Thanks for visiting US Quarters. Please remember to bookmark this page Northern Railroad. If you found what your looking for, then don"t forget to click an appreciation button above for this post.
Northern Railroad
My Cabin Shines In The Pale Moonlight
We don't as a rule connect the word "Alpine" with the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, but the community of Helen is a little slice of the Bavarian Alps that found its way into this expanse of Dixie. In addition to the hiking trails and whitewater rafting you would be expecting to discover in this part of the southern Appalachians, there is a three month Oktoberfest that lasts from the late summer until the midpoint of fall every year, a traditional Bavarian Christmas Alpenlights celebration, and yet an additional transplanted Germanic tradition, das volksmarch. The best place to take part in Oktoberfest is from one of the many cabin rentals in the vicinity, or a luxury room in one of Helen's fine European themed inns.
Originally inhabited by Cherokee Indians, the vicinity was the locale of a gold discovery in 1828. For over seventy years, prospectors and commercial mining companies worked deposits that rivaled those in the Rockies and the Sierras. The gold fields were mostly mined out by 1900, but the timber industry moved in shortly afterwards. With the installation of the railroad, the city of Helen was formed in 1913. The timber industry was short lived. By 1931, the trees were gone and by 1960, all that remained was a chain of cement block houses. The town's renaissance started in the early 1970s as it began to reinvent itself in the Bavarian style, stimulated by an artist who had served with the U.S. Army in Germany. These days, Helen is one of the peak destination resorts in the region.
The Chattahoochie River provides recreational opportunities for whitewater rafting and inner tubing, while the encircling mountains offer hikers a chance to experience nature and the different woodland species up close and personal. Mountain lodges that include hot tubs are obtainable for romantic getaways, and the town itself is residence to various specialty shops and four star dining establishments, including an authentic Bavarian Hofbrau Haus, featuring the rich cuisine of Germany's southern region. German and northern Italian cuisine should also be enjoyed at The Troll, one of Helen's more unique eateries.
Easily available family outdoor activities include golf, mountain biking, fishing and horseback riding. In fact, there is virtually no better way to see this portion of the Blue Ridge than from the back of a horse. Check out Chattahoochie Backcountry Treks and Sunburst Stables for more information.
For hikers, one of the most spectacular places to visit is Anna Ruby Falls, one of the four waterfalls in the immediate area inside Unicoi State Park. The falls are a little over 800 yards from an improved public access area, and are in fact two separate falls with the bigger of the two topping out at more than 150 feet high.
Of course, just because you are out in and among nature does not mean you have to rough it. North Georgia bed breakfasts possess all the comforts of home including cable TV and wireless internet access. The proprietors of these lodgings are more than pleased to impart the rich history of the vicinity as well as suggest other interesting site seeing tours and wonderful neighborhood dining establishments.

If you are looking for a different item here are a list of related products on US Quarters, please check out the following:
























































