Sylvan Valley Lodge

Cute, homey place. Great wine tastings. Rooms were cozy and they have live music most times. The owners are always around to help. All around great spot near Helen, GA!

Great, low key place to stay close enough to Helen and a lot of hiking spots. We used the Living Social deal, so we had a free wine tasting and glass of wine included. The staff were super friendly and gave great recommendations for things to do. Would definitely come back and recommend to others!

I can’t attest to the bed and breakfast but I can to the wine tasting they offer. This was between Serenity and Cottage we saw the sign on our way to Cottage and figured let’s try it it’s on the way. They only have a few of their own wines which I wasn’t really impressed with at all then they offered a few from other vineyards/winery’s in the area which was a huge turn off especially since I had already been to those several weeks back. If you see the sign for wine tasting just pass it by. Sorry!

So, so so good. What a hidden treasure — no negatives to be found. It’s off the beaten path, it’s adults only, it has a wine bar (and the wine is great), the staff is fun, the rooms are clean and comfortable, and the breakfast served is bar-​none the best you’ll find in town. Get the pancakes… trust me. Thin, crisp and just sweet enough. Props to my wife for finding such an awesome little place just outside German-​esque Helen, GA. Thanks to the friendly staff for the wine notes and great service — we shall return!

First experience at a B&B. Took advantage of a living social deal. Was a little nervous upon our arrival but once we entered our room we were surprised. The bed was a king and the bathroom was clean. There are three options for breakfast… pancakes, breakfast sandwich, and eggs with toast and bacon or sausage. The Chamborcin jelly is very tasty. We took advantage of sitting around the fireplace and talking with other guests. Very homey feeling.

Enjoyed our stay here for a quick getaway. Rooms are comfortable and the mountain setting is beautiful. Breakfast is included and made to order the sourdough toast is great! Quiet setting. Will definitely consider this for future getaways.

We had never been to a Bed and Breakfast and were looking to stay in the area for our winter vacation. I found a deal on Living Social and was looking forward to our weekend. I read a lot of reviews on here before coming and was quite surprised at the reaction most had.
The Hotel itself was very homey and in a great location. Once we walked upstairs and I saw the way it was decorated I was concerned about actually walking into our assigned room. It seemed very outdated. We entered the room and was very pleased that it was just as lovely as the photo showed. The bed was comfortable and the room was very spacious. I found some of the outlets didn’t work in the room, the toilet ran and the bathroom door didn’t latch. The day we woke up for breakfast that I was looking forward to after all the rave reviews on it. They had a paper menu with 3 items to choose from. A farm breakfast with eggs, bacon or sausage, toast or english muffin. A pancake breakfast with 2 thin pancakes, bacon or sausage. And a breakfast sandwich. The breakfast was mediocre. There was nothing special about bacon and eggs. Anyway you cook it, it’s just bacon and eggs. When my husband and I wanted to go downstairs to sit in front of the fire and talk the staff was sitting on the 2 couches they have in front of it and were watching a movie on a small TV they placed on the table. When we walked in, they paused their movie and seemed annoyed that we were interrupting. We felt awkward and just went back upstairs. The next night they were back in front of the fire and didn’t even bother to try again. We were the only ones at the lodge at the time so maybe it’s not something they do normally. It was a pleasant trip and has made me excited to find other bed and breakfasts to look into.

My wife and I came here for our honeymoon this past weekend, what a pleasant experience! It was my first time in Georgia and I fell in love with the scenery! We got this special on groupon to explore the North GA wine country and this was our lodge. The cabins were clean, it included a breakfast and for the price you couldn’t beat it! The town of Helen is a 5 minute drive, which has nice restaurants and shopping. I will definitely be back soon!

As a wine lover, I purchased a deal through Living Social to visit the North Georgia wine country and see what it was all about. I’d heard that the wines coming out of this area were surprisingly good. They were… and that wasn’t the only thing that was surprisingly good! Our stay at Sylvan Valley Lodge was wonderful. If you go, you’re certain to be pleased as well. Your hosts are friendly, very knowledgeable about the area, and can provide excellent recommendations for things to do, places to visit and restaurants to cure your cravings. Their breakfast each morning is lovely — the pancakes are delightful and reminded me of crepes. It is large enough to satisfy, but not so much to make you too full and too lazy to get out and enjoy the region. Great location to five or six excellent wineries — you can be there in minutes and enjoy a wide variety of tasty beverages. Or you can just settle in to their comfy «living room» on the ground floor and sample goodies from their wine bar. I had a glass of their own Fairie wine the first night we were there, and it was delicious. It is made from honey and is a nice change from a grape wine. They are also close to the tourist trap town of Helen, GA… which is more than a little kitchy and contrived, but had some interesting shops and several places to get a nice German meal or some Bavarian pastries. A fun place to walk around for an afternoon. Our room was very clean and our double beds were very comfortable. The décor was set to period — it was definitely sporting a Victorian look and it worked with the room. The TV gave us some trouble the night we checked in, but the owner fixed it quickly and efficiently. Every time we stopped back in to the lodge, our hosts were busily doing something… hosting a wine tasting, mowing lawns, checking guests in and out… they are tireless and exceptionally accommodating. You can tell they care a great deal about their lodge and want to make their guests happy. We’re planning a return trip to visit again and sample some different wines later this year!

My wife and I went up for the weekend to sample some N. Georgia wines and stayed at the Sylvan. We weren’t looking for a 5-​star resort in Napa, but a nice, comfortable get away at a friendly place… and this is exactly what we found at the Sylvan. It has charm, character and friendly owners. It’s the kind of place you go to to get «away from it all.» The Sylvan does a lot of events pairing local wineries and restaurant courses. We had a great time, played games near the fireplace, drank very good wines and enjoyed our breakfast the next day. We’ll definitely be going back.

My husband and I just returned from a very pleasant stay at the Sylvan Valley lodge. We were visiting on a LivingSocial deal. We had to pay a slightly unexpected $ 28 or so for taxes upon arrival, but I guess that was in the fine print I neglected to read. :) No big deal.
We arrived Friday evening after an easy drive in North Georgia. The room was clean and charismatic. We loved the unique antique furniture, the large king size bed, and the overall feel of the room. Our only complaints about the room were the small TV (but hey, we were not there to really watch TV), the lack of a thicker drape (light shined in through the thin curtain), and the peeling paint on the toilet was a bit unsightly, but no big deal. The Keurig machine and complimentary bottled water and sodas were a nice touch. We also enjoyed sitting out in the common room playing games and sitting out on the balcony.
The wine tasting was enjoyable also. We got to meet and mingle with the other couples staying, and we went home with a nice bottle of white wine. Oh and before I forget, no kids under 14 allowed! We do not have kids, but we liked this very much for a romantic weekend away. Noise level was no issue at this establishment.
For breakfast, there were 3 choices daily: pancakes, eggs/​sausage or bacon/​and english muffin/​sourdough bread, or sausage/​egg sandwich. It was a sit down style. We liked that it was not your typical buffet, however we did not have much cash the first day to appropriately tip, so bring some singles. Also, I could see how some people who are early risers could be disappointed with the breakfast times (9−10am). Seems like maybe they could offer an earlier time, like 7 – 8, as well? We did not mind though. I guess they assume most people will sleep in? The late check out (noon) was also very nice!
Overall we had a great time. It was a lovely weekend get away for us. We would definitely consider staying again.

My husband and I stayed here on a Sunday night, as my birthday was on Monday. We found this establishment via a deal on Living Social.
First, I’m not sure if there was a hotel or a bed and breakfast because it was definitely larger than your average B&B, but breakfast was included with the price of the stay. Personal attention to detail, as one would find in a B&B, was not present.
Stepping into the Sylvan Valley Lodge was like stepping back in time to my grandmother’s house in the 1980’s. Everything was extremely old and out dated. There is no «office» or check-​in desk. We had to check-​in at the «tasting room» which was basically just a bar top; this is where they also served breakfast in the morning. In addition, this area could have used a thorough vacuum, or a carpet shampoo. As a matter of fact, all the carpets were so badly stained and disgusting looking that they should just be replaced.
Our room, unlike the rest of the hotel, was very clean. The bathroom seemed to be freshly painted, but it was a hideous orange/​salmon color (honestly, I can’t come up with a name for its ugliness). The room had a fan, thank goodness, because when we initially entered the room it was around 80 degrees because the air conditioner had not been turned on yet. My husband ordered chocolate covered strawberries for me and they were waiting in the room, but alas, they were basically melted from the heat and we threw them out. The bed was a FULL size (it says queen on their website, but that is an outright lie). The last time I was in a hotel with anything less than a queen was some time around… never. Maybe they were trying to make it more romantic by squishing us together. Luckily, we are small people to begin with. The room also included a writing desk from the 1960’s, and a 17 inch TV with a VCR. The refrigerator had complimentary cold beverages in it and there was a Keurig machine for coffee and tea. That was the best part about the room.
The hours for breakfast (9am-​10am) are extremely inconvenient for early risers. breakfast consisted of two choices: either two eggs, any way you wanted with bacon or sausage, and toast or an English muffin; or you could choose pancakes, with bacon or sausage. It was convenient to go down the stairs and have breakfast, but it was have been nicer just to head to down town Helen and have more breakfast options, like an omelet, cereal or fruit.
My husband and I enjoy staying at small, family-​run hotel/B&B establishments and we try to stay at them whenever we travel, but in this situation we would have been about 100 times happier staying at the Best Western in downtown Helen for $ 90 (instead of the Sylvan Valley for $ 165), which includes breakfast and a pool, and is a 30 second walking distance from everything that the adorable town of Helen has to offer.

We went here for our 3^rd wedding anniversary. This place has character! After a day out exploring Helen and local wineries we came back to a relaxing soak in the heart-​shaped tub in our room! Sylvan Valley Lodge is not your typical hotel, it’s kinda more like a bed and breakfast. The proprietors are quite nice. We had a very nice wine tasting on Saturday afternoon of 4 different local wines and a nice little cheese plate that was tasty. Two suggestions I would like to make: 1) Coasters in the room would be nice, I hated to put my wineglass on the wooden furniture and I brought back napkins from town to use as coasters. 2) Drapery that can be drawn to black out the glass doors and windows. Our room had a shared balcony and we had to rig the curtains in such a way so that our neighbors wouldn’t accidentally get a show and so the curtains wouldn’t smother the AC unit. All in all it was a very pleasant stay, relaxing, and we enjoyed our time there!