Helen gets in touch with its Bavarian roots at the city's beloved Christkindlmarkt. This American riff on a traditional German Christmas market sees booths serve up plenty of German treats, alongside crafts and gift shopping. Savory stalls sell items like turkey sandwiches with apple and sausage stuffing, while for dessert, you can try holiday sweets like stollen and lebkuchen, and wash it all down with hot and spicy Glühwein. The market is open the first two weekends of December.
Transporting you from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the German Alps, Bodensee, named for the German lake, is open on Christmas Day. Serving up hearty German classics, it's located near most of the Helen hotels for Christmas that are ideal for visitors. Lovingly prepared and served in a traditional chalet-style setting, Bodensee's Christmas fare combines time-honored recipes with fresh local ingredients.
Festive revelry abounds at this authentic German brew house, where your waitstaff are decked out in traditional lederhosen, and European beer is served in steins. Open during the holidays, a refreshing beverage here is a Helen holiday must.