Community Corner

Kid-Friendly (And Cheap!) Weekend Adventures in North & West Georgia

Pack up the kids and get ready for an awesome, affordable adventure

Written by David Rice

Sometimes all it takes is a little planning to have a great family outing. When routine exploits just aren’t cutting it anymore, shake things up by exploring new terrain, taking in an exhibition, or visiting a landmark and learning a little something about our local history. Here are awesome events to attend and places to visit around town before fall ends. Best part? All of them can be done on the cheap and on one tank of gas—or less!

Hills and Dales Estate

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1916 Hills and Dales Drive

LaGrange, GA 30240

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706-882-3242

Why Go? Learn a bit of American history and the story of one the country’s most famous industrial  families, the Fuller E. Callaway family. This 35-acre estate includes tours through the beautifully designed mansion and gardens that have been featured in a number of magazines

A truly inspiring piece of architecture and a jewel of Western Georgia, the estate promises to mesmerize visitors of any age.

“Fall is a wonderful time of year to visit Hills & Dales Estate,” Executive Director Carleton

Wood said. “The beautiful outline of the Callaway home against a brilliant blue sky is a treat

for the eyes. The gardens are also a lovely sight to see, particularly the ancient Gingko, which turns bright yellow in late October. Our fall workshops are also very popular and our newly established Stories in the Garden event held each October is another great time to visit. If you bring children, they can explore the estate using our Earle the Squirrel children’s guide and claim a prize at the end of the tour.”

Insider Tip: Be on the lookout for seasonal blooms inside the gardens. The gardens of Hills and Dales Estate are home to vast array of seasonal flowers, with autumn flowers including Angel’s trumpet, roses, cassia and gingko.

Must Do: Within a mile of the estate sits the Explorations in Antiquity Center, home to several full scale recreations of ancient discoveries. Whether it’s ancient tombs, a first century village or just enjoying a biblical meal, the Antiquity Center offers a truly unique experience. Have the children do a kid’s dig to give your young archaeologist a thrill.

The Fine Print: The Hills and Dales Estate is an economically viable destination at $15 for admission of adults and seniors and $7 for students age 7 and up. It should be noted, however, that while children under the age of six are admitted to the garden for free, they are not allowed inside the house at the estate.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park

425 Bobwhite Way  Newnan, GA 30263

(770) 254-7271

Why Go? At nearly 3,000 acres of land, this state park is one of Georgia’s largest state parks and protects nearly five miles of riverfront. This paradise for paddlers, campers and anglers is also home to six miles of wooded picturesque trails that are a perfect place for an amateur photographer to get some practice.

Insider Tip: Looking to stay the night? Chattahoochee Bend is one of the best camping destinations in the state, as campers can choose from riverside platform camping, walk-in tent camping, drive-in tent camping and RV camping. Groups and families can enjoy the Adirondack Shelters all at a reasonable price.

Must Do: Home to wild hogs, deer and even the occasional American Bald Eagle, the six miles of hiking trails within the park promise to provide up close encounters with wildlife and the river’s edge.

The Fine Print: The park is open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. and parking is only $5. Camping costs are anywhere from $9-$150 per site, depending on the type of site and the number of campers.

Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern

Why Go? Descend 26 stories underground and take part in one of the best Halloween traditions around. Just across the Tennessee border in Chattanooga sits Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern, voted one the top 10 of haunted houses in the United States by Rand McNally.

“The event has really made a name for itself,” said Meagan Jolley, a spokesperson for Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern. “We’ve had consistent scare factors each year. With a different theme and set of characters, it’s developed a following, keeping people coming back for more, not knowing what surprises are in store. The setting is also the only one of its kind.”

“What other haunt takes you into America’s deepest commercial cave accessible to the public? So it’s two haunts in one – the above ground experience, plus the haunt in the cave,” she added.

Insider Tip: Get your tickets online and save money. Online ticket prices for Sundays are $17 and $21  for Friday and Saturdays. On site ticket prices for Sundays are $21 and $23 for Friday and Saturday. The park opens no later than 8 p.m.

Must Do: If you’re going on a Friday or Saturday, make a haunted evening out of your trip by stopping in Flintstone, GA at the Blowing Screams Farm. This trail haunt includes monsters, bonfires and a journey through terrifying woods and swamps. It is conveniently located just a few miles south of Ruby Falls and will serve as the perfect starter to your haunted evening.

The Fine Print: This Ruby Falls underground cave is an eerie backdrop for monsters and special effects that make this haunted walk scarier than most. The attraction is recommended for adults and teens, but younger kids are allowed if parents choose to bring them. There are no special prices for children and no refunds for people who chose not to proceed to the end.

LaFayette, Georgia—the Perfect Small Town Getaway

Why Go? Visit one of Northwest Georgia’s landmark towns and take in the rich history that helped LaFayette earn the name the “Queen City of the Highlands.” Visit the Marsh House, a destination noted by the National Register of Historic Places or head up to Chickamauga

Military Park where a 5,500 acre battlefield site marks the place of the last Confederate victory of the Civil War.

Insider Tip: While in town, be sure to stop by Rocktown, a free-face rock climbing area with dozens of 30-40 foot sandstone boulders set on the Cumberland Plateau. The wide variety of boulders offers different types of climbing for any experience level. If you need a place to camp, the parking lot of Rocktown serves as a free campground.

Must Do: Be sure to visit the Marsh House on Main Street in LaFayette, where Union soldiers once occupied its hallowed corridors while preparing for the Battle of Chickamauga. The house has hosted several ghost tours in the past and in 2009 was declared haunted after “ghost hunters” conducted all-night investigations.

The Fine Print: LaFayette’s attractions are not only kid-friendly but generally affordable. Just a two-hour drive from Atlanta, LaFayette provides a nice small-town getaway to escape the big city hustle and bustle for a day or two.

Tunnel Hill Heritage Center

215 Clisby Austin Drive

Tunnel Hill, GA 30755

(706) 876-1571

Why Go? The city of Tunnel Hill’s roots can be discovered by visiting the old railroad tunnel that led to the town’s creation along with the surrounding park. Built in the mid 19th century, the railroad that once passed through this corridor opened trade between the southeast coast of the United States and the Midwest by connecting the Port of Augusta and the Tennessee River Valley. It was also at the center of plenty of Civil War events.

“The tunnel is a great experience that keeps history alive for future generations,” said Thomas Scalf, Manager of Dalton Area Visitors Centers. “The Western and Atlantic Railroad Tunnel museum is good clean, educational family fun. You can take a walk on an authentic battlefield and through a Civil War Hospital or ride through a 150-year-old railroad tunnel that is a quarter of mile long. It’s the very tunnel in which the ‘Great Locomotive Chase’ took place.”

Insider Tip: History buffs should be sure to check out the Clisby Austin house, an antebellum-style home that served as a hospital during the Battle of Chickamauga. Confederate General John Hood was sent here to recuperate after having his leg amputated. The leg is buried near the home.

Must Do: Take a tour of the 1,477 foot tunnel that was built through the base of the Chetoogeta Mountain and learn about how this little feat of engineering changed the history of both Georgia and the South.

The Fine Print: The tunnel and museum are open to the public from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at a cost of $7 for adults or $5 for children and seniors.


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