Northwest Georgia, known as the Historic High Country, isn’t frequently traveled but has some unique landmarks well worth the detour. The Chattahoochee National Forest has miles of protected land.
Cherokee and Civil War landmarks are found here, as is a legacy of textiles and quilts. This area is also an easy day trip from Atlanta and much of northern Alabama.
Cartersville
Downtown Cartersville has the feel of a small town, but amenities like shops and restaurants. Stop by the Young Brothers Pharmacy, home to the first Coca-Cola advertisement mural.
What to Do
Booth Western Art Museum is a Smithsonian affiliate and one of the largest museums in Georgia. It has over 120,000 square feet of Western American art.
The Tellus Science Museum has an impressive collection of minerals, fossils, and early machines. Formerly the home of evangelist Samuel Porter Jones, Rose Lawn Museum tells of his life and ministry.
Learn about the Native Americans that lived nearby at the Etowah Indian Mounds Interpretive Trail, which has mounds dating back to 1000 AD. Bartow History Museum has interactive exhibits on the area’s history, from the Cherokee tribes that inhabited it to the present.
You can also catch a performance at the Grand Theatre. LakePoint Sporting Community in nearby Emerson is a massive sport and entertainment complex with restaurants, hotels, and activities.
Where to Eat
Cartersville has both chain restaurants and local offerings. Table 20 offers fresh cuisine with international influences. Appalachian Grill is known for its pecan-crusted chicken and grilled steaks.
Mellow Mushroom may be a part of a chain, but they started in Atlanta. Start your day with a hearty breakfast at Ross’s Diner. Ate Track is a music-centric bar and restaurant.
Where to Stay
Nearly every brand of hotel can be found in the Cartersville area. Hilton Garden Inn Cartersville has conference facilities and is located a short drive from downtown.
Hampton Inn Emerson LakePoint is one of the sporting community’s properties. McKaskey Creek Campground has RV and tent sites.
Adairsville
Originally a Cherokee town, Adairsville is now listed entirely on the National Register of Historic Places. Stop by their visitor’s center for a guide to the historic homes and landmarks nearby.
What to Do
While there aren’t traditional attractions in Adairsville, explore the shops and historic homes in Adairsville. One exception is the Adairsville Welcome Center, which has a museum in a former rail depot. This was one of the stops during the Great Locomotive Chase in the Civil War. You can also go on an Alpaca Farm Tour in Adairsville Georgia.
Where to Eat
Adairsville Inn Restaurant features Southern favorites and was originally built in 1855. Gilmer Street Cafe has soups, sandwiches, and salads. Maggie Mae’s Tea Room is located in the 1902 Stock Exchange and has tea sandwiches and traditional tea service.
Where to Stay
Barnsley Gardens Resort is a stunning resort that was the former home of Godfrey Barnsley. It was later purchased by a German prince and opened to the public. They have multiple restaurants, a spa, horseback riding, skeet shooting, and many other activities.
Another option is Sage Cottage Inn, down the street from Barnsley, or Adair Manor Bed & Breakfast. There are also chain hotels closer to the highway. Leisure Time RV Park is a short drive from downtown and has all the amenities you need. Cozy Country Studio is one of the area’s rentals.
White
Founded in 1890, the small town of White has less than 1,000 residents. But it’s a popular stop for travelers for its unique landmark.
What to Do
Old Car City is the world’s largest classic car junkyard. Roam the 7 miles of rusting and overgrown vehicles. It’s the only place to visit, but you can easily spend hours here.
Where to Eat
Wes Mans Restaurant was featured in The Fundamentals of Caring and is known for its unique decor and vehicle you can paint in front. J’s Simply Soul is another option, serving barbecue and soul food.
Where to Stay
Accommodation options in White are scarce, but Cartersville / Cassville-White KOA has RV and tent sites near the highway.
Rome
Inspired by the namesake in Italy, Rome, Georgia is a thriving college town that emphasizes local businesses. In recent years, it’s become a popular filming location, featured in Sweet Home Alabama and Remember the Titans.
What to Do
Visit the campus of Berry College, which has miles of trails and the Old Mill, one of the largest water wheels in the world at 42 feet. There’s also Oak Hill, the Martha Berry Museum.
The ECO Center educates visitors about the environment and species around the Etowah, Coosa, and Ooostanaula rivers. The building itself, a former pump station, is LEED-certified.
And nothing is more iconic in town than the Clock Tower, which was built on one of the city’s seven hills in 1872. Check out the murals downstairs before making the climb to the top.
You can also go on Georgia’s Rome Flavor Tours or take advantage of paddleboarding and kayaking on the river. Catch a Rome Braves game, the city’s minor league baseball team.
Where to Eat
Brewhouse Music & Grill offers locally made beer from Rome City Brewing, live music, and bar bites. Jefferson’s Restaurant is another favorite, where you can write your name on a dollar bill to put on the wall. Their wings are a popular choice.
Honeymoon Bakery is where to get your sweet fix after dinner out. Neighboring Harvest Moon Cafe is also delicious. Don’t forget to stop by River Dog Outpost for a pint by the river or Swift and Finch for coffee.
Where to Stay
Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham Rome is more than your average hotel. Located downtown, this building used to be an 1890s warehouse and still has the original floors and brick walls.
The Claremont House is an 1882 Victorian Gothic home turned national register-listed bed and breakfast. Airbnb is another option in Rome with properties like this turn of the century cottage.
Summerville
Summerville, Georgia is made up of less than 5,000 residents. Founded in 1838 as the Chattooga County seat, it was named because it was a popular summer resort town.
What to Do
Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden was the home of the visionary artist. Explore his property, which is covered in over 40,000 pieces of art.
Where to Eat
Jim’s Family Restaurant serves hearty Southern fare like fried chicken.
Where to Stay
Coach Inn is one of the only places to stay in town but includes daily breakfast and all your desired amenities. Paradise Garden also has its own Airbnb rentals, suite 1 and suite 2.
Ringgold
Founded in 1846, the town of Ringgold was named for a soldier from the Mexican-American War. It’s another stop from the Great Locomotive Chase and a number of Civil War battles.
What to Do
Georgia Winery was established in 1983 and is the only winery in the region. They have a tasting room that showcases mostly muscadine wines.
Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center is nearby, on the border with Tennessee, where a notable Civil War battle took place. Rock City is one of the region’s quirkiest attractions.
Where to Eat
Located next to a gas station in nearby Rock Spring, Bob’s Brick Oven makes nearly everything from scratch, including the basil grown hydroponically in the dining room. Their pizza is listed as one of Georgia’s 100 Plates Locals Love.
In Ringgold, try Farm To Fork, which is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and emphasizes local ingredients. Home Plate Grill is a favorite for its juicy burgers.
Where to Stay
Hampton Inn Ringgold-Ft. Oglethorpe is one option near the highway, which has fast WiFi and breakfast. There’s also Battlefield Campground & RV Park near the winery.
Cedartown
The quaint town of Cedartown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historic downtown area. Here you’ll find shops and restaurants full of charm.
What to Do
Cedartown Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia started as a young boy’s hobby collection but has now become a full-fledged museum. Also spend time on the Silver Comet Trail, which starts in suburban Atlanta and continues through here before crossing into Alabama.
Where to Eat
Pirkle’s Deli & Catering is the go-to for workday lunches, especially for their chicken salad. Zorba’s offers Greek and Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Where to Stay
Best Western Cedartown Inn & Suites is your best bet for staying in Cedartown.
Carrollton
Another college town, Carrollton is known for its thriving downtown. Here you’ll find restaurants and shops for every style.
What to Do
Printer’s Ale is the city’s first craft brewery and opened next door to a printing company. Carrollton Greenbelt is the largest green space in the city, winding 18 miles around. You can walk it or rent a bike through the city bike-share program.
Hobbs Farm Disc Golf Course is a favorite with families. Learn about the area’s textile history at the Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum and Carrollton Cultural Art Center.
Historic Banning Mills is equal parts attraction and accommodation, offering the world’s largest zipline canopy tour, a spa, restaurant, and hotel rooms.
Where to Eat
Brown Dog Deli serves Lowcountry-inspired dishes. Find elevated bar food and craft drafts at Alley Cat Restaurant & Bar. And at City Tavern, get your tater tots covered in cheese to make “tot-chos.”
Where to Stay
Lay your head at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carrollton West or Cottage Hill Inn, both located near downtown. Banning Mills also has accommodations.
Villa Rica
Fast-growing Villa Rica was first settled in 1826 and gold was soon found nearby. Today, it still has a number of historic sites you can visit.
What to Do
Pine Mountain Gold Museum tells of the state’s “forgotten gold rush” with a gold panning area and a working gristmill. Uncorked on Main offers beer and wine tastings.
Where to Eat
Gabe’s Downtown serves Louisiana flavors while Olive Tree Restaurant offers a taste of the Mediterranean with Italian pasta and Greek gyros.
Where to Stay
Comfort Inn & Suites is the best place to stay in Villa Rica.
Calhoun
Originally part of the Cherokee nation, the people that inhabited what’s now Calhoun were forcibly removed via the Trail of Tears. A private home here was used as Sherman’s headquarters during his March to the Sea.
What to Do
Located behind a church, the Rock Garden is a folk art garden made up of over 50 miniature buildings. New Echota State Historic Site was the Cherokee capital, established in 1825.
The first Indian language newspaper office was run here, but it was also the site of the removal during the Trail of Tears. Today, you can see 12 original and reconstructed buildings.
Resaca Battlefield Historic Site is a state-owned 400+ acre battlefield that was the site of the first major battle during the Atlanta Campaign in the Civil War.
Located within the Gordon Calhoun Arts Council, the Roland Hayes Museum shares the story of a local who went on to become the first African-American classical singer to have an international career on the concert and operatic stage.
Where to Eat
There aren’t many independent restaurants in Calhoun, but El Pueblito Mexican Restaurant is a favorite Mexican grill. Christian & Jakes Bistro is another favorite for sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Where to Stay
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Calhoun has great features like WiFi and breakfast.
Cave Spring
This small town outside of Rome was one of the sites of the Trail of Tears removal. Today, it has a downtown area with shops and restaurants as well as Rolater Lake and Big Cedar Creek, popular spots for swimming and kayaking.
What to Do
Rolater Park and Cave is the town’s natural limestone cave, full of stalagmites. The water from the spring is free for you to fill up your bottle with.
The Historic Vann Cabin was the home of James Vann, a member of the Cherokee Nation. The hand-hewn log cabin is open for tours.
Where to Eat
Linde Marie’s Steakhouse on the Square is worth the drive, tucked into a historic building. Steaks are the main draw. Creekside Restaurant is another option with Southern dishes like fried green tomatoes.
Where to Stay
Historic Hearn Inn in Rolater Park was formerly a boys dormitory for the Hearn Academy. It was also used later as apartments before being turned into a bed and breakfast in 1980.
Tumlin House Bed & Breakfast was built in 1890 and is still owned by descendants of the Tumlin family. Cedar Creek Park has an RV park, recreation facilities, and even a driving range.
Dalton
This area is known for the carpet industry, which began here as the chenille industry before the Civil War. It was also inhabited by Cherokees.
What to Do
Art Emporium sells the work of local artists and has regular gallery events. Dalton Distillery is the area’s only distillery, making moonshine and a unique sunflower liquor.
Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel in nearby Tunnel Hill was built in 1850 and was the site of the Great Locomotive Chase during the Civil War. Tour the tunnel and see the exhibits at the visitor’s center. Old Praters Mill was built by Benjamin Franklin Prater in 1855to use water power to grind grains.
Where to Eat
Cyra’s uses Mediterranean and Californian influences in their dishes. They promote local ingredients and collaborate with a high school horticultural class. Pizza and beer come together at Cherokee Brewing & Pizza Company. Willie’s Burger Shack is an essential roadside stop.
Where to Stay
Hilton Garden Inn Dalton is located near the highway for easy access and comfortable sleep. Fort Mountain State Park offers camping and cottages.
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I visited Northwest Georgia while on a media visit with Explore Georgia.
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