View Full Version : Thinking about Helen, GA for our anniversary
I've done some research online and there's tons to do there. We'd be going the 1st week in October, which is in the middle of their Octoberfest, so I realize prices will be up. Anyone have a connection for a good cabin/chalet/inn/B&B/whatever for the 2 of us for 3 nights that I won't have to sell a kidney for? Also, what are all the must see's? NOTE: this will be a very light if any at all hiking kind of trip. Hook a WBer up.
Bigben
digger51
03-06-2007, 13:44
If it takes more than an hour to see everything there is in Helen you have a speed problem. It is basically one street with a few side roads and a bunch of restaurants, motels and tourist shops. The best thing you can do there is go hiking in the hills up at Unicoi Gap. If you are familiar with Gatlinburg, Tn then think of that on a two block scale. I lived near there and had to take relatives to see it often. I might suggest staying elsewhere and making an afternoon or evening trip to Helen.
Trailwind
03-06-2007, 14:23
I've done some research online and there's tons to do there. We'd be going the 1st week in October, which is in the middle of their Octoberfest, so I realize prices will be up. Anyone have a connection for a good cabin/chalet/inn/B&B/whatever for the 2 of us for 3 nights that I won't have to sell a kidney for? Also, what are all the must see's? NOTE: this will be a very light if any at all hiking kind of trip. Hook a WBer up.
Bigben
Traffic during Octoberfest is horrendous, can take 2-3 hours just to get the last couple of miles into the couple of blocks of town. Lots to see and do as long as you enjoy drinking beer, moving to a new pub and drinking more beer, eating a little bit and then drinking more beer. Helen is pretty cool when not so overcrowded. Gatlinburg is pretty cool most of the time and there's Pigeon Forge if your spouse gets bored and has to see outlet shopping. Hiking in the Smokeys is awesome and there are easily things to do for a full week in this area.
cannonball
03-06-2007, 14:30
Avoid this town at all cost. I had my family up at Vogel state park camping last summer. Being the compremissing, okay baby well do something you want to do today husband, we rolled into Helen one afternoon.
That remains 1 of the worst days of my life. The town is nothing but fudge shops and souviner shacks. You walk up and down over crowded streets getting bumped into by a bunch of biker wannabes. Of course my wife had to go into every shop in town.
MY advice is to take the easy way out and put a pistol to your head instead of going to Helen.
max patch
03-06-2007, 14:42
I live about 90 minutes from Helen and the only - and I mean ONLY - time we go there is after a day hike on the AT. (There are some sections that are close by.) We grab some barbeque and leave asap. A horrible little town.
Midway Sam
03-06-2007, 14:53
Yup. My wife and I stayed here one night during the 2006 Dodge Tour de Georgia. What a disappointment.
galaleemc
03-06-2007, 17:34
We live 25 miles north. We say to our rental home guests...why go to Helen when you can stay in Heaven?". TOURIST TRAP. Ok go ONE night, plan on sitting in traffic for a while....then plan on time to look for a parking spot. Then you are on your own. We only go for ribs or mexican food there. See our www or pm me.
http://www.helenwebcam.com/ shows it all pretty much
http://www.helenga.org/
I recommen Dahlonega over Helen any day.
Skidsteer
03-06-2007, 18:17
Helen, GA.
Think Redneck Bavaria. Personally, I'd rather be shot in my sleep than vacation in Helen.
But to each his own...
BigFoot2002
03-06-2007, 19:54
Never order pizza at a place that serves Bratwurst.
Frolicking Dinosaurs
03-06-2007, 20:18
Google Cabin in Helen area - there are some nice, reasonably priced cabins up toward Blairsville. As others have noted, Helen is pretty disappointing unless you like touring shops full of junk. It is a fun place to go with kids in the summer because a gentle, tubing river runs beside the main road and Helen has all sorts of tasty treats for your grandkids :D.
See! And there you have it. I knew I'd get some straight answers. I won't be staying there for more than a day, if that. Actually, the tourist trap/shoppes thing is something my wife does like. Me, not so much. And we're taking the kids to Pigeon Forge for family vacation this year. Once a year in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge is enough. I'll keep looking.
Thanks,
Bigben
Jack Tarlin
03-06-2007, 23:19
Bigben:
If you want something a bit more romantic than a Teutonic Gatlinburg, how about Hot Springs, North Carolina?
You can go up Max Patch mountain if it's nice, relax in the historic spa, have a nice dinner in town, and stay at the Duckett House Inn, the nicest B&B on the Trail. The eggs you'll have for breakfast are so fresh, they're probably only a few hours old. Great folks, great place. (And if your wife is determined to shop, take her to nearby Asheville, a very cool place to visit).
Hope you have a great anniversary!!
Dances with Mice
03-07-2007, 00:38
May I recommend Forrest Hills (http://www.foresths.com/)?
Secluded cabins. Hot tubs. Porch swings built for two with blankets. Tennis. Horseback riding, which is a great way to see the fall foliage. It's just down the road from Amicalola which is worth a visit even if you're not hiking.
It's near Dahlonega which is fun to explore on foot. Experience the Smith House. (http://roadsidegeorgia.com/site/smithhouse.html) Burt's Pumpkin (http://www.burtsfarm.com/)farm is just down the road from the resort and will be in full swing in October. And you ought to see kangaroos. No kidding. (http://www.kangaroocenter.com/)
Do Helen as a day trip. Make reservations at the Black Bear (http://www.blackbeardinnertheatre.com/public/)theater one night, all their performances sell out early. If you really love your wife, suffer through a visit to the Cabbage Patch (http://www.cabbagepatchkids.com/pages/blgh_tour/tour_intro-frame.html) doll 'hospital' on the way to Helen. And don't tell anyone but I kinda liked the gourd place (http://www.gourdplace.com/).
Helen is alright I like to go there every couple of years. If you've got kids they'll like tubing down the river. I loved helen as a kid. Personally I like Ellijay area, I'm sure you could rent a cabin up there. It's more secluded beautiful area.
Mother Nature
03-07-2007, 10:14
I live a sneeze from Helen. I completely agree with Dances with Mice. Helen is a cute daytrip. There are several places for lunch and an evening dinner is nice with the town lit up after dark.
Some of the outlet stores that are advertised are gone due to damage by a tornado that ripped through town not long ago. There is new development occurring and every effort to restore things are being made. The beautiful trees along the backside of town over the Chattahoochee River were mowed over by the tornado.
You might check Unicoi Lodge in Unicoi State Park. It is a full service lodge with a nice restaurant (all you can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets.) There is a short 3 mile hike from the Lodge right into downtown Helen. The trail was recently reworked and is in excellent shape.
The cabins and B&Bs make their money during Octoberfest. You are better off finding accomodations in nearby towns and driving over to Helen. The cabin next to my home is a rental and the price skyrockets durin "leaf and Octoberfest season".
Black Bear Theater has a website. I enjoy their dinner productions. http://www.blackbeardinnertheatre.com/
MN
Helen isn't so bad. Parking on the hill (Take a right at Hoffers' Resteraunt if heading north) is free. Get ya a quarter and feed the monster trout at Nora mill. That is the best entertainment value in the whole town. (and they have good grits). Stop by betty's on the other side of town, and get your self a bottle of exotic soda pop. A walk through the town isnt a bad way to spend an evening.
When I lived in Atlanta, I'd occasionally drive up during the week and eat diiner along the river, and then drive up to the AT to watch the sun set. It's also a nice place after 6pm on a summer Sunday when everybody goes home.
There's a nice grassy park right on main street that most people seem to miss.
October is a horrible zoo, and not for me!
For those so inclined there is a very fine cigar shop in Helen.