Georgia Road Trip with Kids: Iron Horses and Red Clay Roads (Day 2)
Region: Northwest & North-Central Georgia
Welcome to Day 2
If you’re reading along with Ethan and Oliver, today’s journey rides through the American West without leaving Georgia, climbs ancient earth mounds built by a civilization long before Europeans arrived, and winds down with Georgia state symbols along a peaceful lakeside trail.
Itinerary Overview
Route: Cartersville → Cartersville → Acworth, GA
Total Drive Time: ~1.5 hours (with scenic stops)
Activity Time: 6–7 hours
Start Time: 9:00 AM
Stop 1: Booth Western Art Museum – Cartersville, GA
What to Expect
Step inside the largest permanent exhibition space for Western art in the United States — right here in Georgia. The Booth Museum’s galleries are filled with oil paintings, sculptures, and photographs depicting the American West. Kids can spot cowboys, galloping horses, desert landscapes, and Native American history brought to life through art. Homeschool workshops add hands-on creativity, teaching how warm and cool colors can create emotion in a scene.
Educational Tie-In
- Western expansion and its impact on Native Americans
- Art as a storytelling medium
- Color theory in art
Parent tip – homeschool calendar website
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
Look closely at a piece of art that tells a story without words. What emotions do you see in it? If you could step inside the painting or sculpture, what would happen next?
Faith Connection
Psalm 19:1 — “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Stop 2: Etowah Indian Mounds – Cartersville, GA
What to Expect
Towering mounds built by the Mississippian culture stand as silent witnesses to centuries of life along the Etowah River. Visitors can climb the largest mound for panoramic views, walk trails past borrow pits and smaller mounds, and explore a museum filled with artifacts — from flint arrowheads to pottery. The site offers a rare glimpse into the daily lives, spiritual practices, and leadership structures of a sophisticated pre-European society.
Educational Tie-In
- Mississippian culture and mound-building societies
- Archaeology and artifact interpretation
- Indigenous leadership and community life
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
What kind of leader would you want in an ancient village? Describe the qualities they’d need — and how they’d care for their people.
Faith Connection
Proverbs 11:14 — “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”
Stop 3: Red Top Mountain State Park – Acworth, GA
What to Expect
Nestled on Lake Allatoona, Red Top Mountain State Park offers miles of trails, state symbols to spot, and unique lodging like yurts. The Homestead Trail is a 5.5-mile loop through hardwood forest and past old homestead foundations, with the lake visible for much of the route. Along the way, keep an eye out for Georgia’s state bird (brown thrasher), state flower (Cherokee rose), state amphibian (green tree frog), and state fish (largemouth bass).
Educational Tie-In
- Georgia state symbols and their meanings
- Local ecosystems and wildlife
- Homestead life in Georgia’s past
Notebook/Conversation Prompt
Choose one Georgia state symbol you saw today. Write or draw about how it reflects the story of Georgia — even if it came from somewhere else.
Faith Connection
Ecclesiastes 3:11 — “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart…”
What We Learned Today
From Western art to ancient earthworks to quiet forest trails, today reminded us that history comes in many forms — a painted sky, a mound of earth shaped by human hands, or the song of a bird in the trees. We saw how art, archaeology, and nature each tell stories about courage, beauty, leadership, and the passing of time.
State Symbols We Spotted
- State Bird: Brown Thrasher (Red Top Mountain State Park)
- State Flower: Cherokee Rose (Red Top Mountain State Park)
- State Amphibian: Green Tree Frog (Red Top Mountain State Park)
- State Fish: Largemouth Bass (Red Top Mountain State Park)
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.
