Helen Georgia

& THE BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY

1st Day: Today we head for Helen, GA where you will have an entire afternoon to explore this one of a kind village. Helen is a re-creation of an alpine village complete with cobblestone alleys and old-world towers. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Chatahoochee River, this Northeast Georgia village has more than 200 specialty and import shops. Whether you’re looking for a Cuckoo clock from Black Forest, Germany; Matryoshka (Nesting Dolls) from Russia, wood shoes from Holland, or anything else you can think of - you’ll find it here. In addition to shopping, the restaurants of Helen reflect the Old World fare. From bratwurst to burgers, there is something for everyone. Enjoy the mountain beauty with a touch of Bavaria before we head out to our hotel in Blue Ridge, GA.

2nd day: After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll ride the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. It all starts at the historic, 100-year old depot. As the train winds through the mountains alongside the beautiful Toccoa River, hosts will share the history of the railroad with passengers. The view is spectacular as we travel through one of the most beautiful places in the South. The train stops in the unique, twin border towns of McCaysville, GA and Copperhill, TN. You’ll have an hour and a half to grab a bite in one of the town’s restaurants, and do a bit of shopping and antiquing. Then, it’s back to Blue Ridge on the train. Returning home after our time in the mountains of North Georgia approximately 9:00PM. (CB)