Okay, Mom and I are going to Highlands/Cashiers NC for the weekend. Mom wants to make a stop, possibly overnight, in Helen. What's in Helen???

Helen is a small town which bills itself as a recreation of an Alpine village. IMO, it has a real mix of architecture, some which does not fit in that descriptive. The main drag through town is very congested- especially during October, as the town celebrates Oktoberfest. We usually pass by Helen, stopping only at Betty's Country Store, which has a good selection of cheeses, granola and groceries, on our way to hike in the North Georgia mountains. Some folks love Helen; this is my take on the area. If you do want to spend the night, make reservations NOW. Believe you can get motel listing from helenga.org

I think we've decided to stop in Helen for lunch on Friday before heading up to Cashiers and Highlands. Any recommendations on restaurants for lunch or any must sees in Helen?

There's an excellent Amish bakery outside of Helen, and The Nacoochee Grill, which I haven't tried, is supposed to be good as well.

Helen just isn't a "must see" kind of town. The locals revived their town after logging and mining by creating the German theme. One resident had been to Germany and had German relatives. It is mainly a street of stores and restaurants. As another poster mentioned, the only time we go to Helen is enroute to hiking in the state parks or national forest. There is a lovely waterfall (Amicola sp?)in a nearby state park, but because you are going on to NC, you will find similar scenery and waterfalls there. Maybe Mom wants to hit the tourist shops?

I agree with Kay. Helen is the ultimate "tourist trap." I wouldn't waste my time. However, there are some neat things to see in the area: Amicalola Falls, Anna Ruby Falls, Brasstown Bald, the town of Dahlonega, to name a few.

Helen is a German version Myrtle Beach without the beach...or maybe Gatlinberg. It's cute, and a good romantic town in my opinion. It's a fun place to stop for an overnight stay.

I recommend stopping in Helen - you can have lunch at the International Cafe, which has a great Reuben sandwich, and overlooks the Chatahoochee river. It's fun to watch people tubing down the river. There are a few large rocks that create a water slide and it is the best spot on the river for tubing.

My favorite restaurant in Helen is Hofer's - it is a German restaurant that has the best breakfast, ask for the bread basket, but lunches are very good as well. You can eat on the front porch and people watch. Hofer's also has a great bakery - bread and sweets.

If your mom is up to it, take her to Anna Ruby Falls (right outside Helen in Unicoi National Park). You will probably drive right past it on your way to N.C. depening upon your route. It is a double fall and very pretty - but the paved .05 mile walk up to the falls is a bit steep.

You must stop at Fred's Peanuts to get some roasted peanuts and peach cider for your trip up the mountain.

Also on the way you will pass Burton Gallery, which has some wonderful art, sculptures, carvings, paintings, etc. done by local artists.

The drive from Helen to N.C. is nice, it will take you past Lake Burton, which is a nice lake. If you want to have lunch at a family style restaurant you could stop at the Dillard House in Dillard, GA. You are seated at a large table with other guests and served large platters of delicious vegetables, fried chicken, ham, fish, and usually some kind of fruit cobbler for dessert.

Have fun.

Hi,
If it's on your way, stop in Helen for an hour or two, but if it means going out of your way-I'd skip it. Helen is touristy, and not in a good way. I live about an hour or so away in Atlanta and the only time I go there is to hike or show a visiting relative Unicoi. Noone I've taken has asked to go back there...no one!

As for the Dillard House--people who enjoy old fashioned Southern cooking, love it. Those of us who are not used to that kind of fattening cooking think it's more like an improved Picadilly cafeteria but w/o the plastic trays. Guess it's just what you're used to. If you do go there, go starving! We're talking LOTS of food.

Debbie

You can't compar Highlands and Helen. Spend your time in the mountains not in a tourist trap. This time of year it's nothing but traffic and tack.I know "to each its own",but Helen is out of the way and not worth a stop (let alone an overnight).

It is an overcrowded, overrated touristy little "Bavarian" type town in North Ga. It has an Oktoberfest that attracts way too many people. The traffic terrible and the shops are not interesting. I would not waste my time.

Been there a few times to show it off to relatives and other visitors. Have eaten in many of the restaurants. Discovered that they all serve the same potato salad. Must have a communal kitchen for some of their foods. Also found out that they have an interesting Oktoberfest celebration since no alcohol including beer is served on Sundays. Interesting to have bratwurst with ice tea rather than a beer

Although I don't recommend Helen. They do serve booze on Sundays, but package stores are closed.