Sometimes you want to do the same things somewhere new. A relaxing experience relies on some predictability, but also adds intrigue—mountains, river, special food. . . not being home. Making time to just hang out is harder for us guys when we grow up. Alpine Helen is an easy getaway with maximum bro-down benefit. Mark off a

You can drink wine anywhere, yet one of the most popular escapes connoisseurs and novices alike seek is a trip to “wine country.” Perhaps it’s a unique way to connect your senses to a timeless natural process in beautiful surroundings that produce a complex product; maybe it’s getting to learn from wineries how their craft

You’ve got shady oak trees; cool mountain breezes; gently rolling streams giving way to waterfalls; gazing at the stars in the clear spring sky over dinner and a glass of wine. . . but still something is missing: music. Music has always thrived in Appalachia, and the city of Helen does its part to showcase regional-gone-national talent

Close your eyes and imagine a waterfall. How do you feel? A handful of natural memories are so overwhelming to the senses that they never fade. An Appalachian waterfall has a subtle earthy smell from the rocks and vegetation being disturbed; it produces a cool breeze felt through the humid mountain air; it surrounds you

Hiking is what we need more of right now: as a refreshing activity it can range from meditative to heart-pounding, from effortless to grueling, and it is as varied an aesthetic experience as the terrains upon which it occurs. In the Blue Ridge foothills surrounding Helen, you can do it your way. Here is a