Nacoochee Village

This is the unhurried side of Helen. There's no Bavarian styling here, just a mill on the river, a tasting room and a big old house full of other people's treasures. The village website also lists Jumping Goat Coffee, Nacoochee Grill and Village Tavern nearby; check their hours before you plan a meal around them.

Nora Mill has been grinding since 1876, with original 1,500-pound French Burr stones powered by the Chattahoochee. The country store sells stone-ground grits, cornmeal and pancake, waffle and biscuit mixes, and a sampling kitchen lets you taste before you buy. See our Nora Mill guide.

The Nacoochee Village Antique Mall fills the 1876 Martin House, across from Nora Mill. It bills itself as Helen's largest antique mall, with about 50 dealers working 7,000 square feet. Furniture, collectibles and gifts rotate through, which is why people go back.

Habersham Winery has made wine since 1983 and calls itself one of Georgia's oldest and largest wineries. It's locally and family owned. The Nacoochee Village tasting room is open every day, and the shop stocks gourmet foods alongside the bottles. Wines are sold under the Habersham and Creekstone labels. For more on tasting in the area, see our Habersham Winery guide.

Drive south from downtown Helen on S Main Street (GA-75), a ride of about five minutes. The village sits near the Nacoochee Indian Mound at the GA-17 intersection, so it's easy to pair with the mound and Hardman Farm. Parking is at the individual businesses.