Visit a German Town Without Leaving the U.S
Bavarian-Themed Town Nestled in the Heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains
I couldn’t believe my luck when I discovered an exciting German-inspired alpine village right here in the United States? Let me introduce you to Helen, Georgia. This charming Bavarian-themed town is set amidst the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, Chattahoochee River, and lots of greenery.
I walked along the cobblestone streets inside the town of Helen and was delightfully transported to Germany, with bright, colorful stores and the best part: the recognizable aroma of authentic German food. Helen, Georgia is not only famous for more than five decades of Oktoberfest, but it’s also known as a Christmas town!
The Castle Inn: Riverfront Hotel With German-Styled Decor
I knew my visit to Helen, Georgia would not be complete without a two-night stay at The Castle Inn. It’s a Bavarian-themed hotel located right on Main Street in downtown. The exterior of the inn is eye-catching and adds to the charm of the town. This prime location allows guests to walk out the door of the hotel and be right in the middle of the German festivities. Everything is situated within walking distance, and we even had our own free parking space. I am a big fan of parking the car once at the start of a weekend getaway and then simply walking around town to explore for the remainder of the trip. Walking to the local restaurants and pubs was quick and easy.
Traditional, Comfortable Accommodations
The Castle Inn offers a variety of rooms and views. I was pleased with the reasonable pricing and the rooms were inviting, clean and comfortable. We booked a beautifully furnished Double Queen Room that offered two comfortable queen size beds, remodeled bathroom, sitting area, flat screen TV, mini-fridge and complimentary coffee. We were given more than enough blankets, pillows, and towels. If you select a suite, you can enjoy a full kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher. Housekeeping visited our room daily.
The best part of our room was the private balcony with a spectacular view of the river. Other rooms overlooked Main Street. The table and chairs on the balcony made it nice to enjoy our morning coffee while listening to the sounds of nature. Despite the activity that goes on around the town, the rooms are appreciatively quiet at night.
I must disclose a con about this hotel that could impact travelers. The Castle Inn is NOT handicap accessible so all guests must use the stairs to get to the hotel rooms that are all on the second floor. There is no elevator. We were made aware of this, so we packed lightly using an overnight bag.
Small Town With Lots to Do
Helen, Georgia is only little over two miles but there’s a lot to do packed into this enchanting German-inspired town. My research of the town didn’t do justice to its charm when seen in person. While we were looking forward to authentic German food, we also enjoyed traditional American restaurants, lots of shopping, and a few historical adventures.
It was fun to watch many brave outdoor enthusiasts (not us!) enjoy tubing down Chattahoochee’s cool waters and others flying high above the trees on a zipline. There’s hiking around the Blue Ridge Mountains and golf in the area as well. You can enjoy wine tasting samples at a few charming family-owned wineries or if you prefer, visit local breweries. Helen, Georgia is famous for many seasonal events throughout the year.
For fun and a bit of history, we visited the Helen Arts & Heritage Center, Folk Pottery Museum, and the Hardman Farm State Historic Site.
Bring Your Appetite to Helen, Georgia
When I think of German food, drinks, and snacks, I think of Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, beer and huge, life-size pretzels. However, the charming town of Helen offers an outstanding variety of foods in addition to Bavarian delights. Everything from American, Asian, and Mexican food to pizza, fudge, and ice cream, the decisions are overwhelming!
Here are just a few to visit:
:: Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant and Lounge
:: Alpine Brew Deck
:: Hofbrauhaus Restaurant and G.I. Germany Pub
:: Chattahoochee Dog Haus Restaurant
:: Alpine Pizza Garden
:: Bangkok Haus
:: The Heidelberg German Restaurant
:: Café International
:: Das Ice Cream Café
:: Lacabana Mexican Restaurant
:: Paul’s Steakhouse
:: Two Tire Tavern
:: Village Crepe Haus
If you prefer to pick up some beverages, snacks, and groceries for your hotel room, you can visit Alpine Village Groceries. The store offers a glimpse into small town shopping that even features a quaint sitting area around a fireplace and the cutest nostalgic rocking chairs for customers to enjoy a snack and cup of coffee.
Shopping in Downtown Helen
There are dozens of stores located in the downtown Helen area. I had a few favorite stores that I may have spent too much time browsing along with too much money spent on souvenirs. The Bavarian Clockworks store captured my heart! It was a blast from the past to see the mesmerizing cuckoo clocks that my Grandmother had in her apartment. The impressive, large display of clocks and German beer steins in this store featured handcrafted, traditional Bavarian workmanship.
The Christmas And More store along with the Christmas Shoppe made is so much fun to walk around and browse. Beautiful holiday ornaments, flags and other décor, many of which were popular brand name Christmas collection pieces. Each year, I set up a very large Christmas village display along with four Christmas trees, so these stores provided so much inspiration for my next holiday display.
The Hansel And Gretel Factory is where they craft handmade candies like fudge, brittles, pralines and other delights with traditional candy making techniques. The candy was delicious, and the sugar rush gave me the energy to shop for hours longer.
Here are just a few more stores we visited:
:: Alpine Village Shoppes
:: Helen Hat Company
:: Hofer’s of Helen Bakery and Café
:: Jolly’s Toys
:: Babyland General Hospital – Cabbage Patch Kids
:: Betty’s Country Store
:: Victoria’s Cottage and Gifts
:: Glassblowing Shop
:: Hickory Flat Pottery
:: Butterfly Mornings and Wildflower Afternoons
:: Christoff’s Caramel Corn and Coffee
:: Wonderland Antiques and Curiosities
:: Zuzu’s Petals Rock Shop
:: Crafty Mountain Candle Co.
:: Fred’s Famous Peanuts
:: Nacoochee Village Antique Mall
:: The Mason Jar Shoppe
:: Windmill Dutch Imports
While the fudge we purchased was already eaten, when we raise our souvenir beer steins to toast to good times for years to come, we will remember our special visit to Helen, Georgia.
Charming Location, Friendly Staff; A “Wunderbar” Visit to a German Town
The entire weekend celebrating everything Bavarian was a wonderfully unique experience. While we would have loved to visit Helen, Georgia and stay in The Castle Inn in the month of October to enjoy the Oktoberfest festivities, we heeded the warning that the Fall crowds would be overwhelming. We chose to visit in May to take advantage of a more relaxing, less crowded atmosphere.
From the comfortable beds to the balcony with an amazing view, we loved The Castle Inn. It’s set in the most ideal location to enjoy the German-inspired downtown, with delicious restaurants and shops. It was so nice to not drive anywhere, simply walk to everything.
Most of all, we were met with the friendliest staff that went out of their way to make us feel welcome and part of the family. I was totally okay that the inn is a bit old school, so when you plan your stay, you need to call the inn to make a reservation. There is no booking online. Rest assured, the team at The Castle Inn will personally help you select the perfect room when you call. It was also funny to get actual keys to our guest room instead of a modern key card, but we thought it was quite fitting for an old-fashioned Bavarian-themed getaway.