Anna Ruby Falls is the easiest big nature payoff near Helen: a short paved walk through Chattahoochee National Forest to a pair of waterfalls dropping side by side into a shaded cove. The falls are formed by Curtis Creek and York Creek, and the final viewpoint gives you the classic twin-cascade scene without a backcountry approach.
It is popular, especially on summer weekends and during leaf season, but still worth the crowd if you time it early or late. The trail is short enough for families and casual walkers, while nearby Unicoi State Park makes it easy to turn the outing into a fuller half-day in the mountains.