Design-your-own camps, arts and antiques, sports adventures abound in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains
Vacations can be off the grid, out of your comfort zone, or just a relaxing way to get out of town. In Cartersville, and in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains in surrounding Bartow County, Georgia, it’s possible to have all three, just 45 minutes north of Atlanta off I-75. From summer camps for kids and adults to design-your-own escapes, you can step back in time, experience extreme or easy sports, or stroll through art and antiques. Here, you’ll find activities to inspire and entertain all ages and interests.
Cartersville offers two Smithsonian-affiliated museums and a beautifully restored and renovated downtown filled with antiques, galleries and boutiques. Plenty of dining options include casual eateries as well as independently-owned restaurants whose chefs present innovative twists along with most-loved traditional fare.
For a “summer camp” experience, consider these three resort-style options, from budget to luxury. Each is virtually self-contained, yet also serves as a basecamp that enables family members to join on-site activities, or roam not too far afield.
Outdoor and sports escapes
Rent a cabin, yurt or campsite at Red Top Mountain State Park. Situated along Lake Allatoona, the park offers boating, fishing and watersports, a sand swimming beach, playgrounds and 15 miles of hiking and bike trails. Activities include archery, geocaching, miniature golf and tennis. Programs include movies under the stars, crafts, games, demonstrations of pioneer life and more. Other scheduled events include Junior Ranger day camps, as well as moonlight kayaking. A First-Time Camper Program provides use of camping equipment, one-night camping accommodation, and ranger guidance. Many activities free with $5 parking; check the website for specific program/event fees. (50 Lodge Rd SE, Acworth, GA 30102; 770-975-0055)
LakePoint Sporting Community, with more than 15 indoor and 20 outdoor sports activities, is a 1300-acre vacation destination, the largest sports and adventure hub in the Southeast. Hotels, shopping, dining and entertainment provide an immersive experience. Within the complex, Terminus Wake Park offers cable-guided wakeboarding, kneeboarding and wakeskating fun for all ages and skill levels. Instruction, rental gear, eateries and snacks are available onsite. Aqua Park is a new, giant-inflatables water playground full of slides, climbing and diving challenges for ages five to adult. Watersports, fencing, basketball and soccer instruction and day camps are open for registration. LakePoint Station is a family fun center featuring a massive arcade, rock climbing and 36 holes of miniature golf. MainStay Suites, Sleep Inn and Hampton Inn offer budget- and family-friendly accommodations, all within the LakePoint property. Varying admission based on activities; visit the website for details. (171 LakePoint Pkwy, off Old Allatoona Rd, Cartersville, GA 30121; 470-315-0155)
Luxury escape
For an escape that combines active outdoor activities with pampering and fine dining, all amid a romantic, 3,000-acre English-countryside estate, Barnsley Resort in Adairsville is the ultimate retreat. Built around Antebellum gardens and the ruins of a storied 1840s stately manor house, well-appointed cottages create a pedestrian- and dog-friendly village ambiance. Barnsley recently opened a new three-story, 55-room Inn at Barnsley Resort, inspired by the British architect of English country homes at the turn of the 20th century, Edwin Lutyens.
Activities geared to the sporting life include an 1,800-acre preserve for seasonal dove, quail, pheasant, turkey and duck hunting. Guests can test their aim at the 26-station sporting clays course and tee off at the 18-hole Fazio-designed golf course. Ride horseback, hike and bike along picturesque trails, or fish and canoe in a 10-acre lake. For total relaxation, the highly-rated spa offers an extensive menu of treatments. (597 Barnsley Gardens Road, Adairsville, Georgia 30103; 877-773-2447 or 770-773-7480)
Summer camp and learning ideas
The Booth Art Academy, part of the Smithsonian-affiliated Booth Western Art Museum, offers a wide variety of half-day camps for ages 4-12. Hands-on experience includes pottery, photography, even cartooning and Claymation. Adult three-day programs include pastels, oils, drawing and sculpture focusing on techniques and skills. Prices and class offerings vary. A 90-minute program for ages 5-12 years (and parents) is $6 per person. (501 Museum Drive P.O. Box 3070 Cartersville, Georgia 30120; 770-387-1300)
The Smithsonian-affiliated Tellus Science Museum‘s Weinman Mineral Gallery showcases one of the Southeast’s largest collections, with more than 4,000 rocks, gems and minerals on display. Tellus features an advanced Planetarium, hands-on science experiences and gem- and fossil-finding fun. Science Friday Nights and Lunch & Learns also provide education cleverly disguised as fun. (100 Tellus Drive, Cartersville GA 30120; 770-606-5700)
There’s plenty more to explore. Discover ancient Indian mounds. Walk through a covered bridge built with wooden pegs. See a two-room schoolhouse where students brought firewood to keep warm. Hike to the top of a mountain for a bird’s-eye view of Lake Allatoona, Stone Mountain and Kennesaw Mountain.
Save the date: Pickers, junkers and bargain-hunters will flock to the Dixie Highway 90-Mile Yard Sale, June 1-3, 2018. The route stretches from Ringgold through Acworth and features numerous sites in Emerson, Cartersville, Cassville and Adairsville.
Plan your visit online at VisitCartersvilleGA.org or call a Visitor Information Specialist at 800-733-2280 or 770-387-1357 for suggestions on lodging, shopping, dining and more things to see and do.