ALPINE HELEN EXPEDITION!

Helen, Georgia is located in the northeastern area of the state.  The German flag on their sign below, reflects the fact that the city made an economic decision, several decades ago,  to brand itself like a Bavarian alpine town in the Alps Mountain Range, based on its proximity to the Appalachian Mountain Range.

The town is situated along the Chattahoochee River.

A lovely Riverside Park provides a respite for visitors to the area.

The photo below, of me with a round hay bale, painted to resemble a jack-o-lantern, should be a clue that I was visiting in October.

In keeping with Bavarian traditions, Alpine Georgia hosts an Oktoberfest that not only occurs in October, but also on the weekends of the month before and the month after!

The photo below shows one of numerous Alpine-themed murals that are located throughout the town.

The murals provide a wonderful photo opportunity to remind people they are actually in the USA, and not Bavaria!

The couple below is wearing the traditional ethnic attire of Bavaria.  The leather shorts with suspenders that the man is wearing, are called lederhosen .  The female is wearing a Dirndl, that consists of a closefitting bodice with a low neckline, a blouse worn under the bodice, a wide high-waisted skirt, and an apron.

I could not resist having my photo made with these four young fellas, sporting their lederhosen, as well as the traditional Bavarian head covering, called a Tyrolean hat (because it originated from the Tyrol area of the Alps). 

Even if you do not have the traditional attire, there is a photo opportunity where you can put your head into the opening of the sign below, and be a "Bavarian for a Day"!

Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year 1810.  It originally took place in the 16-day period leading up to the first Sunday in October.  The Oktoberfest in Helen lasts much longer than the original!

I read on Wikipedia that in 2014, 7.7 million litres of beer were served at the actual German event.  I have not seen any statistics for amounts served at the Helen, Georgia event, although it appeared to be substantial!

 

A 1969 zoning ordinance that was adopted in Helen, Georgia, mandated that all architecture must be a replica of that which would be seen in a Bavarian alpine town.  The street scene below illustrates this concept.

Besides the unique shops and restaurants a visitor can peruse, there is also a town plaza, where one can enjoy the tunes played by street musicians, such as the one shown in this photo. 

I did all my exploring on foot, but one can also choose a horse-drawn carriage tour around the village.

 

 

If you want a different type of "horse power", there is a miniature train to hop on!

Tourism is a key economic activity in Helen, catering mostly to weekend visitors from the Atlanta area.  Special arrangements can be made for parking motorcoaches.

The village is also very popular for motorcyclists, who enjoy the amenities of Helen, as well as the beauty of the surrounding mountain roads. 

Since I was exploring on foot, I had no trouble accessing a lovely mountainside park, that sits on a hill overlooking the town.  The picturesque gazebo provides a great meeting place!

Looking through the wreath of autumn leaves gives one a bird's eye view of the downtown happenings

The park is also a good place to enjoy the autumn colors of the many hardwood trees surrounding the park.

One can also take their picnic meal to enjoy in the park, if they prefer the woods to a restaurant!

 

The park gives a good view of a very unique building, built with a windmill!

Outdoor dining can also be enjoyed at this riverside restaurant in the downtown area. 

 

The stores stay open later during weekend Oktoberfest, as illustrated by this twilight street scene.

This bridge near downtown is a popular crossing used by pedestrians, and the lights add a festive atmosphere.

Portions of the walkway beside the river are paved, and serve as access points to those who want to enjoy a restaurant beside the river, as opposed to a restaurant that sits above the river.

 

There is also a lodging property located adjacent to the river, which would be very convenient for festival attendees coming from out of town

Another interesting feature along the riverwalk, is the section of "love locks", placed there by couples who want to "lock" this visit into their memories!

Because the main highway that goes through downtown Helen ( Georgia Highway #75) can be somewhat congested during weekend festivals, readers might be interested to know there is a bypass route, labeled Georgia 75Alt, that would enable a driver to avoid traffic jams one might encounter on autumn weekends. 

One can visit the website of www.helenga.org for information on activities available throughout the year.

I felt very blessed to be able to take a walking tour of this quaint location, and want to credit the Grace of God, and the encouragement I have received through a healthy living program, called First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) for still having the ability to walk.  One aspect of the program (besides encouraging exercise and healthy eating) is to regularly work at memorizing Scripture.  Something that helps me memorize, is to have a visual picture in my mind, of some aspect of the verse.  I found such a visual aid in the hillside park, at Helen, Georgia, when I saw this paved PATH.  The memory verse has the  word "path" in it:--Hebrews 12:12-13 says,  "So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees.  Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong."  (Week 5)

I hope YOU can mark out a straight path for your feet, that will lead you to visit the Alpine Village, of Helen, Georgia.  If you are like me, it will give you "MILES OF SMILES"!!  Tricia