(This is part two of a series on passenger trains serving Marietta. Part one records the story of the last of the historic passenger trains serving Marietta.)
Once, passenger trains brought visitors, new residents, a host of business opportunities and future historic legends to Marietta. Then, passenger train service ended quietly with Marietta’s last passenger train on April 30, 1971.
With the completion of the Western and Atlantic line from Atlanta to Chattanooga, the sleepy town of Marietta became a tourist destination thanks to passenger trains. Marietta celebrated the arrival of the first of many passenger trains on Christmas Eve, 1842. Then, an excursion train traveled from Marthasville (now Atlanta) to Marietta. Dignitaries and celebrants enjoying the historic occasion filled the train. But many of the passengers proved uncertain and somewhat fearful of the newfangled technology.
A national railroad map shows that Marietta and Atlanta were connected by rail to other Southeastern cities (inset, upper left). But the network still remained isolated from most of the US.
By 1860, Marietta and Atlanta were well connected to the national railroad network via the Western and Atlantic line to Chattanooga.
According to published reports, when the engine reached the trestle over the Chattahoochee River, passengers demanded the engineer stop the train, fearful the bridge would collapse. They disembarked and walked across the bridge, with the train following once they were safely across. When the train finally reached Marietta, the town celebrated with a party.
In the early years of passenger trains, riders enjoyed the convenience of a regular schedule while receiving only the most basic transportation amenities. New steam engines required frequent stops for water and fuel. Smoke and ash from the engines often filled the trailing passenger cars. The rail cars offered more comfort than a stage coach. But train travel required patience, endurance and determination in the hot wooden cars seated on hard bench seats.
Early trains were often equipped with bench seats in a wooden passenger car. As rail travel grew in popularity, passenger car amenities gradually improved. Still, rail travel required endurance and determination.
Marietta’s Tourism Growth
By 1845, the Western and Atlantic operated passenger trains and freight service from Atlanta to Adairsville. In 1850, the line reached Chattanooga. As the line extended, the number of passenger trains increased. And Marietta grew as a bustling railroad stop.
At nearly 1,000 feet above sea level, wealthy residents from Georgia’s coastal plantations traveled on passenger trains to Marietta. They sought the town’s cooler summer climate, lower risk of summer diseases (carried by coastal mosquitoes) and natural springs.
Local resident Dix Fletcher converted a trackside warehouse into the Kennesaw House hotel in 1845. The hotel became a convenient and popular stop for travelers on the growing number of passenger trains. And it served as a temporary residence for the wealthy coastal vacationers who made Marietta a favorite summer destination.
Marietta’s appeal as a tourist destination was widely known. To reach wealthy travelers from South Carolina, Marietta entrepreneur Thomas Markley advertised his new store in Greenville, SC.
Advertising to Travelers
In Fall of 1857, entrepreneur Thomas Markley opened a book, music and jewelry store in the Dunn’s Hotel, located on the corner of Marietta Square. Hoping to reach the traveling class arriving on passenger trains from South Carolina, Markley purchased several advertisements in the Southern Enterprise newspaper in Greenville, SC. Markley advertised “melodeons, violins, flutes and guitars,” as well as watches, silver pens and pencils, books and stationary.
Businessman (and later, a reputed Union spy) Henry Greene Cole opened a bed and breakfast. Later, he operated the Marietta Hotel on the south side of the square, described as the finest in Marietta.
Boasting a water cure for a wide variety of ailments, Dr. Carey Cox operated a combination resort and sanitarium just outside of Marietta. Passenger trains delivered visitors from throughout the Southeast to enjoy the restorative waters and excellent foods.Illustration from Reverend George White’s 1855 book, Historical Collections of Georgia
Capitalizing on Marietta’s growing reputation as a summer retreat, Dr. Carey Cox built a resort in the shadow of Kennesaw Mountain. The location specialized in “water treatments” from a local spring, reputed to deliver restorative effects for the tired and sick. By 1861, the location attracted visitors in what the city’s website describes as “a substantial tourist industry.”
Passenger Trains and Recovery
Rebuilding after the Civil War, passenger trains again brought new residents and tourists to Marietta. And the railroads actively promoted Marietta as a preferred stop.
The Western and Atlantic Railroad promoted Marietta as an easy visit from Atlanta. The railroad sponsored an April 1867 press tour to Marietta, described as a “delightful little suburban village” just 36 minutes from Atlanta by train.
In April 1867, the Western and Atlantic Railroad sponsored a press tour to Marietta, promoting the railroad’s newest equipment and featuring the city’s amenities. According to a report in the Atlanta Intelligencer, the tour included “about 20 of the press gang, and several of the city’s most prominent gentlemen.” The report described the visit to Marietta as “pleasantly passed in our delightful little suburban village.”
By 1868, Marietta was served by six passenger trains daily along the Western & Atlantic route. A through fare from Atlanta to Chattanooga cost $8 — the equivalent of approximately $180 in 2025 dollars.
Promotions worked well, and the Marietta Journal joined in the cheerleading. A June 1870 edition of the newspaper stated: “No better place on the globe than Marietta to find all that is desirable in a summer resort . . . so come on.”
A June 1870 edition of the Marietta Journal said there was “no better place on the glove than Marietta to find all that is desirable for a summer resort.”
By 1885, Marietta again gained a regional reputation. The city was an ideal retreat for both Southerners escaping summer heat and Northerners seeking milder winters. Promotional materials highlighted its “splendid atmosphere, pure water, lovely scenery, and associations with a resident population noted for culture and refinement.”
By 1871, Atlanta’s Union Station was a regional hub for rail travel. Trains from the station could reach Marietta is under 40 minutes, then continue on to Chattanooga and beyond.
Western and Atlantic Railroad continued as a major promoter of Marietta. A brochure published by the company in described Marietta as “The Gem City of Georgia,” and promoted the town’s “pure atmosphere, historic scenery and beautiful drives,” all at an altitude of 1,150 feet above sea level.
This line drawing of Marietta and Kennesaw Mountain appeared in a turn-of-the 20th century brochure produced by the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The cover described Marietta as “The Gem City of Georgia.”Today’s Glover Park at Marietta Square is in the lower right. A Western Atlantic Train is crossing todays’s Whitlock Street.
On Friday evening, April 30, 1971, the storied era of passenger train service ended for Marietta, GA. At approximately 5:51 pm, Louisville and Nashville (L&N) train number four pulled out of the deserted Marietta passenger and freight station. The locomotive and a few passenger cars headed north to Chattanooga and Nashville, TN, then on to Evansville, IN, and St. Louis, MO, never to return. Northbound No. 4 was Marietta’s last passenger train.
Unlike the celebratory Christmas Eve 1842 when the first excursion train ran between Marthasville (later, to become Atlanta) and Marietta, this last passenger train simply slipped away from the station. The flashing lights of the crossing warnings and the sounds of the steel wheels called out to those nearby. But the ghostly specter faded from view, likely without any notice and certainly without fanfare.
When Marietta’s last passenger train departed in 1971, a railroad official was quoted in the Marietta Journal: “There’s not much use made of the stop in Marietta now.” Later, the station was converted to the city’s visitors center.
Marietta’s Passenger Service
Over its history, Marietta’s long-distance passenger service included numerous trains stopping daily at its downtown station. Plus, from 1905 to 1947, the Atlanta Northern Railway ran an interurban commuter line connecting the two cities by rail.
Train numbers often designated key routes on printed schedules of the day. However, several famous named passenger routes passed through and stopped in Marietta, too. Some of those included the Flamingo, Southland, Dixie Flyer, Dixie Limited, Dixie Flagler and Georgian. These named trains most often served long-distance routes between larger cities. And they featured the finest cars, best amenities and top services for their riders. For example, The Georgian included sleeping cars, a club-lounge, dining cars and regular coach service on its route from Chicago to Atlanta, then on to Miami.
As recently as April 1963, eight passenger trains stopped at Marietta daily. A schedule of northbound service showed the Dixie Flyer left Marietta at 9:15 am. An unnamed passenger train No. 2 followed at 10:38. Then, in the afternoons, two more named trains left Marietta heading northbound. First was The Georgian at 6:19 pm. Finally, the northbound Flamingo left Marietta at 7:48 pm.
But by April 1971, Marietta’s last passenger train was known simply as Northbound No. 4. Earlier in the day, Southbound No. 3 completed its own final journey.
“The Georgian” was one of the streamliner trains that served Marietta along a popular route that stretched from Chicago to Miami.
An Unnoticed Milestone
Local officials and media barely took notice of the passing of the passenger rail era. On March 25, 1971, the Marietta Daily Journal included a report at the bottom of page 1, reported the upcoming discontinuation of passenger rail service. One line referenced the end of historic passenger train service to Marietta. An unnamed L&N representative at the Marietta station noted, “There is not much use made of the stop in Marietta now.” The report also noted that Marietta was the only remaining passenger stop in Cobb County. Earlier consolidations eliminated passenger former stops at Acworth and Kennesaw.
During the heyday of passenger service through Marietta, L&N railroad’s “The Georgian” included sleeping cars, a club-lounge, dining cars and regular coach service.
Amtrak Impact
The official cause of the termination was the formation of Rail-Pax, later renamed Amtrak. Brainchild of Secretary of Transportation John Volpe, the government-back, quasi-public corporation would take over passenger rail services from the nation’s 22 railroad companies. Passenger rail service proved chronically unprofitable for the rail companies. Officials envisioned the Rail-Pax system to save some passenger rail service.
On May 1, 1971, the US government initiated AMTRAK to take over passenger rail service. The before and after maps illustrate the impact on passenger rail service, including the loss of the L&N line St. Louis to Atlanta, through Marietta. That was the official end to passenger service in Marietta.
Amtrak launched May 1, 1971. The new national rail system connected 114 cities utilizing 184 trains over approximately 2,200 miles of passenger rail routes. But 184 routes were discontinued immediately, including the L&N route through Marietta.
The Marietta Daily Journal noted the upcoming Amtrak take-over of passenger rail with a story on March 28, 1971. One line referenced the end of historic passenger service to Marietta.
Distractions and News
Perhaps Marietta and its residents were too distracted to notice the end of passenger rail service. Front pages and lead TV stories of the day focused on two major trials. A jury convicted US Army Lt. William Calley of war crimes for leading a massacre of Vietnamese civilians. The country was divided by the decision, hotly debated by journalists, politicians and citizens. And, another jury fixed the penalty as death for all four defendants in the infamous murders led by Charles Manson.
The verdict in the William Calley Case, sentencing in the Manson Murders and debate about using Dobbins AFB as a second passenger airport dominated the front page on the day the last passenger train ran in Marietta.
Closer to home, other transportation decisions captured headlines, overshadowing the loss of passenger train service. Locals and the federal government fought over the routing of Interstate 75. An unfinished 24-mile stretch from Marietta and running over Lake Allatoona generated controversy, focused on the least-harmful path for crossing the lake. And in the era of the automobile, that new concrete ribbon garnered more attention than an old-fashioned passenger train.
Meanwhile, Marietta’s giant Lockheed manufacturing facility, employing more than 32,000 people at the end of 1969, was shrinking quickly. The company announced that its workforce would number approximately 17,000 by the end of 1971. Workers and their families focused on securing a future after the massive reductions at the aerospace company, with no time to worry about rail services.
First in A Series
This post is the first in a series of four remembering Marietta’s passenger train service, its impact on Marietta, railroad stories, and the passing of an era. Check out the rest of the series:
In our 20+ years of cruising, we’ve sailed into and out of lots of ports. That includes the Caribbean, Alaska, New England, Canada, North Europe, the British Isles, the Mediterranean and Asia. But of them all, none beat the splendor and awe we felt departing and arriving into New York harbor.
Of all the port arrivals and departures we’ve experienced, none have topped the thrill and pride we felt in New York harbor.
For all the negative press the city receives, we’ve never heard anyone complain about sailing New York harbor. Perhaps the last disgruntled cruisers at New York harbor were the British sailors arriving in a June 1776. They arrived aboard a 45-ship armada that anchored in Lower New York Bay. And they likely were even more sour when they departed. That was November 1783, when the last of the British militia and loyalists were ordered to evacuate New York City.
On our sail-out, Lady Liberty’s face was a shadow. The entire deck of the Enchanted Princess was lined with people taking this same photo.
Highlights of our late afternoon departure included passing Lady Liberty in the late afternoon, watching the New York Skyline fade away off our bow, and finally sailing under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
We captured a time sequence of our sail out, and created this video.
No questions, our sail out of the harbor was spectacular. But I was more thrilled that I arose early on our return and watched our sunrise arrival into the harbor. And I’ll even admit that I may have wiped tears from my eyes as we sailed past Lady Liberty.
By Dawn’s Early Light
By dawn’s early light, the majestic Statue of Liberty welcomed us into New York harbor, as she has with countless arriving immigrants and travelers since her dedication in 1886. We docked at the cruise terminal in Brooklyn. There, we looked across Governor’s Island to see those broad stripes and bright stars gallantly streaming. And while the National Anthem may have been written by Francis Scott Key to describe the flag flying over Fort McHenry in Baltimore after a battle, we certainly could channel some of those patriotic feelings as we entered New York harbor with the twinkling backdrop of the Manhattan skyline.
I arose early on our arrival morning, waiting on deck to sail by the lighted Statue of Liberty. Perhaps it was the wind or maybe something else, but I will admit to having tears in my eyes.
More Enchanted New York Harbor
Following are a few more of our favorite photos from our departure and arrival into New York harbor on the Enchanted Princess. But there’s more, too. Keep scrolling past these photos.
Passing beneath the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge, departing NYC
The full span of the Verrazzano Narrows bridges, with NYC at the right.
Sailing in just before dawn, we were treated to a brilliantly-lit Manhattan skyline on a clear morning.
We arrived at our Brooklyn dock as an orange sky appeared, the ship’s outdoor screen offering a welcome.
At our Brooklyn dock, we watched water traffic pass before Governor’s Island and the NYC Skyline before leaving the Enchanted Princess.
Plus, The Staten Island Ferry
On our final evening in the Big Apple, we headed back to the harbor, this time for a cruise on the Staten Island Ferry. It’s an iconic and free trip, departing from the tip of Manhattan, sailing past Lady Liberty, and then returning again.
On our final evening, we headed to the tip of Manhattan and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal for an iconic New York Harbor Experience.On our outbound trip, we were treated to an incredible pre-sunset, as a red-stained sky popped out from behind the low clouds — just as we passed Lady Liberty.The NYPD harbor police sailed alongside our outbound ferry, as the inbound ferry passed by on its return to Manhattan.On our return trip to Manhattan, we passed the outbound Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship as it departed NYC for a New England and Canadian cruise.
(Originally Published May 2022. Updated: April 2025)
It’s Saturday morning and a group of approximately 30 people are gathering in the parking lot of a public park near Woodstock, GA, north of Atlanta. As they pull gear from car trunks and truck beds, muddy boots and tall waders drop on the asphalt. Shovel handles bounce off the hard surface. It quickly becomes clear that these are not members of area softball teams meeting up for a friendly game.
These are gold seekers, members of the Allatoona Gold Panners setting out for a day of panning in a local creek located on public lands managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Over the next few hours, they hope to find golden flakes or small nuggets hidden in the creek, once one of Georgia’s gold rich mining areas. While the discovered veins were exhausted in the early 1800s, this eclectic group of determined hobbyists, professional geologists, curious first-timers and experienced panners WILL find placer gold. The only questions are who will find it first, and how much will be recovered before they leave.
An eclectic group of determined hobbyists, professional geologists, curious first-timers and experienced panners WILL find gold. The only questions are who will find it first, and how much will be recovered before they leave.
A Family Legacy
Walking on a winding wooded trail following the creek, experienced gold hunters share tidbits with the newcomers. Robert, who began tagging along with his dad more than 30 years ago, drops to the back with four slower walkers. Robert says he’s out in the streams every weekend, “Unless it’s really cold.”
He remembers days when he and his dad picked up small nuggets from the creek beds with their bare hands. Now, he explains, finding nuggets is rare. “It’s not likely you’ll get a big score on any one trip. But if you keep at it, the gold adds up over time,” he says.
As we approach a bridge, Robert points right. “There’s an old mine right there. They covered up the opening, and built a house right above it.”
Even if Robert’s mine-shaft knowledge isn’t spot on, one thing is certain. We’re in the general area where multiple gold mines operated in the midst of the Georgia Gold Rush. Shafts were dug and blasted into bedrock, seeking gold veins hidden in the rolling hills. Stream beds, their banks and the surrounding hills were dug out by hand by prospectors drawn to this area.
Today, that kind of mining isn’t allowed on public property managed by the Corps. Instead, this group of intrepid gold hunters carries only shovels and gold pans, closely following the gold hunting guidelines for public lands.
Hiking in on public property, this group of intrepid gold hunters carries only shovels and gold pans, closely following the gold hunting guidelines for public lands.
After hiking approximately .75 miles, the group stops for a brief huddle. Steve, the organizer of today’s event, confirms we’ve reached the designated location and tells they group they can commence their searches.
Several of the experienced panners climb down into the stream, walk a hundred yards further and start their solo efforts. A few of the newcomers stick with Steve, who has brought along extra gear for them to use. He offers a few practical tips, does a quick panning demonstration, then watches as the newbies try their luck.
Help for the First-Timers
Two first-timers, Huan and Michael, are using equipment borrowed from Steve. They don’t have boots like the experienced panners, and stand in the swift, cold water in athletic shoes and bare feet. Michael dumps a shovel-full of bottom material into a pan.
On the third pan, Michael sees some shiny flakes in the bottom of the pan. He asks Steve’s opinion, who smiles and says, “That’s gold!’
On the third pan, Michael sees some shiny flakes. ‘That’s gold,’ confirms Steve.
Panners often wish for good luck by saying, “Heavy pans.” But this pan is too heavy — with rocks — for Huan to handle. Steve steps in, smiling, and throws out some of the large rocks. He then shows Michael and Huan how to hold the pan at a proper angle, working the water and small material to expose any gold. This pan has none, and neither does the next.
But on the third pan, Michael sees some shiny flakes in the bottom of the pan. He asks Steve’s opinion, who smiles and says, “That’s gold!’
Steve takes the pan for a minute, and gives more instruction, demonstrating how to move all the material to one side, then gently shaking the pan to move the sediment away. More gold flakes are now visible at the top of the pan.
“When you do this right, if it moves, it’s not gold,” Steve says. Michael and Huan have been panning for less than 15 minutes and they’ve found their first gold.
Watching the groups work, their posture and facial expressions often foretell their gold finding success with individual pans. Experienced panners often stop to offer advice to the newbies.
How Much Did You Find?
This same scene is repeated up and down the creek. Tom is a geologist by trade and also has several working mines in other locations. He’s ankle deep in the creek giving a family of newcomers similar instruction. John, who says he’s been hunting gold for nearly all of his 60 years, comes from a family of geologists. He’s happily offering advice when asked, which is frequently.
Watching the groups work, their posture and facial expressions often foretell their gold finding success with individual pans. And when an accumulator bottle is stuck into one of the pans, it’s a sure sign that there’s definitely gold in that pan.
After about 90 minutes, the first group member calls it a day. Several others start taking the trail back over the next hour. As a newcomer myself, I make a rookie mistake and ask several panners how much gold they’ve recovered. I’ve broken an unspoken rule, but the experienced panners let me off easy. They simply smile and reply, “We had a good day.” Or, “Enough to come back again.”
And that’s the final lesson from this group. No one here is planning to get rich. Over time, the luckiest may pay for their equipment, gasoline, a few sandwiches and maybe have a few dollars to spare. But the adventure, the thrill of finding gold and the camaraderie will bring them back again. Because there’s definitely more gold in these North Georgia streams!
How much did you find? Over time, the luckiest may pay for their equipment, gasoline, a few sandwiches and maybe have a few dollars to spare.
Many local restaurants near Marietta and around Cobb County offer budget-friendly dining discounts to seniors. But often, those discounts aren’t listed on the menu or openly promoted in the restaurants, more of an “in-the-know” deal than a general benefit.
Once you know how to look for senior dining discounts in the AARP app, you can find the best deals while traveling or near home.
There’s help available for AARP members, with the organization’s deal-finding dining database. But once again, you have to know where to look or be willing to explore in order to find these budgeting bargains before heading to your favorite restaurant. And the good news is that once you know the secrets, you can apply them for any location while visiting or traveling.
We visited the AARP website and the AARP NOW app as the first step in satisfying our hungry hankerings. After logging in with our membership credentials, we began our search of this treasure trove for treats. But on both the website and app, we were overwhelmed with information, but it wasn’t the discounts we were looking for.
Our first attempt at the restaurant selection found a list of all national chains that offer AARP dining discounts. We counted more than 20 options.
To find those, we had to click on a benefits area in the app, then selected “categories” to find restaurants. On the website, that translated to a membership and benefits tab on the top navigation area, then scrolling down the left hand navigation bar to find a restaurants option.
Even after selecting restaurants, we weren’t in the exact location. That’s because the restaurant selection presents a list of all national chains that offer AARP dining discounts. We counted more than 20 options. Some, like Auntie Anne’s, Carraba’s, Cinnabon, McAllister’s, Moe’s and Outback, offer locations in and around Cobb County.
Once again looking around the pages, we finally found an option for “Coupons for Local Restaurants.” But we were still two clicks away from our payoff.
Finally, we landed on app and web pages that feature more than 40 restaurants with real Cobb County locations, including several that were true local restaurants run by community members. And we loved some of the bargains we found.
Finally, we landed on app and web pages that feature more than 40 restaurants with real Cobb County locations.
For example, West Cobb Diner offers a 25% discount, with savings up to $25. That’s a perfect way to enjoy their huge portions, which always makes multiple meals for us in our to-go box.
Several other local places offer 10, 20 and 25% off deals, too. And while we’re not a familiar with some of them, those offers may be a great reason to try them out soon.
Plus, there are a number of BOGO-type discounts for lunch and dinner meals.
And after digging down deep into the navigation, we did find a shortcut — at least for the website. And we’ve bookmarked the site since it includes a location search function to find dining discounts from virtually any location. Check out this link for the location, and be sure to bookmark it for your future reference, too. When we tweaked the locator to include restaurants within 10 miles of Marietta, we turned up 45 locations offering senior discounts.
Our travels frequently take us to the Caribbean, where we enjoy sandy beaches, clear blue-green waters, “boat drinks,” and lots of flavorful foods. But one of our shortest, closest authentic Jamaican experiences happened on Powder Springs Street. We were heading south, of course, just outside of downtown Marietta.
That’s where we found Juicy’s Jerk. This family-run authentic Jamaican restaurant gem virtually hides in a roadside strip mall at 1115 Powder Springs St, in Marietta. But it didn’t require a week of sailing and port stops on a cruise ship. We drove to Juicy’s Jerk for a weekday lunch, where we walked in and were served with virtually no wait.
Hidden in a streetside strip mall, Juicy’s Jerk isn’t fancy. And the adjacent hookah bar wasn’t our vibe. But we’re glad we went in.
Now, I’ll admit that we almost turned and retreated to our car when we walked through the door into the dark restaurant and accompanying hookah bar. We’re really not into the hookah scene, but fortunately, we continued — hesitantly but undeterred — to the counter for ordering. The smokey aroma wafting from the outdoor smoker provided the encouragement needed, our mouths watering for the authentic Jamaican delights.
We were helped with our ordering by the friendly owners, who made a few suggestions for our midday meal. The menu is not extensive or complex, and we felt well guided by the friendly suggestions. Jerk chicken, pork, ribs and fish made up the main protein choices, supplemented by shrimp, cow foot and oxtails.
The menu was small and simple. But we appreciated the suggestions from the friendly owners and went with their recommendations.
We ordered a small jerk chicken meal and a small jerk pork meal, both served with the standard sides of rice and peas, and also with cabbage. What we got was a huge and heavy styrofoam container filled to the brim with wonderful food, each containing enough for two full meals.
Dining in, we sat alone in the dining room and dug in to the heaping servings. First, we feasted with our eyes and noses. Both the chicken and pork were slightly charred with crispy edges, a deep, mahogany-brown color from the smoking process. The jerk spices caramelized on the exterior, creating a beautifully textured crust. It was speckled with bits of fresh herbs, blackened spices, and glistening juices. Steam rising from the meats hinted at the juicy tenderness inside. The aroma was intoxicating, a smokey essence of sweetness, spices and citrus zest.
After feasting on the delightful aromas, we dug into plates of jerk pork and jerk chicken. Filled quickly, we each brought home full second meals from the leftovers.
Then we dug in. Each bite of the proteins delivered on flavor beyond the incredible promise made by the aroma. The first bites and each afterwards delivered a powerful explosion of heat, smokiness, and sweetness, followed by a lingering warmth that danced on our tongues.
The rice and peas brought the heat level down and provided a short break for our pallets before we rushed for the next bite of proteins. Despite our enthusiasm and delight, we managed to finish less than half of each “small” plate before we surrendered with full stomachs. But the great news was we were each carrying home a dinner-sized serving for another meal.
Though we hesitated because of the adjacent hookah bar, we went in as the smokey aroma wafted from the outdoor smoker.
Though we only sampled the two lunch meals, we’ll definitely return to Juicy’s Jerk. In fact, we have our eyes on some of their larger to-go offerings as a carry-home option the next time we have hungry visitors.
We’re also not the only folks impressed by this hidden gem. We checked out reviews from multiple local foodies we follow, and virtually all of them gave Juicy’s five-star reviews. Consistently, they commented both on the quality and quantity of food. And one even mentioned the same initial hesitation we felt, while also continuing in for a delightful experience.
During our lunchtime visit, the hookah bar — complete with a poster of the legendary Bob Marley and plentiful hookah pipes — remained empty.
So next time you want a Caribbean food experience in land-locked Marietta, navigate your car on down Sandy Springs St. to Juicy’s Jerk.
Our Restaurant Disclaimer: We eat where we want and what we want, and pay for our meals. And when we find a restaurant we like, we write about it. When we have a poor experience, we tell the restaurant. But we don’t do negative reviews — you just won’t read about any bad experiences on our website.
When we moved to Georgia, we set about to explore the state and learn its history. That journey has been alternatively fascinating and frustrating. We’ve occasionally faced difficulties locating succinct history resources that fit our time schedule and short attention span.
After moving near downtown Marietta, we focused more on the rich past of the city and it’s surroundings. We visited museums, walked the downtown checking historical plaques, and took self-guided walking tours found at the Visitor’s Center. Plus, we read a few books. (BTW, Stealing the General by Marietta native Russel Bonds is definitely worth reading!)
Stroll approximately 25 steps along the pedestrian-only Depot Street to get a bite-sized version of Marietta history.
Then, we accidentally discovered one of the best, most succinct history resources available about the city. And it’s literally set in concrete. Amazingly, you’ll learn basic Marietta history in 25 steps — human, walking steps. From native Americans, through the city’s establishment, rebuilding after the Civil War and all the way up to recent downtown beautification, the facts are laid out directly in front of you.
You’ll find this “history walk” at Atherton Square behind the Welcome Center. At Atherton Square, the history walk stretches between the Marietta Welcome Center at the old train depot and the Marietta History Museum in the former Kennesaw House Hotel. It’s a pedestrian-only street running from Church Street / West Park Square toward Atherton Square and the railroad tracks
Each block includes a brief description of Marietta’s history.
A total of 12 concrete blocks are inscribed with brief history, each block focusing on a single topic. You’ll spend less than 10 minutes getting a good basic history timeline of major events in Marietta.
Afterwards, just walk across Atherton Square to Cool Beans Coffee Roasters for a hot or cold pick-me-up. Or, if you’re intrigued and want to learn more, you can always pop into the Marietta History Museum. It’s one of our favorite downtown stops, featuring both permanent displays and an ever-changing array of temporary exhibits. While you’re there, ask about some of their popular history tours, including the walking tour of Marietta City Cemetery. The tours are seasonal, with very limited schedules. You’ll likely want to get information during your pop-in visit and schedule a return. Plus, the friendly teams at the Marietta Welcome Center are always ready to share tidbits of history and a full schedule of Marietta’s upcoming events and activities.
If you walk on a a Saturday, cross the railroad tracks to the Marietta Farmer’s Market. Be sure to stop at Open Heart Bakery, where we always enjoy their scones and other goodies.
Another option if you’re exploring on a Saturday: visit the Marietta Farmer’s Market. You’ll find it just across the railroad tracks starting at 9 a.m. each Saturday, year-round. Be sure to stop in and visit Jenni and (husband) at Open Heart Bakery, where we always pick up a bacon and cheddar scone and other great items.
(Updated March 2025. Original post: March 17, 2023)
During this Lenten season, we made one of our too-infrequent visits to JimPa’s, a local fried fish and chicken joint located in a former Huddle House at the corner of Cobb and McCollum Parkways in Kennesaw.
We always enjoy our irregular visits here, filling ourselves with delightful thin-cut fried catfish filets, plus incredible sweet and tangy hushpuppies. Then, we add some of our favorite sides like an extra order of fried hushpuppies, fried okra, fried, pickles, steak fries, white beans and coleslaw.
Eat and Enjoy
So why are our visits infrequent and irregular? Well, we could get really specific and refer you to our primary care doctor and cardiologist, armed with detailed cholesterol test results. But for our purposes here, let’s go with the less-specific answer. We just eat and enjoy way too much of JimPa’s fried fish for our own good. So while we’d love to visit more frequently, we think its in our own best interest to demonstrate some level of restraint. So we simply pass by, then always regretting our directional determination.
JimPa’s is a local “joint,” and we mean that kindly. A few tables away, a skeleton and frog sat together while fish stared down from their wall plaque mountings.
But for a special Friday lunch – and perhaps to spite that grumpy, spoilsport doctor! – we drove in directly from a recent physician’s visit. Nothing had changed since our last drop-in. We ordered fried fish at the counter. While a line of people waited for to-go orders, we took a seat at one of the checkered-table-cloth-covered tables to await our fried feast. A few tables away, a seasonally-decorated skeleton and a frog sat together. Fish stared down on us from their wall plaques.
Sharing The Fish Love
For the two of us, we shared a 3-filet fried fish meal, served with two sides plus those incredible hushpuppies. On this visit, we chose sides of coleslaw and white beans – darned that aforementioned grumpy doctor! But before walking away from the counter, I gave in and added four more hushpuppies to our order. HAH, take that, Doc!
By the time I started taking the always-required photos, some of the food had disappeared from my plate — including those hushpuppies!
We waited a few minutes, a hallmark and badge of honor at JimPa’s because nothing is cooked ahead for dine-in. And that means everything comes to your table steaming hot, especially those cornmeal covered catfish filets that melt in your mouth once you enjoy that momentary crunch from the seasoned coating.
SNAP! My Food’s Gone!
When the waitress delivered our food, items started disappearing from the plate faster than I could snap the always-required photos. Instead of three filets, there were less than two whole fried fish pieces left on the plate. SNAP! When I turned my camera to the hushpuppies, same story. SNAP! Only the cup of white beans remained untouched. And that was because we sent the waitress back to fetch silverware while we snatched up other items by hand. SNAP! And while I was snapping, more fish and hushpuppies were disappearing quickly! So no more snapping!
If you’re looking for fancy, you won’t find it at the downhome JimPa’s.
Now, when I described JimPa’s as a “joint,” I meant that in the kindest manner. This place has character, often is patronized by characters, and, in fact, was established by a character. JimPa, aka, Catfish Jim, aka Jim Schrampfer, was a well-known fixture in the chain, franchise and Georgia restaurant industry before venturing out on his own. The latest incarnation of Jim’s fishy vision features the dine-in and take-out restaurant in the former Huddle House. A highly-popular, in-demand catering business serves regional businesses and events alike. I’ve enjoyed the catered meals at corporate events. We’ve also placed catering orders for holiday events at home. We mix catfish along with shrimp, chicken and those craveable hushpuppies, too.
What’s a Catholic boy supposed to do after ordering fried pork skins to accompany his meal on a meat-free Ash Wednesday. My answer: eat, and beg forgiveness!
If you’re looking for a fancy seafood meal, you won’t find it at JimPa’s. But, if you’re after a downhome feast featuring catfish, chicken, homemade sides and perfect hushpuppies, ignore your doctor or cardiologist and set your GPS to JimPa’s.
Located in a former Huddle House, JimPa’s has been selected among the “Best in Georgia” for multiple years.
Our Restaurant Disclaimer: We eat where we want and what we want, and pay for our meals. And when we find a restaurant we like, we write about it. When we have a poor experience, we tell the restaurant. But we don’t do negative reviews — you just won’t read about any bad experiences on our website.
Marietta’s downtown is experiencing an Italian Renaissance. After years of having just one stalwart Italian restaurant, two newcomers have opened offering more choices for good Italian dishes.
We’ve always enjoyed the European feel of dining at a window seat at Piastra. Then, when Bottega opened in 2024, it brought a homey, street-cafe feel that stirred warm memories of visits to Italy. Now, Gianni and Mac’s enters the mix with a large-format, multi-room dining experience straight from the heart of Tuscany.
A charcuterie and mozzarella bar offers a unique and authentic feature in an intimate setting.
Gianni and Mac’s is a love letter to Italy from founders Gianni Betti and Marietta restauranteur Randy “Mac” McCray. Arriving at the restaurant, you’re immediately captivated by the street-side charm of the window views. Walking in, the classic dining room expands in front of you. A bustling open kitchen anchors the room. To the left, a charcuterie and mozzarella bar offers a unique and authentic feature. And the long, open-seating bar delivers both Italian-inspired beverages and dinner service for those not willing to wait for a table.
Reservations Suggested
We walked in on Tuesday night, expecting no wait. Instead, the tables were fully booked with reservations. Thus, we were thankful for the bar seating and the friendly, attentive service we enjoyed there.
For an appetizer, we chose one of our favorites: fried calamari. Fried to perfection, it was accompanied by a pomodoro sauce and sprinkled with pepperoncini for just a touch of heat.
We studied the extensive appetizer list before settling on one of our favorites. And the calamari was delivered perfectly: lightly battered, fried to perfection, accompanied by a pomodoro sauce and sprinkled with pepperoncini for just a touch of heat.
Our dinner choices proved more difficult given the array of fresh and authentic dishes. Finally, we settled on branzino al forno, a standard menu item, and risotto ala scoglio, one of the chef’s specials. Thanks to the English descriptions, we knew that to be a Mediterranean Sea bass and a risotto accompanied by scallops and clams.
Small Glitches
Due to a slight kitchen delay, one of the dishes arrived slightly before the other. For us, that just meant we could each sample the first dish and discuss it a bit before the second arrived. However, we did notice this to be a pattern in the dining room, perhaps a glitch due to the recent opening.
The branzino was brushed lightly with olive oil and sprinkled with fresh herbs to enhance the appearance and flavor.
Sight, aroma and taste wise, both dishes delighted our senses. The branzino was succulent and moist, cooked through but not overcooked. The light brushing of olive oil sprinkled with fresh herbs enhanced the appearance and flavor. It was served over a bed of simply sauteed spinach, with roasted potatoes positioned around the edges of the plate, both of which complemented the main course.
Our risotto was good, and we weren’t disappointed. But both of us agreed that we wouldn’t put it in the “great” category. It was a bit more starchy than creamy. In fact, we also agreed that we preferred the risotto dishes we’d had at Mac’s Chophouse, operated by co-owner Mac McCray across the street.
Our risotto with scallops and clams was good, but didn’t reach the “great” level. We preferred the risotto at Mac’s Chop House over Gianni and Mac’s.
Overall, our initial visit was promising, especially for a relatively new restaurant still working through some of the kinks. We did think the menu was just a bit on the pricey side, especially the branzino as a $40 entree. That said, we’ll be back, likely to try the lunch menu and to experience the charcuterie and mozzarella bar. And while as downtown residents, we like to “pop in” to nearby restaurants, we’ll be sure to have an advanced reservation at Gianni and Mac’s — at least until the “newness” wears off.
What Others Say
Curious what others thought, we checked out recent reviews of Gianni and Mac’s from other diners. Here are a few of the highlights we noted among the overall 4-star rating on Yelp:
Overall, we will return to Gianni and Mac’s. Next, we’re going to try it at lunchtime to sample the daytime menu.
“Everything was delicious – from the hot bread basket, Caesar salad, cacio e pepe, arancini, gnocchi (pleasant surprise – our absolute favorite – didn’t see this on the online menu), and chicken parm. We were offered a complimentary slice of house made tiramisu for our anniversary, and it was divine. Only critique is the atmosphere is quite noisy on such a busy night.” – Anon, March 2
“Incredible experience last night, great vibe, impressive decor, great staff! With all the said, food is simply incredible. I had the Taglierini Norcina, it was unreal, best pasta dish I have ever had.” – Adam, Feb. 4.
“Food, Service, Ambiance all excellent! My only suggestion: Make the risotto more creamy. It felt more like regular rice. Recommendation- shop early for a reservation or get there by 5:30 for a seat at one of two bars.” – Feb. 27
Our Restaurant Disclaimer
We eat where we want and what we want, and pay for our meals. And when we find a restaurant we like, we write about it. When we have a poor experience, we tell the restaurant. But we don’t do negative reviews — you just won’t read about any bad experiences on our website.
While the Civil War marked the most divisive time in our nation’s history, divisions within the successionist Confederate states often get overlooked. Yet, thousands of United States sympathizers found themselves trapped within the boundaries of the Confederacy, including free persons of color.
As Union troops fought their way through the South, those sympathizers often aided the United States. Attempting to live normal lives in the new Confederacy, they ignored or accepted great risks.
On June 27, defeated Confederates fled from the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The Union Army followed quickly, and by early July 1864, General Sherman set up headquarters in Marietta.
The Johnsons of Marietta
Monemia and James Johnson, both free people of color, lived in Marietta during the Civil War period. Monemia was born a free woman of color, while James may have been a former slave. She and James established themselves as successful entrepreneurs in Marietta. They were among approximately 2,100 African Americans living in Cobb County at that time, most of whom were enslaved prior to the war.
A passage in a National Parks blog shares this account: “Monemia ran a restaurant and store and her husband, James, was a barber. James’ treasonous dealings with a white Union spy, Henry Cole, led him to flee to the city of Nashville, Tennessee.”
“Mr. Johnson did all his espionage from behind his barber’s chair. He trimmed the beards of Confederate officers and enlisted men. Braxton Bragg, then the overall commander of Confederate forces in Georgia, was once even a customer. Little did these loose-lipped soldiers know that as Mr. Johnson cropped and combed, he also listened and learned. He memorized place names, troop movements, and casualty counts.
A Civil War Spy Flees
According to multiple accounts, James Johnson shared his learned secrets with Marietta resident and Union sympathizer Henry Cole. Then, Cole, a prominent white businessman, would arrange to pass information northward. He often used locals, including James Johnson, to sneak the secrets through Confederate territory and through Union lines to those commanding generals.
Sherman’s advance through Georgia was aided by information from James Johnson. But when he was discovered, he fled North before Union troops arrived to fight at Kennesaw Mountain. (Image, Library of Congress, General Sherman’s attack on the enemy center.)
Cole himself corroborated James Johnson’s spy work, in testimony after the war. “Johnson was a loyal man. I have this opinion upon various act of his. He was a barber and shaved Bragg, Cheatham and other rebel generals. When he would pick up any information, he would come to me and I would send it through the lines to the Union Army. I sent Johnston through the lines with important information regarding the movements of the rebel army. I sent him once to Gens Thomas and Rosecrans with information on the approach of Longstreet just before the Battle of Chickamauga.”
“I sent Johnson through the lines with important information before Chickmauga.”
— Henry Cole, Marietta
Unfortunately for James Johnson, someone discovered his treachery. He fled with Confederates in pursuit. Crossing through battle lines, Johnson reached Chattanooga, then proceeded to Nashville. There, he settled in a military refugee camp. But his luck ran out. Before he could return home following Union victories in Georgia, he contracted small pox and died.
Life Goes On
With James gone, Monemia’s life became more difficult as a single mother raising three young children. Despite the challenges of wartime occupation and blatant discrimination by the white community, the determined mother continued to build a successful life in wartime Marietta. By day, she operated a restaurant and store. By night, the establishment became an informal saloon, frequented mostly by occupying Union soldiers. Her two oldest children, Isabella, 16, and William, 9, likely helped with the business. Lou Ella was the youngest at age three.
With her business doing well, Monemia became a frequent customer of farms and suppliers in Marietta and surrounding Cobb County. To supply her store and restaurant, she consistently purchased a wide array of goods for resale. Tobacco, clothing, bacon, syrup, sugar, and flower, accounted for most of her purchases, according to her own inventory. She also owned two buildings and an extensive set of cookware for her restaurant. And she traded in cows, chickens, ducks, turkeys and hogs, too.
The Marietta Military College trained officers for the Confederacy before the war. Once General Sherman arrived, in became a hospital and barracks by Union forces. (Image: Library of Congress)
Marietta Burns
On June 27, 1864, defeated Confederates fled from the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The Union Army occupied Marietta, where General Sherman set up headquarters. The presence of the Yankees boosted the entrepreneurial fortunes of Monemia and her small family, at least temporarily.
But her life, and those of all who lived in Marietta, changed tragically in November 1864. The Union Army withdrew from Marietta, looting and burning the city in the process. Homes, businesses and lives perished in the flames.
Monemia stood helplessly and wartched the horror. She remembered and described the incidents in detail. She recounted in her own words how United States soldiers belonging to General Kilpatrick’s command stole everything she owned:
Monemia Johnson described in great detail during her sworn testimony about the actions of Union soldiers during the plunder of her home and property.
“The things were all taken on one day, in the day and night time. The soldiers began to take the things about dusk and kept on until all was taken. This was about the time the Army was leaving where the town was evacuated. There were some 20 or more soldiers present at the taking, who took the things and carried them on to the wagons. Before they leave, the men said Gen Kilpatrick had ordered them to come and take the things as the Army was short of supplies and needed the things. The men were all in the house and one would take one thing and on another. One of the soldiers had two stripes on his arm and the men called him Lieutenant. This was going on while the soldiers were setting fire to the town. . . The men took everything they could get their hands on.”
“There were some 20 or more soldiers. They took everything they could get their hands on . . . while setting fire to the town.” — Testimony of Monemia Johnson
“I saw the bacon, lard, tallow, syrup, sugar, tea, coffee, salt, candles, tobacco, wine, preserves, flour, rice beans, turkeys, ducks, hogs, cows, beds and bedding, clothing, crockery, wood and lumber taken by United States soldiers.”
“That night and the next day, the town was burned.”
Left With Nothing
Afterwards, Monemia and her children were left with nothing, sharing a fate with others in Marietta. In the years following, her strong determination and business savvy helped her and her family recover. Eventually, she rebuilt a two-room cottage on her property. She earned small amounts of money and goods from teaching.
As they did all through the Georgia campaign, General Sherman’s troops burned the city of Marietta and destroyed the railroad line. Monemia Johnson, her children and other Marietta citizens were left with nothing. (Image: Library of Congress)
The Southern Claims Commission, also known as the Commissioners of Claims, formed through an act of Congress on March 3, 1871. The commission was to “receive, examine, and consider the claims of those citizens who remained loyal adherents to the (Union) cause and the government of the United States during the war, for stores or supplies taken or furnished during the rebellion.”
President Ulysses S. Grant appointed three commissioners to oversee the task. Their special agents investigated claims from citizens.
Commission records in the National Archives indicated that 54 claims originated in Cobb County. By the deadline of March 1879, the Commission received more than 20,000 claimes. The claims required evidence such as depositions, testimonials from neighbors and family, receipts, and personal interviews.
Seeking to Recover
How Monemia learned of the commission and claim process isn’t clear. But she acted quickly. In April 1871, a three-page letter was sent on her behalf to the Claims Commission. Henry Cole, who had used her husband to pass along stolen secrets to the Union Army, was listed as a witness and also signed the document. Cole would continue aiding Monemia throughout the claim process.
Monemia Johnson’s claim included an itemized list of 24 separate items taken by Union soldiers. Local merchant Leader McLellan provided the estimated values of the items, and totaled $2592.
Following submission of the claim letter, the claim process required taking sworn statements from the claimant and witnesses. On Oct. 25, 1872, Monemia and her witnesses provided detailed accounts to investigators at sessions in Marietta and Acworth. Investigating commissioners used a standardized form with 43 questions to guide the interviews of Monemia and her witnesses. Marietta attorney William T. Wynn represented Monemia.
Those testifying for Monemia included:
Henry Cole, the Marietta businessman who engaged James Johnson as a spy and who would donate property for the US National Cemetery.
Dix Fletcher, a local farmer who had known the Johnsons for more than 20 years.
Chaucy Brown, who listed his occupation as servant, and testified to living with Monemia and her family for approximately 10 years.
Dillard Young, a Marietta retail trader, who had known the Johnsons for 25 years.
Leander McLellan, a Marietta merchant. McLellan knew Monemia, and provided the retail values of the goods lost.
When testimony concluded, the final application totaled 21 pages of detailed handwritten information. An accompanying inventory included 24 detailed lines of destroyed and stolen items, plus the estimated value of each. The final claim amount totaled $2,592.10. (That’s equivalent to $82,343.50 in 2025 dollars, according to a CPI inflation calculator.) Investigators filed the documents with the Southern Claims Commission through the Marietta post office on Nov. 7, 1872
The Long Wait
Nothing happened fast in 1872. Mail moved by carriages and trains. All documents required reading, processing and filing by government clerks. And with more than 20,000 claims reaching Washington before the deadline period, one can only imagine the Herculean administrative challenge.
Monemia waited years for any response. During that time, she worked as a teacher. And she managed to rebuild a two-room cottage on her property in Marietta.
By Sept. 1877, her patience had worn out. She returned to attorney William T. Winn and submitted an inquiry to the commission. She wrote:
My claim was filed nearly four years ago. Please inform me why this long delay.
–Monemia Johnson
“My claim number 1832 for $2,592.10 was filed nearly four years ago. I learned it has been in the hands of Commissioner Aldis about three years. Please inform me why this long delay.”
“I invested my Confederate money in property and supplies, trusting to the protection of the United States Army.”
“They took all from me without any compensation and my two houses were burned with the balance of the town. I would be greatly obliged by your early attention to my claim.”
Finally, An Answer
Whether the claims process had run its course or Monemia’s letter stirred action, she received notice of a settlement in July 1878. Nearly five and a half years had passed since filing the original claim and nearly 14 years since the tragic loss of her property.
Claim No. 1601, noted as “Claims of Loyal Citizens for Supplies furnished during the Rebellion,” totaled $246.00. After adjustments for inflation, that equals to only $7,814.71 in 2025 dollars.
Nearly 14 years after the loss of her home and property, Monemia Johnson received $246.00 from the United State government. Her original claim amount was $2,592.10.
The official reply that accompanied the payment included this explanation:
“Much that was taken was mere pillage. What was really and properly taken for army use we allow. No satisfactory proof as to quantities. All merely is estimate and depending chiefly on claimant’s testimony. No such stock of goods as is claimed could have bee in her little saloon. . . We allow $246.”
The settlement had to be a disappointment to Monemia. After trusting in the protection of the Union army, then enduring the loss of all her possessions as a result of their unnecessary destructive actions, she received less than 10 cents on the dollar.
This excerpt is taken from the remarks included in the Commission records. Despite the sworn testimony provided, Commissioners doubted Monemia’s claims about the quantity of goods which were taken by soldiers, and discounted some as “mere pillage.”
And most helpful, we downloaded and transcribed information from the original claim documents filed by Monemia Johnson, her attorney and her witnesses. This we found in the genealogy database, Fold3, which we accessed using our (FREE!) Cobb County Library Card access. If you log into the Fold3 database through the library or our own subscription, you should find all the files associated with Monemia Johnson’s claim at this link. There, you’ll see the full 45-page claim history, from filing to payment, including testimony in Monemia’s own words.
We sourced images from the US National Archives and other public domain sources, including historic copies of Harper’s Weekly. For one image, we used the artificial intelligence function within web service Canva.com to create an illustration of soldiers looting Monemia’s store. We labelled that in the caption.
Marietta businessman and Union sympathizer Henry Cole, who apparently helped Monemia with her claim, filed two claims of his own. Ultimately combined into one by the Commission, Cole sought $14,950 in reimbursement. He ultimately received $14,375 in compensation in 1876, two years before Monemia’s paid claim. You can read details of Cole’s claim by logging into Fold3.com (on your own, or FREE at the Cobb Library) and clicking this link.
When most people think of cruising, Port Canaveral on Florida’s east coast or Miami and Fort Lauderdale often is the chosen departure port. But for another convenient option, don’t overlook a New Orleans cruise. Fares may be lower for a New Orleans cruise down the Mississippi River, which offers a unique and fascinating journey.
After many years of traveling to Florida ports, we recently completed a journey on Norwegian Getaway on a New Orleans cruise. We made the easy drive from our Atlanta-area home to New Orleans. Surprisingly it’s approximately equal drive in time as Port Canaveral. We paid hundreds of dollars less for each passenger in our party as compared to a similar Florida-departing cruise. And we enjoyed a less-crowded ship after reveling in some New Orleans entertainment and food, too.
We paid hundreds of dollars less for each passenger on our New Orleans cruise as compared to similar voyages from Port Canaveral and other Florida cruise ports.
Down the Mississippi
The daylight cruise down the meandering and historic Mississippi River enthralled us. The river twists, turns and almost meets itself before disappearing in as a brownish tide into the deep, blue Gulf.
Now, as Louisiana natives, the Mississippi River portion of our New Orleans cruise was especially memorable. At the foot of Canal Street, we waved goodbye on our New Orleans cruise. Amazing views of downtown and the historic Jackson Square in the French Quarter revealed themselves. Further downriver, we passed the site of the Battle of New Orleans, sugar and chemical manufacturing facilities and more ferries, tugs, barges, crewboats and ocean-going ships than we cared to count.
As Louisiana natives, the Mississippi River portion of our New Orleans cruise was especially memorable. We watched history go by, sailing past the Chalmette Battlefield, where in 1812, Native Americans, pirates and backwoods hunters defeated the British.
As darkness approached on the river, we stood on our balcony and marveled as our river pilot navigated downriver. We glided around a 90-degree bend, effortlessly and silently slipping past a huge upriver-bound freighter – all with other ships anchored in the river nearby!
Onboard the Getaway
After leaving the US on our New Orleans cruise, we spent a sea day aboard the splendid Norwegian Getaway. We’ll say here that this was our first Norwegian cruise. Previously we’ve cruised Holland America (our most frequent line), Royal Caribbean, Princess, Cunard and Carnival. We’d compare Norwegian directly and favorably with Royal Caribbean, as the ships, amenities and vibes are similar. So, expect active families, but also to be thoroughly entertained, well-fed and comfortably quartered in well-appointed cabins. (Click here to jump to our direct comparison to other cruise line experiences!)
While we’re accustomed to smaller ships on Holland America, we found Norwegian Getaway a comfortable and pleasant home for a week. It never felt as crowded or hectic as a Royal Caribbean mega-ship.
Our “public” ports included stops at Costa Maya, Roatan and Cozumel. Frankly, the port experiences are no different than on any cruise line. Enjoying a beach outing or other excursion, the experience largely was similar to other lines. It’s was easy and convenient to book an excursion with a cruise line. At the dock, there were more options and lower costs, but always with the risk of getting left behind. (While we didn’t do it this time, we often book our excursions through TripAdvisor and Viator. We also noticed — too late for this cruise — that Costco is again offering excursions after dropping the service during Covid.
Ports of Call
In Costa Maya, we joined a tour of Mayan ruins at Chacchoben, or “place of the red corn.” After a one-hour bus transfer, we reached the not-fully-excavated site of large temples and massive platform groups. Our guide led us on the circular path that includes excavated and restored pyramids, as well as walls and staircases. Overhead, a few howler monkeys loudly disrupted the sound of jungle birds. (We had a momentary scare when a mobility-challenged member of our group unwisely chose to climb the uneven stone stairs and fell. While he was unhurt, it’s a reminder to know and recognize your abilities and limitations when choosing or pursuing excursions. And, if you find yourself feeling uncomfortable, just talk to your guide. They’ll likely be able to suggest an accommodation.)
At Chacchoben Ruins, one of our fellow cruisers unwisely choose to climb some uneven stone stairs (not these!) He fell. Reminder: recognize your abilities and limitations, and let your guide know if you’re uncomfortable.
At Roatan, a port which we had visited previously, we selected a relaxing day visiting a coconut farm and processing facility. What we didn’t see was that it also included a stop at a “straw market.” That turned out to be a cheesy souvenir trap where tourist boats depart for reef and mango grove tours.
Private Island
Our stop in Belize featured Norwegian’s “private port” at Harvest Caye, the only port in Belize with a cruise ship dock rather than requiring a tender ride to shore. The 75-acre private resort spreads across two islands, and offers pools, beaches, wildlife walks and lots of other free activities. If you’ve experienced the “private islands” of other lines, this stop is most comparable to Royal Caribbean’s “Perfect Day at Coco Cay.”
Harvest Caye is NCL’s private island stop, complete with beaches, pools, wildlife walks and lots of food and beverage options. We enjoyed some close-up photography in the butterfly house.
There’s also a full range of the port excursions accessible, without the hustle and bustle of a busy shared port. We chose a small-boat nature and jungle tour on Monkey River. The bumpy ride across open water in white-capped seas proved a bit harrowing and very wet due to windy conditions. But we really didn’t mind the cool ocean spray blowing into the boat constantly.
Disembarking and Pro Tip
We did find that Norwegian’s disembarking process was always efficient since we were docked rather than tendering. In Cozumel, we docked nearer to the downtown area than all other lines, which made it easy to walk into town. We’re not sure if that’s always the case with Norwegian, or if that’s a port decision based on dock availability.
After watching the New Orleans phenomena of a sunrise over the west bank of the Mississippi, we learned a few things about disembarking. Don’t miss our cruise terminal pro-tip in the article.
One more port note, and that’s on the return of our New Orleans cruise. After disembarking, claiming luggage and clearing customs, we encountered a long, snaking, slow-moving line approaching the arrival terminal. Frustratingly, lots of the New Orleans cruise terminal doors were closed and blocked by security guards who refused to let us out to the street. As it turned out, the line was for group transportation and taxis, which we didn’t need. So, pro tip, if you’ve parked your car or have another pre-arranged ride, just bypass that line New Orleans cruise terminal line — despite the evil stares you’ll get.
Cruise Line Comparisons
We promised some comparisons, so here goes. Recognize that all comments are based on our experiences, preferences and requirements. Thus, this may not apply equally to your situation. Plus, full disclosure, our preferred line is Holland America, where we enjoy a top-level loyalty status (Click this link for a video of our recent Panama Canal cruise on HAL). On other lines, we’re just regular passengers.
Though our preferred cruise line is Holland America, we were well-pleased with our NCL cruise from New Orleans. The 7-day itinerary proved to be a great value and wonderful experience.
We’ve found that the secret to cruising is understanding the type of vacation you want, then selecting the right type of voyage and cruise line in accordance with that. Those critical actions virtually assure your expectations will be met and that unwanted surprises are avoided. While different people likely would describe their views differently, following is how we group (and rank, in order) the experiences we expect on the lines we’ve travelled (so far) AND would travel again without any hesitation:
Elegance, luxury, comfort, service, culinary relaxed, informative: Holland America, Cunard
As noted above, we directly compare Royal Caribbean and Norwegian. They deliver active, high-energy family vacations where you’ll enjoy comfort, entertainment and an incredible on-board experience. Both lines feature fun-filled ships, with all the latest in on-board activities. You’ll find water slides, go-cart tracks, ziplining, boogie boarding, and an incredible variety of entertainment.
Overall, we’d give Royal Caribbean’s mega-ships the edge in onboard entertainment and activities. But we found the Norwegian Getaway to feel less crowded.
For onboard entertainment and kids activities, we’d give Royal Caribbean a slight edge, especially on the newest mega-ships in the Royal Caribbean line. Aboard the 5,700-to-6,900-passenger Wonder of the Seas we occasionally felt cramped or crowded. But we found the 3,900 passenger Norwegian Getaway to be less crowded in all important areas, even on sea days. The only time we felt a little crowded on the Getaway was on boarding day. Everyone was required to be onboard 2 hours before sailing time but most of the cabins were not yet ready for occupancy. Then, it was a little “snug” around many public areas.
Food and Beverage
In the food category, we thoroughly enjoyed the “freestyle” dining of Norwegian. That means you can just “show up” during open hours at the buffet, dining rooms and casual dining locations. And it means there’s no strict dress code at those locations either. Now, that might bother some more traditional cruisers who enjoy the elegance of dressing for dinner and the people watching that goes along with it. But freestyle also means you can dress up to formal wear, gala wear or “resort casual” style. And when you do, you’ll really stand out among the fancy crowd to your fellow cruisers.
Though the culinary offerings and service didn’t measure up to our favorite Holland America Line, main dining room fare included some fine dining-style dishes and desserts.
We also found Norwegian’s food offerings to be comparable to that which we enjoyed on Royal Caribbean. Main dining room fare included some fine dining-style dishes and desserts, though sides offered were more ordinary. The service didn’t measure up to higher-end cruise lines, nor did the tableside presentation, variety or culinary “wow.”
Specialty Dining
Our experience in “specialty dining” (at an extra charge) truly was hit-or-miss. The seafood-centric Ocean Blue delivered an outstanding food experience that we’d match against any we’ve enjoyed, even on the high-end lines.
The entertainment and food quality at the shared table Teppanyaki was enjoyable, too. Our chef was entertaining and energetic, amazing us by juggling raw eggs. He also checked twice with everyone regarding food allergies before starting, and made a point of checking again before serving the cooked items. Servers seemed to be stretched thinly across lots of tables, so they could have been more attentive to our drink replenishments.
Our entertaining chef at the specialty outlet Teppanyaki juggled, sang, and drummed a beat, all while delivering fantastic food.
But our experience at Cagney’s Steakhouse proved truly disappointing. Though the steaks were tender and moist, they lacked any sort of charbroiled or grilled flavor, even when consumed with one of the sauces.
That said, overall and consistently, the variety of food offerings, the elegant presentation and culinary delight that we’ve enjoyed on Princess, Holland America and Cunard just wasn’t to be found on Norwegian. But, we also didn’t expect it, so Norwegian met all our food expectations for the type of vacation we chose.
Casual Dining
In addition to the buffets, main dining rooms and specialty dining, Norwegian (like Royal Caribbean and Princess) offers a variety of casual dining outlets. These are smaller venues featuring limited menus of different cuisines, and are included in the base price. On Getaway, we frequented American Diner for their huge burgers and their quiet breakfast buffet. We also enjoyed O’Sheehan’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill, an Irish pub as you can deduce from the name. Of course we sampled the delightful fish and chips, and we appreciated the order-from-the-menu option at breakfast versus the more crowded dining rooms.
American Diner, a casual dining outlet included in the cruise fare, featured huge and delicious burgers and other typical diner fare.
Shows and Entertainment
We mentioned that we’d give Royal Caribbean a slight advantage over Norwegian here. But that’s largely because our experience on Wonder of the Seas included a high-dive water and musical extravaganza, an ice skating show, an incredible multi-media production show, and more.
On Norwegian, we enjoyed the production shows, which included a full presentation of the Broadway production, “Million Dollar Quartet.” Multiple comedy shows and small-venue music shows were offered each night, delighting those who could squeeze in to the often-crowded sites.
If the grandkids would have been along, no doubt we would have enjoyed the family-oriented escape room. We heard great reviews from others.
While we didn’t participate in the family-oriented escape room theater events, we heard great reviews from fellow passengers traveling with their families.
Norwegian also has adopted television game shows as onboard interactive entertainment. Audiences are able to join in with selected players in Deal or No Deal, complete with a grumpy banker persona positioning for bargain buy-outs.
At this cake decorating “demonstration” or “competition,” the wacky antics and wild results from the F&B director stole the show from the serious pastry chef.
One of our favorite shows was a cake decorating “demonstration” or “competition,” featuring the pastry chef, the cruise director and the director of food and beverage. While the pastry chef’s decorating was impeccable and the cruise director’s meticulous effort drew praise, the wacky antics and wild results from the F&B director stole the show.
And The Rest
There’s just too much available to compare every ship offering. We’ll note that both Norwegian and Royal Caribbean offered adults-only areas, allowing for an oasis of quiet away from all the frenetic family fun. And both offered “exclusive” ship areas accessible to those willing to pay for an upgrade.
Family travel is delightful. But sometimes, adults need a break. Norwegian Getaway featured an aft-deck, adults-only retreat available to all without an upcharge. Another private area awaited those willing to pay.
On both lines, you’ll find an incredible array of on-board active areas. Getaway featured a ropes course, multiple water slides, two arcade areas, a dedicated kids area, plus the age-segregated kids’ clubs common on most lines. On Royal Caribbean’s newest mega ships line Wonder and Icon, there are more of these with greater capacities. But on the older Royal Caribbean ships, the offers are very similar to what we saw on Norwegian Getaway.
Oh, and if you’re celebrating a special occasion on Norwegian, let them know at time of booking. My wife received a colorful plate of chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of wine in our cabin. Then, when we presented a note at the host stand of the main dining room, she was treated to a special cake and — of course — birthday sing-along.
Don’t forget to notify Norwegian of special celebrations. We found chocolate strawberries and wine awaiting Glenda for her birthday. Then, we were treated to cake and a sing-along in the dining room.
Final Verdict
We definitely would go back again on any Norwegian ship, without hesitation, when we were looking for an active vacation onboard a high-energy floating entertainment palace. And we’d certainly choose recommend Norwegian (and Royal Caribbean!) for active grandparents like us traveling with their multi-generational families.
In fact, we’re booked for a Thanksgiving time cruise around Hawaii on the Pride of America with kids, spouses and grandkids This time, we’re opting for a suite, so we can better handle the inevitable on-ship visits. Check back in December 2025 for a full report.
Final Verdict: We would recommend Norwegian for active, family-oriented cruisers and multi-generation trips. We’ll be back for a Hawaii Circle Cruise on NCL.
As days get warmer and longer, Georgia’s slumbering bears begin to venture out of their winter dens in search of food. And for female bears, that responsibility is greater because bear cubs are born in January and February, according to Bearwise.com. And that makes food-finding job one for mamma bear.
Bears naturally are shy and tend to avoid humans. But, even though Georgia’s black bears are large and noisy when stomping around in the woods, it’s wise to know the warning signs that a bear may be active nearby — before you come face-to-face with a 7-foot-tall, 400 pound eating machine on a food-finding mission for its newborn family.
Never approach a bear! Even those that look “tame” and shy at Smokey Mountain National Park can be protective and aggressive, especially when cubs are nearby.
To answer one of the eternal questions of life, YES, bears DO poop in the woods. And bear droppings — also known as “scat” — are among the tell-tale signs that bears are active in an area. Bear scat usually is found in large piles of dark, fibrous droppings with berries, seeds, fur, or insect parts. Fresh scat is moist, while older scat is dry and crumbly. If you spot a pile of poop, make lots of noise (Bearwise.com recommends shouting “Hey Bear”) and leave the area slowly to avoid danger.
Two other warning signs, according to Bearwise.com, include bear prints in the mud and large areas on trees where bark may be scratched off — often leaving visible claw marks. Once again, it’s recommended that you stay alert, make noise and slowly head to another well-traveled path to avoid a Georgia black bear encounter.
Young bear cubs in a tree are a sure sign that a protective mamma bear is nearby.
If you do encounter a Georgia black bear, Bearwise.com recommends that you take defensive measures. Those include:
Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and jacket, and/or standing on a rock or stump.
Yell “Hey bear” loudly. You can also use other noise-making devices like a whistle or air horn, always good items for an array of backwoods emergencies.
Get your bear spray out of the holster and into your hand. Remove the safety latch.
Back away slowly when the bear stops its approach. And never run, as a bear is more likely to chase a fast-moving target.
