Barbara and I have just thrown our 'vacation dart" and
it landed at Helen, GA. (That's how we decide where to go).
Anyone have any experience with the riding up there?
Any routes we should not miss? I have done some quick-checking
online, and Helen appears to be made to look like a Bavarian village....
should be some good beer there?

 

Ga Girl and the other Georgia people we ride with are from that area. You might want to ask one of them. They know all there is to know about Helen. Karen (GA Girl) is a nice lady and I'm sure would be more than happy to answer any of your questions. Poorboy is up visiting them this weekend and may also have some insight into the area.

 

Hey Chuck,

Just north of Helen is Unicoi State Park home to the Anna Ruby Falls. Short hike, beautiful river and waterfall.

In Helen, they have a concessionaire who runs a tube trip down the river. Great way to beat the heat.

From Helen, you might want to check out Tallulah Gorge. Not many 1000' deep gorges in Florida.

My favorite restaurant is the Dillard House, in Dillard, Ga. About an hour ride, come hungry.

My favorite road up there is still Wolf Pen Gap road, but there are so many.

Of course you'll be a couple hours from "the Dragon". Overrated, but a rite of passage nontheless.

A good days ride out and back would be the Cherohala Skyway.
A real nice ride, not all turns are the same, and some tighten up, so stay sharp.
Probably the best view outside of the GSNP up there.

Best thing about going to Helen will be you can then say you've gone to Hell 'en Back.

Mrs. Fishhead on the "Cherrycola" Skyway.

 

Wow Fishead! A wealth of knowledge like a tourist info center! Nice work bud!

I am diggin this vacation dart thing.. I'm gonna steal that idea!

 

I was in Helen Georgia last year very nice german town. Did not ride my bike but went in the cage with the wife and kids. That tiver ride in the tube is awesome, great beer also.

 

Good beer, inner tubing.....bike ride in the hills.....so far so good!

 

Ooh, almost forgot.
Just a few miles down the road in Cleveland is the Cabbage Patch Kids factory. I've never been, but I thought you might want to check it out Chuck.

 

Ride West from Helen over to Dahlonega......then across the mtn to Ellijay......continue West over Ft Mtn down into Chatsworth...go North on US411 into TN...at Ocoee go back East on US64 up the Ocoee river gorge(site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater events..or...continue North on 411...take Mecca Pike from Etowah over to Tellico and over the Cherahala Skyway...or continue North on 411 just North of Vonore hang a right and hit the Tail of the Dragon or the Foothills Parkway over to Townsend.....just a hop and skip from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg......oh,the possibilities are endless...it would take you 6 months to ride/do/see it all...have fun and be safe....:>)

 

Hmmmm.....Cabbage Patch Baby Hospital sounds awfully good...
Still leaning towards tubing, beer and bike riding. But thanks Hugh for the
other info! HA
Barbara said she something about a gold mine, good resterants and a
winery or two. Sounds like one of those places we won't get to see everything
(like every place we go......).

Chuck

 

Helen is where they filmed most of Smokey and the Bandit. Just a little tid bit of useless information for you.