Helen with Kids: Family Guide
What to do, what it costs and what works at each age
The short answer
Top family stops
Prices and rules we confirmed
| Attraction | Where | Details | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Mountain Coaster | 8409 S Main Street, Helen | Riders control their own speed. Solo riders must be 54 inches tall; passengers need to be 38 inches and 3 years old. The driver in a tandem must be 16+. Tickets: adults $17, ages 7-12 $14, ages 3-6 $10. | Sun 10-7; Mon-Thu 10-6; Fri-Sat 10-9 |
| Cool River Tubing | 590 Edelweiss Strasse (Chattahoochee Outpost) | Ages 2 and up; kid-sized tubes; free life jackets, required for ages 12 and under. $14 Mon-Fri, $16 Sat-Sun and holidays (2026). Non-swimmers float often on this calm, shallow stretch. | Daily season Memorial Day to Labor Day; call ahead in fall |
| Anna Ruby Falls | 3455 Anna Ruby Falls Road, Helen | Paved 0.4-mile trail to twin falls; $6 ages 16+, 15 and under free; Jr. Ranger program offered. | Daily 9-6, last ticket 5 |
| North Georgia Wildlife Park | 2912 Paradise Valley Rd, Cleveland | Animal encounters include otters, capybaras and sloths. Check prices and book on its site. | See website |
| Unicoi State Park & Lodge | 1788 Highway 356, Helen | 2.5-mile Lake Trail around 53-acre Unicoi Lake. ParkPass $10 per vehicle per day. | 7 AM-10 PM |
More options on the Helen Welcome Center's family fun list, including mini golf at Pirates Cove, escape rooms, Dukes Creek Mines and Outpost Gold and Gem Panning, the Unicoi zip line and BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland. See our family mini golf guide and gem mining guide.
Easy hikes for kids
Start with Anna Ruby Falls. The paved trail is 0.4 mile each way, and the payoff is two waterfalls side by side (Curtis Creek about 153 feet, York Creek about 50). A couple of short, steep pitches mean strollers struggle, but kids who walk on their own usually manage. The 2.5-mile Lake Trail at Unicoi is rated easy. Older kids can try Dukes Creek Falls (2.2 miles round trip, $4 per vehicle) or Raven Cliff Falls (2.6 miles each way, $5 per vehicle, with a creek crossing that can be calf-deep). The 1-mile Helen to Hardman Heritage Trail is ADA accessible and good for strollers.
By age
| Age | Ideas |
|---|---|
| Ages 2-5 | River tubing (ages 2+), Anna Ruby Falls, candy kitchen, a stroll on the Helen to Hardman trail |
| Ages 5-10 | Mountain coaster, tubing, Unicoi Lake Trail, panning for gems |
| Ages 10-14 | Raven Cliff Falls (2.6 miles each way), Dukes Creek Falls (2.2 miles round trip), zip line, escape rooms |
| Teens | Zip line, escape rooms, coaster, a ride on the Chattahoochee in season |
Eating and sleeping with kids
The Welcome Center's dining list includes Hansel and Gretel Candy Kitchen for sweets and Muller's Famous Fried Cheese Cafe for something casual. Our family restaurant guide has more. For lodging, a cabin gives you a kitchen, separate bedrooms and a deck. Start at the family cabin guide, or look at camping for a cheaper stay. Book early for fall weekends.
Tips
Wear shoes with backs
Cool River recommends shoes with backs for tubing; backless shoes aren't allowed.
Pack layers
October nights average 46°F and November's 36°F, and the ridges are colder.
Do the active stuff first
Trails and the coaster in the morning, shops and dinner when everyone winds down.
Plan around Oktoberfest
Kids 6-12 pay $5 to $7 at the Festhalle; under 6 is free, and Sundays are free. See the Oktoberfest guide.
Family questions
Is Helen, GA good for kids?
Yes. The village is compact and walkable, and the family list includes a mountain coaster, river tubing (ages 2 and up), an easy paved waterfall walk at Anna Ruby Falls, mini golf, gem panning and escape rooms. The Helen Welcome Center's family list has more.
How old do kids need to be to tube in Helen?
Cool River Tubing says ages 2 and up. It provides smaller tubes for children and free life jackets, and requires them for ages 12 and under.
What are the Georgia Mountain Coaster's height rules?
Solo riders must be at least 54 inches tall. Passengers must be 38 inches tall and 3 years old. In a tandem, the driver must be at least 16 and taller than the passenger.
