include lightly fried, handed-breaded cheddar, mozzarella or brie stuffed with ham, and there’s a fried cheese kebab with all three cheeses.
Bavarian Clockworks sells cuckoo clocks made in Germany. (Randy Mink Photo)
Retail Revelry in Helen, Georgia
Downtown Helen has dozens of specialty shops. Some deal in imports from Europe, like alpine hats, lederhosen, beer steins and woodcrafts. Bavarian Clockworks boasts the largest display of cuckoo clocks in North America, all hand-carved in Germany’s Black Forest region.
Two stores specialize in Christmas stuff, selling ornaments, nutcrackers and Nativity sets. A seven-foot retired Macy’s store Santa greets shoppers at Christmas & More.
Many of the souvenirs are bear-themed, as black bears frequent the area’s forests. Bear figurines, stuffed bears, bear artwork and bear whistles fill the shelves.
To get into the Germanic spirit, I almost bought a T-shirt inscribed “Guten Tag, Y’all.”
Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen is the place for sweet treats like chocolate-covered pretzels, fudge, peanut brittle, even beer brittle.
One morning, our group had breakfast on the patio at Betty’s Country Store, an old-time supermarket decorated with vintage advertising signs. What tempted me were the homemade baked goods and Southern specialties like banana pudding and Moon Pies. Betty’s claims to have the largest selection of German beers in Georgia.
Tubing on the Chattahoochee. (Photo credit: Alpine Helen/White County CVB)
Things to See and Do in Helen, Georgia
Many summer visitors come to splash around in the Chattahoochee River, as tubing is the big activity for beating the heat. Our group was amazed to see the river clogged with jillions of people floating in pink and green inner tubes—it looked like bumper cars. Helen Tubing and Cool River Tubing & Adventures rent tubes and provide shuttle service.
Other popular family fun options in town include mini golf at Pirate’s Cove and the Georgia Mountain Coaster, an alpine coaster.
The free-admission Helen Arts & Heritage Center, just off Main Street, is an art gallery presenting the works of local artists and makers. In the permanent collection are works by John Kollock, the artist who played a role in shaping Helen’s Bavarian-inspired aesthetic. A short film on area history follows its path from the original Native American inhabitants and Spanish explorers to the 19th century gold rush and booms in the lumber and tourism industries.
Uhuburg Castle takes visitors back to Renaissance times. (Randy Mink Photo)
Just outside of town, tours of Uhuburg Castle take visitors back to the days of yore. The gleaming white Renaissance castle, opened to the public in 2023 as an attraction and wedding/event venue, has courtyard gardens, ramparts to walk and towers to climb. In the lavishly adorned Great Hall, guests can grab a crown, sword and other props for posing in the royal throne. The indoor tropical atrium features 50 kinds of plants. There are orchards, vineyards, a greenhouse and three resident cats. Along the castle walls, philosophical murals invite guests to ponder the meaning of life.
Public tours are given on Saturdays and Sundays. Groups of 15+ can arrange a weekday visit.
Uhuburg (“Eagle Owl Castle” in English) has several guest chambers for overnight stays (two-night minimum, breakfast included).
Oktoberfest in Helen, Georgia
Thousands of revelers come every September-October for Oktoberfest celebrations. Started in 1971 as a one-night affair, Helen’s big shindig is one of the longest-running such events in the U.S. The 56th annual Oktoberfest in 2026 takes place the weekends of September 10-13, 17-20 and 24-27, then continues daily from October 1 to November 1.
The 19th annual Helen Christmas Market, another big event, is set for November 28-29 and December 5-6, 2026.
BabyLand General Hospital, where Cabbage Patch dolls are born. (Randy Mink Photo)
Babyland General Hospital
Cabbage Patch Kids, the chubby-faced, soft-sculpture dolls that have been part of American pop culture since the 1980s, can be “adopted” at BabyLand General Hospital, a spacious toy store/visitor attraction in Cleveland, Georgia. The cribs and shelves inside the Southern plantation-style building are full of the lovable creations hand-stitched in Cleveland (five miles from Helen). Beneath the branches of the Magic Crystal Tree is the cabbage patch, pollinated by fanciful BunnyBees, where the babies are “born.”
On display behind glass are some of the first Little People, crafted in the late 1970s by local artist Xavier Roberts, the precursors of today’s Cabbage Patch Kids.
Winery Tours in White County, Georgia
Several companies offer tours that visit wineries in White County. Northern Georgia, with more than 150 wine growers, is one of the nation’s fastest-growing wine regions. Among Eastern states, Georgia ranks third behind New York and Virginia in wine production.
Sampling the fruits of the vine at Yonah Mountain Vineyards. (Randy Mink Photo)
Booked with VIP Southern Tours, our group did tastings at three wineries, spending about an hour at each. Under the shade of walnut trees at Cenita Vineyards, we had a catered charcuterie lunch with meats, pimento cheese, crackers, trail mix and a gourmet cookie. Of wines with the meal, I most enjoyed Cenita’s peach-infused Orchard Harvest.
VIP Southern owner Charles Ernst, our driver/guide, also took us to Limoges Cellars, a relatively new winery, and the large, Napa-style Yonah Mountain Vineyards. His minibuses can accommodate up to 16 persons; larger groups can book multiple buses. Custom tours can combine wine-tasting stops with sightseeing and outdoor activities.
If your tastes lean toward distilled spirits, consider a visit to R. M. Rose Distilling Co. in downtown Helen. Opened in May 2026 by husband-and-wife team Jason and Shanda Wood, the tasting room offers a variety of bourbon whiskeys, including the popular Fire on the Mountain Cinnamon and Sticky Pete Peanut Butter. Sipping creams come in flavors like dark chocolate, butter pecan and salted caramel.
Touring the Sautee-Nacoochee Area
The Sautee-Nacoochee area, a designated historic district a short drive from Helen, abounds with the flavor of southern Appalachia.
Nora Mill Granary, powered by the waters of the Chattahoochee River, has been using the same millstones since 1876. Visitors can watch demonstrations of the grist mill’s inner workings and sample foods made from the processed grains. The store sells bags of flour, cornmeal, grits, and mixes (pancake, waffle, biscuit, bread, fish-fry), plus jams, jellies, honey and kitchen items.
In Sautee, the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia is part of the Sautee Nacoochee Center, an art gallery/local history museum housed in a former school.
Old Sautee Store. (Randy Mink Photo)
Nearby, the Old Sautee Store, established in 1872, is Georgia’s oldest operating store, offering a mix of nostalgia and trendy boutique vibes. Be sure to sample the semisoft Scandic Farmer Cheese, a Swedish cheese sold in the store during its 40-year run as a Scandinavian gift shop. You also can sample Scandinavian glogs, gingerbread with peach-apricot jam, and ciders in various flavors (peach, apple, muscadine grape, black cherry).
For old times’ sake, I bought some nostalgia candies and gums, along with a Duncan yoyo, wax lips and a wax moustache.
Old Sautee Market, a little eatery next to the store, where our group enjoyed delicious pimento cheese, ham and cheese, chicken salad, and toasted bologna and cheese sandwiches.
Outdoor Recreation in White County, Georgia
Unicoi State Park, with a 53-acre lake and swimming beach, is a magnet for outdoor fun. Amenities include hiking and mountain biking trails; picnic shelters; kayak, SUP and pedal boat rentals; and a zipline with three course levels that increase in speed, length and height. Campsites, cottages and a 96-room lodge/conference center with buffet-style restaurant accommodate overnight guests.
Adjacent to the park, Anna Ruby Falls, twin waterfalls reached by a half-mile paved trail, tumbles down the side of 4,430-foot Tray Mountain in the heart of Chattahoochee National Forest.
Where to Stay in Helen, Georgia
The Helen area counts about 2,000 cabins and vacation rentals, most offering splendid mountain views.
Nationally branded hotels include Econo Lodge, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and a brand-new Home2 Suites by Hilton.
Our group stayed at Valhalla Resort, a luxury retreat minutes from downtown Helen. Its 18-hole golf course winds through mountainous terrain, and there’s a full-service spa. Besides guest rooms in the four-story main building, there are bungalows that sleep up to four and deluxe townhomes with views of the 18th fairway.
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Lead photo – Tubing on the Chattahoochee River in Helen, Georgia. (Randy Mink Photo)
