Beautiful and informative. They even have a small gift shop. Make sure to watch the short movie…read moreabout the canyon.

One of the best visitor centers we have been too. The staff is so nice and informative. They told…read moreus the best trails for kids and the gift shop is really nice as well.

The Cravens House is a historic landmark on Lookout Mountain, known for its role in the Civil War…read moreand its sweeping views. Built in 1856 by Robert Cravens, a Chattanooga industrialist, it originally served as his summer retreat. During the Civil War, the house became a headquarters and observation point for both Union and Confederate forces, playing a key role in the famous "Battle Above the Clouds." The original structure was destroyed during the war, but Cravens later rebuilt it. Today, the house is part of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, offering visitors a glimpse into the past as well as access to scenic hiking trails.

If you love history, views, and hidden gems, you have to visit Cravens House on Lookout Mountain in…read moreChattanooga, Tennessee. This place is absolutely fascinating -- it's the oldest surviving home on the mountain, built in 1856 by Robert Cravens, and it literally sat in the middle of the Battle Above the Clouds during the Civil War. It's wild to think this quiet, peaceful spot was once the site of major fighting, and yet the house still stands today! The home is part of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, and the rangers do a fantastic job explaining the history and significance of the area. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the surrounding trails -- especially the Cravens-to-Sunset Rock hike -- offer some of the best views in all of Chattanooga. Even if you're not a huge history buff, the mix of scenery, storytelling, and atmosphere makes this a really special stop. It's calm, educational, and surprisingly moving to walk where history actually happened. Highly recommend adding this to your Chattanooga itinerary -- it's a five-star experience all around! https://linktr.ee/reessroots

Old restored mansion from late 1700s owned by Chief Vann of the Cherokee Indian people. Lovely…read morehistoric home that is a sad reminder of the Trail of Tears. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

We had a trip to the Vann House on our radar for quite some time. They do an annual candle-lit…read moretour of the house and a few buildings on the grounds. And I'm glad we went! This place was quite the glimpse into our state's past. There's enough here to make any history buff happy--a wonderful educational experience for all ages, with an interpretive center that is rich with information. The house is a very nicely restored Mansion once owned by a Cherokee Chief, James Vann. Construction on the house was completed in 1804. The "Friends of the Chief Vann House" take a great deal of pride in their restoration efforts, and there are plenty of volunteers around during the candle-light tour to clue you in on history and trivia about the occupants. They don't seem to pull any punches when talking about the Trail of Tears, and how the Cherokee were treated back then. Vann House was working plantation with slaves, so there is also a good deal of information about the treatment of the estate's slaves, getting down to some history on specific individuals. The amount of research that has been done on the Vann House is impressive. They also have "Vann House Days" during the summer. And the site is not far from New Echota Historic Site. Next time we'll visit both when we're in the area. Holler if you're coming with.

This was something I very much wanted to see while in Chattanooga. I remember learning about the…read moreTrail of Tears in school in Virginia but, hadn't known a great deal about it. I read about it before visiting and was very impressed by this monument paying tribute to the Cherokee nation and the suffering of those forced from their ancestral lands by mass exodus and essentially a death march, hence the name. I was surprised to see that this is a monument that the city allows you to fully walk, play, and swim in and there were dozens of families with children playing and splashing in the water. It was something I'm not used to seeing and I thought it was wonderful that the city allows this. It was extremely hot the day I visited in July but also, this is interactive and encourages people to come and spent time here. It's a physical tribute to the countless tears shed no doubt during this event and a powerful tribute to a darker part of American history.

The Passage is a permanent exhibit near the aquarium, and pays tribute to the seven clans of the…read moreCherokee Nation through symbolism. The Trail of Tears, when Cherokee tribes were forced from their lands in Chattanooga to Oklahoma, started nearby. The Passage is a walkway, where people can see the Weeping Wall, representing the tears shed as Cherokees were forced from their homes and made to walk the Trail of Tears. 7 disks along the Weeping Wall tell the story of the Cherokee Nation. Facing the Tennessee River are 7 figures playing stickball. Playing the important game of stickball provided a way for members of the Cherokee Nation to settle disagreements, even to the point of players getting injured or killed. Just my opinion, but I think this a valuable exhibit that should be maintained a lot better and treated with respect. During my visit, to The Passage, there were a lot of people wading in the water, and wall that the stainless steel stickball players are on appeared water damaged.

Excellent spot for sightseeing. Great for adults; mildly ok for kids, as its light on interaction…read more Lovely, knowledgeable Docents waiting to share the story. Nice home, small for its era of plantation homes. It was nice seeing the true story of the impact of African Americans - without them there is no Roswell. Without black free labor there is no America in the way we see it now. Free labor fueled the wealth of many dynasties. A nice one hour or 1.5 hr is enough time to see everything. You may want to read up on the house and area before you arrive to ground you in the founding of Roswell. If you love antiques, there's tons to see! Lots of pics on wall. This specific founder wasn't ostentatious so its the opposite of gold, lavish, etc. Its humble wealth! They were devout Presbyterians who were conflicted on owning slaves; private/ secret abolitionist who taught their slaves to write. Telling other locals it was for God so his slaves could read the Bible. But truly it was so they had a skill and could be more than slaves! Remarkable! Fun visit. There are two more grand homes, larger, more lavish by 2 other Roswell early founders, about a mile away. So if you have more time, do it all in 2 to 3 hours. We sat on the porch for 30 min just rocking, nice chairs! We may not ever go back but it was worth seeing!

The city of Roswell has 3 preserved antebellum houses open for public tours. We stopped by all 3…read moreone Saturday afternoon in February. All are located within a 1/2-mile radius, and 2 are literally within about 200 yards of each other. Our third stop was at Smith Plantation. It is located close to the Roswell business / restaurant district, and is adjacent to the city hall (with which it shares a parking lot). Like the others, there is no fee here. We entered via the front door and interacted with the welcoming docent, who asked for our zip code and how we'd heard about the venue. You are then free to wander the house via whatever route you like. Most rooms have a sign with a 4-digit code. You call a phone number (the same one used at the other 2 houses) and enter successive codes as you proceed. For each code, there is an accompanying description of the room's historical context and of its furnishings. These mansions all seemed to follow the same basic floorplan - a central linear hallway with 2 or 3 rooms off each side and a staircase at the end. This home had been upgraded / modernized in the 1940s, so some parts have a different feel than the other 2 open homes. For instance, this one has a kitchen that is more relatable, and there is an actual master bath added upstairs. This also seemed to be the smallest of the 3 homes. There is a bit more information about the last people who lived in the house, as they were there until the 1980s. There are also a few outbuildings here. If you only had time to tour one house of the 3, I'd still begin with Bulloch Hall. However, this place was nice to visit if you have another 30 - 45 minutes.

We were here for an entire week in Chattanooga and able to travel up the mountain 4 of those days!…read moreWhat amazing views of surrounding area! And the people I'll never get over how wonderful they were all were to us! We went to Ruby Falls rock city Park point and stopped at several of the small shops on the way up. We could not do the incline due to my grandson's fear Heights, but we did watch it several times from different advantage points every penny we spent was worth it and 1 million more. The memories made this week will last a lifetime for me and I'm so thankful we were able to take our grandsons and experience this beautiful amazing place with them.

If you're in the neighborhood take the drive to the top. On a clear day the view is incredible.read more

Tony and I found this while traveling through Fort Payne, Alabama on Sunday March 2nd. The park…read moreitself is well marked with Brown Historical Road signs guiding you to the Williston Trail of Tear sites in the town. The park is free but accepts donations. There is a private parking lot and the park has lots of signs that give you tons of historical. informationp If in the area I highly recommend a quick stop. Took us only about 10 minutes. No one was there, so we were alone to take our time. History: Landmarks' property at the end of 4th Street S. and Gault Ave. in Fort Payne, containing the old cabin foundation and chimney, is now an officially certified historic site on the Trail of Tears Historic Trail. To get driving directions for the Benge Route of the Trail of Tears Late in 1837, Federal Troops arrived in Will's Valley to establish a fort for the purpose of removing the Cherokee Indians from the area. Principal Chief John Ross and other leaders had lost their political and judicial battles with The United States and the Cherokee would be forced to leave their homeland in Northeast Alabama, as part of what's now known as the Trail of Tears. To accommodate officers, soldiers, Cherokees, supplies and animals, the local property included a fort, water supply (the Big Spring), holding pens, cabins, encampment areas and associated outbuildings. Some structures were built specifically for the compound, while others, owned by the Cherokee, were confiscated for use as part of the fort. For generations, many area residents have told the story of one such structure -- a log cabin -- used by the soldiers during the removal. Believed to be the last undeveloped part of local property seized by Federal Troops as part of the complex, all that remains of the cabin are a chimney, a foundation outlined in stones and evidence of a small root cellar. A stacked stone well is situated nearby. The structural remains of the log cabin are visibly evident and documented by archaeological research done by Tim Mistovich (1984) and Sharon Freeman (2009). Materials and method of the chimney's construction are consistent with those built in the early 19th century according to Architectural Historian Robert Gamble. Architect Winston Walker III, who was involved in several research projects relating to the pre-statehood period of the area, stated "the cabin was most probably built between 1800 and 1825". The exact function of the log cabin during the time of the removal is in question. Some think it was used for storage, others claim it was officers' quarters, still others believe it was part of the fort - although two reports place the fort "two hundred yards northeast of the Big Spring". There is better evidence suggesting the identity of the cabin's owner prior to the removal. John Huss (Spirit the Preacher) a Cherokee and ordained Presbyterian minister, moved to Will's Valley around 1824. From John La Tourette's 1837 map and recent research including the government evaluation of his property, it is believed that Huss' land included or was nearby the cabin site. Huss and his family voluntarily left for the western territory in November of 1837.

It was built in 1820 and has a pretty interesting history that you can read about on the sign…read more Very cool bridge that makes for a great photo opportunity. I've seen people do engagement shoots, family photos, etc on the bridge as well as over on the rocks. We have not done photos here we just come here to explore the area and let the kiddos run out some of their energy. They like to run back and forth on the bridge and play on the rocks as well as explore the playground.

This park is a little off of the beaten path. It is really scenic and worth the effort to get to…read more I went on a day that was a dreary, but the upside was that nobody else was there. The rain also made the little falls rush a little bit more dramatically. The main attraction is the now covered with graffiti bridge. Historical and full of vibe. The trails are not that long but if you go all the way around you will be able to get some cardio. I think that you could sit and get some inspiration here, if your that type of person. I would recommend checking this place out at least once.

I'm a kid at heart and I love oatmeal cream pies so when I found out about this park, I knew I had…read moreto visit. It's super cute, spacious, and one of my favorite things is that it's sensory inclusive. I enjoyed finding all of the "hidden" snacks in the park. It's kinda like a scavenger hunt for grown up snack junkies! If you're in the area, it's a must visit spot! Pro Tip: The Little Debbie store down the street from the park was closed due to the Labor Day holiday so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

What a charming little park with very scenic views…read more Love the metal swing benches, unique playground equipment, zip line, hills and walking paths. Pet stations with bags Bathrooms- but they were locked Pavilions Little Debbie History Charming little park and pet friendly. All parking is back in angle parking

I love the Cambron Covered Bridge! Located atop beautiful Green Mountain on the Green Mountain…read moreNature Trail, it was built in 1974. This bridge is named after Joe E. Cambron, who was the Madison County Bridge Foreman from 1958-1974. Starting at the pavilion and hiking around, the bridge is located near the end of the 1.5 very easy trail. The Green Mountain Nature Trail is recognized as a Treasure Forest by the Alabama Forestry Commission, and it is also considered a Wildlife Sanctuary. The bridge is rustic as one would expect with numerous windows from which you can take some beautiful photographs of the lake and the park. It's especially pretty when we have beautiful fall colors!

Nice covered bridge in a peaceful setting…read more.. Covered bridges are scattered all around North Alabama and we had a glimpse of this bridge that took us back in time, when life was simpler. It's pretty cool... When we got to the bridge there was a kid fishing from one of the windows. Cambron Covered Bridge was built in 1974 and is located in Huntsville in Madison County AL. We walked on the wide gravel path that led to the bridge. The trail crosses the Cambron Covered Bridge surrounding Sky Lake. Entrance to the park is free, open to the public from 7a until 30 minutes prior to sunset. There are three large windows on each side of the bridge letting natural light in so it isn't so dark inside when you cross the bridge. Just below the windows are wooden benches. The bridge is picturesque and makes for great pictures, especially the black and white effect. I don't normally come across covered bridges too often... in fact, this may be my first time seeing one in real life (the covered bridge from the movie, The Bridges of Madison County, doesn't count). Review #1858