Romantic Getaway Guide

Helen works for couples because the pieces fit in a single day: a quiet walk along the Chattahoochee in the morning, a waterfall by noon, a tasting room by mid-afternoon, and a table for two by dinner. Cabins up the valley mean you can leave the Alpine bustle behind at night.

Cabins with hot tubs and fireplaces are the classic couples' stay.

The most private way to do Helen is a cabin on a wooded lot, ideally one with a hot tub on a covered deck, a fireplace and a porch. Many rental companies offer one-bedroom cabins aimed at couples. Look in the Sautee Nacoochee valley or on the ridges north of town for the quietest settings, and check the photos for the actual view and the distance to the next cabin. Our complete Helen cabins guide and romantic cabins page go deeper. Planning a proposal? See the proposal guide.

Habersham Winery is in Helen and describes tastings of its dry, sweet and muscadine wines on its website; the New Georgia Encyclopedia calls it one of the state's oldest wineries. Yonah Mountain Vineyards, at 1717 Highway 255 South in Cleveland, is about 20 minutes away; call 706-878-5522 for tasting hours and reservations, since some tastings there are by reservation only. The visitors bureau lists more area wineries and wine-tour operators, handy if you don't want to drive after a tasting. See also our wine trail guide.

Bodensee Restaurant is a calm German dinner choice and doesn't take reservations at the moment, so go early on weekends. The Valhalla Resort Hotel runs the Caledonia Room and a Sky Bar, and Heidelberg is another German option; all three appear on the Helen visitors bureau's dining list. Call each for current hours, since seasonal schedules shift. For a quieter evening, a tasting-room snack and a cabin dinner is a fine alternative. More ideas: Helen restaurants and farm-to-table dining.

The hills around Helen give you plenty of places to watch the sunset together.

Details from Anna Ruby Falls, Raven Cliff, Dukes Creek and Brasstown Bald.

For sunsets without a hike, drive GA-348 north of town. Hogpen Gap, at about 3,461 feet, has parking beside the Appalachian Trail crossing, and the pull-offs along the road look out over layered ridges. Brasstown Bald closes at 5 PM, so it's a late-afternoon outing rather than a sunset one. Hikers also climb Mount Yonah; read our trail page first, because the climb is strenuous. For photo ideas see the photography spots.

Events from the Helen Chamber and visitors bureau; temperatures from NOAA normals.