Helen: The Town Where Time Stood Still - My Family Travels

In life, there are moments when one feels a sense of happiness that is not common or experienced often. Those moments of happiness are engraved into one’s mind for the rest of their life. Thankfully, I can say I have experienced this truly indescribable feeling whenever my family traveled to a quaint, town named Helen, Georgia. 

When I was younger, my family did not travel much. My parents, brother, and I had grown apart and seemed less involved in each other’s lives. That is why it was such a surprise when my father proposed we go on a vacation to a log cabin in Helen, Georgia! We looked online and after much planning, we were off to our wonderful, wilderness get-away. 

My father is not the most pleasant traveler which tends to make his passengers less pleasant as well. In heated discussion, arguments started and awkward silence followed. This vicious cycle continued for eight hours. We were tired and hungry when we finally arrived in a confusing “neighborhood” of trees and woods. We drove for an hour and a half in circles on a mountain trying to find our cabin. Finally, after waking up three people from their deep slumber for directions, we had arrived at our dreamy lodge. 

When we awoke the next morning, the scenery from our windows quickly drew us to the beautiful nature surrounding our cabin. We did not expect to see such vividness of life, and we were instantly astonished at our view. From our deck, we saw many types of birds: woodpeckers, marsh birds, and songbirds swooping from tree to tree. Squirrels were abundant among the trees entertaining one another with a game of chase. We could also see the red, yellow, and brown leaves dance and swirl downwards from the tops of the tall and wondrous homes to so many creatures there in the forrest. Everything seemed so dreamy- almost unreal. For the first time during our vacation, my family just stood there in astonishment- gazing in awe at the creation and beauty around us.

After admiring our cabin, my family decided to explore the town of Helen. With one quick glance, we could tell the town was full of charm. All of the homes and buildings were designed to look like a Dutch village. We visited the small shops around the town including the year-round, “Christmas Shoppe.” The amount of intricate ornaments in all sorts of colors that surrounded us was almost dumbfounding. With each tree we admired in the shop, my mother and I explained how we would decorate my family tree when I was married with children. Our conversation went on for hours as we looked at the small, Santa figurines and stockings. 

We continued on through Helen when we walked along the rushing grey and white river on our way through the town. When I looked beside me, my family each held their own unique, happy expressions on their faces. Everything seemed perfect. Time seemed to stand still while we were together in Helen.

My family’s vacation continued to consist of new discoveries that week. We discovered more Christmas decoration shops in town and stone trails alongside our cabin that led to a humongous rapid rushing from the mountains. We even found great locations to take pictures that are still in picture frames on our walls today. Helen, Georgia was one of the best vacations that my family has ever taken. When we look at old pictures, it takes us back to that time when nothing else mattered but the company of one another. 

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