The North Georgia roads which wind up hills and down valleys, over the Chattahoochee and under thick layers of deciduous branches see very little traffic within and between the towns they connect. Fresh produce markets, family-owned diners and artistans’ workshops line both paved streets and dirt roads, and while it’s certainly picturesque, even roadside stands can start to get repetitive after a couple of hours. The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism division has come up with an ingenious way to keep visitors from getting too bored on this scenic drive, though: they’ve cunningly planted Helen — “Mountain Beauty with a Touch of Bavaria!” — smack dab in the middle of the state’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
In addition to keeping drivers awake and alert by confusing the crap out of them, Helen provides a practical alternative to real European travel. Its population — 430 at the last census — has created an environment that is uniquely foreign to the region with a twist that makes it a wordly experience suitable for even the most xenophobic Americans. German music echoes from speakers situated strategically throughout the town and it’s certainly the place to go if you’re craving schnitzel and Krombacher, but interspersed among these international delicacies there are hot dog stands and souvenir shops that specialize in t-shirts that say such witty things as “Remember my name – you’ll be screaming it later!” which serve as constant reminders that tourists have not actually left the red, white and blue.
While Helen’s dual personality is quite an achievement, the most impressive thing about Georgia’s Alpine village is, I think, that it has successfully promoted itself an attractive destination while making a mockery of corporate America. There are national hotels and fast food restaurants in Helen, but they look nothing like their counterparts that surround airports and the U.S. Highway system; instead, they’ve been designed to blend right in with the rest of Helen’s Alpine architecture and the playlist at Wendy’s includes both top 40 hits and traditional German polkas. This dedication to the preservation of a very unique culture gives Helen its charm, and while I don’t think the sustainability of the rest of small-town America depends on everyone’s adding bratwurst to his restaurant’s menu, I do sincerely believe that, whether they realize it or not, the 430-some odd people who call Helen home have made a statement that could save the world from the bland redundancy of America’s megacorporations.
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