Helen is the kind of destination that makes people smile before they have even parked. Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town is built around Alpine-style streets, and its official visitor site compares them to the streets of Bamberg and Lindau in Germany. Add a river for tubing, a lake nearby, a waterfall with a paved trail and a long list of bakeries and shops, and you have a day trip that works in almost any season. This guide walks through how to shape a day in Helen using the information published by the town's visitor bureau, Unicoi State Park and the Forest Service.
The details below come from pages opened while writing this guide. Where a page does not list hours, prices or distances, this guide says so, because it is always worth confirming those before you leave Atlanta.
What Is Helen Like to Visit?
The Alpine Helen and White County Convention and Visitors Bureau describes the setting as mountains, forests and river banks, with the village streets as the centerpiece. The visitor center is at 726 Bruckenstrasse, and you can reach it at 800-858-8027 or 706-878-2181. That is a handy first stop for maps, event listings and answers to questions the website leaves open.
A walkable village
Most of what visitors come for sits close together: shops, bakeries, beer gardens and restaurants. Park once and walk, rather than moving the car between stops.
An events calendar worth checking
Helen hosts events throughout the year, and the visitor site keeps an event directory at helenga.org. The directory is the place to look for anything with a date, since this guide focuses on the parts of Helen that are there every day.
Where Should You Eat and Browse?
The visitor site's dining directory lists about 30 places to eat and drink, and its shopping directory lists around 50 shops. The pages do not give addresses or descriptions for individual venues, so use each name as a starting point and open the venue's own page for hours.
Bakeries, cafes and sweets
The directory names Hofer's of Helen Bakery and Cafe, Muller's Famous Fried Cheese Cafe, Christoff's Caramel Corn and Coffee, and two Hansel and Gretel venues, the Candy Kitchen and the Factory. Between them, you can build a morning around coffee, a pastry and something sweet for the car ride home.
Pubs, beer gardens and restaurants
For something heartier, the list includes The Thirsty Bear Beer Garden, Hofbrauhaus Restaurant and G.I. Germany Pub, Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant and Lounge, and Bodensee Restaurant. If German food is the goal, the visitor site says dining in town includes authentic German fare. Other names on the list, such as Pink Pig Southern BBQ, LaCabana Mexican Restaurant and Bangkok Haus, show that the menu range goes well beyond the Alpine theme.
Shops with a story
The shopping directory includes Bavarian Clockworks, Alpine Olive Tree, Nora Mill Granary Grist Mill and Country Store, Habersham Winery, Yonah Mountain Vineyards, Kaya Vineyard and Winery, and the Helen Arts and Heritage Center. It also names a glassblowing shop and Outpost Gold and Gem Panning. Pick two or three that sound interesting and let the rest be a surprise.
How Do You Get Outdoors From Helen?
The visitor site's outdoor adventures page highlights river tubing on the Chattahoochee River, forest trails that lead to waterfalls and a visit to a local winery with views of the Blue Ridge foothills. It also mentions ziplining above the treetops. The page does not name outfitters, list prices or give hours, so call the visitor center or check each operator's page.
Tubing the Chattahoochee
The visitor site describes floating downstream on an inner tube through cool water. Because the page lists no season dates, confirm with an operator before planning a tubing day, especially outside summer.
A waterfall with a paved path
The Forest Service listing for Anna Ruby Falls says the tallest of the twin falls plunges more than 150 feet, and that the trail to the falls is paved, starting from the visitor information center. The listing shows the site as open but does not give an address, hours or fee, so verify those on the Forest Service page before you drive out.
Why Consider Unicoi State Park?
The Unicoi lodge website places the park at 1788 Highway 356 in Helen and describes it as centered on Unicoi Lake within the Chattahoochee National Forest. It says the park is about two miles from Alpine Helen, which makes it an easy add-on for a day or a longer stay.
Things to do at the lake
The lodge lists water sports, paddle boarding and boat rentals, fly fishing, archery, hatchet throwing, mountain biking and a lakeside beach. It also lists a zip line under the name Aerial Adventure Tour. The page does not give hours or prices, so call 706-878-2201 for reservations and details.
Where to eat
Unicoi Restaurant is known for classic Southern and American cooking, and Smith Creek Tavern is described as a more relaxed spot for specialty cocktails, regional craft beers and casual bites. Both are good options for a meal away from the village crowds.
Stay overnight
The lodge offers a lodge, cabins and a campground under a Rustic Luxury theme. If you want to see Helen at both its busiest and its quietest, an overnight stay lets you walk the village in the evening and again in the morning.
How Do You Plan a First Visit?
A first trip to Helen goes best when you treat the village and the outdoors as two separate halves of the day. The village is about wandering, and the outdoors is about timing.
Call ahead for the outdoor pieces
The visitor site and the Forest Service listing do not publish hours or fees for tubing, ziplining or Anna Ruby Falls, so a quick phone call to the visitor center at 706-878-2181 saves a wasted drive. Unicoi's reservation line, 706-878-2201, covers lodge and activity questions.
Pick a shopping list of three
With roughly 50 shops listed, the village can feel like a lot. Choose three that match your interests, such as a bakery, a winery and a clockworks shop, and treat anything else as a bonus.
Keep a flexible dinner plan
With about 30 dining names in the directory, you can decide on the day. If you are staying overnight at Unicoi, the lodge restaurant and tavern make an easy end to the day without another drive.
What Does a Perfect Day in Helen Look Like?
Here is one way to build it, using only the places named above.
Morning
Start at the visitor center for a map, then walk to a bakery for coffee and something warm. Browse the shops while the village is still quiet.
Midday
Choose a beer garden or restaurant for lunch, then head out to Anna Ruby Falls for the paved walk to the twin falls. Check the Forest Service page first for hours and fees.
Afternoon
Drive to Unicoi Lake for a walk along the water, or stop for a drink at Smith Creek Tavern. If it is warm and you are in the mood for the river, ask the visitor center about tubing.
What Does Helen Say About Living in Atlanta?
Helen is a reminder of how many different kinds of days sit within reach of metro Atlanta. A place with Alpine streets, a lake and a waterfall is a world away from a Saturday in Midtown, yet it fits into a single day of driving. People who live in Woodstock, Marietta or the north end of Atlanta often mention that easy access to the mountains as one of the things they enjoy about living here.
Home as a starting point
The place you live shapes how a trip like this feels: leaving from Buckhead, Brookhaven or Sandy Springs affects which interstate you use and how early you can be out the door. An agent who knows the area can talk through how each neighborhood fits the way you like to spend your weekends.
Helen Day Trip FAQ
Where is the Helen visitor center?
The Alpine Helen and White County Convention and Visitors Bureau is at 726 Bruckenstrasse in Helen. The phone numbers are 800-858-8027 and 706-878-2181.
How tall is Anna Ruby Falls?
The Forest Service listing says the tallest of the twin falls plunges more than 150 feet, and the trail to the falls is paved.
How far is Unicoi State Park from Helen?
The Unicoi lodge website says the park is about two miles from Alpine Helen. Its address is 1788 Highway 356.
Can you go tubing in Helen?
The visitor site describes floating down the Chattahoochee River on an inner tube. It does not list operators, prices or season dates, so contact the visitor center for current information.
Conclusion
Helen packs a lot into a small footprint: Alpine streets, a river, a lake and a waterfall within a short distance of each other. Choose a bakery, a trail and a place to watch the sun go down, and the day plans itself. If you are curious how outings like this fit into daily life across Buckhead, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Marietta or Woodstock, The Agency Atlanta would welcome a conversation about where you want to live.
