Activities for All in Kennesaw

Kennesaw, once known as Big Shanty, is a city of great historical significance. Once home to Cherokee Indians, the land on which the city is built marks the beginning of the shameful "Trail of Tears" on which thousands of Indians died as they were relocated from North Georgia to Oklahoma.

Kennesaw was actually originally founded as a railroad town when the Western and Atlantic Railroad was being constructed. This is very important as it laid the tracks for one of the most exciting incidents of the War Between the States (the correct name in these parts), the Great Locomotive Chase, that was showcased in a Disney movie produced in the 1950s. A stop at the Kennesaw Museum to learn about this event and others is a must for Kennesaw visitors.

Kennesaw Mountain played a huge part in the Civil War as well. It was the site of the last major Confederate victories of the war, and it offers an incrediable park with well maintained trails that beckon all outdoor enthuiasts to come and enjoy.

Quick Tips:

Even though locals like to joke that an outdated law requiring all Kennesaw home owners to have a gun remains on the books, this city is not "back-woods" at all. Only a twenty minute drive from the perimeter, Kennesaw serves as a bedroom community for many residents who work in Atlanta. However, one need not drive into Georgia's capital to find the conveniences most often associated with a bigger city.

The Town Center Mall is located off Busbee Parkway, a busy main road that is the address to many large chain restaurants such as the Outback, Macaroni Grill, and Sweet Tomatoes. If these names feel generic to you, seek out the many family owned and operated restaurants you may find discreetly tucked into strip malls and in the historic district downtown.

If you live in Kennesaw, take advantage of the many self-enrichment courses offered by the local Kennesaw State University or the well run parks and recreation department.

Never, ever visit Kennesaw without spending time hiking on Kennesaw Mountain.

Best Way To Get Around:

While there has been much talk about establishing a better public transit system to cut down on congested Interstate traffic, MARTA does not extend out to the suburbs. Anyone visiting Kennesaw needs a car.

On Christmas Eve I walked into the lobby of the Fairfield Inn to be greeted by a roaring fire in the fireplace. I was picking up a room key for my parents who were visiting for the holiday. I got a great reduced rate through the IgoUgo hotel bookings feature (Check this first for a good deal at this hotel!), and I was immediately pleased with the friendly staff and warm decor.

The room my parents stayed in was very spacious. They had a king-sized bed and small sitting table. A refrigerator and microwave were in the room as well. They enjoyed a small continental breakfast in the morning. This was served in a small room complete with TV and consisted of what one would expect: fruit, bagels, bread, coffee.

The Fairfield Inn is part of the Marriot hotel chain. As such, it is a nicely run, efficient, and comfortable establishment that I would suggest to anyone who might need lodging in Kennesaw.

Extra Tips: Off the Chastain Road exit, the hotel is also within walking distance of a Cracker Barrel restaurant. If you are a runner, sidewalks conveniently line Busbee Parkway, and you can easily run a couple miles in a wide loop (start by running up the hill--left out of the Fairfield parking lot) by the apartment complexes and office buildings in the area without having to set foot on the road.

One day when I was walking up and down the street shopping, I stopped into this small cafe for a coke. The large room of tables was packed with diners. Chalk boards on one side of the room showed the menu: good Southern classics like pork chops and green beans. I had already eaten at home, but the lady in line behind me said she often got take-out from this restaurant. The food is a good quality and a good value. Along with her recommendation were the number of people endorsing the place by filling up the tables. The food must be good to attract so many diners! I found myself eyeing the chalkboards, wondering if the Key Lime Pie was homemade. I suited myself with buying honey farmed from bees right here in Kennesaw. I'll stop in again one day for breakfast. Butter soaked grits and bacon have always been a weakness....

Ru Sans opened a location in Kennesaw in the spring of 2002. In the same shopping complex as Marshalls (across from the Town Center Mall) and Ippolitos, Ru Sans offers inexpensive Japanease cuisine and sushi. The decor is the same as the other Ru Sans around Atlanta--basic with a modern, Oriental flair: colorful paintings on the wall, dark boothes and tables, sushi bar to one side.

Ru Sans offers a creative sushi menu with everything from California rolls to the more exotic. Basic Japanease fare such as edamame and seaweed salad are also available. Kids meals are offered, too. Save room for dessert though. The Banannas Foster is excellent. Ru Sans serves this Southern favorite in a unique strawberry and almond sauce. Yum!

The service at this Ru Sans location seemed a bit slow in May, 2002, but I think they are still getting things together...

Diamond Dave's Steakhouse & Piano Bar has an atmosphere that surprised me though I'm not exactly sure what I expected. The walls are painted black with framed posters of musical icons everywhere: Elvis Presley, Ol' Frankie Blue Eyes and the rest of the Rat Pack, Jerry Lee Lewis, Marilyn Monroe. A wall mural depicts Elton John, Liberace, Stevie Wonder and others around pianos. A disco ball scatters white light like confetti over the bar in the center of the room. Black and white squares and diamonds cover the floor and ceiling. There is a separate room with space for dancing. A wide array of tunes accompany your meal--anything from Sting to Neil Diamond. Of course, there is piano during dinner prime time. And on Monday nights amateur musicians are invited to take their turn at the mike.

I felt a little like I was in Las Vegas instead of Kennesaw!!

I didn't get to hear any of the live entertainment though as I was eating an early dinner with my son. He certainly liked the music in the establishment. He kept bopping up and down to "Papa was a Rolling Stone!" in his red booth, giving me toothy grins and winking. Still, I would guess family dining is most appropriate here in the early evening. I can see the rooms filling up with smoke and lounge lizards later at night! It feels more like a singles scene to me: a light-hearted place to do something different with adult friends. At around 6 p.m., however, we were two of only a few people in the joint, and we really enjoyed our meal.

I had a Creole salad and French onion soup. The salad was covered in a creamy parmesan sauce--Caesar style--with artichoke hearts and olives. The waitress added mushrooms for the fungi lover in me, and the concoction was big enough with the soup to make a filling meal. My son had chicken tenders and mac and cheese: two of his favorite things. For dessert we managed to force down a GIGANTIC piece of cheese cake covered in a chocolate shell and whipped cream. Yum! The meal was a little over $20 after tip.

For those meat lovers out there, Diamond Dave's is a Steak House. Several cuts are served along with prime rib. Specials on food and drinks are run often.

After all that, I think I'll go back one night with my husband just to see how the piano bar part of the restaurant really goes over. Might be a lot of fun even though some of the decor felt a little... um... gimmicky. I noticed free rides are provided for any patron who has too much fun in a late evening. Some special events (such as their New Year's Eve bash) come along with shuttle services to make sure patrons can have a good time without driving.

As for my son and I and our many Shirley Temples... We enjoyed our experience.

Ippolito's is owned by the Ippolito family. There are six locations in the metro Atlanta area. The restaurant in Kennesaw is located in a strip mall off Barrett Parkway near Town Center.

When you walk into Ippolitio's, you first see a long bar to the right. To the left are tables covered in checked cloth in a red brick dining area that reminded me of any upscale Italian pizzaria. To add to the atmosphere, Frank Sinatra was crooning a tune for background music. The place was filled the day I ate lunch there, but we still did not have to wait for long to be seated.

The menu is what you would expect: lots of pastas and heavy sauces. I had a nice chicken and ricotta stuffed shells dish while my friend mixed alfredo sauce with linguini noodles. The portions were very generous, and the food was good. The bread that was served before the main courses, however, really got my attention. Made fresh every day, these rolls were dripping in butter and garlic, so soft they seemed to melt in my mouth. Definitely not a good choice for the diner who is watching calories, the bread is something to remember.

In addition to traditional Italian dishes such as veal marsala, calzones, and eggplant parmigiana, Ippolito's offers daily specials that include seafood. There is also an extensive dessert menu with varied choices such as the Southern favorite: Key Lime Pie. They have a kid's menu, too.

I enjoyed my meal in this restaurant.

Check out www.ippolitos.net for a full lunch and dinner menu.

The Trackside Grill is located near one of the busiest railroad tracks in Kennesaw's historic district. This seems somehow appropriate as Kennesaw itself was once little more than a railroad town called Big Shanty. On Main Street today, you can find lots of little shops to peruse as well as a Civil War Museum that was recently expanded to include exhibits from the Smithsonian. Why not take a break from shopping to enjoy a hearty Southern lunch or dinner?

Upon entrance to the Trackside, you see a small bar in front of you (wine and beer served). To the right you'll hear the clatters of dishes in the kitchen. The hostess at the stand will take you to the left into the main dining area. The forest green wainscoting and dark wood accents lend a little bit of elegance to this comfortable-casual room. Imitation gaslights are on one wall. A toy train is displayed on a shelf.

Our waitress dressed in a denim shirt quickly appeared to take our drink order. While I waited for her to return, I debated whether or not I wanted to order fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and red pepper sauce as an appetizer, but the sweet cornbread we were given took the edge off my hunger.

The lunch menu offers the expected sandwiches, but I got the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. It was a great choice. It was hard to pass up bread pudding for dessert.

A dinner menu offers some more pricey entrees such as blue cheese crusted filet mignon ($19.95) or a citrus glazed salmon $12.95), but the Trackside is not fine dining. Old favorites like buttermilk fried chicken--even served with grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes in Bourbon gravy--make you feel like you've sat down to eat a meal at a friend's home.

Bottom line? This is simply good food in a family atmosphere, which I think is a perfect combination in Kennesaw.

Hours:
Lunch Mon-Sat served 11am-3pm.
Dinner Mon-Thurs served 5-9pm.
Dinner Friday and Saturday 5-10pm.

Throughout the year, the Kennesaw Parks and Recreation Department sponsors a variety of festivals that are free to the public. Check in the local paper for exact dates and time listings. Below are a few of the larger events:

In October there is a Story of the Rails festival held near the Kennesaw Civil War Museum. Children get to enjoy arts and crafts and the like at the museum and in the field across from the depot. Famous figures of Georgia history such as General James Oglethorpe show up in full period dress to tell of adventures in the colonies. Soldiers from the North and South are found on horseback, near makeshift tents, or firing canons that are replicas of those used during the Civil War. The Blue and Gray soldiers are known to chase the hayride wagon as it loops through the field, shooting blanks! Local storytellers from the area gather around campfires and in the museum to spin tales for children. Pirates throw magic pellets into the fire to turn the flames red and green. And, of course, there is always a haunted house.

Christmas is a magical time in Kennesaw. In early December all may enjoy a parade on Main Street led by none other than Santa Claus. Live reindeer delight children. Free entertainment fills the day with the sounds of Christmas caroling and dancing. There are crafts to be made and hot chocolate to be drunk by the depot.

The Big Shanty Festival is held every year near the Kennesaw Civil War Museum in April. Kennesaw was once known as Big Shanty when it was little more than a railroad town. When the dogwoods start to bloom and the weather turns warm, arts and crafts vendors journey from all over the state to set up booths on the Main Street of Kennesaw. With a long list of local singers and actors, The Little General Cloggers, a local children's dance troupe, are sure to provide entertainment to festival visitors. Civil War re-enactments take place on the field across from the depot. Festival foods abound with Southern favorites like boiled peanuts and funnel cakes. And, of course, the museum is open so that all can visit the General, Georgia's most famous steam engine.

The summer brings one of the nation's largest celebrations, and Kennesaw goes all out to mark the Fourth of July. Entertainment and food are as much a part of a Southern summer as the gardenias that scent the air with heavy perfume. A grand display of fireworks light the night with explosions of color and fun. Patriotic music fills every heart with pride as children wave Old Glory in the midst of entertainment suitable for the whole family.

My husband has recently gotten into climbing. Frightened of heights since boyhood, he figured moving up mountains would be the best way to conquer his fears--which means moving up mountains has become a part of my athletic focus, too. After already falling in love with rock climbing at an indoor wall in Atlanta (Atlanta Rocks), we were thrilled when Escalade opened in Kennesaw.

Near Sparkles skating rink in an industrial park, Escalade is conveniently located for climbers in the suburbs. With 8,000 square feet of climbing walls, the gym offers enough room for a lot of people to act like monkeys and enjoy an afternoon of working out. Climbers can buy gym memberships for unlimited access to the walls, or they can get day passes or punch cards. A day pass is $12. There is a small equipment rental fee. If you haven't been climbing before, a $10 belay class is mandatory. You want to know how to tie and use the ropes that are going to hold up your partner when climbing. Especially when that partner is your spouse! Let me tell you. This is a great activity for building trust between couples! Also, kids LOVE the facility. They are naturally fearless and like activity. Our son has learned how to tie his own knots and enjoys going as high as he can on the different walls as much as we do. The staff members are exceptionally helpful and nice with children. In fact, there is a small party room available for kids that can be rented for birthdays.

We also look forward to eventually participating in an outdoor adventure offered through Escalade. Experienced guides lead groups on outdoor excursions to climb in North Georgia and Alabama. Visit www.escaladegym.com for group tour details!

Operating Hours
Monday-Friday: 3-10 p.m
Saturday: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sunday: 12-9 p.m.

Coliseum Sports is a new sports facility located near Escalade Climbing Gym off Hwy 41. You first enter a small lobby to buy a card from the receptionist. On your card you may put money for the batting cages, arcade, or a variety of lessons. It works like a debit card at the different machines. You may use one of the Coliseum's batting helmets and bats or bring your own. The slowest cage pitches softballs or baseballs at 40 mph. There is a digitally created pitcher who does the wind up on a screen before the machine releases a ball. Work your way up to the Pro-batter cage where even the most advanced athlete will find a challenge.

One thing my family has taken advantage of at the Coliseum are batting lessons. My son has played Little League for three years but needed help with his form. For $35 per half hour, he was able to get a lesson from a former Houston Astro's player who was personable, friendly, and obviously in love with the sport of baseball. My son was in awe. For once he actually listened when someone told him how to rotate his foot! There are different packages available for lessons, and these are all scheduled ahead of time.

Coliseum Sports doesn't just offer baseball facilities. In addition to an arcade with games, there is a huge area for gymnastics in the back and a simulated golf course! Cheerleading classes are offered, too, so there might be something here for the whole family. There is also a sports equipment store on-site that offers some of the essentials for sale.

Extra Information:
Operating Hours:
Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.- 9 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.- 9 p.m.
Phone: 770-874-1717

The Iceforum is a small skating rink located in Kennesaw near Walmart. You may rent skates at the rink for $3. There are different sessions scheduled throughout the day. You pay a fee for the session you want to skate. For instance, the last time we went skating, we chose the afternoon session which started at 2:30 and ended at 5:30. My son and his friends love the novelty of ice skating in Georgia---especially in the summer!

The rink is opened all year round. The ice is groomed often at which time there are video games and hot chocolate to keep the kids occupied. We last went skating on MLK Jr. Day, which is the rink's busiest day of the year. My son fell in the first thirty minutes, but staff is always on the rink, too. A very kind employee escorted him off the ice to the bleachers. She took the time to make sure the fall had not caused more than a bruise. The snack shop made him an ice pack. Before I knew it, he was gone again, fully recovered and skating.

In addition to the snack area and the video games, there is a small store in the building at which you may buy skating equipment and uniforms. Lessons are offered at a reasonable price. Coaches can teach hockey skills as well as figure skating. Birthday party facilities are available. If you want a fun and different family activity, give the Iceforum a try.

Kennesaw Mountain is one of my absolute most favorite places to visit on a sunny day. There are miles of wonderful running trails available for athletes. The Cheatham Hill 5 1/2 mile loop is often full of runners and horseback riders on nice mornings and afternoons. The 1 mile up-the-mountain hike beginning near the Main Visitor's Center gives way to an incrediable view of Atlanta. This is a wonderful hike to take with kids because, while the path is very steep, it is not too long or too tiring. A parent in decent shape with a baby strapped to his or her back should not have any problems. Take water in the summer because Georgia is hot, but the leaves of the trees always provide a wonderful umbrella of shade. There are several benches at which one may stop and rest. After conquering the mountain, take a few minutes to walk in the small museum and gift store in the Main Visitor's Center. There are restroom facilities available there as well. The staff will also be happy to give you directions to the parts of the mountain that were the most significant during the great Civil War battle at Kennesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864.

If camping is on your agenda, check out Red Top Mountain just a short drive north. Camping is not allowed at Kennesaw Mountain.

This museum is located in the historical downtown section of Kennesaw. Its biggest claim to fame is the fact that it is home to The General, a Confederate train that was hijacked by a group of Union spies during the Civil War. You can watch an educational film that goes over the events of the Andrews Raid in which the General was involved in a small viewing room at the museum. You can also buy a copy of the wonderful, old Disney movie, The Great Raid, starring Fess Parker in the gift store.

By the end of 2002 the museum started to participate in a wonderful exhibit sharing program put together in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institute. At that time, the museum expanded from just 3,800 sq. ft. to more than 40,000 sq. ft.!!! It now boasts a library and archives, 4,500 sq. ft. temporary traveling exhibit gallery, 3 permanent exhibit galleries, and more! I revisited the museum for the first time in several years in 2005 and hardly recognized the place! Sure, the General is still there, but much, much more as well! I especially enjoyed the exhibits on manufacturing in Marietta. Budget at least a couple of hours for your visit.

In addition to the regular exhibits, visitors will find a variety of public activities and festivals held around the museum. Check separate festivals entry for details.

I run in many races around Atlanta, but I always love to find fun runs close to home.

Legacy Park K9 5K: Held every September, this is a fast 5K that goes from the Kroger on Jiles to end in the large Legacy Park subdivision. It is a fast, mostly downhill course on which many people beat their personal records. There are some serious runners who live in Legacy Park, so the overall winners are normally very fast. Still, with a small crowd, a good time can win you a spot in the top three of your age group. Entry fees benefit Canine Assistants, a not-for-profit that provides training to dogs who assist the blind. Have friends or family waiting with a sweatshirt for you at the finish line. This morning run is often cold.

The annual Run Over Cancer 5k/10k: This annual race is held in April and serves as a fundraising event fo the American Cancer Society Cobb County Unit. It begins at the World Headquarters of the Athlete's Foot and winds through office parks along a fairly flat, loop course near Barrett Parkway. There is a 1 mile fun run for kids and adults, too, and food and fun is found at the finish line. This is a great race to jumpstart spring running.

YMCA/World's Largest Run: This race is part of a national race sponsored by the YMCA. It is new to Kennesaw. I ran it on June 2, 2001. It is a 4 mile trek from the new Y that meanders through several neighborhoods, making a loop to the finish. Though hilly and hot--it's held later in the day than most fun runs--the t-shirts are four color and race organization is good. I am sure as it grows, it will be a wonderful fun run to put on your calendar.

The Siensaw Road Race: This is one of my absolute favorite races in the entire Atlanta area. Held every year in May, the Sienasaw is a four mile race that begins at St. Catherine's Catholic Church. It goes through several neighborhoods and a small section of a main thoroughfare in Kennesaw--up and down meandering hills. Always a fun race, the prizes and awards after the running is over make this a must run every spring. I have never seen so many door prizes at any other fun run in which I've ever participated. The race organizers go out of their way to find many wonderful, local sponsors. Odds are, if you stick around, you'll win a sizable gift certificate for your groceries through a random drawing--or a weekend getaway at a B&B in the mountains!!! They give away, literally, hundreds of dollars worth of stuff. And the crowd is ALWAYS nice--organizers ALWAYS accomodating.

Check the papers for various fun run times and dates. See you out there!

I took a moment to drop into Reid Rawlins Interiors and Gifts. It is a white house with a green roof near the Civil War Museum. I walked into the main room and looked around.

This is a store to visit if you are redecorating. They have an in-store design center that handles everything from window treatments to re-upholstry. Some small pieces of furniture and accents are also available for sale.

The Rose Cottage is in a large pink house surrounded by a picket fence off Cherokee. I had passed it many times on my way to the interstate, and I finally pulled my car into the drive to check it all out.

The first thing I noticed when I walked into this store was the sweet smell of candles. There was a whole wall full of them. Every shape and size. But that wasn't all. The store was decorated nicely for the holidays. Trees were in the hallways. I was drawn to look at the many different ornaments hanging on the branches. Nonetheless, the main wares here seem to be furniture and accents. I walked from room to room to room---going up TWO staircases---looking at side chairs covered in red upholstry and gold fireflies. There were couches and tables and lamps and end tables. Many of the pieces were conservative, but some of the furniture was rather unique--like the glass coffee table with water for a fish tank in the middle.

You may inquire about this store's decorating services by calling 770-428-9255.

This little shop is located on Main Street in the historic district of Kennesaw. I took a moment before Christmas to see what was behind the green door, and I wasn't disappointed.

Anyone who likes to garden or is shopping for a gardener will enjoy The Antique Garden and Gifts. There were a ton of cute accessories for the woman or man who enjoys working outside. In fact, when you park in back of the building and walk up the wooden ramp to enter the store, you will see flowers and garden decorations previewing other goods sold. The owner kindly showed me a room in which several clear vases filled with water were topped with brown flower bulbs. Some of these bulbs had grown roots that wound round and round like upside down hair within the water from which they were drinking. Small shoots of green were poking through the tops of some of the bulbs. Pink and white flowers were blooming from others. Growing a flower from a bulb in a vase like this is called forcing the bulb. It so enchanted me that I bought two vases with two different types of bulbs for Christmas presents. I know that my mother who gardens will enjoy nurturing a flower for her table. And my son will learn a great deal about flowers in general from forcing a bulb in our own home.

If you don't find flowers beautiful, perhaps you will enjoy some of the silver jewelery you will find modeled after Gretta Garbo's collection! Pieces of silver with a broad range in price are on display in glass cases (the antique part of the store.).

Or are you just looking for something different to put in a gift basket? The most adorable notepads in the shape of rhinestone studded shoes and purses might just fit the bill.

For more information about the wares hocked at this store, call the proprietor at 678-797-0740.

When I first walked into this store a couple of years ago, I was immediately attracted to the music. Ella Fitzgerald can always set a mood. The store back then was small, decorated in a tasteful yellow and red motif, but it contained neat little gifts for a variety of occasions: special soaps, chandelier decorations, corkscrews, ornaments, the old fashioned stick candies, and a small collection of CDs. I found neat items that I'd never seen before, too, such as cigar boxes turned purses with beaded handles on top! I bought a funky silver watch made by an artist from Washington. She took words like "dream" and "dare" out of old children's books and highlighted them in beads on the watch's band. The result? A truly expressive piece of jewelry.

A few days ago (December 2003), I drove through Kennesaw''s downtown and saw that the Eclectic Living location I had so enjoyed before seemed to have become an ice cream parlor! I had spoken with E.L.'s proprietor on several occasions. Tammy Parker was very friendly and personable, the type of woman you want to see do well. I was thrilled to find I was mistaken about her store's fate. Eclectic Living hasn't closed; it's just change locations. Now it's located in a small house on Cherokee, which is wonderful because that means there''s more room for more items! Simply turn in front of the Civil War Museum to go toward the Interstate, and you'll see it on your right. For more information on available wares call Tammy at 770/427-7557.

Happy shopping!

The Kennesaw Magic Shop is located near the historic downtown district. It's a small store that packs a punch for anyone interested in the art of illusion.

I often travel to schools to give special presentations, and I wanted a trick to add a touch of wonder to my lectures. Sooo, I was thrilled to see this magic shop had opened. We dropped in for a quick visit one Saturday afternoon.

When I told the proprietor I worked with kids, he eagerly helped me choose some simple tricks a non-magician like me could master. Before he told me his secrets, he also wowed my husband and son as he made water disappear, pulled flowers from a bag, and made a match float above a playing card. My son said, "Cooollll", while my husband kept trying to figure the tricks out before we were told how to do them.

I was sold.

Needless to say, we walked out with a bulging bag planning an impromptu show for our relatives at home.

A great place to drop by, but if you're not in Kennesaw, they have a website. Go to www.kennesawmagic.com or call 770-426-0012 for more information.

NOTE: This store conducts weekly magic shows for a modest ticket price. They also have space in a back room to host your kid's "magical" birthday party.

The Marietta History Museum is located in the Kennesaw House, which was once the location of General Sherman's Union headquarters. (This is in historic Marietta Square about fifteen minutes south of Kennesaw.) If you've ever seen the Disney movie about the great locomotive heist from Kennesaw (see the Kennesaw Civil War Museum entry), you will be interested to know that the Kennesaw House was once owned by Union sympathizers who harbored the spies who planned the heist in the first place.

Take the elevator up the stairs to the small museum. You're in for a treat. We walked through a temporary exhibit of bridal gowns where we learned interesting tid-bits such as the fact that a white dress had no significance for brides until after the pristine Queen Victoria chose this color for her dress in the early 1800s!

Once into the permanent exhibit, a lovely museum volunteer asked my husband if he would like to have a hand (or, more accurately, a foot) at playing the pump organ. (Only do this if the staff lets you!!!) He had to admit pumping peddles for an entire concert would be trying.

Another volunteer ushered us through the room dedicated to the War Between the States where he explained how soldiers loaded guns during that tragic period in our country's history. The Kennesaw House also served as a hospital for Confederate troops. Apparantly bullets were so plentiful in Marietta Square off of which the museum is located, that when this particular volunteer was a child he said he could pick them up from the ground practically at will.

Other points of interest? I noticed a small exhibit placed in honor of 9/11 victims in the museum. A Marietta son was killed in the World Trade Center towers. The gift shop is also worth a look. Newt Gingrich recently signed copies of his new book at the museum, which were available for sale at the time of my visit.

Tip: Wander Marietta Square. Get ice cream at one of the shops or baklava at the Turkish restaurant. Antique shop or let kids stretch their legs on a train in the public grass area. If you're into Rhett and Scarlett, check out the Gone with the Wind Museum located next door to the Marietta History Museum. All of this makes for a very pleasant afternoon .