2023 July 18-21, Trip to The Alpine Village of Helen, Georgia (4 days)

 Day 1: Tuesday, July 18:

We left home at about 6 A.M., stopping at Jack in Athens for biscuits and gravy. 

We continued through Huntsville, taking Hwy 72 toward Scottsboro through (hwy 35)Mento, crossing the Tennessee River,  to (Hwy 40) Hangar, Valley Head, and Mento, crossing into Georgia.

In Georgia, we traveled through Summerville, Rome, onto the I-75 bypass of Atlanta. We went through Cartersville, Marietta, taking 400 north, bypassing Atlanta to Dahlonega, Cleveland, and 75 to Helen.

We checked into the Castle Inn around 2:25 p.m. and took all our luggage up two flights of stairs (they had no elevator.)

We walked down the front of the hotel to the nearby Troll Tavern. The Tavern was along the Chattahoochee  River with a gate covered in locks weighing it down. There was a sign that said no more locks, and all locks had to be removed. It was causing the gate to be unstable and unsafe. 

Troll Tavern with Gates full of locks 

While we were waiting for a table, we watched hundreds of people tubing down the Chattahoochee River on green, pink, and blue tubes.

We ordered Reuben on toast with mashed potatoes and Diet Coke. I think they were short-staffed because there were lots of empty tables and people waiting to be served.

Reuben on toast with mashed potatoes

We walked around the town, and some of the places we saw were The Wooden Toys, Assay Station, Welcome to Wildwood, Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen, Wilkommen, Helen Hat, Grimm's Weg, Sock Store, Christmas & More, Christoff's Seventy-six, Helendof Inn, Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, Pepper Place, Dizzy Bear,  Cowboys and Angels, The Christmas Shop, just to name a few. 

Gone Squatchin in Helen 

It was a beautiful day but very hot, so we walked back to the Castle Inn and rested until around 7PM. 

We left the Castle Inn and walked across the bridge, stopping for a picture at the Cafe International (head in the hole), the Mural of Helendof Inn. I continued walking past the Alpine Wedding Chapel, Fashall, where they were playing bingo. I saw the Pirates Cove Miniature Golf and Alpine Village Inn. 

I walked to Wendy's, where I had left hubby, and he bought us a strawberry frosty and Diet Coke. 

We walked back to our car and rode to Cleveland, stopping at the White County Courthouse to take a few pictures. 

Day 2: Wednesday, July 19:

Early in the morning, I took my journal outside onto the balcony and began to write. I watched as the town slowly came alive. I could hear the birds chirping in the distance and could feel the cool breeze, and the sky was full of clouds. The only people that I saw were early-morning workers. 

We were at the Waffle House when it opened at 8AM. I ordered 3 pecan pancakes with whipped cream and Diet Pepsi. Hubby ordered 2 eggs, sausage, 3 pancakes with gravy, biscuits and hash browns.

We rode to the visitors center there they gave us a map of Helen and suggested places we should visit. 

She said Anna Ruby Falls, Sautee General Store, Hardman's Farm & Indian Mound, and the Covered Bridge. 

We walked through Veterans Park, taking pictures of the park behind the Visitors Center. 

We rode to Unite State Park to see Anna Ruby Falls, but before we began our climb uphill to the falls, it began to sprinkle, so hubby went back to the car for the umbrella. 

We had to stop several times to rest during our climb uphill. There were stone benches along the path. 

It was getting slippery with all the light rain, but we finally made it. Hubby stopped just short of the falls Hubby talked to a couple while I walked to the top. 

Anna Ruby Falls 

I ask a red-headed girl to take a picture of me standing in front of the waterfalls.

We also met a family with teenagers walking up the hill, and they passed us coming down. Several people were visiting Anna Ruby Falls. 

Our next stop was Baby-land, The Cabbage Patch Doll Hospital. Baby cabbage patches were planted all around the hospital. When you walked inside, there were pictures of famous people on the walls. 

There were several different rooms of dolls and scenery it was overwhelming.

Cabbage Patch Kids

It was hard to choose which baby to adopt, but I settled on Sandy Sue. 

Everyone crowded around to watch the birth & the storytelling of a baby boy Cabbage Patch Doll. 

Our next stop was the White County Courthouse Museum.

It had already closed the day before, so we rode back today. 

Several ladies were sitting around a table talking they were members of the Historical Society of White County. 

One of them told us the history of the museum. 

We could hear music coming from upstairs. There was a man in the Old Courtroom playing a fiddle.

I saw a replica of the Covered Bridge and asked questions about it and its location.

Our next stop was the Hardman Farm State Park.  We had to park on the hill and walk down several flights of stairs to the Visitor Center, so hubby did not want to walk around the farm. 

Hardman Farm Historic Site Sautee Nacoochee, Ga 

He bought me a ticket, and I walked around taking pictures of the building and historic markers.

I met a couple of women also taking pictures of markers to be read later. 

Hubby was in the car waiting for me at the bottom of the hill.

Next, we rode to Stovall Covered Bridge and Old Sautee General Store.

The Stovall Covered Bridge has been washed away three times. 

We stopped at Walgreens in Cleveland for shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and a couple of Heath Bars. 

We stopped at Nora Granary Mill, where we bought some stone mill cornmeal. 

We ate dinner at Wendy's, then went back to Castle Inn. (Hamburger and fries)

We watched the new Ghost Buster Movie.

I walked outside to talk to my daughter and to write in my journal. 

It had been a full day. 

Day 3: Thursday, July 20:  

We rode to McDonalds in Cleveland, bought a muffin with sausage, and hubby ordered a big breakfast. 

Today, we rode to North Georgia Wildlife and Safari Park in Cleveland, GA.  We walked through the petting zoo and then drove through the Safari, where we saw buffalo, Elk, Deer, Emu, Ostrich, camels, Zebra, and several small animals. 

I was not too impressed.

Next, we rode to Brasstown Bald Hiawassee, GA (the highest point in Georgia) and paid $8 to ride the shuttle van up to the overlook and visitor center. 

It was too foggy to see very far, but we did enjoy the Visitor Center museum. 

Brasstown Bald Overlook and Visitor Center

In the museum, we saw several handmade quilts hanging on the walls.

We saw several different forest animals, a log with a saw, a train engine, displays, etc. 

Saw several barn Swallows and Gray Catbirds. 

We rode the shuttle bus back down the mountain. 

We stopped at Chick-fil-A in Cleveland for dinner. I ordered a kid's chicken finger meal with waffle fries and ice cream. 

It was raining when we returned to the Castle Inn. 

I sat outside on the balcony, listening to the band in the restaurant across the street. 

It was a stormy night, and very few people were outside. 

Day 4: Friday, July 21:

Check-out Castle Inn