One of the easiest hikes in northeast Georgia lies near the town of Helen, which is about one to two hours north of Atlanta.  It’s called Anna Ruby Falls.  It’s a fairly simple hike, up one way to see the double waterfalls and down the other way.  The trail is completely paved.  Below are some pictures of the falls from a 2016 hike:

The hike took me about an hour to complete, and it was crowded that day.  I’d recommend doing this hike first thing in the morning and then heading into nearby Helen for a day of shopping and sightseeing.

Helen, Georgia, is a small town designed to look like a Bavarian village.

Helen is a fun little town to spend the day in.  You can grab a quick bite at The Nacoochee Village Tavern and Pizzeria or have an elegant meal at Caladonia Dining Room (in the Valhalla Resort Hotel).  There are fun little shops to browse, including the Tim’s Wooden Toys, Wildewood, or Lindenhaus Imports.   End your day with coffee and homemade fudge or pralines from Kopper Kettle Fudge, on Helen’s Main Street.