Step into Helen, a storybook Alpine Bavarian Village just an hour and a half north of Atlanta in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Stroll amid cobblestone pathways and gingerbread-laced buildings through a lively downtown with one-of-a-kind shopping, dining and adventurous attractions like the Georgia Mountain Coaster. Holiday lights sparkle through February 11, 2024, an added romantic benefit for those who get ahead of the Valentine rush for dining and accommodations.
Cozy restaurants Bodensee Restaurant offers fine German dining in a setting reminiscent of the Alps. Bodensee is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and features Chef Aurel Prodan’s culinary specialties like Weiner Schnitzel or the Haus Platter featuring knockwurst, homemade garlic wurst and smoked pork chop with sauerkraut and German potato salad. Sit inside or out on the deck with your mate while noshing on Southern specialties at Cowboys & Angels Restaurant and Bar. Choose from soups and salads, steaks or a crazy good bison burger. Gluten-free options are also on the menu. Choose a craft brew, your favorite wine or have the bartender mix up a premium cocktail.
Retreat to the quiet side in historic Sautee-Nacoochee, with a romantic stay in a premium bed and breakfast like Lucille’s Mountain Top Inn & Spa, sitting on a small mountaintop just outside the village of Sautee-Nacoochee and only four miles from Helen, with panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Sautee Valley. From there, explore the scenic community, with its exquisitely preserved/restored artists cabins, home furnishings and mercantile stores. In the old rural schoolhouse, the Sautee Nacoochee Center hosts juried events for regional artists. Next door the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia is exhibiting “Dwayne Crocker: Expressions in Clay,” a North Georgia artist whose sculptural mastery includes face jugs, snake jugs, roosters, and commemorative UGA pieces on loan from private collections as well as the artist’s collection. The Winterfest Arts Tour is held February 17 – 18, 2024, in Sautee-Nacoochee and Helen.
Capture the feeling of being in a castle in Germany, high on a mountain just two miles from downtown Helen, with views as stunning as the architecture. Uhuburg, the Eagle Owl Renaissance castle is a marvel of architecture, lifestyle and philosophy. Book a tour to learn about this food producing, naturalistic and celebratory place. Uhuburg is pronounced much like the call of an owl: Ooo-Hoo-burg and is German for Eagle Owl Castle. Photography, wedding bookings and overnight chamber guest rooms are also available.
For a resort experience reminiscent of an ancient Scottish castle, Valhalla Resort Hotel offers mountain views from king and VIP suites and the area’s true fine-dining restaurant, all within the Innsbruck Golf Community. Upscale amenities include concierge, valet, spa services, a relaxing pool and options for golf, hiking, fly fishing, winery tours and more are offered.
Next to Unicoi State Park, a short 30-minute trek to twin waterfalls known as Anna Ruby Falls in the Chattahoochee National Forest is about as romantic as it gets, but there are plenty more to be found at the Alpine Helen-White County website’s waterfall guide. After peak leaf season through early spring, the waterfalls and trails are even less traveled, and the views are even better. www.HelenGA.org
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