On the edge of the Chattahoochee National Forest, nestled on the mountainside of the Blue Ridge Mountains, lies Helen, Georgia. This gem of a small town offers much to see and do, from shopping in the alpine village to eating dinner on the Chattahoochee riverfront. But Helen offers more than just shopping and dining, so if you are looking for once-in-a-lifetime adventures, consider Helen for your next vacation.
Helen Tubing
Helen Tubing is prepared to help you create unforgettable---and very wet---memories of your time in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Helen Tubing offers fun for the entire family. They have tubes available for small children and include life vests at no extra cost. In addition, they have special tubes designed for senior citizens to easily get in and out of the tube. And if you choose to bring your dog along on vacation, he is also welcome to join you on the river because Helen Tubing rents dog tubes as well.
Your trip down the Chattahoochee will last about two hours and when it's over, the shuttle will pick you up and return you to the starting point, or even take you straight back to your hotel if you are staying within Helen city limits. The best part of Helen Tubing is that it's affordable fun. As of 2009, the price for two hours of tubing was only $3 per person. Helen Tubing is open from Memorial Day until Labor Day each year.
Helen Tubing
9917 Highway 75 N
Helen, GA 30545
(706) 878-1082
helentubing.com
Charlemagne's Kingdom
For model train enthusiasts and anyone with a wild imagination, Charlemagne's Kingdom dazzles and entertains. Charlemagne's Kingdom is a model railroad museum featuring over 400 feet of tracks nestled among a detailed miniature alpine village. The museum has two levels, which ensures that you will get a good view of every aspect of the train village.
Three times each day, 4-foot-tall wooden dolls take the stage to entertain museum visitors with a German song and dance routine. Charlemagne's Kingdom also has a gift shop where you can purchase mementos of your model train experience.
Charlemagne's Kingdom
8808 N. Main St.
Helen, GA 30545
(706) 878-2200
georgiamodelrailroad.com
Dukes Creek Gold & Ruby Mine
If there's a part of you that always wanted to search for hidden treasure, make sure a visit to Dukes Creek Gold & Ruby Mine is part of your trip to Helen, Georgia. At Dukes Creek, you can pan for gold just like people did during the gold rush. You can also screen for hidden gems of every color, shape and size.
Duke's Creek also has a gift shop available with fossils, Native American art and much more. Prices are set by how many gems you find. You can choose a small, medium or large bucket and continue panning and screening until your bucket is full and you are satisfied with your finds.
Dukes Creek Mines
6145 Helen Highway
Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571
(706) 878-2625
dukescreek.com
About The Author
R.J. Bowman has a Bachelor's degree in accounting with a minor in English from Pensacola Christian College. After college, she taught English to seventh graders until becoming a mom. At that time, she found freelance writing to be a great way to keep her writing skills sharp.
