24 Hours in Alpine Helen, Georgia
If you only have 24-hours to spend in Helen, Georgia, also known as Georgia’s Official Outdoor Destination—and we know, sometimes, that’s all the time afforded at a certain destination—these are our go-to’s for a distinctly beautiful Alpine Helen day.
8 a.m. | Begin at Hofer’s
Begin your day with breakfast at Hofer’s of Helen, where the list of mouth-watering pastries is as long as the line to get in. With that said, arrive early. Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. and is served until around 11 a.m. You’ll go away sad if you come mid-week, for Hofer’s is closed on Wednesday and Thursday. We plan all our trips to Helen based on when Hofer’s is open.
Combing the wealth of the North Georgia Mountains and their German heritage (originally from Schwabach Germany), Hofer’s dishes out a Bauern Frühstück (Farmer’s Breakfast) that will fuel your day in the city—eggs plus a Kassler Rippchen (smoked pork chop). For me, it’s the Farmer’s Omelet where the eggs wrap around sautéed vegetables.
All breads are baked in a stone hearth oven. Pick up some baked goods for later, especially the chocolate croissants. They also have mail order for when you get home and crave Bavarian Pretzels.
8758 N. Main Street, Helen | Open daily from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. | Closed Wednesday and Thursday | Live music during holidays and Oktoberfest in the Biergarten
10 a.m. | Folk Pottery Museum of NE Georgia
Nestled in the beautiful Sautee-Nacoochee Valley of North Georgia is the Folk Pottery Museum of NE Georgia. An area rich in the arts, the museum shares the visual story of the grassroots art of pottery. In the early 20th century, pottery became more than art but a lifeline for a means for storing and preparing food. Today, these earthenware artifacts share the story of the Meaders family of White County who became the foundation of the pottery heritage in NE Georgia.
See early replica’s of kilns and other working spaces; authentic pots, face jugs.
Currently on exhibit, Dwayne Crocker: Expressions in Clay. Traditional and expressive, he commemorated the UGA DAWGS championships with mug jugs.
Walk through the restored 1928 schoolhouse and stop in at the shops where works of juried artists are available for purchase. View permanent as well as rotating exhibits, including paintings, pottery, quilts, jewelry and more. Learn about the watercolorist and illustrator John Kollock who curated the area’s story on canvas.
2893 Ga. 255, Sautee Nacoochee, Ga. | Open daily | Free admission
As you leave the pottery museum, detour at The Old Sautee Store, Georgia’s longest operating general store—since 1872. An icon unto itself, the store has been delighting visitors for over a century. Don’t miss the wampus on the porch and the cheese samples in the back. The Swedish Farmer Cheese wheel is the ideal souvenir. The Glogg isn’t bad, either.
The Old Sautee Store
12 Noon | Lunch at Café International on the Chattahoochee River
Give me a bratwurst every day of the week! Café International is a hopping restaurant perched on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. We’re told they have the best Reuben sandwich in town, but for me, the Bratwurst Im Brot is my go-to for every meal. Often, there’s live music by the water.
8546 S. Main St., Helen | Open daily beginning at lunch
Afternoon | Hardman Farm & Anna Ruby Falls
One of the most beautiful and iconic state historic sites is the Hardman Farm. Built in 1870 by Captain James Nichols, the home is of Italianate architecture and is gem of the valley. Much of the original furniture remains from its second owner, Calvin Hunnicutt. Its last owner, Dr. Lamartine Hardman, Georgia’s governor from 1927 - 1931. The estate was donated to the state of Georgia in 1999 and later become a historical site. Across the road is the iconic Nacoochee Indian Mound, a burial site that has been here since before the arrival of the Cherokee Indians.
Hardman Farm State Historic Site, Sautee Nacoochee
Anna Ruby Falls | The twin waterfalls that plunge more than 150 feet. Located near Unicoi State Park, the paved trail to the top is approximately .4 miles and, at times, can be strenuous. Benches are available for stops. This is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest.
The waterfall gets its name from Captain James Nichols (Hardman Farm) who named the beauty after his only daughter, Anna Ruby.
Hardman Farm | 143 Ga-17, Sautee Nacoochee, GA | Open daily for self-guided grounds tours; mansion tours, Thursday-Saturday; closed January - February
Anna Ruby Falls | 3455 Anna Ruby Falls Rd., Helen, GA | Open year-round
Anna Ruby Falls
Late Afternoon | Sit and Sip at Yonah Mountain Vineyards
Enjoy a wine tasting at Yonah Mountain Vineyards.
It’s all about the view and the wine. Yonah Mountain Vineyards is a 200-acre estate that sits with a view of its namesake, Yonah Mountain. Sample wines with a wine tasting or enjoy your favorite by the glass. Wines include red, white, with dessert and specialty varietals. Try Genesis 12 if you’re a red wine lover.
Experience a wine tour, that includes a wine tasting, featuring the cave. Walk through the winery and the barrel-aging wine caves. Offered Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Purchase tickets in advance and online.
1717 Highway 255 South, Cleveland, Ga. | Opens daily at noon
Dinner Dining in Bavaria | Bodensee
Order the Dinner Spätzle after the potato pancakes.
It’s old-world Germany at its finest at the Bodensee Restaurant in downtown Helen. Originally from Romania, then relocating to Bavaria, Germany for culinary school, Chef Aurel Prodan and his wife Doina delight patrons with their authentic cuisine. The name of the restaurant—Bodensee—is a lake on the Rhine River at the northern part of the Alps.
64 Munich Strasse, Helen | Open daily with outdoor seating
