Waterfalls, wineries, outdoor adventures, Appalachian art and delicious dining add up to a memorable getaway for two
ALPINE HELEN-WHITE COUNTY, GEORGIA–JANUARY 2023–Set the stage for romance in Alpine Helen and surrounding White County, Georgia, where mountain vistas, crisp air, waterfalls and outdoor pursuits are found surrounding a picturesque Bavarian village. An hour and a half north of Atlanta in the Blue Ridge Mountains, it’s the perfect marriage of in-town entertainment and quiet, remote beauty.
Here are five ways to design a romantic escape:
1. Downtown day and night life Stroll amid cobblestone pathways and gingerbread-laced buildings through a lively downtown with one-of-a-kind shopping, dining and live music, walking paths and accommodations alongside the Chattahoochee River. Tour the strasses and platzes of Helen’s Alpine Village in a horse-drawn carriage. Discover abundant shopping, art galleries, wine tasting rooms, traditional German dishes and international fare.
More than three dozen casual and fine-casual restaurants, gastro-pubs, bakeries, ice creameries and snack shops serve everything from authentic German cuisine to classic Southern to American steakhouse and barbecue. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on patios and decks all over town, many overlooking the river. HelenGAga.org/dining
Couples have endless choices among cabins, hotels and vacation rentals right in the middle of downtown fun. The Castle Inn is right on Main Street alongside the Chattahoochee with balcony views of the town and the mountains. For a resort experience high above town, Valhalla Resort Hotel offers mountain views from king and VIP suites and the area’s true fine-dining restaurant, within the Innsbruck Golf Community. Upscale amenities include concierge, valet, spa services, a relaxing pool and two additional dining areas.
2. Retreat to the artsy quiet side in historic Sautee-Nacoochee. Four miles from Helen, step into the past of a scenic rural community, with exquisitely preserved/restored artists cabins, home furnishings and mercantile stores. Stop by the Old Sautee Store, established in 1872 and famous for its combination of museum, gourmet foods, clothing and jewelry.
Unveil the cultural history of this Appalachian Mountain region at the Sautee Nacoochee Center, a thriving cultural and community gathering place that blends the old with the contemporary in a restored rural schoolhouse and adjacent modern post and beam building. The schoolhouse hosts juried events for regional artists, a gallery and museum. The adjacent Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia showcases a 200-year tradition of men and women who shaped the earth and water of the Georgia mountains into once essential household items now valued and collected as distinctive folk art. On exhibit through May 1, 2023, is “Clint Alderman: A Modern Folk Potter.” Alderman has worked closely with noted folk pottery artists Edwin Meaders, C.J. Meaders and Michael Crocker. The Winterfest Arts Tour is held February 18-19, 2023, in Sautee-Nacoochee and Helen. More history and heritage discoveries can be found here.
Just outside the village of Sautee-Nacoochee, stay in a premium bed and breakfast like the romantic Lucille’s Mountain Top Inn & Spa. Breathe in panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Sautee Valley and indulge in a menu of revitalizing therapeutic treatments.
Outdoor options? Ride horseback at Chattahoochee Stables. Zip from tree to tree while learning the history of North Georgia and the Nacoochee Valley on a Moonshine Canopy Tour at Nacoochee Adventures. This tour is perfect for beginners, starting off low and slow while guides tell stories of Native American inhabitants, the 1800s area gold rush and Prohibition.
3. Remote getaways To completely get away, serious and amateur outdoor enthusiasts head to the peace and quiet of the forested mountains surrounding the Alpine village. It’s all so close, yet so remote and rewarding that Alpine Helen and White County have been designated by the Legislature as “Georgia’s Official Outdoor Adventure Destination.” In every direction are protected national forests, designated wilderness areas, state park land, rivers, scenic highways, roads and trails for hiking, mountain biking, tubing, kayaking, fly fishing, zip lining, horseback riding and more. To explore the opportunities, click here.
A few ideas: Horseback riding and zip lining at Sunburst Adventures, nine miles from Helen. Take a twilight zipline tour, soaring through the trees surrounded by sundown views of the waterways and ridgelines. Adventure Lodges of Georgia at Unicoi State Park offers a multitude of outdoor adventure activities, including paddleboarding and kayaking on Unicoi Lake, as well as a restaurant with high ceilings and a stone fireplace serving fresh local cuisine.
Close-by and remote mountain cabin rentals are plentiful, from Unicoi State Park’s Adventure Lodges of Georgia, to tiny houses to cabins large enough for several couples, where fireplaces, fire pits, hot tubs and well-equipped kitchens range from rustic to luxurious. Stop intown at Betty’s Country Store for a mind-boggling array of provisions: everything from fresh meats and produce, charcuterie and sandwich fixings to gourmet preserves and delicacies, along with wines, beers and unusual beverages.
4. Waterfalls After peak leaf season through early spring, the waterfalls and trails are even less traveled, and the views are even better. Next to Unicoi State Park, take a 30-minute trek to twin waterfalls known as Anna Ruby Falls in the Chattahoochee National Forest. Follow the moderate ½-mile paved trail to two viewing decks, or take a more challenging hike through Unicoi State Park. There are plenty more to be found at the Alpine Helen-White County website’s waterfall guide.
5. Wine White County wineries are the perfect setting for views, proposals and perhaps a future wedding. Enjoy spectacular panoramas while sipping in the tasting rooms or out on the decks. Check out the listings for three transportation companies in the link above for a fun, safe and informative multi-vineyard experience. Savor sips with your sweetie at area wineries including: CeNita Vineyards, Winery and Tasting Room with magnificent views of Yonah Mountain; Habersham Winery, recipient of more than 150 medals; award-winning Yonah Mountain Vineyards, home to Georgia’s only wine cave and Kaya Vineyards and Winery with breathtaking views of the vineyards. To sample even more of Georgia’s wines, visit the in-town tasting room of Sweet Acre Farms Winery, specializing in fruit-based “country wines,” wine slushies and beer on tap.
A getaway to Helen leads to so many new and renewed love stories that many couples return to plan their weddings and engagement photography here. To find out how to design a dream experience, go to www.HelenGA.org/love-life-little-things/weddings.
The official website of the Alpine Helen/White County Convention and Visitors Bureau is www.HelenGA.org
Journalists: For more story ideas and downloadable photos, go to https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/georgia/alpine-helen-white-county-ga/
Directory
CeNita Vineyards, Winery and Tasting Room 591 Dock Dorsey Rd, Cleveland, Georgia 30528; 706-865-7478
Habersham Winery, 7025 S Main Street, Helen, Georgia 30545; 706-878-9463
Kaya Vineyards and Winery, 5400 Town Creek Road, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533; 706-219-3514
Sweet Acre Farms Winery and Tasting Room, 8016 South Main Street, Suite B-1, Helen, Georgia, 30545; 706-969-7111
Yonah Mountain Vineyards, 1717 Highway 255 S, Cleveland, Georgia 30528; 706-878-5522
Betty’s Country Store, 18 Yonah Street, Helen, Georgia 30545; 706-878-2943
Chattahoochee Stables, 2180 GA-17, Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia 30571; 706-878-7000
Lucille’s Mountain Top Inn & Spa, 964 Rabun Road, Sautee, Georgia 30571; 706-878-5055
Sunburst Adventures, 251 Sunburst Lane, Clarkesville, Georgia 30523; 706-947-7433
Nacoochee Adventures, 7019 S Main Street, Helen, Georgia 30545; 706-878-9477
Adventure Lodges of Georgia at Unicoi State Park, 1788 GA-356, Helen, Georgia 30545; 706-878-2201