ALONG COMES MARY

If you are looking to get away from it all, discover delicious food, drinks, history and maybe even do some ghost hunting, look no further than a weekend in Roswell, Georgia.

Roswell is located on the northern banks of the Chattahoochee River in an area the Cherokee Indians once called Enchanted Land. It also serves for much haunting history ideal for the Civil War buff. I was fascinated to discover everything that Roswell has to offer. All, while making new friends along the way and being reminded of that Southern hospitality.

Roswell is a mere half hour from Atlanta, but, quite honestly, you will definitely be kept busy enough in Roswell to not even notice you are in a city suburb. Stay tuned for more in-depth stories on several of the businesses and tours mentioned below. In the meantime, read on to get a glimpse of my go-to’s for next time I am in Roswell.

STAY

I arrived after a long flight from LA, and a 50 minute train ride, to the DoubleTree Atlanta on Holcomb Bridge Road. Nestled among gorgeous trees, lush valley and winding roads, it was breathtaking and I was so happy to at last be at my home for the next few days. Check-in was a breeze, and it was easy to make myself right at home.

EAT

While many may assume the best dining around is within Atlanta, don’t be fooled. Roswell’s Canton Street is brimming with incredible fare like Table and Main. Table and Main may just be shy of four years young, yet take a glance at their website, and you’ll see the countless the accolades and awards given from such notables like Zagat and Atlanta Eater. Famous for their stunning patio dining, Table and Main is serving up Southern faves like Shrimp and Grits (of course) and classic American fare like burger and fries and their popular order of fried chicken.

For a little bit of everything, check out locals favorite, the Peach Tree Diner. When one usually thinks ‘Diner”, they probably envision a Denny’s, Norms. Peach Tree Diner is instead a throwback to being able to order a little bit of everything under one roof. I, for one, usually think “greasy spoon” at the thought of a diner. Peach Tree is raising the notch on that. While you can get the usual burgers, fries, big breakfasts, they also have an impressive Greek section to their menu.

With several dishes boasting “Favorite”, I chose their popular Seafood Broil and it did not disappoint. With charbroiled flounder, jumbo shrimp, sea scallops, creamy risotto and veggies, it was such a great variety of local seafood. Best part? It was (thankfully) not such a massive portion that I got a food coma. The show stopper of the dish? Easily, their sea scallops but their risotto runs a close second.

EXPLORE

Start your day early with a hike at Old Mill Park. Often referred to as Roswell’s hidden gem, Old Mill Park is truly a magical land with bridges, trails, and waterfalls. Hence its name, old mill ruins that were once operated in Roswell still dominate the land and is another factor in the rich history that surrounds Roswell. Pack a picnic, chairs, and you can easily plan to spend the day here, even find a bike trail. Dog friendly, too!

If you’re like me and nature is your jam, you will be in heaven when you head over to The Chattahoochee Nature Center. With nearly 130 acres of beauty, the Nature Center includes a river boardwalk, discovery center, wetland demonstration gardens and woodland trails that are home to over 50 species of injured, non-releasable wildlife. I even got up close to an American bald eagle. He was breathtaking.

Another reason to love Chattahoochee Nature Center is their Unity garden, which will be included in a follow-up article. The Unity garden operates year-round growing fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs while using sustainable gardening practices, found and recycled resources, and focuses on producing healthy plants in healthy soil. The garden is tended by the Center’s fantastic staff and garden coordinator, as well as dedicated individual volunteers. I was amazed to find such a remarkable community that is giving back, in what I had thought would be an un-assuming suburb.

MEET SOME LOCALS (maybe) ON A GHOST TOUR

While I would be touring several of the historical homes of Roswell the following day, I got a sneak peek the evening prior as we headed out on the Roswell Ghost Tour. Nearly everywhere in Roswell, you are most likely walking on top of buried bodies and graves. If you wish to learn more about the residents of Roswell, then the ghost tour is for you. Over the course of 2-3 hours, you will be guided through some of the most beautiful homes of Roswell. You will also see the apartment buildings local mill workers resided in and even visit a grave yard. At 9 pm at night. Spooky!

ROSWELL TOWN SQUARE

Off Mimosa Boulevard (How much do you love that name?) is Roswell’s historic town square. Built by Roswell founder, Roswell King, they added their handsome bandstand in 1905 when President Roosevelt was heading to visit Roswell, which was his Mother’s home town. Today, the watering hole has become the place to be for town events, as well as weddings, gatherings, and just so happens to be where your ghost tour will start and end.

Even if you’re in California, a non-stop flight to Atlanta is under 4 hours. Maybe next time you’re thinking about a road trip up the coast, you should consider a cross-country flight to experience the beauty that awaits you in Roswell! xo