If you are looking for a fun getaway the whole family can enjoy, look no further than Helen, Georgia. Our charming, Bavarian-inspired village nestled in the lush mountains of North Georgia offers plentiful opportunities for family fun. From mini-golf to ziplining, here are our tips for exploring Helen with the kids.

Hike to Waterfalls

The North Georgia mountains are filled with countless beautiful waterfalls you can easily access through well-groomed hiking trails. At just under half a mile, the Anna Ruby Falls trail is perfect to do with the kids, dogs, and/or strollers. The main attraction on the Anna Ruby Falls trail is the two beautiful waterfalls that give the hike its name, but there are many lovely sites to admire along the way. Once you reach the twin falls, there are two viewing platforms where you can watch the falls cascade over multi-tiered rock walls to the boulder-filled pools below. This is the perfect spot to snatch a family photograph you’ll cherish for years

Go Ziplining

There is perhaps no better way to explore the breathtaking North Georgia mountains than from above. If you and your kids are especially adventurous, consider taking a zipline tour for a thrilling birds eye view of the dense forests and beautiful landscapes surrounding Helen. Nacoochee Adventures offers a variety of heartstopping aerial adventures with friendly and informed guides who will ensure you trip is as safe as it is fun. You’ll zip from tree to tree while learning about the fascinating history of North Georgia and the Nacoochee Valley. For even more adventure, try the Goldmine Tour, where you will take the classic zipline ride and then tour an authentic 1800s goldmine to learn more about Helen’s early mining history. Other adventures include the Giant Swing, a 50-foot high swing that seats up to three people, and the Challenge Course, an elaborate, 3-level rope course with 27 different obstacles.

Mini-Golf

Mini-golfing is a great way to spend the afternoon and foster a little healthy competition. Bavarian Miniature Golf and Arcade offers two 18-hole mini golf courses as well as one of the best views in Helen of rushing streams and beautiful waterfalls. It also boasts the largest arcade within a 30-mile radius. If that doesn’t satisfy your mini-golf fix, head to the Alpine Mini Golf Village for another beautiful 18-hole course. Afterwards, grab a tasty ice cream cone at Scoop de Scoop, located on site.

 

Railroads and Cabbage Patch Kids

Museums aren’t just for grown-ups. Helen is home to two incredible museums the kids will enjoy just as much as the adults, if not more. Charlemagne’s Kingdom, an Alpine Model Railroad Museum, features impressive HO Scale German Model Railroads in a 50 foot exhibit that recreates the terrain and architecture of Germany in miniature. Once you’ve visited Charlemagne’s Kingdom, pay a visit to the Babyland General Hospital, where you’ll be injected with a shot of “Imagicilin” before touring the Cabbage Patch Hospital. You can witness a birth and even meet with an adoption agent and take a Cabbage Patch Kid home yourself. Adults will appreciate the lovely, Southern-Style antebellum home and landscaped gardens located on 650-acres in the North Georgia mountains.

 

Horseback Riding

Horseback Riding is the perfect way to explore the great outdoors with the kids. Chattahoochee Stables offers horseback riding excursions through the lovely Sautee Valley. Nestled in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains, the stables cover 150 acres stretching throughout the historic Sautee Nacoochee Valley. Their one hour guided trail rides are perfect for beginner riders but include enough thrills to keep more experienced riders satisfied. Chattahoochee Stables boasts the one and only river ride in the area, where riders have the chance to actually wade into the river on horseback.

Sweet Treats

Satisfy your sweet tooth at the Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen, where you can eat tasty treats and watch them being made. At the Candy Kitchen, you can observe their professional candy makers baking fudge, caramel apples, chocolate turtles, and so much more. Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen has been making the best candy in North Georgia since 1973. For deliciously, freshly churned ice cream, we recommend Homemade Ice cream and Gifts. You’ll find over 37 flavors to choose form, including classics like strawberry and chocolate as well as more inventive creations like birthday cake and white chocolate raspberry. If the kids are still craving something sugary, get a tasty funnel cake at Granny’s Famous Funnel Cake Haus.

 

The Sylvan Valley Lodge & Cellars is an adults-only winery bed & breakfast located in Helen, Georgia at the base of gorgeous Mount Yonah. After enjoying your fun-filled family vacation, book a getaway to the Sylvan Valley Lodge so you and your sweetheart can enjoy the romance and wineries of North Georgia, without the kids.