Mountain Bike Germany Trails
Hi Ho To The Blue Ridge Mountains We Go
We don’t as a rule relate the word “Alpine” with the Blue Ridge Mountains of north Georgia, but the city of Helen is a small piece of the Bavarian Alps that found its way into this expanse of Dixie. In addition to the hiking trails and whitewater rafting you would be expecting to find in this part of the southern Appalachians, there is a three month Oktoberfest that lasts from the late summer until the halfway point of fall every year, a customary Bavarian Christmas Alpenlights celebration, and yet an additional transplanted Germanic tradition, das volksmarch. The best place to enjoy Oktoberfest is from one of the many cabin rentals in the area, or a luxurious room in one of Helen’s lovely European themed inns.
Originally inhabited by Cherokee Indians, the region was the site of a gold discovery in 1828. For over seventy years, prospectors and commercial mining companies labored deposits that rivaled those in the Rockies and the Sierras. The gold fields were mostly mined out by 1900, but the lumber industry moved in soon after. With the installation of the railroad, the town of Helen was established in 1913. The timber industry was short lived. By 1931, the trees were gone and by 1960, all that remained was a string of cement block houses. The town’s renaissance commenced in the early 1970s as it begun to reinvent itself in the Bavarian style, stimulated by an artist who had served with the U.S. Army in Germany. These days, Helen is one of the most popular destination resorts in the region.
The Chattahoochie River provides recreational opportunities for whitewater rafting and inner tubing, while the encircling mountains offer hikers a chance to participate in nature and the different woodland species up close and personal. Mountain lodges that include hot tubs are obtainable for romantic getaways, and the town itself is home to numerous specialty shops and four star dining establishments, including an authentic Bavarian Hofbrau Haus, featuring the unique food of Germany’s southern region. German and northern Italian cuisine can also be tried at The Troll, one of Helen’s more unique eateries.
Easily available family activities include golf, mountain biking, fishing and horseback riding. In fact, there is almost no better way to see this part of the Blue Ridge than from the back of a horse. Check out Chattahoochie Backcountry Treks and Sunburst Stables for more information.
For hikers, one of the most interesting sights is Anna Ruby Falls, one of the four waterfalls in the immediate area within Unicoi State Park. The falls are a little over 800 yards from an improved public access area, and are actually two separate falls with the better of the two topping out at over 150 feet high.
Of course, just because you are out in and among nature does not suggest you have to rough it. North Georgia romantic travel inns possess all the comforts of home including cable TV and wireless internet access. The proprietors of these lodgings are more than happy to impart the unique history of the area as well as suggest other interesting site seeing tours and delicious neighborhood bistros.
Mountain Biking on the Isar Trails, Munich, Germany
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