We left Stone Mountain around 3:30pm and made the 90 mile trek to Helen through the Georgia mountain country roads. It was a really pretty drive as some of the trees were just getting their new leaves. We took our time and stopped for dinner at an Outback steakhouse on the way. We arrived in Helen around 6pm and after getting settled into our hotel room, we wandered into town and checked out the shops that were still open. Unfortunately, there were very few open. Only the restaurants and candy shops were still taking customers. We weren't too bothered, as our wandering gave us a chance to get acquainted with the town and decide which places we wanted to visit the next day.
According to the official Helen guide: "Helen, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Chattahoochee River, is a re-creation of an alpine village complete with cobblestone alleys and old-world towers. This Northeast Georgia village has a rich history linked to the
Cherokee Indians and their burial mounds as well as early settlers who arrived in the early 1900s to mine for gold and cut virgin timber for a thriving lumber industry."
Helen is similar to the town of Leavenworth in the mountains of Washington State, only for those of you who have been to Leavenworth, Helen is much smaller and more quaint. We stayed at the Hampton Inn and were able to see most of the town by just walking. Here are a few pictures:
We spent our day wandering the town and checking out the shops, hiking up to Anna Ruby Falls about 5 miles out of town, and playing some miniature golf. It was a very relaxing visit. We also enjoyed traditional German food and music. The weather was finally perfect---at least rain-free for this day.
Mugging with the resident pirate
It was a great adventure to a fun little town.
1 comment:
Looks like a very fun trip!
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