How to Plan a Quiet Day in Cartersville this Fall

As the temperatures start to cool down, cities across Bartow County will begin to look like a scene straight out of Gilmore Girls. The leaves will start to change to orange, the stores will start putting pumpkins in their windows, and scarves and a sweater will be must-items to wear. Here is the perfect itinerary to plan a quiet day less than an hour northwest of Atlanta.

Start with a morning walk (or run, for you maniacs out there) at Sam Smith Park or Dellinger Park. Sam Smith Park (1155 Douthit Ferry Rd) offers a 2.5-mile open trail through a local field. This is a quiet, low-foot-traffic trail with some elevation and lots of scenery to look at in the distance. Despite being right next to Douthit Ferry Rd, the traffic noise does not overtake the sounds of nature. Dellinger Park (100 Pine Grove Rd) is more nature-oriented, with lots of trees overhead & a goose-filled pond in the center. This is a slightly shorter trail (2 miles) and is a beauty to see. Be sure to get there before 7 am to catch the sunrise!

After your morning stroll, head over to one of our local coffee shops. Noble & Main (145 W Main St) is a local fan favorite with a calm but busy environment in the main building & a quiet and reserved environment in the extension building. This is a great place to do some studying or answer a work call. My personal favorite is Southern Muggs (26 W Main St), which is just down the street from Noble & Main. Southern Muggs is the perfect spot to get cozy this fall, with low lighting & big, comfy chairs to sit in. This is my favorite place to study for school, read my Bible, or crochet for hours on end. The staff at all the coffee shops are super friendly & there’s something on the menu for everyone to choose from!

This may not be for everybody, but thrifting is definitely up next. My favorite place to shop second-hand in town is at Park Avenue Thrift (106 S Tennessee St). There’s always a sale going for certain tag colors & there’s so much stock to see. The prices are always fair, and you can find items for your home, kids, bookshelf, and wardrobe all in one place. Other good second-hand shops in town that I love to shop at are Goodwill (929 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy SE) & Uptown Cheapskate (873 Joe Frank Harris Pkwy SE).

The next stop is the Booth Western Art Museum (501 N Museum Dr). I have spent many days here throughout my life, growing up taking the summer art camps for kids and eventually interning there one summer. I love the Booth & the staff are always ready to greet you with a smile. There are always rotating exhibits as well as pieces in their permanent collection to look at. Be sure to carve out at least an hour or two to really take in all the Booth offers!

For lunch, head on over to Ate Track Bar & Grill (25 N Wall St) to see a heavily decorated, funky interior staffed with kind servers bringing you the best food in town. My favorite thing on the menu is the grilled shrimp tacos cooked to the best quality. Other good dining choices include Swheat Market Deli (5 E Main St), The City Cellar Loft (110 N Museum Dr), Appalachian Grill (14 E Church St), and so much more!

Your afternoon can be spent in many different ways, like checking out the Savoy Automobile Museum (3 Savoy Ln) to see the coolest collection of classic cars. If you want fun action the whole family can enjoy, Lake Point Station (77 Old Allatoona Rd SE) has lots of activities, like mini golf, two-story laser tag, arcade games, a rock-climbing wall, a bowling alley, and more. You may also be able to catch a few of our local arts &crafts markets on the weekends, which host a variety of local artists:

• The Pine Log Arts & Crafts Fair (3497 Pine Log Rd NE): Saturday, September 7th, 10 am-5 pm Sunday, September 8th, 11 am-5 pm
• The Roselawn Arts Festival (224 W Cherokee Ave): Saturday, September 21st, 10 am-6 pm Sunday, September 22nd, 12 pm-5 pm
• The Covered Bridge Fall Festival (12 Euharlee Five Forks Road): Friday, October 11th, 6:30 pm-9:30 pm Saturday, October 12th, 9:30 am-5 pm.

Lastly, end your night with dinner anywhere across the city. You can choose any of the restaurants you didn’t pick for lunch or opt for something else, like Table 20 (20 N Wall St), Maine Street Coastal Cuisine (24 W Main St), Largos (214 E Cherokee Ave), or Moore’s Gourmet Market (227 Fite St). Whatever you settle on, you won’t be disappointed. Whether you follow this to a T or find another local event to go to, we’ll be happy to have you. This city is full of life and southern hospitality, and there’s always somewhere to go and somewhere to see. We hope to see you this fall!