WhiteCounty.com

White County in Georgia offers some of the most pristine countryside in America and some of the best ways to enjoy it. The entire area is just right for families and individuals of all ages, as it is a perfect venue for everyone to do things together and enjoy one of the most remarkable areas of the country.People have great choices of things to do, whether they just want to hang out for a while, or go hiking in the mountains of North Georgia, or even take a tour of the local galleries and museums of the area, it is all here in White County.Cleveland, Georgia is a pretty little mountain town and you’ll come across plenty of good shopping, lots of history, small town cordiality and an attraction called Babyland. A visit to the courthouse will be a trip back through history, and the local art has a history all its own. Take some time and learn about the movies filmed in the town.Hike the Appalachian Trail, because it begins here in White County. Take a morning and climb to the top of Mount Yonah and take a deep breath as you look out across the vista of North Georgia.Over forty percent of the entire area of White County is either a state or federally managed land, a wildlife area, a park or places where outdoor recreation reigns supreme. The beginning of the Chattahoochee River starts in the county as well, so the swimming and fishing, as well as water skiing, kayaking and just hanging out are perfect in this area. There are several waterfalls, and many hiking trails and recreational areas for camping and hiking.The Cabbage Patch Kids had their origin in Cleveland Georgia, and there are numerous references to that as well as wonderful displays of the Cabbage Patch tradition. The home of the Cabbage Patch Kids is Babyland General Hospital.The shops and restaurants add to the wonderful tourist trade that visits Cleveland and the area each year. Cleveland is the industrial and commercial center of White county, and each year over 253 business licences are issued.

Some of the celebrations that are scheduled each year include the Lighted Christmas Parade, The annual Easter Extravaganza, Christmas in The Mountains, the Agrifest/Country Market and Pottery Comes To Town and many other celebrations too numerous to mention. There are even places where you can don your prospector’s hat and pan for gold.One town that you do not want to miss is Helen, Georgia. You will be driving through the Georgia mountains and the very first view of Helen will be the red roofs of a Bavarian village, and that would be Helen. The entire feel and look of the town is that of Bavaria as you can try authentic German breads, Wiener Schnitzel, sauerkraut, pastries and the famous German potato salad.You can learn to dance the polka with the Oompah band sounding in the background, and you can even dress the part with your Lederhosen look from the appropriate shop in town.Helen has the longest running Oktoberfest in the South, and the only long distance balloon race in the United States. The horse-drawn carriage will take you anywhere that you wish to go, but that would be only for the purposes of nostalgia, because everything in town is within walking distance. As you walk you will wish you had more time because the numerous shops offer new treats and surprises at every turn.Getting back to rural America, the beautiful Chattahooochee River, trout stream supreme, flows right through the center of Helen, and you can fish right from the deck of the Festhalle in Helen, or from your rental cabin porch. Trout fishing is a real sport this far north, and they can be sought in town or in the mountains.The Unicoi State Park is nearly adjacent to Helen and has many things to do with a venue offering nearly unlimited recreational opportunities. The Chattahoochee Wildlife Management Area is near and the Smithgall Woods-Dukes Creek Conservation Area is near as well. Hiking, fishing, camping, sight seeing, bird watching as well as spending time in town eating and enjoying local music are all serious pastimes.

Also nearby are two magnificent valleys who bear the historical names of the Native American tribes that inhabited the area. The unincorporated area called the Sautee and Nacoochee Valleys are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Some of the most popular and vibrant arts programs are centered in the valleys, and is one of the community’s most treasured resources with children’s music and drama activities, art workshops, a speaker’s bureau for seniors, feature films, gallery exhibits, living forums and open stage nights. There is a six week long SummerFest which has as its highlight, the home grown folk-life play. Headwaters is currently ranked as a top 20 event by the Southeastern Tourism Society, as it is a presentation about the people and places of the area, and is a top draw all throughout the season.There are plenty of places for tourists to stay in White County from five star upscale resorts with all of the bells and whistles to small, isolated cabins near the waterfall in the woods by the river. There are plenty of discount motels, charming mountain lodges, and very well kept bed and breakfast facilities. You won’t go wrong wherever you choose to stay.As far as the culinary aspect of your trip, you won’t find the dining facilities lacking either. The German restaurants will amaze you with the quality and authenticity of the food, but you will also find genuine Mexican, Italian, and Chinese food too. There is an excellent American steakhouse, an American Bistro, and a great European farm to table restaurant. There are also several excellent barbeque places that offer good ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. Wherever you decide to stay, eat, and play, you will not be disappointed with your visit to White County, and we know that after your first visit, you will have you will be wanting to come back and enjoy yourself again.