The fascinating alpine town of Helen was the base of our operations for three days. Wandering downtown, one can almost forget that you are in America. Instead, the quaint cobblestone paths and half-timbered buildings transport you to Bavarian Germany, and you could almost be wishing everyone you meet a Guten Morgen. The visit was particularly memorable for us, as we first celebrated our honeymoon in Germany 10 years ago; and we could almost imagine we were in one of the classic German cities in southern Bavaria!
Before the 1960s, Helen was like any other small town in America. It was a logging town in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and its population was in decline. But in 1969, the town underwent mandatory design zoning, which transformed it from a declining logging town to the third most visited city in Georgia!
It was Oktoberfest when we arrived, and a sentiment of merrymaking was in the air. Helen is the place to go if you want to take it slow and take in the sights. We met many people who shared with us their plans to one day find a place to settle down here when they retire. For instance, a sweet gentleman Bill told us that he visited Helen every year with his partner and grandkids, and that the family looked forward to the visits each time.
Capitalising on a fabulous 1-for-1 deal, we grabbed a bite at the Nacoochee Village Tavern, and thoroughly enjoyed the yummy sandwiches there (best enjoyed with Yeungling beer from America's oldest brewery). The kids got to enjoy the free-flow of popcorn and drink refills, and it was easily one of our most enjoyable meals during the trip!
We also particularly enjoyed Huddle House, with its good 'ol Southern fare. The breaded steaks were a steal, and when coupled with deep fried okra and 'tater tots, they were a delicious delight for all!
Of the shops in Helen, we particularly enjoyed Tim's Wooden Toys. The owner, Tim Bramlett, has been in the business of making toys for the past 26 years. What's amazing is that in today's world of mass production and instant toys, the items from Tim's shop are all made by hand in the workshop! We were so excited that we have decided to ship in some of his items to Singapore, so that the children (big and small alike) can enjoy some good 'ol American-made wooden toys too! Watch this space on how to purchase Tim's Wooden Toys from our online Sensational Play store!
One of our more peculiar visits was to the Babyland General Hospital - a childhood wish for Sue; and it was rather surreal to visit the site where Cabbage Patch Kid babies are born - a throwback to the 1980s and 1990s when the dolls were extremely popular. The entire place is set up like a hospital - with its admissions, nursery and discharge rooms, and their are cabbage patches, where the babies are supposedly born. You can then go to the nursery and adopt a kid if you are keen to do so.
Before the 1960s, Helen was like any other small town in America. It was a logging town in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and its population was in decline. But in 1969, the town underwent mandatory design zoning, which transformed it from a declining logging town to the third most visited city in Georgia!
It was Oktoberfest when we arrived, and a sentiment of merrymaking was in the air. Helen is the place to go if you want to take it slow and take in the sights. We met many people who shared with us their plans to one day find a place to settle down here when they retire. For instance, a sweet gentleman Bill told us that he visited Helen every year with his partner and grandkids, and that the family looked forward to the visits each time.
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| Helen celebrates Oktoberfest in a big way with lots of family friendly fun in the many German-themed eateries here. |
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| The meals at Nacoochee Village Tavern are served fresh and oozing with flavour. Enjoyed in a family-friendly pub-like atmosphere, it was indeed a delight to enjoy our lunch here. |
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| What better way to celebrate Oktoberfest than to enjoy a good 'ol Yeungling beer! |
We also particularly enjoyed Huddle House, with its good 'ol Southern fare. The breaded steaks were a steal, and when coupled with deep fried okra and 'tater tots, they were a delicious delight for all!
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| Breaded steaks served 'Southern style. Paired beautifully with deep fried okra. |
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| Waffles complete the meal; and ours were gobbled up fairly quickly. |
Of the shops in Helen, we particularly enjoyed Tim's Wooden Toys. The owner, Tim Bramlett, has been in the business of making toys for the past 26 years. What's amazing is that in today's world of mass production and instant toys, the items from Tim's shop are all made by hand in the workshop! We were so excited that we have decided to ship in some of his items to Singapore, so that the children (big and small alike) can enjoy some good 'ol American-made wooden toys too! Watch this space on how to purchase Tim's Wooden Toys from our online Sensational Play store!
One of our more peculiar visits was to the Babyland General Hospital - a childhood wish for Sue; and it was rather surreal to visit the site where Cabbage Patch Kid babies are born - a throwback to the 1980s and 1990s when the dolls were extremely popular. The entire place is set up like a hospital - with its admissions, nursery and discharge rooms, and their are cabbage patches, where the babies are supposedly born. You can then go to the nursery and adopt a kid if you are keen to do so.
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| This is the site where the Cabbage Patch Kids are "born" with specific birth timings given to each special child. One can almost hear the cry of a newborn baby in a world where dolls seem to come alive. |
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| Which child do you want to adopt? |
We had only three days to spend in Helen and its surroundings, but we feel a deep sense of affinity with the place, and know that we will return one day; hopefully not too long in the future!
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| Prost! Our hears were full as we took in all of what the region had to offer! |
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