CARTERSVILLE
Cartersville is a wonderful place to visit filled with plenty of history and culture. The Etowah Indian Mounds, a state historic site, is a great place to visit. We started off with an introduction from Gary Greene, a wonderful storyteller, who introduced us to the area. We also looked over the artifacts in the museum before heading outside to get a closer look at the three mounds that have become a sacred place to visit. One of the most interesting artifacts in the museum is the effigy figures of a man and woman that were recovered at the edge of one of the mounds. The artifacts found here give a great glimpse into the lives of the people who once lived in the area. The items found also show an extensive network the Native Americans had with items originating as far away as California.
For more information, go to www.GeorgiaStateParks.org.
Our next stop in Cartersville was at the Booth Western Art Museum, which has an extensive collection of western American art. A local family donated their amazing collection to the community and it is housed in a 120,000 square foot building.
There are some wonderful pieces on display and you can spend hours exploring the museum. In addition to the western art, you will also find a section dedicated to American presidents. There is one letter from each president on display. It’s interesting to wander around and read the letters.
For more information, go to www.boothmuseum.org.
On our way out of Cartersville, we made a stop at LakePoint Sporting Community, the largest and most comprehensive sports vacation destination in the world. The property includes more than 1,300 acres featuring sports venues.
The museum is a part of the Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program. For more information, go to www.lakepointsports.com.
For more information on visiting Cartersville, go to www.visitcartersvillega.org or www.downtowncartersville.org.
ROME
In Rome, we enjoyed an evening of theatre at Rome’s Little Theatre and dinner at Harvest Moon Café.
Our dinner at Harvest Moon Café started off with hand cut sweet potato chips with creamy bacon gorgonzola dip and hog wicked pimina cheese dip with fresh tortilla chips. Great entrée choices are East Coast Shrimp and Grits, Southern Fried Catfish, Grilled Black Angus Ribeye and Roasted Boneless Half Chicken. It was a great start to our evening out in Rome.
“The Dixie Swim Club” was presented at Rome’s Little Theatre at the historic Desoto Theatre and it was a real Southern treat, with some of my favorite lines being “Biscuits are the ultimate southern food, so calories don’t count.” I also loved, “The day I stop eating biscuits, will be the day they pry them from my cold dead Southern hands.” As one character declares, “Put on your fat pants and embrace your heritage.”
Whie in Rome, another interesting stop is at the historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery. The 32-acre cemetery opened in 1857 and has lots of interesting stories. A mobile app tour is available at www.MyrtleHill.mobi. Featured sites include over 300 Civil War soldiers, First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson and Veterans Plaza dedicated to the veterans of America.
A great place to make your headquarters while visiting Rome is the Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, located at 100/110 West Second Avenue. The property is beautiful with a combination of historic charm and modern amenities. The hotel is located in a renovated 1890s warehouse with original hardwood floors, brick walls and a large atrium. A free hot breakfast buffet is included with your stay.
For more information, go to www.hawthorn.com.
For more information on visiting Rome, go to www.RomeGeorgia.org.
ADAIRSVILLE
In Adairsville, we first stopped at Maggie Mae’s Tea Room, located in the 1902 Stock Exchange, which also houses an antique market. The lunch was lovely with quiche, fruit, salad and a chicken salad croissant offered. I also enjoyed exploring the antique mall and picked up a few books to add to my collection.
After our wonderful lunch, we headed over to Barnsley Gardens, which is a wonderful place to make your headquarters while in the Adairsville area.
A visit to Barnsley Gardens is a relaxing get-away that is only a few hours away from North Georgia but feels far removed from hectic pace of everyday life. Visitors will relax as soon as they drive onto the property. Wonderful dining options, an amazing spa, plenty of outdoor activities and a visit from the Fairy Godmother are a few of the highlights of a visit to Barnsley Resort.
One of the special features at the resort is the Fairy Godmother, who will make arrangements for special requests from guests. A romantic arrangement of rose petals, candles and wine is one option, while another is balloons, stuffed animals and fun items that will appeal to kids. The Fairy Godmother can make dreams come true for guests. Whatever you have in mind, just contact the Fairy Godmother before your visit and she will help you plan for a special treat.
The accommodations at Barnsley Resort includes 35 cottages giving the resort the feel of a 19th century English village. There is a “town hall,” which is a multi-purpose room where workshops are offered and weddings are held. The resort has a wonderful spa that offers a variety of facial treatments, body treatments and massage therapy. It combines comfort in a peaceful, tranquil setting. Your treatment will leave you rejuvenated.
During your visit, be sure to spend some time exploring the grounds at Barnsley Resort. The grounds have a quiet 12-mile hiking trail, 18-hole golf course and a herb garden where you might spot the chefs in their tall white hats picking fresh herbs for the next meal.
The ruins of the original home built on the grounds for Godfrey Barnsley and his wife, Julia are open for tours and special events. A small home to the side of the ruins is a museum with history of the family and the property. There is much history to be found, including the destruction of the Civil War and a tornado in 1906.
Dining options at the resort include Rice House and Woodlands Grill.
Barnsley Gardens is located at 597 Barnsley Gardens Road, Adairsville. For more information, call 770-773-7480 or 877-773-2447 or go to www.barnsleyresort.com.
CANTON
In Canton, adults and children alike will enjoy exploring Cagle’s Farm. On the second and fourth Saturday of the month from March through July, the farm is open to the public. In the fall, the farm is open for the corn maze season from September through November. An animal barn, hay ride, pig race, u-pick garden and a fun and educational farm tour are among the activities offered.
“We want kids to experience what farming is,” said Isaac, who led a recent tour. “We want to teach kids stuff, keep it real and be entertaining. We try to also make it entertaining for all members of the family.”
For more information, go to caglesfamilyfarm.com.
Visitors information on the Historic High Country area, as well as other regions of Georgia can be found at www.exploregeorgia.com.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com. 
