Cartersville GA Archives - There Goes Connie

5 Foodie Finds in Downtown Cartersville, Georgia

09/30/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

When you arrive in Cartersville, a parking spot near the depot will have you within easy walking distance of the Bartow History Museum, Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville’s Photo Fence, Friendship Plaza and Fence of Fame and a lovely specialty shop called Olive Tree and Vine. But, even better, you will be near five exceptional restaurants that would love to serve you.

TABLE 20 – 20 North Wall Street

Executive Chef Chris Lyons is responsible for a dish (Georgia trout) included in “100 Plates Locals Love” posted by Georgia Eats, plus he and his staff make up a successful team that led to a 2018 People’s Choice Award.

I personally tried a couple of great appetizers there — the beer cheese dip and pretzel, plus the deviled eggs. Both were very good. You’ll also find at least one pasta dish, steak, seafood and pork as dinner entrees. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the service is attentive. Their hours are Tuesday – Thursday from 11:00 to 9:00 and on Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 10:00.

MAINE STREET COASTAL CUISINE — 24 W. Main Street

The spelling of this restaurant’s name is very clever. It IS on Main Street, but the menu and the inside decor suggest the State of Maine. Lots of fresh seafood is available for the folks in this land-locked town.

For many details, read the review I wrote in TheYums.com.

Maine Street Coastal Cuisine is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.

APPALACHIAN GRILL – 14 E. Church Street

The menu here reflects the expected dishes of North Georgia with upscale twists. I particularly enjoyed the fried calamari and the smoked salmon spread served with garlic toast points for appetizers. And the Smoky Mountain Trout I had for my entree was wonderful. The portion size could have been shareable.

Desserts looked amazing. I restrained myself but will definitely try one on a return visit. Plan accordingly.

Appalachian Grill is under the overpass (or, they say under the bridge). It is closed Sundays and Mondays but is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. You might have to wait for a table since they don’t take reservations. But, don’t worry. It’s worth it.

BRIDGEHOUSE CAFE — 10 E. Church Street

BridgeHouse, also located “under the bridge,” is actually both a cafe AND a home interiors/gift shop. Serving delectable soups, salads, sandwiches and flatbread pizzas for lunch from 11:00 to 3:00, they also offer a shareables menu from 3:00 until they close at 5:00. BridgeHouse Interiors stays open until 6:00 p.m. and opens an hour before the cafe.

You’ll love looking at the beautiful displays in the front and then walk to the back to place your order at the counter. A server will bring your food to your table when it’s ready. It’s a perfect place for ladies to meet for lunch with lots of shopping to do downtown before and after lunch.

THE CITY CELLAR & LOFT – 110 N. Museum Drive

I am not always a fan of live music while I’m trying to enjoy a meal — mainly because I am a huge fan of lively conversations around a table. But, the night I had dinner at The City Cellar, the musician was exceptionally good and had an extensive repertoire. I suspect they are in the habit of lining up quality musicians.

The City Cellar is located right beside the railroad tracks and directly across from the World’s First Outdoor Coca-Cola Wall Sign. You can’t miss it. They are open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday but closed on Sunday. The menu offers a good variety, but I’d say that the steaks are exceptional.

I’ve written a number of posts recently about the attractions, eateries and lodging options in Cartersville. Scroll back through and read them. Then, plan a trip soon. It will be gorgeous when the leaves start changing.

3 Cartersville GA Attractions for Recreation and Education

09/16/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

I’ve written about Cartersville sights, eats and attractions here, here and here. Now I’d like to share three more that make a visit to the area interesting and enlightening.

GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER PARK and PINE ACRES RETREAT

George Washington Carver Park on Lake Allatoona was established in 1950 as the first state park for African Americans in Georgia. This beautiful 345-acre property includes a manmade beach, picnic facilities, fishing docks, a boat ramp, playgrounds and a large event space great for family reunions, corporate meetings and wedding receptions. In 1956, a portion of the land was set aside for a black Girl Scout Camp and became known as Pine Acres Retreat. Currently, it is managed by the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The lodging facilities are available for renting and range from platform tent sites to cabins for small and large groups. The camp has a swimming pool and buildings for eating and meeting. Reservations must be made for the cabins and the event venue, but the rest is open to the public.

A comfortable guest room available with reservations.

This historically-significant park has hosted Mrs. Coretta Scott King for church activities, Reverend Andrew Young and his family for skiing on the lake and Little Richard and Ray Charles for concerts. It is a contributing factor in the Civil Rights Movement.

TELLUS SCIENCE MUSEUM

If you’ve traveled on I-75 between Atlanta and Chattanooga in recent years, the large building housing the Tellus Science Museum likely caught your eye. It is open 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is well worth the effort to find the nearest exit and pay the museum a visit.

The Bentley Planetarium supports the museum’s emphasis on space and astronomy, but other main areas of focus include transportation, minerals and fossils.

Also, on the grounds is a solar house which is open for tours Thursdays through Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00. Tellus recently celebrated 10 years of operation and welcomed its 2 millionth visitor. It is a source of great pride for Bartow County and is a wonderful resource for area schools.

ETOWAH INDIAN MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE

Near the Etowah River, you can see (and actually climb to the top of) three large mounds, the largest of which is 63 feet high and spans 3 acres. A tour of the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site will take you to some original Native American fish traps and a wattle and daub house showing typical home construction by the Native Americans between 900 and 1550 AD.

Before reaching the mounds, you will use a bridge to walk over what were called the “borrow pits.” Dirt was shoveled from these areas to form the mounds, and the resulting deep ditches or pits were used as defensive tools against invaders or unwelcomed influences.

The visitors center presents a range of exhibits with artifacts used prominently in that time period. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Come back next week for a look at a luxury resort near Cartersville that will have you making plans and reservations soon.

Cartersville, Georgia: Booth Western Art Museum Presents Andy Warhol

09/09/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Men and boys, listen up! This is a museum you will LOVE!! Cowboys and Indians, horses and calf-ropers are everywhere! As a matter of fact, the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia contains the largest permanent exhibition space for Western art in the entire United States.

If you grew up watching Gunsmoke, Wyatt Earp, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Bonanza, Gene Autrey or movies such as “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” this place is for you. The paintings, sculptures and artifacts are outstanding.

There is also a section featuring the Civil War which is very sobering.

American history lovers will also appreciate the Presidential Gallery which contains a one-page, signed letter from every U.S. President from George Washington to Donald Trump.

From now until December 31, 2019, the headline exhibit is “Warhol and the West.” Andy Warhol, a famous American painter probably best known for pop art, was also fascinated with all things Western and created a surprising number of pieces in the latter part of his life with that theme. Many of those works have been brought to Cartersville, Georgia and added to the works already in the museum’s permanent collection, they now make up a stunning and insightful presentation. Try to see it before it leaves the southeast. This exhibit will be traveling to other parts of the country for the next several years.

The Booth Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 to 5:00 with extended hours on Thursdays until 8:00. Sunday hours are 1:00 to 5:00, and it is closed on Mondays. Parking is free. The gift shop is stocked with wonderful items, and the cafe on the premises is exceptional. Highly recommended items are the hamburgers, chicken salad and chili.

By the way, if you visit with young children, they are sure to enjoy the Sagebrush Ranch section on the ground floor designed with them in mind.

And, just so you know, I (a prissy female) enjoyed the entire museum. So, I’d highly recommend it as a great outing for couples or families.

Cartersville, GA: Rusty Cars and Rustic Diners

09/02/2019 By: CCPearsoncomment

Before last week, the only time I’d heard about Cartersville, Georgia was when my daughter who lives in Rome, Georgia said, “That’s where we go to shop at Target.” Needless to say, that meant my knowledge was practically non-existent. Everything changed when I had a chance to explore the town and pretty much all of Bartow County with several fellow travel writers and people familiar with the attractions of Cartersville. As a result, you can anticipate several posts about various aspects of this surprising destination.

OLD CAR CITY U.S.A.

Definitely getting the award for the most unusual attraction in Bartow County, Old Car City U.S.A. was a big surprise! Six miles of trails, 34 acres, 4400 old cars — really? Who knew that could be so fascinating and so appealing to photographers? It truly was, though. For folks like me, it was a step back in time as I spotted cars I used to be picked up in for dates or cars my parents had when I was growing up. No, these aren’t mint condition, car show cars. These are a part of what the owner Dean Lewis proudly calls “the third most famous junkyard in the world.” His parents originally opened the junkyard in 1931, but Lewis has expanded the business and marketed it very effectively.

Inside the large building at the entrance, you will also found a car once belonging to Elvis Presley, an antique toy collection and an eye-popping display of Styrofoam cups that have been used as canvasses to create folk art pieces. The Styrofoam cups, by the way, are identical to the ones used for serving beverages across the street at Wes-Man’s Restaurant. Somehow I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

A sample of the vast Styrofoam cup collection at Old Car City U.S.A.

It is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission for ages 13 and up is $15, for ages 7-10 it’s $10, and children 6 and under are free. If you have a camera or plan to have your picture made on the lot, the price is $25.

If you’re a “car person,” you’ll like this place. Even if you don’t think you’re a car person, I believe you’ll be surprised at how peaceful it is.

DINERS WITH HISTORY AND CHARACTER

Wes-Man’s Restaurant, as I mentioned above, is right across the highway from Old Car City U.S.A. In keeping with that theme, there is a rusty truck in the parking lot that has been used for special greetings for years. When my fellow writers and I arrived, our names were already painted on the truck, and it acknowledged the birthday of my new friend Laurie.

The important truck in the parking lot of Wes-Man’s Restaurant.

The decor can best be described as vintage, and the menu is truly Southern with lots of fried choices — even an ear of corn and cheesecake! Owner Wes Wesley does a good job of making his customers feel special, and if you’ve seen the movie “The Fundamentals of Caring,” the diner scene was filmed inside of Wes-Man’s.

Wes Wesley greeting guests with part of his impressive license plate collection displayed in the background.

Fried green tomatoes, field peas, mashed potatoes and a hoecake at Wes-Man’s.

4 Way Lunch is billed as “Georgia’s Oldest Restaurant Without a Telephone.” In reality, it is a tiny diner with a single row of stools that opened in 1931 and is pretty much serving the same menu it served at the beginning. Typical breakfast fare can be ordered from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., then hamburgers, cheeseburgers, steak and chicken sandwiches, chili and peach cobbler for lunch. The prices are unbelievably low. You can find it on East Main Street near the center of town.

Ross’ Diner, established in 1935 and located at 17 Wall Street, is slightly larger than 4 Way with approximately 2 dozen stools arranged in a u-shape. Ross’ also offers expected breakfast dishes and an array of sandwiches for lunch, but it goes a step further with lunch-time meat-and-three plates. No reservations are taken, of course. You just arrive and wait for an open stool. The prices are great here, too, with nothing on the menu topping $10.

Sausage, scrambled eggs and grits at Ross’ Diner.

Ross’ is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 – 2:30 but extends its Friday hours to 8:00 p.m.

Doug’s Place on Georgia Highway 293 in Emerson, GA, grew from a roadside country store to a full-fledged cafe when Interstate 75 was being built and a large detour took drivers right past the store. Those drivers looked mighty hungry to Doug, so he decided to offer biscuits, then meat-and-threes and a variety of Southern comfort dishes. The interstate has long been completed, but the parking lot at Doug’s stays impressively full.

Doug’s is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday and for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Western omelet and hash browns at Doug’s Place.

Next Monday I’ll give you even more reasons to visit Cartersville and Bartow County.

Tags