Cartersville
Cartersville, Georgia
Fun for the Whole Family
By: Mark Kennedy
DRIVE TIME: 1 hour, 26 minutes from downtown Chattanooga
GREAT FOR: Families › Culture › Shopping
BEST IF YOU HAVE:
1-2 days
Less than 90 minutes south of Chattanooga, Cartersville, Georgia, offers small-town charm along with access to the renowned Tellus Science Museum and the world’s largest classic car junkyard. Whether you are on your way to Atlanta or looking for a laid-back day-trip, Cartersville has got you covered. The historic downtown district, home of the Booth Western Art Museum, is a good place to start.
> WHAT TO DO:
Tellus Science Museum
100 Tellus Drive
770-606-5700
Located just off I-75 and as long as one-and-a-half football fields, the Tellus Science Museum is a popular destination for school field trips. It’s also perfect for family day-trips. Featured galleries include minerals, fossils, transportation technology and hands-on science exhibits. In the fossil gallery, see Stan, a 40-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex. The “Science of Motion” exhibit features the history of cars, aircraft and space travel. More than 2 million people have visited the Tellus since its opening in 2009. The museum’s planetarium is a must. The museum is closed on Mondays.
» Bank of America cardholders get free admission during the first full weekend of each month as part of Museums On Us, granting free access to more than 120 cultural institutions across the U.S.
Old Car City USA
3098 Hwy. 411 NE, White, GA
770-382-6141
Billed as the world’s largest classic car junkyard, Old Car City USA comprises 34 acres (and six miles of walking trails) in the woods of North Georgia. From vintage school buses to 1930s-era cars and trucks, the junkyard is a veritable outdoor museum of the American auto industry. Included in the 4,000-vehicle collection is Elvis Presley’s last automobile. Hours are limited, so plan to visit Wednesday-Saturday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The massive Booth Western Art Museum is said to be the largest permanent exhibit of Western art in the United States. Works in the Booth span the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Areas of the museum include contemporary Western art, Civil War art, Native American artifacts and an interactive children’s gallery. The Presidential Gallery includes photographs and signed letters from 43 United States presidents. A theater screens “The American West” film throughout the day.
» In late October, thousands head to the Booth for what is reportedly the largest Western themed event in the South, offering a snapshot of the Old West through costumed gunfight re-enactments, Native American dancing, art-related events and more.
> COMING UP:
The annual Arts Festival at Rose Lawn Mansion takes over the Victorian home’s lawn with a juried arts and crafts show each September (Sept. 21-22 this year). The historic house is open for tours during the festival for a small fee. The mansion was once the home of evangelist Samuel Porter Jones, whose flock built the Union Gospel Tabernacle in Nashville, which became the Ryman Auditorium, eventual home of the Grand Ole Opry.
> THE GREAT OUTDOORS:
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site
813 Indian Mounds Road SW
770-387-3747
This Mississippian Period cultural site was home to several thousands Native Americans from 1000 to 1500 AD. One of the burial mounds at the site is more than 60 feet high and covers about three acres. The location includes an archeological museum and is a must-visit for those interested in Native American history.
Pettit Creek Farms
337 Cassville Road
770-386-8688
If a pony ride is up your ally, or petting a camel seems like a pleasant pastime, you’ll want to visit Pettit Creek Farms. The 80-acre farm is said to be home of Georgia’s largest camel herd. So there’s that. Also on the grounds are reindeer, goats, sheep, llamas, alpaca, donkeys, pigs, chickens and peacocks.
> WHERE TO EAT:
COST KEY:
$: Under $10
$$: $11-$30
$$$: $31-$60
$$$$: $61+
Appalachian Grill
14 E. Church Street
770-607-5357
Cost: $$
No reservations are accepted at this landmark restaurant “under the bridge” in downtown Cartersville. Customer favorites include portabella mushroom appetizers, crayfish etouffee sauce and shrimp Florentine. Specials include fare such as seared jerk-seasoned duck breast served over spinach and sweet mashed potatoes.
4 Way Lunch
Corner of Main and Gilbert streets
770-387-1357
Cost: $
This restaurant bills itself proudly as “Georgia’s oldest restaurant without a telephone.” Since 1931, the quaint cafe has been serving hot dogs, french fries and fried pies. Open for breakfast and lunch only.
Ate Track Bar and Grill
25 N. Wall St.
470-315-4369
Cost: $$
Located downtown, this is a favorite after-work hangout for locals. The name echoes the 8-track phase of rock music in the ’60s and ’70s, and rock music is the (eclectic) decorating theme of the place. You can bring your pet if you’re willing to dine outside on the patio. Customer favorites include pimiento cheese sandwiches, a cheesesteak burger and grilled cod tacos.
316 T.G. 4 Ice Cream
640 Henderson Drive #501
770-334-3227
Cost: $
If it’s dessert your crave, visit 316 T.G. 4 Ice Cream. Featuring rolled ice cream, also known as stir-fried ice cream (think crepes made of ice cream), also available are traditional soft serve and scooped ice cream. In late September, the owners added hot sandwiches to the menu. The proprietors are always running discounts and specials, so ask if there are any special prices in force when you arrive.
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