Weekend Getaway Guide to Helen, Georgia: Oktoberfest, Anna Ruby Falls, and more!
I’ve been going a little stir crazy staying in Athens weekend after weekend so when some friends suggested we go to Helen, Georgia for Oktoberfest, it took me all of 2 seconds to agree. Plus, I’m a big advocate for local travel and exploring your own backyard, whether that’s your own city or state, so getting the chance to explore Helen was an easy decision.
What makes Helen, Georgia so unique is that it’s a Bavarian mountain town in the middle of north Georgia. It seriously looks like a little slice of Germany from the architecture to the authentic German food to the music and celebrations. The most popular times to visit are autumn for Oktoberfest and winter for Christmas, so whether you’re looking for a day trip or weekend getaway, Helen really is one of the top things to do in Georgia, especially if you’re visiting Georgia in autumn so let’s dive in to this travel guide to get you going.
Where is Helen, Georgia?
Helen is about an hour and a half north of Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, situated on the edge of Chattahoochee National Forest. That makes it a great weekend getaway spot and it’s even possible to do a day trip to Helen.
Unicoi State Park is the closest spot to hit some trails and there are a number of waterfalls surrounding the area as well if you’re looking for an outdoorsy experience followed by German food and drinks in town.
Why is Helen German themed?
It’s hard not to wonder how this town came to be. It really feels like an odd little fairytale town in the middle of the South, which seems like an oxymoron.
Helen was originally home to the Cherokee until European settlers came for the timber and gold. The logging industry was actually in decline in the early 1900s so they reinvented themselves as a tourist destination by transforming Helen into the Bavarian themed village it is today.
The history is clear when you drive around the area surrounding Helen and look at street names. Half the time the names are Native American in origin while the other half are German. It’s super interesting to see this juxtaposition.
You can learn more at the Helen Welcome Center at 726 Brucken Strasse.
Where is a good place to stay in Helen?
Helen is surrounded by hotels, many of which keep with the Bavarian style architecture. Here are a couple picks that I recommend if you’re staying overnight or for the weekend.
- Heidi Motel ($80+/night)- a budget option in a classic hotel with a windmill to boot
- Alpine Village Inn ($85+/night) – another budget option in a great location central to the restaurants
- Valhalla Resort Hotel ($265+/night) – on the pricey side, but definitely one of the nicest stays in town
Where should you eat in Helen?
There are plenty of restaurants to try that have German foods (or not if you’d rather opt for something else)!
We went to Troll Tavern, along the river. While the food was nothing groundbreaking (I had wings), the view along the river is beautiful if you can snag riverfront seating.
There’s a quick spot to eat as well along the river called Alpine Brew Deck. The food here was great for being more fast-food-esque (that’s a word now). I had some pretzels with beer cheese and tried a brat, which was delish! The riverfront seating was also really nice and easier to get because it was just a free-for-all…so you could wait for a good spot to open up.
Some other yummy food options include:
- Alpine Pretzel Haus – yes, for pretzels and beer cheese
- Bodensee – for the most authentic German food
- Haufbrauhaus – a German chain for authentic food and drinks (I went to the one in Las Vegas, and that one is a wild ride where you can volunteer to get spanked by the servers…yeah, this one isn’t like that)
- The Heidelberg – for an intimate music setting
- Muller’s Famous Fried Cheese Cafe – try the namesake dish, you won’t regret it (…unless you’re lactose intolerant…approach with caution)
Things to Do in Helen, Georgia
The main tourist draws for Helen are Oktoberfest and Christmas celebrations. However, regardless of when you visit, there are still plenty of awesome things to do in Helen and at Unicoi State Park and Smithgall Woods State Park nearby.
- Shoot the Hooch
In the hotter, summer months you can go tubing down the Chattahoochee River (locally called Shooting the Hooch), with one of three tubing companies. They provide the tubes and life jackets, and will tie your group together so you can travel as a unit. It costs about $10-15 per person.
- Georgia Mountain Coaster
If you need a quick, family-friendly, thrill, you can take a ride on the Georgia Mountain Coaster. It costs $15 per adult, $12 for children 7-12, and $6 for children 3-6. You ride 1 or 2 people per cart and can drive it to control the speed.
- Alpine Mini Golf and Pirate’s Cove Mini Golf
Seriously, these mini golf courses looked so adorable. I only visited for a day trip, so I didn’t have time to actually golf, but I definitely want to come back. They are their own separate courses on different sides of town but they both look super fun (and both have ice cream).
- Anna Ruby Falls
Since I’ve been stuck in my college town, I really wanted to take a nature stroll when I went to Helen so this is what I picked. Anna Ruby Falls is inside Unicoi State Park, but if you are visiting the falls, you pay separately ($3 per person). You cannot use the Georgia State ParkPass for the falls. The actual trail is paved and only 0.4 miles one way. It follows the stream up to the waterfall and has two viewing points with plenty of benches along the way and at the destination. The walk was beautiful and the falls were even more so! I really enjoyed our visit and definitely recommend it if you need an easy trail with a high reward.
Other things to check out in the park are fishing, zip lining, boat rentals, target shooting, archery, and mountain biking. They also have cabin rentals, camping, and picnic areas with barbeques.
At this state park, you can go fishing, biking, and hiking. Two of the trails lead to waterfalls too (Martin’s Mine Trail and Chunanee Falls Trail)!
- DeSoto Falls
About a 30-45 minute drive away, give DeSoto Falls a visit. There are actually two waterfalls here an upper and a lower falls, where both are multi-tiered. The hike isn’t terribly long at 1.9 miles out-and-back.
- Go shopping
Part of the fun of Helen is all the themed shops along Main Street. Be sure to pop inside the Christmas shoppe, Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen, the hat shop, and more!
Oktoberfest
Helen is one of the best destinations in the US to visit in fall because they are known for their Oktoberfest celebration that runs from the end of September to the end of October. The town usually has only 450 residents but during Oktoberfest, thousands flock to the city for the festival. That being said, if you plan to stay the night, definitely plan your accommodations in advance. Since our trip was so last minute, there was nowhere to stay so we had to make it a day trip.
The main events take place at the Festhalle. Admission is $8 on weekdays, $10 on Saturdays, and is free on Sundays. However, there are lots of events around town that are free. Since we were only there for the day, we stayed on the main street (appropriately called Main Street). There were lots of outdoor beer gardens, free live music, axe throwing, and more!
Also, the Festhalle opens at 1pm on the weekend where they do the ceremonial tapping of the keg.
Helen does get super crowded and congested because it’s only a 2 square mile town. If you can get there a little early to park, I highly recommend doing so. Parking all around town was typically $5 per vehicle for the whole day.
Hot money saving tip
If you are visiting from home, I recommend packing a lunch so you save some money on food. We brought sandwiches, snacks, and protein bars. This meant we only had to pay for one meal instead of two. We do this often for day trips to save money when traveling.
More time in Georgia? These posts will help!
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- Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
- Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
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- Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!
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What a fun time you must have had. I do not drink beer – is there something non-alcoholic available? The waterfall hike looks so pretty. I love waterfalls. Love you even more.
There were lots of options for non-alcoholic drinks and plenty of food! I came for the pretzels, if I’m being honest!
I had the pleasure of going to helem in its first days .it was still good then.i had been to crashing wine festival in Munich geany and enjoyed Hellen.by the way on a road near hellem in the north e is a trout farm where you can catch a trout and they will cook it and serve with sides it was fantastic.
Helen is so much fun! I’m glad you got a chance to visit!
Are there any 2023 bus tours departing from Augusta, GA to the 2023 Oktober festival in Helen, GA?