Nearly 3 million visitors annually come to this replica German alpine village in the northeast Georgia mountains about 125 miles from Chattanooga.
Helen contains the nation’s longest-running Oktoberfest, as well as other unique Bavarian traditions.
Visitors also can hike to witness the 153-foot falls in Unicoi State Park and see a variety of bears, exotic snakes and lizards at a local animal park.
Sources: UnicoiStatePark.org; The Greater Helen Area Chamber of Commerce
MEET HELEN
* The town was founded in 1913.* Helen was renovated into an alpine village beginning in 1968, when a group of local businessmen met to discuss how to revive their town.* The population was 532 as of 2014.* Helen claims its Oktoberfest, which was started in 1970, is the longest-running in the United States.