The Chattahoochee River flows gently through Helen, a re-creation of a Bavarian Alpine village, complete with cobblestone streets. Once a lumber town, it now has more than 200 specialty and import shops offering everything from candle making and glass blowing to cuckoo clocks and quilts. Dining options range from traditional German fare to traditional southern. A favorite getaway is Unicoi State Park with lots of trails for hiking and biking as well as swimming and boating on Unicoi Lake. Stop for a wine tasting at Habersham Winery or at Nora Mill Granary for some “Georgia Ice-Cream”, otherwise known as grits! Recreation is in abundance with mountain biking, fly-fishing, golfing, horseback riding, hiking, as well as tubing and paddling. Attractions include the Live Tarantulas Gallery, Charlemagne’s Kingdom, Scarlet’s Secret, the Black Forest Bear Park, the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway and area waterfalls just to name a few. http://www.exploregeorgia.org/Georgia/Attractions/Helen/22222
Saturday morning we left early to go to Helen. It was a very long drive but it was well worth it.
These are people dancing in a circle while holding strings.
In Helen all the stores and restaurants looked like old time German buildings, and there was a German Bakery! IT WAS SO GOOD!!! Sausages too! 
But first my parents went to a wine fest and they sampled some wine. We accidentally missed the actual wine festival though.
There was also CARRIAGE RIDES! But we didn't go on one, but my mom said maybe next time, oh, and this guy let me pet his horse!!!
Also we went to this restaurant and ate our sausages, and my mom let us get a shake. It was so good!
We went to the BEST toy shop ever!!! It was called Jolly's Toy Shop. My sister and I made bracelets with our names on them and also there was a crossbow that I wanted but couldn't get because it was in the shape of a gun. There was also a tiny version of NEWTON BALLS! and a small ladder and two little people that you put on the top and then let them go and they race each other! The lady who works there was really nice too.
This is the bakery I was talking about. I had a small strawberry cheesecake!!! It was so good!!!
There was also a HUGE windmill and a sign that says HEIDI MOTEL.
And there was a peanut place with all kinds of peanuts, peanut brittle, cider, and boiled peanuts. Also there was a section with giant puppet-people, and when I pretended not to look one of the boys there pushed a button that made the peoples arms wave, but then I'd turn and stare him down!!! Also there was a coffee place my dad enjoyed, and then there was a grain store. We bought some cake mix and also this nice guy who told us all about how this big machine turned corn into grain. Also there was a pottery shop where I got a magnet for my bottlecap necklace. I had the BEST time ever in Helen!!!
There was also CARRIAGE RIDES! But we didn't go on one, but my mom said maybe next time, oh, and this guy let me pet his horse!!! 
Also we went to this restaurant and ate our sausages, and my mom let us get a shake. It was so good!
We went to the BEST toy shop ever!!! It was called Jolly's Toy Shop. My sister and I made bracelets with our names on them and also there was a crossbow that I wanted but couldn't get because it was in the shape of a gun. There was also a tiny version of NEWTON BALLS! and a small ladder and two little people that you put on the top and then let them go and they race each other! The lady who works there was really nice too.
This is the bakery I was talking about. I had a small strawberry cheesecake!!! It was so good!!!
There was also a HUGE windmill and a sign that says HEIDI MOTEL. 
And there was a peanut place with all kinds of peanuts, peanut brittle, cider, and boiled peanuts. Also there was a section with giant puppet-people, and when I pretended not to look one of the boys there pushed a button that made the peoples arms wave, but then I'd turn and stare him down!!! Also there was a coffee place my dad enjoyed, and then there was a grain store. We bought some cake mix and also this nice guy who told us all about how this big machine turned corn into grain. Also there was a pottery shop where I got a magnet for my bottlecap necklace. I had the BEST time ever in Helen!!!
