The roots of Oktoberfest: a surfeit of beer and excuse to party in Bavarian style (a Prince’s wedding) in 1810. All the elements that make the celebration so distinct fell into place around the opportunity. German music was already among the world’s most distinctive and folksy; Bach had even written memorable classical church hymns that […]

The southern Appalachian Mountains have been open to scrappy settlers since the early 1800s, but modernization has always moved a bit slower here than elsewhere. The terrain and industry have kept the culture close to the land and to tradition throughout mineral booms, logging busts, and—more recently—tourism. Helen itself was incorporated in 1913, but even

Are you new to RVing and looking for a surefire good “early-on” experience? Or, maybe you’re just looking for some mighty consolidated good times rather than just driving through entire monotonous states. The Southern Highroads Trail is your perfect medium-distance RV path to see baldest and tallest southern Appalachian peaks, sky-high waterfalls and valley apple

Thinned traffic and vegetation, no bugs, crisp comfortable weather, the same quality German food and beers, quiet but quite festive nonetheless. December is a great time for relaxing or giving the family a special holiday getaway in Helen. The entire month is a comforting mug of hot cocoa. December in Helen seems relatively quiet after

Germans love beer because they have taken the craft seriously for centuries, creating lovable beers. As a result, beer is engrained in their cultural heritage. Most countries have figured out and carried on their distinct brewing methods (ever heard of Miller, Schiltz, Busch, Yuengling?), but the depth of German love for beer is still evident: the

Spend less time hovering over the oven and more time with family with our round-up of area restaurants open for Thanksgiving List of restaurants  

It’s no secret that we often judge international cuisine on a few unrepresentative memories. Maybe you had some seriously whack guacamole that was just a little too day-glo green. Perhaps it was a lackluster miso soup. It’s possible you’ve sworn off these foods—even written them off as gross simply based on your first (and last)

Mountain biking is one sport that’s thrilling the first time you go out. Surfing, skateboarding, tennis, golf, distance running . . . not so much. But progress-driven as we are, your 10 th ride through a beginner trail can get a bit stale. Helen has always had great places to get into mountain biking and

It’s early fall, just before the Oktoberfest rush. This is a great time to be here in the Blue Ridge Mountains because it’s beautiful, comfortable, and easy to get around. You don’t go to the mountains to just see them out of the window—you want to feel the air, hear the sound of water running—you

Helen is unforgettable because of its compact and picturesque Bavarian style. We are, however, also a great launching point for all kinds of nature-presented experiences. You might be traveling alone and looking for balance between tourist leisure and adventurer exhilaration, or you might need a place where you won’t feel bad leaving a few people