First time to Helen,Ga.

On your way home the Infantry Museum at Ft. Bending near Columbus.

Helen has a great Octoberfest all month long. Go to Anna Ruby Falls along with Brasstown Bald. The colors from the trees while driving to Brasstown Bald are gorgeous. Brasstown Bald is the highest point in Georgia and when you go to the top, you see 4 states. There is a restaraunt that I think is in Clarksville called the The Attic. Good food and great atmosphere in a very small town. Lots of neat small towns in the area to visit.

Be prepared for lots of stop and go traffic, and big crowds. Helen is basically just a tourist trap, but to each his own!

Take the tour through the gold mine.

DownTheAvenue wrote:
Be prepared for lots of stop and go traffic, and big crowds. Helen is basically just a tourist trap, but to each his own!

Second this post.
Be prepared for junk stores and rude clerks.

Gainesville is a ways from Helen, which is a cosmic tourist trap anyway. What do you think you're going to do in Helen?

Lots of people seem to like Helen, it is super busy in the fall. It's not my cup if tea, but I had a co-worker go last week, ansld he raved about it. It's mainly tacky tourist trap stores in "German" looking buildings, it kinda looks stuck in the 70's. There are some decent restaurants, with German food, and lots of beer.

Bolding Mill is a nice campground on the Lake, Its actually closer to Dahlonega than Helen, and I prefer Dahlonega, it is a nicer area to me. The mountains should be really nice, and be in close to peak leaf color time. There are great drives through the mountains, and tons of hiking trails. Lots of things to do, it just depends on your likes. I'd rather spend my days hiking, but do enjoy going into town for a nice dinner.

Since you are from LA, it will be a change of scenery, and I'm sure you will enjoy the mountains, I'm about 2.5 hours south of there, and I'm just trying to coordinate my kids schedules and get a day trip to the area in the next month.

Up the road is Robertsville, not very far, which is Fred's Famous Peanuts. Fred's Famous Peanuts It's a MUST STOP. Gotta have their fried peanuts, and peach cider. Just a roadside stand that is out of this world with it's peanut products. Peanut brittle is also to die for.

The Richard Russell scenic hwy is a very nice day drive with some short hiking trails along located its corridor. I think it is also known as ga hwy 348? also a nice day trip with a terrific view over in Hiawassee is the Bell MT County park.No rvs at all up to that one.

We go to Helen every year during the month of October. Sure, its quite a bit touristy and very gimmickry, but overall its just a fun place to go. About the only traffic you'll experience is when you are going through the middle of town. Otherwise, its smooth sailing. I agree that Helen is quite a hike from Gainesville, but since there's not all that many attractions in the region, its worth the ride. Primarily, though, the nighttime is the best time to be there. Enjoy the atmosphere and quirkiness.

Anna Ruby, Brasstown Bald, Amacolola Falls...all good places. Not familiar with Gainesville though. There's a putt-putt golf place in the middle of town on top of the hill that we visit every year. Unbelievably nice people who own/operate it. GO to Betty's country store for a little taste of something different. There is nice hiking trail between Unicoi State Park and the town of Helen that we also do annually. If you want apples, there's really no place better or worse than the others. You can make a longer hike to the orchards themselves and pay a few dollars less...not worth it. And Fred's Famous Peanuts...IMO not so famous for anything special.

We go there just to hang out and relax and take in some pretty weather. We'll be there this week and can't wait!