Save the Date!
February 12–14, 2027
Registration will open this fall.
February 12–14, 2027
Registration will open this fall.
Nestled in the northeast Georgia mountains on Valentine's weekend, the L2L Valentine's Getaway is the perfect opportunity to spend time together focused on each other and making your marriage better.
The event was wonderful — encouraging and fun with enough laughter sprinkled throughout to balance out the seriousness.
The casual atmosphere, friendly and inviting community and fellowship, authentic teachings and the environment to openly share and learn are what we love about the L2L Valentine’s weekend. The sessions aren’t too long or too short and the free time to spend with your spouse and others is excellent too. The mixture, timing and content of the teaching, testimonials, Sunday Service, fellowship and community is great. The L2L Valentine’s retreat and weekend is so unique and helps us reboot our marriage each year. Every year it seems that God indwells the Valentine’s retreat and marriages and lives are changed by the gospel that is lived out and through the attendees.
The testimonies are always powerful, compelling, and inspiring. I enjoyed the teaching as well and really appreciated all the input and feedback from others. I found myself taking notes from what others shared just as much as when the lead teaching sessions occurred. I also value the down time we have together to get to know other couples. The weekend is a great balance of depth, laughter, growth, and rest. It’s rejuvenating for the soul and for our marriage. I think Heaven will look a little bit like this retreat! :)
Here’s a look at our general schedule for the weekend.
The L2L Valentine’s Getaway weekend has taken place at the Unicoi State Park & Lodge since 1988!
Unicoi State Park & Lodge is centered around beautiful Lake Unicoi within the Chattahoochee National Forest. It is located just two miles northeast of Alpine Helen in the gorgeous North Georgia Mountains.
The park surrounding the lodge offers unparalleled hiking trails leading to Anna Ruby Falls and Helen. Smith Creek, a peaceful tributary of the Chattahoochee River, winds from the base of the Anna Ruby Falls to Unicoi Lake.
Downtown Helen is a bustling alpine village set against a scenic backdrop of mountains, forests and river banks. You’ll feel as though you’ve been transported to the cobblestone streets of Germany’s famed Bamberg or Lindau as colorful shops dot the landscape and the heavenly aroma of authentic German fare takes to the breeze.
Many couples choose to spend the afternoon in Helen on Friday before their arrival or on Sunday after our Getaway Weekend concludes. Some even stay an extra day to enjoy all that Helen and the surrounding mountains have to offer.
In the words of one of the weekend’s founders, Dave Hill:
Join a weekend that has been going strong for more than 30 years!
The L2L Valentine’s Getaway is attended by newlyweds all the way to couples who have been married for 50 years or more. This is your opportunity to hear from couples in the same stage as you along with couples who are ahead of you in their marriages and in life.
We recommend leaving the Atlanta area no later than 2–3 p.m. on Friday. Traffic going north is notoriously nasty on Fridays. Leave town early and enjoy the time in the mountains rather than traffic!
Weekends in Helen can get busy! We recommend making a dinner reservation for Friday or picking a “faster” option on the way into town. Remember our Friday session starts at 7:30 p.m.
Hotel check-in starts at 4 p.m. You should plan to check in at the front desk. Your room will already be paid for, but they may ask for a credit card for any incidentals.
Like previous years, we will be in the “D Lodge” for our time together. Most of our group’s hotel rooms are located in this building, and our meeting room is located on the bottom floor.
Arrive at least a few minutes before our Friday evening session start time so you can check-in with the group and pick up your name tags and event materials.
We will have snacks throughout the weekend, along with a light continental-style breakfast each morning. We’ll also have coffee, hot tea, and water — these are provided at no additional cost to you.
Be sure to review the Dining Options tab for more information about meals.
Check the weather as you plan what to bring. It never hurts to have a sweater or jacket for our sessions just in case you get cold. And plan clothing for whatever activity you choose for your free time on Saturday afternoon, such as athletic wear and a jacket or sweatshirt if you choose to go on a hike.
Saturday afternoon is open for you to choose what you want to do. Some couples choose to stay at the lodge and enjoy the beautiful surroundings while others will go into downtown Helen for lunch or an early dinner. There’s also usually a group that takes a joint hike into town as well.
Check out the Saturday Afternoon tab for more information about options available to you.
Just remember that traffic in Helen on the weekends can get backed up. Give yourself enough time to be back at the lodge for our Saturday evening session at 7:00 p.m.
This year’s topic is Francis and Lisa Chan’s book, You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity. For more information please visit: www.youandmeforever.org. You can also find videos from the book on Vimeo.
We will have a light continental-style breakfast each morning in our meeting room.
If you are looking for a heartier breakfast, many couples choose to go to the buffet offered in the Unicoi Lodge restaurant or another restaurant in town.
Don’t forget that Saturday is Valentine’s Day, so consider making reservations at your restaurant of choice for Saturday evening!
PRO TIP: On Saturday afternoon, plan to eat no later than 4:30 p.m. to be back in time for the evening session. The restaurants often have limited seating and slower service, especially on weekends.
Saturday afternoon is your free time to grab some lunch, explore Unicoi State Park, or visit Helen. You can choose to spend this time by yourselves as a couple or join a group.
We recommend you spend this time with others! Groups typically form to go on a group hike down to Helen and grab a late lunch or gather together for a game of putt-putt golf and meet up with others for pizza.
Here are some things to do in the downtown Helen area. Check out HelenGA.org for more.
Check out AtlantaTrails.com or gastateparks.org for more info.
Check out unicoilodge.com/adventures for more info on activities through the lodge. Options include archery, air gun range, GPS scavenger hunt, kayaking, zip-line aerial adventures, and more!
Some of these only operate seasonally, so you may want to check the website or call ahead to be sure.
