Nifty Tourist Town: "Alpine" Helen, Georgia

For our spring break surprise destination trip for G, we wanted to reach Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia.  Looking for a nearby place to stay, Kim found a place she'd heard of but had difficulty picturing: Alpine Helen, Georgia.  It turns out Helen is a lovely little tourist town that is constructed to look like a Busch Gardens-esque interpretation of Bavaria. It's actually so very Busch Gardens looking that G asked where the rides were.

Smaller than Gatlinburg, Tennessee, but bigger than Calabash, North Carolina, Helen was the perfect little base for our road trip and would also make a nice base for local hiking (and waterfall seeking) in North Georgia--there are several state parks very nearby and, for saving for when the kids are older, river tubing options.  The village has intriguing putt-putt places, many souvenir shops, some nifty boutique stores like Jolly's Toys, and a good number of German restaurants.  Allow for a few hours of shopping and strolling in town.  We enjoyed a modest German lunch at Hofer's of Helen, and Bodensee was also recommended to us as a quality option. While there, don't miss Betty's IGA General Store, a nice stop for groceries that is a fun place to experience in itself.  Good news for travelling families: the highly imaginative, family-owned roadside attraction HO-scale model train exhibit Charlemagne's Kingdom is set to reopen.  Rumor had it was opening a few days after we left, meaning we'll have to go back.

If you go, know that Alpine Helen is off the beaten path.  GPS an exact address, don't expect a ton of mobile connectivity in some areas, and do expect to feel like you are in a rural environment near a hidden treasure--not an extremely advertised one.  In other words, there won't be a bunch of billboards guiding you in.  Once in town, there are plenty of nearly-equivalent hotels: we stayed at the modest but wonderful Quality Inn Helen, and the Heidi Motel also had a cute setup.  There's not a ton of family-appropriate nightlife, although there is a Huddle House 24/7 restaurant that had delightful service.  Expect to walk place-to-place in town, and check the town calendar for special events, notably Octoberfest and a hot air balloon event.  If traveling with small ones, you are close to Babyland General Hospital.  It was suggested that, when we return to the area, we explore the relatively-nearby Dahlonega Gold Museum as well.

Roanoke's Tiki Landmark: Fiji Island

In college, K visited the Roanoke, VA, Fiji Island Restaurant with friends.  She had a great time, but for whatever reason, had not returned.  Recently, it was high time to do that for a little dinner party with friends from church.  Our large party was easily seated in the classic, dark dining room, a throwback to a different era and a bit of transport to another world.  Red carpets, dark walls, no windows, Tiki decor, seats on different platforms, glowing wall hangings...the setting had been so spectacular that E was shocked it was still daylight when we emerged outdoors. Plastic leis at each seat add a good deal of fun.

The menus are a classic, too, with pretty classic typesetting and prices.  K had a bowl of savory hot and sour soup for $1.50; many at our table enjoyed egg rolls at a similar price.  Pu pu platters are available and fun, as is a solid selection of various Asian foods.  There's more standard fare for interested kids--ours ate mac-n-cheese and chicken fingers.

The longtime restaurateurs are retiring, and the restaurant property remains for sale as we understand it.  We also hear it will close at the end of August 2016, so locals, you need to go!  Take a look at this institution's own photos, too.