Doll Mountain Campground on Pristine Carters Lake - North Georgia

The building of Carters Lake was a pretty big deal when I was a kid back in the '70's. The dam is massive, the largest dam east of the Mississippi. The lake is an incredible 450' deep at it's deepest point. Its capacity to generate electricity was welcome back in the day, but possibly more important was the dam's ability to regulate the frequent floodwaters that often caused damage to communities and crops in the valley below. Rebecca and I know. We grew up in that valley.

In the early years of our marriage, Rebecca and I came here often. We had a personal watercraft, and enjoyed the lake's many primitive camping opportunities. We could tell you stories of riding-out storms in our tent, snake encounters, and searching for missing personal water craft gone missing overnight, but...

Now we're much older and have an RV and four young children. So, a real campground with water and electric was our goal. There are two Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds on the lake. We opted for Doll Mountain because it's just a little closer to home, and Woodring campground happened to be fully booked this weekend.

When we arrived at the campground, we were pleased with its layout. Our site, high atop a little branch ridge, had a beautiful view to the west, over the water (as in great sunsets). It was apparent that it would not be easy to keep the boat in the water overnight because of our distance "down" to the water., It was really no problem though, because the campsite's driveway was plenty long for the motorhome, the Jeep, and the boat pulled end-to-end. Wonderful!

It has been an unusually hot summer this year, so on our first evening at Doll Mountain, the entire Richardson Tribe was very happy to feel a steady breeze blowing cross the lake and up the ridge. It was the first pleasant evening we'd had in weeks, with regards to temperature.

Over the course of the next two days, we spent a lot of time in the boat. We never even set foot on the beach as planned. The beach is not a part of the campground, so it's either a short ride by boat, or a longer ride by car. We did some fishing, but kept the tube busy quite a lot. The kids are getting braver on the tube. Lee Thomas is even standing on it now.

Our meals were exceptional on this trip. The kids have grown very fond of salad, especially spinach (I'm shocked!). Rebecca used the cast pie irons to make calzones using canned pizza crust, turkey pepperoni, pizza sauce, and lots of yummy cheese.

 We are anxious to come back in the fall before the campground closes for the season. We'd like to get the very same site so we can enjoy the sunset through the colorful fall leaves. CAN'T WAIT!

For more information on Doll Mountain Campground and Carters Lake, including lots of pictures, click here.

When in Rome, just do...

You can pretend you're in Italy, Southern Italy that is. 

Rome is located in Northwest Georgia at the confluence of the Etowah and Oostanaula Rivers, where the Coosa River begins. History is rich here, both native and immigrant. Although no Interstate highway passes near, Rome is still the largest town in the region. Rome was a key transportation and trading hub long before superhighways, trains, and even steam ships. Native Americans; Cherokee, Creek, and the people before them, the mound builders, used these rivers to transport food and other goods from village to village. Even today, many Cherokee come here for an annual homecoming called the Running Water Pow Wow. 

Rome's downtown Broad Street area is quaint with several notable restaurants and shops. The downtown architecture has a classic Southern charm, and the adjacent hills are covered with beautiful old Victorian homes and churches. 

One of the Tribe's favorite features of Rome is Ridge Ferry Park, a river-side park with two beautifully maintained playgrounds, lots of grass, and an amphitheater for musical events and festivals. A number of colorful events like the annual Chiaha Festival take place here. 

Ridge Ferry Park is also a great access point to the Heritage Park Trail, a very nice paved path that follows the Oostanaula River through the downtown area. The trek is scenic and educational. The library, located along the trail, is a fun interactive place to visit, as are some of the other stops along the way. There is a fountain area dedicated to the rivers that come together here forming the powerful Coosa, a memorial to local fallen heroes, and two beautiful bridges reserved just for bikes and pedestrians.

Rome has its own Class-A Minor League Baseball team, the Braves. As an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, it's not uncommon to see up-and-coming players here before they make the big-time. Attending a Rome Braves game in their new classic-style stadium is a lot of fun, and it's a short bike ride from Ridge Ferry Park along the Heritage park bike path.

Another place of interest in Rome is Berry College, a top-rated academic institution on a sprawling thirty- odd-thousand acre campus. Discovering the unique history of Berry College justifies a visit, but the incredibly scenic campus and its natural inhabitants are bonus. After a drive by the castle-like Ford buildings, and a visit to the "Mountain campus," make sure to catch the hundreds of deer that graze the fields near dusk.

Within a half-hour or so from Rome are many other incredible places to go and things to do. You can stay at a local hotel, or go camping and kayaking at Cedar Creek RV Park, go camping and boating at Rock Mountain Recreation area, go canoeing and kayaking on the Oostanaula, Etowah, and Coosa rivers, go rock hounding at nearby Taylors Ridge, and so much more. Rome has a lot to offer, and it is certainly off the radar if you are looking for a different kind of destination.

For more information and photos click here.