Georgia Road Trip with Kids: Stories, Struggles, and Sacred Art (Day 1)
Welcome to Day 1: Region: Northwest Georgia
If you’re reading along with Ethan and Oliver, today’s journey winds through Northwest Georgia — where Cherokee history meets Civil War battlefields, where sacred visions take shape in a garden of found objects, and where the roar of Navy jets still echoes in the memory of those who served.
Itinerary Overview
Route: Fort Oglethorpe → Summerville → Rome, GA
Total Drive Time: ~2 hours (with scenic stops)
Activity Time: 6–8 hours
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Stop 1: John Ross House – Fort Oglethorpe, GA
What to Expect
The John Ross House is a simple log cabin with a weighty story. Once the home of John Ross, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, it’s a tangible reminder of the leadership, advocacy, and heartbreak surrounding the Trail of Tears. Visitors can walk the grounds, explore the cabin’s preserved interior, and learn about Ross’s efforts to protect his people through the courts — and his decision to walk with them when removal became inevitable.
NPS Stamp: No
Educational Tie-In
- Trail of Tears history
- Native American leadership and legal advocacy
- Geography of the Cherokee homeland
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
What makes someone a leader? Think about John Ross. Write or draw a moment when someone stood beside others during a hard time, even when they didn’t have to.
Faith Connection
Philippians 2:4 — “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Stop 2: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park – Fort Oglethorpe, GA
What to Expect:
The park’s Visitor Center holds artifacts, uniforms, and a large relief map of the battlefield. Outside, miles of preserved land, monuments, and historical markers tell the story of the 1863 battle for Chattanooga. The terrain itself — rolling fields, wooded ridges, and silent cannons — becomes part of the learning experience.
NPS Stamp: Yes — first one of the trip! Don’t have a passport book? Don’t worry, grab yours here!
Educational Tie-In:
- Civil War causes and consequences
- Geography’s role in military strategy (railroads, rivers, and mountain passes)
- The impact of war on families and communities
Notebook/Conversation Prompt:
What’s the difference between fighting for what you believe in and hurting others in the process? How can we tell the difference?
Faith Connection:
Romans 12:18 — “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Stop 3: Paradise Garden – Summerville, GA
What to Expect:
An explosion of color and creativity, Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden blends art, faith, and found objects into an outdoor museum unlike any other. Walk among mosaics, painted doors, and towers of reclaimed materials — each piece a visual sermon from the “Man of Visions.”
Educational Tie-In:
- Folk art and visionary art movements
- Using art to share messages of faith and hope
- Recycling and reimagining everyday objects
Parent tip: Lesson plans on the website found here!
Notebook/Conversation Prompt:
Draw or write about a “dream” God could use in your life. What ordinary things around you could become something beautiful?
Faith Connection
Genesis 50:20 — “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”
Stop 4: Museum of Flight – Rome, GA
What to Expect:
From the sleek F-14 Tomcat to the rugged Huey helicopter, the Museum of Flight offers a hands-on look at aviation history. Climb into a flight simulator, walk beneath Vietnam-era aircraft, and hear stories of courage and teamwork — including Navy operations at sea.
Educational Tie-In:
- Naval aviation history
- Technological advances in flight
- The role of aircraft in humanitarian and combat missions
Notebook/Conversation Prompt:
If you could pilot any aircraft from history, which would you choose and why?
Faith Connection
Isaiah 40:31 — “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles…”
What We Learned Today
Today was about courage — from John Ross’s leadership, to soldiers at Chickamauga, to the visionary faith of Howard Finster, to the men and women who took to the skies. We saw that courage comes in many forms: walking beside your people in hardship, standing for peace, creating beauty from what others discard, or risking your life to protect the quiet freedoms we hold dear.
State Symbols We Spotted
- State Bird: Brown Thrasher (heard at John Ross House)
- State Flower: Cherokee Rose (seen in Chickamauga)
Plan It Yourself
You can map this exact route — and customize it for your own family’s adventure — using Roadtrippers Plus. It’s our favorite trip-planning tool for finding kid-friendly stops, tracking drive times, and keeping everything in one place.
View our full trip on Roadtrippers: Ethan & Oliver Adventures Georgia’s On My Mind Road Trip Map
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Unless otherwise noted, all destinations, attractions, and resources mentioned here are places we’ve personally chosen to visit and recommend. We are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by these locations — including Roadtrippers. We simply use and enjoy their trip-planning tool and share it as a resource for fellow travelers.
