Helen, Georgia
You might not expect to find a US Bavarian village smack-dab in the middle of Georgia. But the alpine town of Helen will exceed your German heritage expectations.
Located amidst the Blue Ridge Mountains, Helen is a fantastic place to enjoy both indoor and outdoor adventures. And with this US location, you’ll feel like you’re in Europe.
Nearby parks boast hiking trails and stunning waterfalls with some seriously breathtaking scenery. For indoor action and to feel like a kid again, play a round of mini golf at one of several alpine-themed courses or check out Charlemagne’s Kingdom Alpine Model Railroad.
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This US Bavarian village has many unique boutiques, too. So shopping is another great way to spend your days there. The Alpine Village Shoppes feature food, clothing, German decor, and much more, while many import shops offer distinctive gifts from Germany.
Unsurprisingly, you’ll have plenty to choose from where you can enjoy hearty German cooking at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including The Old Bavaria Inn and the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant.
And you can satisfy your sweet tooth by going into Hofer’s of Helen, an authentic Bavarian bakery. Lodgings vary from quiet mountain cabins and adorable bed and breakfasts to cozy hotels in the middle of all the action.
Be sure to tell us about your own experiences if you’ve ever visited any of the US Bavarian villages on our list. But don’t leave just yet! Must See Places has much more to offer.
For instance we highly recommend you also read about the 10 Magical European-Style Christmas Markets in the US
You should have included Helvetia, WV. It’s a Swiss-German inspired town that has a yearly festival called Fasnacht where people don masks and march around town, ending in a bonfire to burn an ‘old man winter’ effigy.
I HAVE BEEN TO HELEN GA, A FEW TIMES MY FAMILY AND ME ARE GOING BACK AGAIN WE LOVED EVERY IT, EVERY TIME WE GO
We found Hermann, MO, by chance years ago on our first cross-country trip west (where we’d moved) to east (where we are from & where all relatives reside). We were looking for an interesting place for gas & lunch. We ended up spending half the day there, soaking in the architecture/ambiance, & lunching on best ever home-made loose sausage sandwiches(& that’s sayin’ something b/c I grew up in Amish country in PA) & a split of local wine, with best sparkling grape juice ever for our kids. We all still recall it fondly years later. Would make it a destination in a heartbeat.
Dont forget to Mention Sugarcreek Ohio which is a German Swiss style town also with an Amish Mennonite Flair and Holmes County Ohio.
Leavenworth! WA! I am 90 miles West of this place and Yes I been there More than a few times, very cute! Close to Lake Wenatchee as well thee BEST PLACE to camp in the PNW! The thing I do not like about the situation is that its really kool to visit here for christmas BUT the mountain Pass is treacherous! ALSO Shops charge a killing for stuff! Still I love this town!