Summer’s here and lots of people come up to the North Georgia Mountains to cool off. What better way to do that than enjoying summer fun activities on the water? The Chattahoochee River begins near here, and there are lakes a short distance from Helen and our Georgia Vacation Rentals. There is so much to do, but here are the top five favorites, according to locals and our guests:
- 1. TUBING- Tubing is one of the most popular activities during the warmer months. Most tubing companies are open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and rides begin at $3.00- $5.00 per person (check for group rates if you are in a large group). The Chattahoochee River is fairly shallow, with small rapids and long, lazy stretches where you can lay back, float along and gaze up at the canopy of trees overhead. Helen really looks different from the river! Short rides are generally 1 to 1½ hours long and the longer rides are 2 to 2 ½ hours. Cool River Tubing ( they have the green tubes) is right on the river and features an ice cream and concession stand, as well as a gift shop. They also have a dual Water Slide- check it out!
2. WATERPARK- Yes, Helen also has a Waterpark! With 4 large water slides over 50 feet tall; a 1000 ft. Lazy River ride for floating; small kiddie playground, concession stand, and a 25 ft. rock climbing wall! You can also rent tubes (the pink tubes) for floating down the Chattahoochee River too. Note: we now have newly remodeled condos that are only a short walk from both the Helen Waterpark and Cool River Tubing. Very convenient!
3. BEACH- Had a hard time deciding on a beach vacation vs. a mountain vacation? You can have both! There is a small beach on Lake Unicoi in Unicoi State Park where you can swim, sun, and play in the sand. The beach is generally open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and you can also rent pedal boats or canoes and get out on that gorgeous lake! Boats and canoes start at $6.00 per hour. Children 3 years and up. Bring sunscreen!
- 4. KAYAKING- Looking for something a bit more exciting? Wildwood Outfitters offers four levels of trips down the Chattahoochee River, for beginner (5 yrs. old and up) through experienced. They rent kayaks, canoes and rafts, and will shuttle you to a “section” of the river, depending on the class of rapids for your trip. Class 1, 2 and 3 rapids are available, so you can decide how much excitement you want! Rates vary according to sections, and they do offer group and multi-day rates. Talk about “Rollin’ on the River”!
- 5. BOATING - If you’d rather be boating than floating, head on out to LaPrade’s Marina on Lake Burton, which is about a 20 minute drive from Helen and our Blue Ridge Cabins. A full-service marina, they rent ski boats, pontoon boats, canoes, kayaks, skis and tubes. Rates vary but they do offer discounts for multi-day rentals. There is also a new restaurant at the marina called “The Chop House”, with an outdoor patio and full bar. Stop in at the gift shop for food, clothing and fishing gear. Even if you don’t have or rent a boat, Lake Burton is very scenic and worth the drive!
What is your favorite summertime activity in the Georgia Mountains? Anything we missed? We’d love to hear about it. Leave us a comment here or post on our Facebook Page!
