Our recent trip to Helen, GA in the North Georgia mountains was positively magical. We enjoyed good food, good people, and good scenery. I hadn't been to Helen, GA since I was a young teenager and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed our trip there. Of course, any trip with my queen is always memorable and sublime. We visited local, nearby attractions, but this post will concentrate on the day we spent in downtown Helen.

 

Helen, GA - Alpine Village in the US

Helen, GA was designed and built as a imitation of a quaint alpine village. The streets, buildings, and decor were all created to give tourists the impression that they are spending the day in the alps. There are numerous themed restaurants and shops to help one buy into the mythology.

We started our day with a hearty breakfast at a local favorite spot, Hofer's of Helen. Not only is it an amazing restaurant, it is a bakery and food shop as well. Although the pastries and deli selections looked mouth-watering, we opted to dine in and chow down on an authentic German-style breakfast. We arrived early in the hopes of avoiding most of the morning rush and we were in luck. We were seated in under five minutes. Although the dining area is a bit small the entire room screams "alpine". I chose the "farmers" breakfast and it consisted of two eggs, home fries, a beef and pork loaf, and two types of bread. My wife decided upon the french toast and she said they were the best she has ever eaten. Mine was fantastic and although I assumed the meal would be heavy and sit like a brick. I left full, but not uncomfortable.

Mural in Hofer's, Helen, GA

Roaming Downtown

After we finished the amazing breakfast, we toured around the downtown area taking in all the sights, sounds, and shops. It is a bit surreal to know you are in the middle of America yet all you see are swiss style buildings and shops. We were fortunate to have traveled during the middle of the week, which helped with the congestion of too many people and finding a decent parking spot that was centrally located.

All of the different shops were amazing, but my wife and I are absolute suckers for two kinds of shops.....glass blowing and candy shops! We wandered into a glass blowing shop and my wife jumped into the hunt for inexpensive souvenirs like a pro retail shopper. We especially like the miniature animals and creatures the artists creates. I am very fond of the blown-glass humming bird and bird feeders. Why have an ugly red plastic container hanging on your porch when you can have a glass sculpture in it's place? While were visiting the store one of the glass artists was in the process of producing some of their stock and we were able to sit for a bit and watch him work his magic. Our next stop was a candy store where we stocked up on the requisite fudge, chocolate-covered rice crispies, and truffles.

Glass Blower, Helen, GA

Chattahoochee River Bridge, Helen, GA

After stocking up on our candy cravings we headed back out on the streets to seek a bit more adventure. By this time the day was getting on and the temperature was rising. One of the things that Helen, GA is famous for is people tubing down the Chattahoochee River. It runs through the middle of the town and there are numerous business that offer to provide you with tubes and transportation to and from the drop off and pick up spots. It is a great way to see some nature and a unique view of the town.

Even with the mid-week crowds being low, there were still hoards of people choosing to engage in the cool and relaxing activity. I have white water rafted in the area, but never tried the tubing. We watched from the bridge as several groups of friends and family members came drifting down the river laughing all the way. We made a mental note to definitely return with our grandson in the future to made some memories.

More Tubers

Wrapping Up The Day

After hitting all of the shops we wanted to, we decided to head just on the outskirts of town to hit a few places we had heard about. One was fly fishing shop where I was able to pick up an amazing assortment of flies and get a bit of local knowledge of the streams and rivers. Next we went to a spot that had two of the places we wanted to see on the same property. One was Nora Mill Granary where they produce their own coarse grits, grains, and other country-style cooking staples. It was an old creek side mill that had been modified a bit to still process the various grains from the local surrounding area. Of course you all know I bought a big bag of yellow grits!

The shop next door to the granary was Jumping Goat Coffee Roasters. I would have visited just for the name, but we soon found out that their name may be silly, but they are dead serious about their coffee. They offer a multitude of variations of coffee ground on site and they have five to six selections brewing for you to purchase. They are definitely not about the fru-fru style coffee so popular today. The coffee was strong and delicious and they allow the natural flavor of the coffee do the talking for them.

What are you looking at?!?

The Finishing Touch

After making our way to the outskirts of town and picking up some really great items, we headed back into town to grab dinner before we headed back to our hotel. We had been debating about which place to choose because just about every place in Helen has amazing reviews and great food to offer. We settled on Muller's Famous Fried Cheese Cafe because I was not going to pass up the chance to eat at an establishment that had "fried cheese" in it's name! I mean, really, do you blame me?

Let me just say that it was an excellent choice. We had absolutely no wait and were seated immediately. One of the owner's was actually performing hosting duties and escorted us to our table. She was exceptionally welcoming and we felt at home instantly. We learned she was originally from the Czech Republic and most of the recipes were that of her family members. The staff were extremely helpful and courteous and the menu was a feast for the eyes. There was no way were not going to at least try the fried cheese and we were lucky that they had an appetizer of fried sharp cheddar and bread. We devoured that like a couple who just emerged from the desert and was ready for more! We both chose the cheese-topped schnitzel and when it came out it was literally the size of the plate. It was cooked perfectly and every bite was delightful. We couldn't of asked for a more perfect ending to such a wonderful day. I can't wait to get back and enjoy all this beautiful little town has to offer.

 

You may also like my post about my Post-Vacation Blues or my post on how important rest and relaxation can be found here.

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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://papacrusher.vornix.blog/2018/08/03/helen-ga-walk-with-me/

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All That Is Gold Does Not Glitter,
Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
-Tolkien