I occasionally afford myself the luxury of visiting places without really knowing what to expect…read more This park just wasn't that clear to me in its purpose, but it became more so after arrival, with a visitor center focused on Native American history and identifying this as a Cherokee Nation headquarters. A spread of recreated buildings outside offers opportunities for perusal. The most aesthetically distinctive site is a large spring of the sort that seem more common in Kentucky than Tennessee, which evinces a robust blue color and empties into a clear stream. The spring itself is off-limits, but the stream is open for wading. All of these sites are within sight of the initial entrance, but a trek uphill reveals picnic areas, an amphitheater, and a couple of mile trail through the woods. Between the different elements of the park, it was easy to spend a couple of hours there, and best of all, it's free, though the gift shop warrants examination.

Extremely nice! Not a bad price either You can bring your own food which is nice. A great way to…read morehave a family day

Being a big Bigfoot fan, I decided I would check this out while in the area. Admission is fairly…read moreinexpensive just $9. You do the tour yourself and walk around. There are some headphones to listen to some stories and there's a few little mini theatres that you can sit and listen to. Unfortunately the only bad thing I have to say about it is that the main theatre plays very silly computer generated Bigfoot videos instead of actual footage. So myself as well as some other people got up and left pretty quickly. The staff is sweet and there's a gift shop to get some moderately priced goodies as well as look at an updated map of Bigfoot reported sighting by civilians.

Definitely an interesting experience. Totally worth the $9 ticket. Only complaint is that we wished…read morethere was a tour guide. Thankfully there was a true believer who was there at the same time as we were so we were able to listen to his fun facts.

Our tour guide Matt did a great job telling us the history of the area. He answered all our…read morequestions and took his time explaining.

Our guide, Jody, made it great! Upon driving up to the museum, we didn't expect much and inside the…read moresmall museum wasn't much. But once we boarded the golf cart on the guided tour with Jody, that all changed. The weather was great, which always helps but the knowledge Jody shared at each stop took us back in history. As a teacher, I appreciated each detail and he (Jody) was always ready to answer questions. The property around the museum is where all of the history took place and Tunnel Hill takes great pride in their local treasure. I was surprised to learn all the seemingly small place had to offer. Kudos to all the people who work hard to keep this place alive. My kids and I had a great visit! I will note that it is more for middle school and up. And it's good for the kids to already have some knowledge about the Civil War. I only rate it one star less than perfect because the displays and mannequins need quite a bit of updating. You do have to have a good guide!

Came to Brasstown Bald Observation Tower for the views and it was a sight to see! It's not everyday…read more(at least where I live) that you can stand in such a high place and be able to see mountains spanning across 4 different states. The entry fee was 8 per adult (kids are free) which also includes a van ride to the overlook. Or you can choose to hike which wasn't a long hike but steep from what I saw. A must do for anyone visiting the area! Ohh... and make sure you watch the little movie at the top, it's very cool to see how one place is its own little world in different seasons and the history behind the place.

The current Brasstown Bald observation tower was built in 1965, replacing an earlier stone tower…read morethat was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935. The original 1935 stone tower was torn down in 1947 and replaced with a steel tower before the current structure was built - we'll folks looks like it's time to build another tower this one is in a state of disrepair. I came here to observe 4 states from the highest point in Georgia, but apparently the observation tower is in such bad shape that it is now closed to the public and your adventure will end after climbing a few flights of stairs ending at the base of the observation deck yeah there's a view from the lower level but in my opinion not worth the price of admission. Thankfully there's a shuttle van that takes you from the parking lot level to the top it runs about ever 10 minutes, our driver was very friendly and tried his best to entertain us during the short drive to the top but there's not much to say - the museum at the top is okay and takes about 2 minutes to tour it then time you walk the lower deck and wait for the shuttle back down - I purchased a refrigerator magnet for the RV from the gift shop and headed for the truck. I guess I am fortunate that I came and saw this, although it was never on my bucket list, I'm still trying to figure out why there's an old train engine in the museum it's quite the anachronism...

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.

I remember taking my daughter there maybe 20+ years ago. Not much after they opened. Kids love it…read moreand my 6 year old grandson wanted to stay when I was ready to leave after 3 hours :-) If you go be sure to look around because there are tons of activities and things for kids to do and explore. They also have a cafeteria, which I found by accident. The only complaint I might have is some of the activities on the second level were in disrepair or not well maintained. Still if you have kidlets, highly recommended. Don't forget if you have an aquarium membership, you get a discount!!

We took our son to Chattanooga for a surprise birthday trip and concluded our weekend visit with a…read moretrip to the Creative Discovery Museum and I am so happy that we got a chance to visit. This place is absolutely amazing and so much fun for both kiddos and parents! Since we stayed at a nearby hotel, we walked about a block to the museum but there is plenty of parking available behind the building but I am not sure about the cost. We arrived just as they opened and the staff member that assisted us was super sweet and because it was my son's birthday, she gifted him with free admission which was a huge win for our budget. As soon as walked into the actual museum, the first thing my kiddos saw was the water area which of course the only thing they wanted to play with. The water area is setup in a way that kids can play with toys, learn about water conservation, build bridges, and have a wonderful time prior to getting into the nitty gritty of all the museum has to offer. They have aprons so my kiddos weren't drenched but just know that area gets a bit congested. There are sooooo many things to do from art to a robot car build and challenge to playing musical instruments. There is also a fun little outdoor space with a cool play area, fun artwork, and games. We had sooooo much fun and it is truly a wonderful place to try and learn new things. There is also an area for the tinier ones where they can "ride a tractor", take care of bunnies (stuffed of course), set the dinner table, cook, and do other household chores. I mean there is soooooo much to do and so much fun to be had. I cannot recommend this place enough and I promise by the time your leave, the kiddos will definitely have a blast as will you!

This museum is a real gem! My husband and I have been to…read moreseveral car museums, but this one is truly special. Starting with the owners of the museum. Kind, polite, personable, and very passionate about their collection and their family. The vibe of the museum was our favorite part too. The garage vibe isn't something I've seen yet, and honestly, it's really something special in their favor. We took three laps around the museum and found something new every time. My favorite was the Piper Cub. I rode in one myself in high school. I never thought I'd see one again so it was a very special moment for me! I highly recommend this museum whether by yourself, with your family like I was, or for an event.

Fantastic! My family, including my sister, niece and nephews loved the cars and other memorabilia…read more We spent over an hour looking at the collection. My youngest nephew was fascinated with the vehicles that were over 100 years old.

Andrew gave us a great tour! So much to see and many interesting facts! The guys working there…read moreenjoyed telling us information as much as we enjoyed hearing them. There were artifacts donated from all over the world. We will go back again to see things that I'm sure we missed!

Small museum with history buffs showing you around. We spent a couple of hours as there was so much…read moreto see.

If you want to learn about the history of Ellijay this is the place. Very knowledgeable and…read morefriendly docents. Just a block from the square. Very interesting.

From the owner: Walk back in time as you tour this beautiful Victorian home filled with exhibits that tell the…read morehistory and heritage of Gilmer County. With over 2500 artifacts, the displays depict Cherokee and Early Settlers, a period kitchen, handicrafts, Civil War, and Military History. The museum is open from 11 AM to 3 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and the first 4 Saturdays of each month. Private group tours are also available for six or more people. Admission is FREE, but donations are greatly appreciated. Email us at gilmerhistorymuseum@gmail.com to set up a tour, or to discuss volunteer opportunities.

I am beyond a true crime enthusiast. I pretty much only read and watch true crime oriented media…read more This was my second trip to the museum. I was worried that there wouldn't be any new exhibits but I was surprised and happy to find the opposite to be true. They have definitely expanded and updated since my last visit. If you enjoy true crime and/or history this is a great spot to visit. On the crime side of things they have a wide range of crimes-not just serial killers or murder. (They do have a Ted Bundy VW beetle and 2 John Wayne Gacy clown costumes on display). They also have areas for financial crimes, etc. History wise they start off in medieval era, then the Wild West, mafia to present day. Nice exhibit on 911. Interactive exhibits too, like DUI and autopsy. Well worth the price of admission to me. Easily a couple hours of stuff to do. Especially nice on a rainy day!

If you have itty bitties, think before going!!…read more This is a great museum with lots of exhibits with detailed insight at them all. So there is LOTS of reading. So this becomes a 1.5-2 hour engagement. It can be dark in areas, so if you're the owner of old eyes. Break out the iPhone flashlight. The rooms are designed to be progressive thru the years (the Middle Ages were messed up!!!). So the pacing is well thought. We went in the off season and it wasn't crowded. I could see during the season, it could be a challenge. Lots of middle aged women that listen to "those podcasts". So husbands be wary when wives start nodding at one another. A great place to go on a "weather" day. As a side note, the staff made a point of stating that all but four display items were authentic and not recreations.