About
Helen Vacation Rentals & Vacation Rental Homes - Rent Holiday Homes in Helen, USA:
Helen is located along the Chattahoochee River in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia at the southern end of the historic Appalachian Trail. Originally, this area was inhabited by Cherokee Indians and evidence of their presence is scattered throughout the local area today.
Gold was discovered on Dukes Creek in the early 1800’s and the Great Georgia Gold Rush began. Thousands of miners came into the area to pan and dig for gold, lasting into the early 1900’s. When the gold played out, timber became king and Helen was the site of a large sawmill that continued operations into the 1930’s, shipping processed wood product to Europe and all across the US. By the mid 1960’s, the timber was all cut, Helen had no significant industry and, seemingly, no future.
In the late 1960’s, local businessmen decided to capitalize on the one asset they had in abundance – the natural beauty of the local landscape – and recreate Helen as an “Alpine Village.” Today, Helen attracts millions of visitors each year and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the southeastern region of the United States. The area has more than 200 specialty and import shops offering everything from cuckoo clocks to stone ground flour and grits.
Restaurant options range from authentic German cuisine to traditional southern country fare.
Outdoor lovers enjoy tubing on the Chattahoochee, panning for gold on Dukes Creek, a Water Park, horseback riding, an 18 hole championship golf course, miniature golf, canoeing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and more.
Festivals and special events include a hot air balloon race, Winefest, Volksmarch, Christmas parades, Fourth of July fireworks, and Bavarian Nights of Summer. From mid-September through October, Helen hosts the longest and most popular Oktoberfest in the South.
In nearby Cleveland GA, you will find Babyland General Hospital – the home of the original “Cabbage Patch Kids” line of dolls. Other nearby attractions include Unicoi State Park, Anna Ruby Falls, Tallulah Falls and Gorge (the deepest gorge east of the Mississippi River), Brasstown Bald, and numerous charming hamlets. Helen is located 75 miles (120 KM) north of the Atlanta GA airport.