Are you looking for a different destination for your family vacation this season? Are you tired of beaches, big cities and theme parks? If so, Helen, Georgia just might be the right vacation spot for you this year. Helen offers a plethora of outdoor activities, a moderate climate, kid friendly attractions, and exciting dining and shopping. You can even pan for gold.
Helen Georgia: Outdoor Attractions for Kids
You won’t have to worry about the kids getting bored on a vacation to Helen. There are dozens of outdoor activities to interest kids of all ages. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the miles and miles of hiking trails around Helen. You can even hike a portion of the 2,138-mile Appalachian Trail, which begins just outside of town.
The stables in the Helen area offer horseback riding for all skill levels. Families can also participate in organized wagon or trail rides, some of which include a campfire barbecue at the end of the day’s ride. The Helen area’s many lakes and rivers, such as the Chattahoochee River, offer ample opportunity for rafting, trout fishing, swimming and tubing. Or, you can glide along the lazy river at the Helen Tubing and Water Park.
Northeast Georgia was the site of a minor gold rush during the late 19th and early 20th century. Several gold mines still exist and welcome visitors to learn about this part of Georgia history and to try their luck just as their ancestors did by panning for gold in area creeks and streams. Who knows? You might just strike it rich.
Other outdoor activities in the Helen area include mountain climbing, white-water rafting for both beginners and advanced rafters, miniature and championship golf, and snow tubing and skiing – in the winter months.
Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center is just about a 40 minute drive from the cabin rentals in Helen, GA. At Scaly Mountain, they have activities all year long, such as skiing, ice skating, turf/snow tubing, bungee trampoline, and trout fishing. Kid friendly activities abound at Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center!
Indoor Attractions for Kids in Helen
For those days when the weather just doesn’t cooperate, you won’t have to be stuck in your cabin waiting for the sky to clear up. You’ll never be far away from the myriad of indoor activities for your family to enjoy in and around the town. For starters, Helen’s Bavarian-themed downtown shopping district features dozens of one-of-a-kind stores with offerings ranging from Christmas decorations to handmade, wooden toys to locally-made glass and pottery. You can even watch local artisans at work blowing glass or throwing a pot.
Helen is also home to the Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia, a great place for all ages to learn about the rich folk art heritage and pottery-making techniques of this region, as well as Charlemagne’s Kingdom; an HO-scale replica of the renowned king’s Medieval European realm.
Oktoberfest in Helen
Fall is a special time in northern Georgia. The temperature cools. The air is crisp, and the leaves turn an array of brilliant colors. It’s also the time of year when Helen celebrates her Alpine roots with a three-week Oktoberfest, the longest-running festival of its kind in the southern United States. One of the most popular times of year to visit Helen, Oktoberfest features polka dancing, face painting, German music and crowd-pleasing food like potato pancakes, apple strudel and wiener schnitzel. It’s fun for kids of all ages.
Cabin Rentals in Helen
One of the best ways to enjoy a family vacation to northern Georgia is to rent a cabin. Not only do cabin rentals give you more space than traditional hotel rooms, but you can save money by preparing some of your meals in the cabin’s kitchen. A cabin also allows you to be closer to the natural beauty of the region. Many even offer porches or decks where you can soak up the scenery.
Cedar Creek Cabin Rentals offers a wide range of one to four-bedroom cabins. Some are located in wooded settings; some are in a gated area, with a playground nearby; some are just a hop, skip and a jump from dining and shopping in town. All offer separate sleeping areas and/or bedrooms, full kitchens and plenty of room so that everyone in the family can enjoy their vacation.
Amenities vary from cabin to cabin and include such things as pool tables, sleeping lofts (ideal for older and teenage kids), wooden decks and porches, and Jacuzzi tubs. Some of our cabin are even pet-friendly, so you can bring your dog along with you on vacation.
Have you visited Helen recently with your kids or grandkids? Did you stay in a cabin or in a hotel room? What activities or attractions would you recommend to other families visiting the area? We invite you to share your experiences with our readers by leaving a comment below.
