I recently spent some time with a friend driving through Helen, Georgia (not to be confused with Hurricane Helene, ripping a bit of havoc on people right now).

Only 1.5 hours outside Atlanta, this Georgia mountain town is quintessentially cute, reminding me of Estes Park in Colorado, but minus the elk and with a German twist.

Although the history of Helen includes Cherokee Indian culture, gold mining and timber, in the late 1960s several locals gathered to discuss potential improvements to the town. One idea included mimicking Bavaria by renovating buildings, adding color and gingerbread-like trim, along with cobblestones and an overall alpine look near the Appalachia Mountains.

Fifty-five years later, Helen is one of Georgia’s most popular tourist destinations, idyllically sitting within a mountain valley, forests and riverbanks, making way for hiking, tubing, zip lining and other adventures.

My first thought was to enjoy the most authentic German food I could find. So I chose the Old Bavaria Inn Restaurant and Lounge. Although I guessed an entrée would be more than enough food for dinner, I couldn’t help but also order the full-sized pretzel appetizer, with dough flown in from Munich. It was, by far, the best pretzel I’ve ever had – coupled with two tasty mustards, European butter and beer cheese on the side.

For my meal, the pork schnitzel with spaetzle and red cabbage did not disappoint. Unfortunately, these two items left zero room for dessert (which doesn’t happen very often for me!).

The next morning, we found another German staple for breakfast: Hofer’s of Helen Bakery and Café. It’s a small restaurant only seating 60 people; we waited in line for 45 minutes while guests rotated in and out of the café. Fortunately, Hofer’s knows how to help those in line curb their growing appetites with freshly baked goods of turnovers, croissants, Bavarian cream-filled donuts and bagels.

Between the Bauern Frühstück (translated “Farmer’s Breakfast”) and the ham and cheese omelet, we were once again more than full, enjoying every single bite along the way.

In between these fabulous foodie stops, we walked through town, admiring those dressed in traditional lederhosen and dirndls, listening to live music, and wandering in and out of different shops. Despite the German influence, Southern hospitality always shines through, and we were greeted with warm smiles and kind hearts from those we saw.

Although it was a quick trip, my time in Helen, Georgia, was unique and memorable and well worth the drive from Atlanta and dozens of photos on my phone — not to mention the pretzel I’ll never forget!

— Carrie Cox, account executive