Clayton is actually a nice little town. Reeves Hardware in town has flavor, but be aware there's also a Reeves up 441 a few miles, around Dillard; good store, but not the feel. The Dillard House is all-you-can-eat, family style service, and the food's gotten better over the years (an annual thing's there), but not cheap. Shops and galleries in Clayton, and Black Rock Mt. State Park's Tennessee Rock trail isn't too strenuous, and you can see Clingman's Dome on a good day; might be bracing, weather depending.
Moccasin Creek State Park has a kids and senior trout section, and the hatchery's next door, and I think they let visitors in. Kids can feed the fish at Anna Ruby Falls near Helen; again, not a bad walk, but may be low water. Bigger fish to feed at Nora Mills pottery, below Batesville towards Clarkesville. And then there's the gold rush stuff in Dahlonega.
Helen I avoid like the plague; terrible traffic choke point, and I suspect Christmas season is no different. But the BBQ place south of the bridge and off to the left isn't bad.
Have fun.
