23 Family-Friendly Things To Do in Helen, GA
Helen is a wonderful little Alpine village about an hour north of Atlanta that families, couples, and young adults can all enjoy (and for different reasons)! Family travel is my bread and butter because I currently travel with three young kiddos.
So, I’m going to let you in on some awesome secret adventures that Helen offers for families. Keep reading to find out the top family-friendly things to do in Helen, GA that our family personally recommends!
First of all: Is Helen worth visiting?
My answer would be an (obvious) absolute yes! I give Helen five stars because there are so many different types of things to do and each one is so unique!
Where else can you experience a roller coaster, river tubing, waterfalls, gold mines, and hand made wooden toys all within 10 minutes of each other?
Truthfully, I think you could easily spend 3-4 days just seeing all of the different shops and activities. There really are so many things to do in Helen, GA.
However, we have only ever made day trips to Helen because we are close enough to do that and it saves some money on lodging. The perk of day trips is that we can see different things each time we go!
Our List of the top things to do in Helen, GA
My husband and I have had the pleasure of experiencing Helen since we were kids so this post is a bit lengthy due to decades of experience. For that reason, we’ve included a table of contents if you’d like to navigate straight to what you’re looking for:
1. Anna Ruby Falls
Anna Ruby Falls is a wonderful little waterfall hike located about 15 minutes north of downtown Helen. On our last day trip to Helen, we decided to drive up to Anna Ruby Falls first and then stop into Helen on our way back down. The drive to Anna Ruby Falls takes you through the Unicoi State Park to the parking lot of the falls.
How long is the hike to Anna Ruby Falls?
The hike is 0.4 miles up and 0.4 miles back down for a total hike that falls under one mile. However, this is not at ALL a flat hike. The pathway is paved but it is narrow in places.
I think 0.8 is a bit misleading because some of the inclines are the steepest that I have ever hiked on a paved trail. I’m not an avid hiker by any means but I’ve hiked a trail or two and this one was a bit more difficult than we anticipated, especially with kids.
Is Anna Ruby Falls an easy hike?
Warning: We read many blog posts that told us this is a relatively easy hike, this is a kid-friendly hike, it is stroller friendly, etc. We [s t r u g g l e d] with this hike using a single jogging stroller.
My husband and I both walk/jog regularly with a jogging stroller that has at least one toddler on board. We are decently in shape and we had to take turns with the hike up to Anna Ruby Falls because of our stroller.
The hills are extremely steep and we had many people start laughing at us when they saw us and our stroller at the entrance. We also had many people tell us “good luck.”
Is the hike doable with a stroller? Yes. We did it and we lived to tell the tale. However, we were exhausted and drenched in sweat by the time we were done. Our three and a half year old was on foot and he needed a piggy back ride the whole way down.
There are also a couple of places where strollers can’t go because of stairs, so just know that you will have to park your stroller to actually get to the falls (which means you also have to carry anyone who is in the stroller).
There is a bridge along the trail that is only wide enough for a single stroller. This bridge is about 2/3 of the way through the hike up so I would not bring a double stroller (side by side) unless you want to carry your little people a ways.
Can you drive to the top of Anna Ruby Falls?
The drive through the park takes you right up to the parking lot for the entrance to the falls. You still have to hike the 0.4 miles up to see Anna Ruby Falls but you can drive right up to the entrance. There are also public restrooms right next to the entrance!
How much does it cost to see Anna Ruby Falls?
There is a pay station as you drive through the park where you will be required to stop and pay for each person in your vehicle. Payment is due for anybody 16 and up (so, kids are free). It is $3.00 per person over the age of 16.
Want to visit other waterfalls in Helen, GA? Check out our post on all of the best waterfalls for family-friendly hikes!
Address: 3455 Anna Ruby Falls Rd, Helen, GA 30545
Website: Find out more info about the waterfall here.
2. Uhuburg Castle – New for 2023!
There is a new castle in Georgia and it is right down the street from the downtown section of Helen. Uhuburg and the Eagle Owl Castle were inspired by European styles/design but they honor the native flora and fauna of Appalachia.
There is so much to see and experience in and around the castle. The grounds encompass over 2 acres of courtyards, a Zen garden, a lookout tower, and a variety of philisophical murals. Our kids thought the castle itself was the coolest part but my husband and I really love the garden!
They do offer guided tours that highlight the architecture of the castle and the painted murals. Those tours begin on the half hour every hour. They also offer guided tours of the indoor tropical atrium!
My 3 year old loved the ponds that are complete with frogs and coi. Can you blame him?
If you are planning a visit to Uhuburg and the now-famous Helen castle (Eagle Owl Castle), make sure you check their website for open dates/times before you plan your trip.
Address: 571 Ridge Rd, Helen, GA 30545
Website: Check out their website here.
3. Unicoi State Park
Unicoi State Park is pretty big so we did not get an opportunity to explore the whole thing. There is plenty to do here if your family likes to camp, kayak, and bass fish.
We spent our time at the beach playing with a few hot wheels that I found in the car. Unicoi is a place that your family could definitely spend an entire weekend (or more) if you like exploring!
Like any state park, there are so many things to do here. Most of their activities are for kids a little bit older than ours, who are three and two.
These include archery, fly fishing, zip lines, paddle boarding, and more. They also offer a variety of accommodations like lodge rooms, cabins, and campsites.
Website: Check out their website for more information!
4. Unicoi Hill Park-Playground
Unicoi Hill Park is a really cute little park area located right in the middle of downtown Helen. It has multiple playgrounds, adult-sized swings, and plenty of benches. Bonus: it is almost completely shaded! The last time we were here it was July and it was hot. So, we stopped at Yonah Coffee Company and grabbed an iced coffee to enjoy on the shady swings while our kids played.
The large playground area has multiple slides (some of which are roller coaster steep), monkey bars, and jungle gym equipment. There is also a large, 4-person see-saw and some rocking horse type things that sit on giant springs. For older kids, they have a giant dinosaur jungle gym on the other side of the park next to the swings.
The park is up a decently steep hill so be prepared if you are traveling with strollers. It is directly across the street from the Dye St. intersection, or right past Yonah coffee.
I hate when people say things like “travel northwest for about 100 yards and you’ll arrive at the destination to your right” so, I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’ll say if you are walking down Main Street (Unicoi Turnpike) in Helen then you should pass Yonah Coffee on your right. If you do, then you will also arrive at the park on your right right past Yonah.
Address: N Main St, Helen, GA 30545
5. Georgia Mountain Coaster
The Georgia Mountain Coaster is something my almost 4 year old cannot wait to do. We did not feel like he was quite ready the last time we were in Helen but we did hang out and watch the coaster for a while, which he thought was amazing.
The Helen mountain coaster actually allows anyone age 3+ to ride but the driver has to be at least 54″ tall. This is a 2-seater car that you “drive” on your own but don’t be fooled: this coaster is fast! They are open 7 days a week from 10AM-7PM except on Fridays (open until 8PM) and Saturdays (open until 9PM).
Address: 8409 S Main St, Helen, GA 30545
Website: Check out their website here.
6. Alpine Mini Golf
Mini golf is one of those activities that we did while we were dating, newly married, and now with kids. I even remember mini golfing with a baby strapped to me (although now I can’t remember which baby it was).
We especially look for mini golf now when we are on a road trip with our kids because it gives them a chance to do something physical in a semi-contained environment. In other words: it gets the wiggles out.
Alpine Mini Golf Village allows you to experience putt putt in an Alpine setting. The course is lined with trees and benches so that even the non-competitor in your family can enjoy the sights while the golfers get their game on.
They also have an ice cream shop ON SITE called Scoop De Scoop with tons of yummy flavors and amazing dipped cones.
Address: 7914 S Main St, Helen, GA 30545
Website: Check out their website here for updated pricing and times.
7. Downtown Helen
To be honest, downtown Helen is the reason why most people come to Helen. The downtown area is the Alpine village you’ve seen me reference multiple times already.
The local shops, authentic German fare, and family-friendly activities make downtown a one-stop shop for a vacation. There is even lodging downtown so you really could spend a few days walking around without ever leaving the village!
What is there to do in downtown Helen?
This very unique Alpine village boasts such a wide variety that it should probably have its own separate post. I’ll do my best to highlight all of our favorites!
I love anything chocolate so Hansel and Gretel’s Chocolate Shop is always one of my first stops when I’m in Helen. They have handmade goodies (that you can see being made) for sale in a variety of choices including: fudge, brittle, truffles, and other chocolates. My personal favorite are the truffles but, be warned: they are rich. You can find these delicious treats here: 8651 S. Main Street, Helen, GA 30545.
My toddlers’ favorite place is Tim’s Wooden Toy Shop where you can actually see Mr. Tim making the toys! Thy have everything from bulldozers to fairy wands to desk top corn hold boards. We bought some Christmas gifts from Mr. Tim last time that included some wooden swords for our nephews and Christmas tree ornaments for grandparents. You can find Mr. Tim here: 8635 N Main St #8, Helen, GA 30545.
Speaking of Christmas, if you’re looking for the ultimate Christmas store then you will need to stop in the Christmas Shoppe. Check out their website for products that they are carrying as they can change based on availability. Also note that they are only open from May-December. You can find them here: 8749 N Main St, Helen, GA 30545.
Unfortunately, our children are not quite old enough to sit still and enjoy this activity (yet). However, I will have some really awesome old time pictures to post here in a year or two. Wild West Old Time Photos and Steve’s Old Time Photos offer customers the opportunity to dress up and get a black and white photo from another era.
Wild West Old Time Photos is run by the same people who operate Alpine Carriage Company (see below). They have a quote option on their website that allows you to find out exactly how much it would be to have your family portraits done. When you’re ready for those pictures, you can find them here: 19 Chattahoochee Trail, Helen, GA 30545.
Steve’s Old Time Photos has been in business for over 45 years and has a wide variety of sets to choose from. Their picture packages are about $20 but they also offer a group rate. You can find them here: 8600 N Main St Helen, GA 30545.
8. Train Ride in Helen, GA
Honestly, given the wide variety of things to do on this list, taking a train ride in Helen, GA should be no surprise. This is probably one of the most family-friendly things to do in Helen, GA and it truly is fun for all ages!
The Alpine Express Train departs from the Helen Fun Factory and gives visitors a scenic little tour of the downtown Helen area. The conductor will even point out the best photo opportunities in the downtown area.
The train itself has three train cars which each seat 4 people. To board the train, it costs $10 per person. The train depot is stationed at Two Wheel Tavern (8735 N. Main Street, Helen, GA).
9. Helen Fun Factory
If you travel all the way to the Alpine village to visit their scenic downtown or ride the Helen mountain coaster but it starts to rain (ugh) then the Helen Fun Factory is your best bet!
They offer something for all ages, include the adults who still act like kids. They have: go karts (for kids and adults), arcade games, roller skating, laser tag, and an inflatable park (my younger kiddos thought this was the best part).
Pricing starts at $10 per person but increases based on what all you plan to do while you are there.
You can find them here: 115 Escowee Dr, Helen, GA 30545,
10. Alpine Carriage Company
Alpine Carriage Company offers horse-drawn carriage rides throughout Helen. These horses are very well taken care of and the drivers are all extremely personable.
You can tell they love what they do! It can be a bit pricey so I might skip this activity if you have little bitty ones who do not ride well. My toddlers loved it!
Alpine Carriage Company offers pricing based on the number of guests in your party. That determines the size of your carriage and, in some cases, the number of horses needed. Their website offers an easy form to fill out in order to get a quote for your family.
Address: 15 Yonah St, Helen, GA 30545
11. Helen River Tubing
Oddly enough, this is one of the things Helen is most known for. Tubing down a river does not immediately come to mind when I think of an Alpine village but what do I know?
There are two companies to choose from to do some Helen river tubing (don’t be confused: Cool River Tubing is a smaller part of Cool River Adventures).
Cool River Tubing is in the heart of downtown Helen. They offer river tubing for ages 3+ for $12 on weekdays and $16 on weekend days, per person. They are open rain or shine, 7 days a week from Memorial day through Labor Day!
Helen Tubing & Waterpark offers tubing and an awesome water park that includes some pretty amazing water slides. They are open rain or shine, 7 days a week from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Their pricing is the same as Cool River Tubing and includes dogs in their admission pricing!
If you haven’t been water tubing before, it usually works like this: 1. Buy tickets and store your things in a locker, 2. catch a bus to go up the river OR go ahead and hop in the float (depending on where you are in relation to the river) 3. do some lazy river floating, 4. turn in your tube, gather your things and go back to your car OR catch a bus back up to the top of the river and then turn in your tube, gather your things, and go back to your car.
12. Mining at Dukes Creek Gold & Ruby Mines
Dukes Creek Gold & Ruby Mines allows you to sit and pan for gold and gems just like a miner would have back in the good ole’ days. Except, Dukes has convenient panning tables that are in the shade! They also have a really unique general store that offers homemade jams, jellies, boiled peanuts, salsa, and so much more. They use only fresh, local ingredients!
Address: 6145 GA-75, Sautee Nacoochee, GA 30571.
13. Mining at The Outpost
The Outpost has so many options for mining! They offer buckets that are filled with either gold or gems that you can pan at one of their convenient tables (that are also in the shade).
They offer 5 bucket sizes with the small one priced at $12 and the largest priced at $250. All of their pay dirt is local and they have experts on site to show you what to do with it!
Address: 7901 South Main Street, Helen, Georgia 30545
14. Fred’s Famous Peanuts-Roadside stand
If you have read any of my other posts you know that I am a sucker for a good roadside stand. Fred’s is no exception!
Fred’s Famous Peanuts started out when Fred and his wife decided to start selling boiled peanuts right in front of their house (which happens to be right next door to the stand).
Over the last 30 years they have perfected some other homemade goodies that include award-winning hot sauces, jams, jellies, preserves, butters, and beef jerky. We typically only stop for boiled peanuts and a glass-bottled soda, but my husband had to have some of their hot sauce!
Address: 17 Clayton Rd, Helen, GA 30545.
15. Nora Mill Granary
My husband is a big history buff and loves anything that is “old,” especially buildings. So, we made a special stop at Nora Mill Granary to check out their country store and grist mill. The building is original from 1876 so you can definitely feel the history when you step inside!
They use their original French Burr Stones to make pretty much anything that comes from corn or wheat. Their list includes: grits, cornmeal, pancake & waffle mixes, flours, biscuit & bread mixes and pioneer’s porridge.
We personally tried their pancake mix and it is wonderful! This is a great place to buy some unique Christmas gifts that are functional but also very tasty!
Address: 7107 S Main St, Helen, GA 30545
16. BabyLand General Hospital
Our last stop on our way out of Helen was a stop at BabyLand General Hospital to see the Cabbage Patch Kids! BabyLand General is about 15 minutes due south of Helen in a town called Cleveland.
Cleveland is another cute little mountain town that plays host to a variety of vineyards, Mount Yonah, and even a zoo!
[[ Check out our post about zoos in north Georgia if you want more information. ]]
Back to Babyland. We did not realize that our almost 2 year old is terrified of baby dolls until we came to BabyLand General Hospital. Whoops. So, our visit was short and sweet and we actually did not purchase a baby doll.
How much does BabyLand General cost?
One really cool thing about this place is that admission is totally free. So your family gets to walk through this really neat, southern house situated on hundreds of acres while experiencing the “birth” of new Cabbage Patch Kids, a staff that are all dressed like nurses, and more baby dolls than you could ever dream of in one building.
How much is it to adopt a Cabbage Patch Kid?
With the wide variety of dolls comes a wide variety of prices. They offer mini dolls that fall within the $20 range, medium sized dolls with vinyl heads (what I grew up with) that range from $70-80 depending on the size of the doll. They also have hand stitched dolls that are made by local artists that fall within the $200 range (these are fully hand stitched form head to toe and hand stuffed).
Top things to do in Helen, GA in October
Maybe you’re new to Georgia or maybe you don’t get out much but Helen is THE place to be in October. They actually have an entire festival named for this month. It’s called Oktoberfest..heard of it? That’s not all though. Check out these things to do in Helen, GA in October:
17. Oktoberfest
I’m going to be honest with you: most people come for the beer. HOWEVER, this festival has been going on for 50 years and is a wonderful testament to German culture. You have the opportunity to experience traditional German dancing, polka music, German fare and treats, and some really fun outfits.
This event typically runs on weekends throughout September and then every day for the month of October. Warning: weekend days are a bit more rowdy than weekdays. If you are bringing children I would advise you to experience Oktoberfest during the week while the college students are in class!
Admission is $8 on weekdays, $10 on Saturdays, and free on Sundays. Food and drinks are available to purchase separately on site.
Address: 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, GA 30545
18. The Great Helen Duck Race
The Great Helen Duck Race is one of the most magical parts of Oktoberfest, especially when you are considering ways that your children can enjoy a festival that centers around German food and drinks.
Come sponsor a duck while you watch all 3000 of them float down the Chattahoochee River. To see the launch, you will want to be at Paul’s Margarita Deck (or somewhere around there) as they launch the ducks across the street.
It costs $10 to sponsor one duck or $40 to sponsor a ‘raft’ of ducks (5 ducks). Once you pay to sponsor, you will be assigned a number (or numbers) for your sponsored duck(s). The ducks will cross the finish line at the Helen Festhalle and, as always, the first duck to cross is the winner.
The grand prize in previous years has been anywhere between $1000-5000 cash! Plus, all sponsorship proceeds go to the Family Promise of White & Habersham which helps support local families through homelessness until they regain independence.
For more information, check out their Facebook page!
19. Helen Arts & Crafts Festival: Art-Oberfest
The Art-Oberfest is hosted outdoors on the grounds of the Helen art center. This event hosts a wide variety of local artists, arts and crafts booths, and fun activities for the kids!
My kids personally loved the face-painting. In the past they have always had local baked goods for sale as well but the rules may have changed since COVID.
Website: Find up to date information here.
Address: 25 Chattachoochee Strasse, Helen, GA 30545.
20. Helen Indian Cultural Festival
The Helen Indian Cultural Festival is a celebration of the ancient Vedic culture of India. This festival has a lot more entertainment than most of the fall festivals or arts and crafts festivals you have seen.
They have live music playing all day! They have opportunities to hear singing, see cultural dancing, and experience some of the traditional foods of the ancient Vedic culture!
UPDATE: This festival was not held in 2021 or 2022.
Things to do in Helen, GA in December
There is no Christmas like a Helen, GA Christmas! Helen is a magical place during the holidays.
They typically start decorating for Christmas in November after they have recovered from all of the Oktoberfest-ivities. The Alpine village is even cuter with twinkly lights and Christmas trees! Check out some of our favorite things to do in Helen, GA for Christmas:
21. Festival of Trees
The Festival of Trees is a beautiful display of decorated trees and wreaths spread throughout Unicoi State park! These trees and wreaths look like they were all professionally decorated, which is why there is also a bid for each tree/wreath. At the end of the festival, the tree or wreath goes to the highest bidder.
You can find more about the Festival of trees on the Helen website. The event typically runs from mid-November through the first week or two of December, with the highest bids being announced on the last day. All funds raised go to the White County United Way.
22. Christkindlmarkt
This is one of our favorite things to to do in Helen in December, second only to the Lighting of the Village (see below). The Christkindlmarkt is a traditional German event that has been held in Helen for 14 years now.
It is kind of like a Christmas version of Oktoberfest with its German food variety. They also have a large variety of unique gifts and decorations for sale at the many vendor booths that are set up.
Christkindlmarkt usually happens the last weekend of November and the first weekend of December. Bonus: admission is free!
23. Lighting of the Village
I am sure that most of you have seen a lighting of a Christmas tree at some point in your life. The Helen Christmas tree lighting happens at Riverside Park and includes a meet and greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus. You can also get some very festive pictures with Santa while you are there!
There are local bands there to play some holiday tunes while everyone enjoys the atmosphere or waits for their turn to see Santa. The Lighting of the Village usually occupies about 2 hours, including picture time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Cheap things to do in Helen, GA
I’m not sure if you noticed as you read through, but MANY of the activities above have free admission. That means you get to go to the event and see the sights, smell the smells, and hear the sounds for [f r e e]. If you choose to support a local vendor or local business then that is awesome but you do not technically have to.
These are the things on our list that are very cheap or free, in order of appearance:
Anna Ruby Falls, Unicoi State Park, Unicoi Hill Park-Playground, walking around downtown Helen, Nora Mill Granary (free entrance), BabyLand General (free admission), Art-Oberfest, Christkindlmarkt, and the Lighting of the Village.
Phew. Suffice to say, there are many cheap things to do in Helen, GA.
Are things open in Helen, Ga?
Yes! Helen is open and -desperately- seeking business. They are still recovering from 2020.
The shops in Helen are all small businesses and are locally owned. Many of them are managed and operated daily by their owners as a way to help them stay open.
When we visited Tim’s Wooden Toys we got to meet Tim and watch him make wooden toys. How is that for a small business experience?
So, are things open in Helen, GA? They absolutely are and they NEED you to come see for yourself! Bonus points if you can buy some Christmas gifts from these local shops and provide them with some monetary support.
Wrap-up: Things to do in Helen, GA
There are obviously many more things to do in Helen, GA that didn’t make our list. We tried to keep our list family friendly and reasonably priced because our family vacations on a budget!
Do you know of something in or around Helen that would be great for families? Leave a comment so we can add it in!
