Northwest Georgia is known for its beautiful mountains and cute small towns. But did you know about the area’s beaches? Now, it’s not the ocean but we found beautiful views and sand at all of the places we visited. Here’s a rundown of places where you can squeeze in a last minute “beach day” before summer ends.
Acworth Beach and Cauble Park
The basics: We took U.S. 41 from Cartersville and turned onto Ga. 293 at Lakepoint. You will drive through a nice residential area before you get to the beach.
The fee to enter the beach is $12 per car. The beach looked crowded when we arrived but we had no trouble finding a parking place.
What we love about it: It’s the biggest Northwest Georgia beach we visited. We found two bathroom and dressing facilities, which I think are needed because of the crowd size. Families will enjoy the large playground on the site. There are pavilions for family gatherings.
We enjoyed getting off the beach and walking down the trails nearby. The views from the fishing dock are incredible. I am a bird watcher and I saw at least one bird I did not recognize. We didn’t linger there long because we didn’t want to scare the fish away. We opted to sit on a shaded nearby bench and watch everyone reel in their catches.
What surprised us: We found a cross at the park. According to the sign, it was placed there in 1974. A small chapel owned by Acworth United Methodist Church with a beautiful stained glass window was near the cross. In the same area we found a veterans park honoring our military.
Northwest Georgia’s Rocky Mountain
The basics: The Rocky Mountain Recreation and Public Fishing Area is a 559 acre site located between Rome and Summerville. Just take U.S. 27 and turn onto Sikes Story Road. Turn onto Texas Valley Road and follow the signs.
Entry fee to the beach area is $5 and you pay at a kiosk. Those machines usually don’t work right for me but this one did.
What we love about it: Remember, we are over 50 and sometimes we want to be out of the sun more than in it. I could sit here and enjoy this view from the shade all day.
The beach has a big bathroom/dressing area. But again the view-I think it’s one of the most beautiful sites in Northwest Georgia.
What surprised us: The area opens at sunrise so we visited very early on weekday before I started work. People were already there enjoying the beach. We also noticed a large number of campers at the campground. This is a very popular place even on a weekday.
If you love Southern history, Rome is the perfect place to explore. Learn more about what you can see here.
Harris Branch Beach and Campground
The basics: We visited Carter’s Lake several times but we did not know about the beach. It’s easy to get there from I-75 and Ga. 136.
There is a $5 fee per car. You will find loaner life jackets at the entrance if you need one. The beach will close if it gets too full, so go early. The people at the gate are very nice and will tell you all you need to know if it is your first time.
What we loved: I may sound like a broken record but again, the views. You can watch the boats on Carter’s Lake. I am not a fan of the kind of sand that gets all in your shoes. As you can see, this was a softer sand.
Above the beach you will find some picnic tables. To the right of the beach are pavilions for family fun.
What suprised us: Honestly, the beach itself was a surprise. We have lived in Northwest Georgia our entire lives and didn’t know about it.
Salacoa Creek Park
The basics: The beach at Salacoa Creek Park is a 364-acre site run by Gordon Parks and Recreation. You don’t have to pay to enter the park but there is a $3 fee for adults and a $2 fee for students and children over the age of five. Children five and under are free. The beach is open from 12 p.m to 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
What we love about it: We arrived at the beach before it opened so we couldn’t get inside to walk in the sand. The views of the lake are wonderful. We don’t have many free weekends before Labor Day in 2023 but we are hoping to try to spend time on the beach there.
What surprised us: This was another park we had not visited. We loved the shaded nature trails. We are adding this to our list of places to hike close to home.
Other Northwest Georgia beaches to consider
You will find two beaches at Lake Allatoona. Bartow Beach is located at Gatewood Park just off Bartow Beach Road. Gatewood Park is one of our favorites. We did drive up to the beach but it was before it opened for the season.
George Washington Carver Park also has a beach area. We have wanted to explore Georgia Washington Carver Park for a long time. I am not sure we will make it there before the beach closes on Labor Day.
Northwest Georgia encompasses a 17-county area and I am sure we may have missed some beaches. Send me an email at kim@southernplacesandfaces.com to let me know what we may have missed.
