Attractions (admission charged)

See Rock City, a command heralded on barns across the U.S., should be taken to heart. This unique attraction, open daily except Christmas, atop Lookout Mountain allows you to see seven states at once: Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. Afterwards, see the Battles for Chattanooga Museum.

A ride on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway takes about 4 hours and winds along the Toccoa River from Blue Ridge to McCaysville. Advance reservations are recommended for this excursion which operates each weekend April-November.

Lake Winnepesaukah in Rossville has been the south's "favorite family amusement park for more than 70 years." The Cannon Ball wooden roller coaster in a nostalgic favorite, as is the 1916 Carrousel, which was rescued from Atlanta's Lakewood Park and features 68 handcarved wooden horses. The park is open April (Saturday-Sunday only) and May-August (Thursday-Sunday).

Paradise Gardens (open daily) in Summerville is the world-famous creation of folk artist Howard Finster. Numbered prints, books and Finster souvenirs may be purchased.

State and National Historic Sites

The region's state historic sites, which are all closed on Mondays, include Etowah Indian Mounds in Cartersville - highlights include pre-historic mounds by the river and archaeological museum, New Echota in Calhoun - the Cherokee Capitol and birthplace of The Cherokee Phoenix, Pickett's Mill in Dallas - tour the Civil War museum and trek the battlefield, and Chief Vann House in Chatsworth - called "the showplace of the Cherokee Nation" this site features the classic brick mansion of a Cherokee leader. The Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park , open daily in Fort Oglethorpe, is the nation's first military park.

Museums and Home Tours

Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum (closed Monday and major holidays) in Rome is one of the finest examples of a Southern plantation home in Georgia. The Berry museum interprets the life of one of America's most remarkable daughters, Martha Berry, founder of the world's largest college campus (26,000 acres).

In Cartersville, the Booth Western Art Museum opens Summer 2003 and will feature a permanent collection of contemporary Western American Art. More than 200 paintings and sculptures, by more than 100 of the finest 20th century Western artists, depict the history and legends of the Old West, as well as the modern day cowboy and Native Peoples. Additional galleries include: Civil War, Presidential, Western Illustration and Western Movie posters. Additional museums in Cartersville include Weinman Mineral Museum (closed Monday) offering worldwide geological treasures and a history of Georgia mining; and Rose Lawn Museum (closed Saturday-Monday), the Victorian home of evangelist Sam Jones (for whom Nashville's Ryman Auditorium was built).

The Chieftains Museum (closed Sunday, Monday and holidays) in Rome is one of nine attractions on The Chieftains Trail. The Rome Area History Museum (closed Sunday and Monday) is one of many museums honoring our heritage throughout the region. Okleigh in Calhoun. (closed Saturday and Sunday) was once Sherman's headquarters and is now a doll museum. In Tallapoosa, groups reserve in advance for living history tours of Amelia's , then stop by the Bud Jones Taxidermy and Wildlife Museum . The Funk Heritage Center and Bennett History Museum at Reinhardt College in Waleska features Native American heritage and art, as well as an extensive collections of antique tools. This museum is the newest addition to the region's Chieftains Trail. Dalton's Crown Gardens & Archives (closed Sunday and Monday) highlights the birth of the textile industry.

Fun on the Farm

Mercier Apple Orchards in Blue Ridge is open Jul-Dec. and offers apples, honey, sorghum, and a bakery. Cagle's Dairy Farm in Canton introduces its rich milk and heritage to group tours and hosts the Dixieland Master Cup Stock Dog Trials each April. Each fall, Cagle's Corn Maize is a popular seasonal attraction you'll just have to see!

Autumn at Pumpkin Patch Farm open daily each October in Adairsville is great for groups of all ages. A drive down Apple Orchard Alley in Ellijay (GA Hwy 52) includes stops at many apple houses with harvested fruit late August-October.

Sightseeing

Historic Districts in Adairsville, Rome, Carrollton and Tallapoosa feature Victorian architecture. Take your camera to Cartersville for a photo of the Euharlee Covered Bridge and the world's first outdoor painted wall sign for Coca-Cola. Cave Spring's Rolater Park features cave tours as weather permits and a huge spring-fed swimming pool for cooling off. John's Mill , a water-powered stone mill, is located in Hinton on GA Hwy 53 and is open weekends only. The Ridge and Valley Scenic By-way in LaFayette is a 47-mile driving loop of natural beauty and nostalgia, including the Historic Villanow Country Store , the oldest in Georgia.

Racing

Sugar Creek Raceway in Blue Ridge features late model stock car racing every Saturday night April-September. Southeastern International Dragway in Dallas runs every Saturday night in April-October. Dixie Speedway and the Rome International Speedway alternate stock car racing on Saturday nights May-October. Stock cars at Chatsworth's North Georgia Speedway race every Saturday night March-September.