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A Holiday Getaway
These two North Georgia towns offer the perfect holiday vacation. // B Y M E L I S S A P E T E R S O N
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f Christmastime has you in the mood for cooler weather and some holiday cheer, a trip north could make all the difference. These two Southeast locales are just a day’s drive away and can help you celebrate the season in a special way.
There is no other town in Georgia that packs in quite as much charm as Helen. At just a little more than two square miles in size, Helen is the state’s third most visited city. This small but mighty Bavarian town has a history dating back to 1969 and is located an hour and a half north of Atlanta. “The popular destination originated as the brainchild of leaders who sought to create a place for visitors to enjoy while traveling through the Northeast Helen, Georgia Georgia Mountains,” says Katie Reeder, director of public relations with Laurie Rowe Communications. “Helen, now known as Alpine Helen, transformed itself with gingerbread trim, cobblestone alleyways and old-world towers to become the very embodiment of the Bavarian charm we know today. With sweeping mountain views, rolling hills and beautiful vineyards, modern-day Alpine Helen couldn’t be more picturesque.” Helen is the perfect backdrop for your 16
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family’s holiday vacation. In fact, the town’s architecture and holiday scenery are so delightful that the Lifetime movie Christmas Love Letter was filmed there. Holiday events this year include the annual Mistletoe Market at the Helen Arts & Heritage Center. This indoor holiday marketplace offers handcrafted merchandise. Visitors can also celebrate a Victorian Christmas at the Hardman Farm State Historic Site where they can see the house
dressed in period holiday décor while learning about Victorian holiday traditions from docents in their finest 1870s garb. But the main event of the season is Helen’s annual Christkindlmarkt, a German tradition that offers specialty gift items, decorations, assorted savory foods, drinks and candied treats at the Helen Market Platz. If you’re looking for the perfect lodging spot, plan a stay in a premium bed and breakfast. Bernie’s Nacoochee Valley Guest House and Restaurant will certainly take your vacation up a notch. “Built in 1920, this fabulous bed and breakfast offers the loveliest of views, gorgeous gardens, fine dining and hospitality aplenty,”
Helen and Alpine Speedway photos courtesy of Alpine Helen-White County, Georgia; Dahlonega photo by Cottrell Photography Hi-Res
A BAVARIAN CHRISTMAS
