Helen GA

Went a couple years ago. Brought teens and twenty somethings who enjoyed tubing and German beers. I didn't find there was a lot to do but it was a very inexpensive trip for 6 people. We drove to a gorge they have nearby and the kids enjoyed the hike.

I agree, Helen is a fake German/Austrian mountain town. The surrounding areas are very nice though. Maybe hike blood mountain or if you'll be there in the summer hike down into the gorge and do sliding rock.

It’s only worth swinging by on the way somewhere else. I wouldn’t plan a trip around it. Tubing in the summer is pretty fun though.

Helen underwent a change awhile back when tornadoes rolled through and fricked up the town. They sort of let the German/Austrian bit go to shite and doubled down on biker bars. It's a shithole.

That said, there is amazing scenery near by and some really nice towns in North Georgia that are preferrable. I usually stay closer to Cashiers/Highlands in West NC to explore the area though.