Hotel at a Glance: Valhalla Resort Hotel

Suites at this 4-star adults-only resort are like private retreats. Guests have their morning coffee on balconies overlooking the mountains, then prepare for the day in luxe bathrooms outfitted with rainfall showers and marble vanities. In the evening, they can curl up by their fireplaces to enjoy bites from 24-hour room service.

• Room stats: Junior deluxe king suites are 450 square feet, and deluxe king suites are 500; pet-friendly units are available for a fee.
• Farm-to-table dining: Seasonal dishes blend with Southern comfort foods like shrimp and grits.
• Signature spa treatment: the Mountain Mist facial, which cleanses skin with fruit enzymes
• Best spot to relax: the aromatherapy steam room in the fitness center
• Exploring Helen is a cinch with the free local shuttle.
• Art all around: Original works hang in guest suites, as well as the hotel’s gallery and gift shop.

Helen, Georgia: Replica Bavarian Village Surrounded by the Appalachians

In 1968, the townspeople of Helen, Georgia—a struggling sawmill town in the Blue Ridge Mountains—hatched a dramatic plan to reinvigorate the economy and boost tourism. Led by local business owners and artists, Helen adopted a German identity, complete with cobblestone alleys, timber-frame cottages, and Old-World towers. Ever since, the town has thrived as a Bavarian-style village, now welcoming nearly two million visitors a year. Several festivals take place in the town every year, including a German-style Mardi Gras.

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen is also home to some incredible countryside scenery. Unicoi State Park and Lodge contains trout streams, mountain-biking trails, and a freshwater lake. The Appalachian National Scenic Trail passes nearby, and the Anna Ruby Falls drop off in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest.