Georgia’s Tallulah Gorge consistently ranks as one of the most visited, beautiful and rugged state parks in Georgia. The Northeast Georgia natural wonder also makes several lists as one of America’s best state parks.
And on July 18, 1970, Tallulah Gorge was in the world spotlight as famed tightrope aerialist and acrobat Karl Wallenda walked the half-mile wide, 1,000-foot deep chasm. He tiptoed, stumbled and even performed handstands on a specially designed 5/8-inch-thick steel cable anchored to towers that were constructed on both sides of the gorge. An estimated 30,000 people watched in person as Wallenda walked the high cable, while millions more people watched the stunt as it was broadcast live on television around the world.
If you visit Tallulah Gorge State Park today, you’ll find the rusting hulks of the Wallenda walk towers laying near the edge of the gorge. Signage at the site provides limited information about the stunt.
If you visit Tallulah Gorge, you’ll find the rusted hulks of the two towers which held the tightrope for the Wallenda walk. Information signs provide some details about the spectacular stunt.
The World Watched
Wallenda, the patriarch of the famous Flying Wallendas, was a household name at the time, having performed death-defying stunts around the world for decades. But the Tallulah Gorge Wallenda walk rated as his most daring yet.
Scheduled for 11:00 AM EST, weather delayed the start. The wind was blowing a bit stronger than expected, and the organizers wanted to make sure that the conditions were safe for Wallenda to walk.
At noon EST, the 65-year-old daredevil stepped onto the wire. The wind was blowing at 10-15 miles per hour, with gusts up to 20 miles per hour. That wind speed was a bit stronger than Wallenda had anticipated, and he had to adjust his balance accordingly.
Wallenda completed the Tallulah Gorge tightrope walk in 18 minutes. The most harrowing moment of the walk came when Wallenda lost his balance and began to sway. He managed to regain his footing, but the incident left the crowd on edge. After recovering his balance, Wallenda performed two headstands on the narrow, swinging steel cable while suspended 750 feet above the ground.
Despite higher-than-expected winds and a shaky stumble during the Wallenda walk, Karl Wallenda performed two handstands while on the cable above the gorge. (Associated Press Photo)
Darling, Are You There?
Wearing a microphone during the feat, Wallenda narrated and joked. Addressing his wife, Helen, who refused to attend in person, Wallenda asked, “Darling, are you there? I am coming.” He added, “It’s martini time. I’d better hurry.” Apparently, Wallenda had remarked the night before the event that he wanted a martini as soon as he finished the walk.
A cheering crowd greeted Wallenda as he reached the other side. The stunt was a major success, and it helped to cement Wallenda’s reputation as one of the greatest tightrope walkers of all time.
Did Wallenda actually stumble, or was it part of his act? There’s no record of his comments on the matter, but to those watching, the stumble looked convincing.
Amazingly, this famous Wallenda walk did not earn any money for Karl Wallenda walk, according to published reports. As a world-famous personality, he could have earned a large sum for the stunt. However, he performed the daring walk as a publicity stunt for the town of Tallulah Falls, Georgia. The town hoped that the stunt would attract tourists and boost the local economy, which, of course, it did.
Planning, Practice and Engineering
While the 18-minute walk captivated attendees and millions who watched on live television, the event required extensive planning, practice and special engineering.
Organizers designed and built two concrete and steel towers to hold the tightrope, and anchored them into the rocky cliffsides high above the plunging gorge. The stunt required a customized cable. Made of high-strength steel, the cable had to withstand the weight of Wallenda and the wind.
Manufactured by the American Steel and Wire Company, the cable weighed over 1,000 pounds. Once across the gorge, the cable was was stretched to a tension of 20,000 pounds. And while stable footing was essential to Wallenda, the cable was lubricated with a mixture of beeswax and tallow to prevent rusting during it’s time exposed to Georgia’s weather.
Wallenda practiced for days on a shorter cable before his July 18 walk. The spectacle was an engineering marvel as well as an incredible display of showmanship. (Georgia State Parks Photo)
For days prior, Wallenda rehearsed his walk in on a shorter cable in the Georgia summer weather conditions. On the day of the walk, he personally inspected the cable and monitored the weather conditions before starting the stunt.
International Media Coverage
The Tallulah Gorge walk was a major media event, with coverage in newspapers, magazines, and on television around the world. The New York Times ran a front-page story about the stunt, and ABC News broadcast it live.
There are several videos of Karl Wallenda’s tightrope walk over Tallulah Gorge available online. One of the most popular videos is a clip from ABC News that shows the entire stunt. The video has been viewed over 1 million times on YouTube. This one includes pre-walk footage and the full walk. Wallenda does his first headstand at approximately 44:45 in the video.
The coverage helped to make Wallenda a household name, and it inspired a new generation of daredevils. His great-grandson, Nik Wallenda, has continued the family tradition of tightrope walking, and he has performed some of the most daring stunts in history.
Karl Wallenda’s Career
Karl Wallenda was born in Germany in 1901. He began his career as a tightrope walker at the age of 14, and he quickly became one of the most acclaimed performers in the world. He performed all over the globe, recognized for his daring stunts and his showmanship.
Wallenda’s career was not without its setbacks and tragedy. Himself injured several times, he witnessed family members die and suffer severe injury while performing their family tightrope act. On January 30, 1962, at the Shrine Circus in Detroit, Michigan, the Flying Wallendas were performing their signature seven-person pyramid stunt. Something went wrong as the pyramid was nearing completion. Dieter Schepp, a Wallenda nephew, was on the top. He lost his balance and fell. The other six performers fell with him, and Schepp died instantly. Wallenda’s son Mario was paralyzed from the waist down.
The Flying Wallendas perform their seven-person pyramid stunt on the highwire in this undated photo.
The fall was a tragedy for the Wallenda family, and it had a profound impact on Karl Wallenda. Deeply shaken, he considered retiring from tightrope walking. However, he eventually decided to continue performing.
A Fatal Fall
Karl Wallenda’s career and life ended in a fatal fall on March 22, 1978, at the Condado Plaza Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was attempting to walk a tightrope between two towers of the hotel when he lost his balance and fell to his death. Wallenda was 73 years old at the time of his death.
The fall was a shock to the world, and it was a major loss for the tightrope walking community. ABC News carried this report on the accident. Caution: it includes footage of the fall, and also includes video and sound from the Tallulah Gorge walk. Wallenda was considered one of the greatest tightrope walkers of all time, and his death was a reminder of the dangers of the sport.
Will A Wallenda Return to Tallulah?
As previously mentioned, Karl Wallenda’s great grandson, Nik Wallenda, still performs highwire stunts. Back in 2015, Nik planned to reenact Karl Wallenda’s feat at Tallulah Gorge. And, like the true show biz family member, he announced he would up the ante. Nik planned to use television graphics technology that would put his great grandfather on the tightrope simultaneously, and the two would complete the feat in sync. The technology had been used in the Winter Olympics, and similar editing allowed singers of different generations to “perform together” in videos.
But, the walk was cancelled a few months after the stunt was announced. Nik Wallenda stated that the TV technology wasn’t quite good enough, so he would postpone the stunt. In 2025, we’re still waiting for a reschedule.
Approximately the same age as Karl Wallenda when I first visited Tallulah Gorge, I held onto the rails while crossing the wide suspension bridge!
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.
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.
In 1879, the City of Marietta purchased a revolutionary new steam-powered fire wagon. Firefighting historians generally acknowledge that the Silsby Steamer was the innovation that created modern fire departments. Prior to its development, each fire company depended on bucket brigades and hand pumps to fight blazes.
And in Marietta, the newly arrived fire wagon also led to another first in 1881 — the creation of the Blue Eagle No. 2 Volunteer Fire Company, comprised entirely of citizens from Marietta’s black community.
When the new Silsby Steam fire wagon, Aurora, arrived in Marietta, it paved the way for formation of the city’s all-black volunteer company.
As Marietta’s volunteer fire department became more experienced and proficient with the Aurora — the name given to the new wagon — it also made the city’s Blue Streak hand pumper engine obsolete. So the older apparatus was eventually provided to the newly-formed Blue Eagle No. 2 Volunteer Fire Company.
Community Service, and Social Clubs
Unlike modern city-operated fire departments, volunteer units of the day were a combination of social club and emergency response units. According to local records and newspaper accounts, the Blue Eagle Fire Company elected officers, held regular meetings, participated in community events and joined firefighting competitions and fought fires — sometimes alongside their white counterparts.
A display in the Marietta Fire Museum lists the original members of the Blue Eagles as: W.P. Butler, president; H. Frasier, foreman; Charlie Burke, second assistant foreman; John King, first pipeman; and members Thomas Alexandria, Author Cary, Author Darnell, John Easley, Miles Harvey and Oscar Lewis.
A mention in the Marietta Journal from Dec. 21, 1882, reported on the annual meeting of the Blue Eagle No. 2 Company, and the election of its officers. W.P. Butler, a Baptist minister, was elected president, a position he would hold for many years.
Original members of the Blue Eagles are memorialized on the timeline in the Marietta Fire Museum.
While the Blue Eagle Fire Company No. 2 was a volunteer organization, the City of Marietta often interacted with the crew. Membership benefits included exemption from the $3 city street tax, which was granted in March 1883 for up to 30 members of the Blue Eagle crew. And in May 1883, a report to city council noted the cleaning of the Blue Eagles’ No. 2 hand pump engine by the members.
Unified Response
The Blue Eagle Fire Company often responded to local fires side-by-side with their white counterparts, answering the call of the fire bell for blazes throughout the city. The Sept. 13, 1883, edition of the Marietta Journal reported one of those responses as follows:
“An alarm of fire, Monday morning about, half past nine o’clock, brought out the fire department. The kitchen on the premises of Mr. Chuck Anderson was on fire, and the fire being between the ceiling and roof, rendered it difficult to reach. The Hook and Ladder put in prompt work, while the Blue Eagle Hand Engine (colored) with a good stream kept the fire in check.”
During a streak of bitter cold in January 1886, the Blue Eagles and the rest of the Marietta firefighters answered a call in subzero temperatures and high winds to fight a blaze at a railroad warehouse. Cotton bales had caught fire from the sparks of a passing train. In temperatures of four below zero with a “glacial gale blowing at a terrible rate,” the fire companies threw water on the burning cotton and “the water would freeze soon after hitting the bales,” the Marietta Journal newspaper reported. Their dedicated efforts in the sub-zero conditions saved most of the cotton and prevented the fire from spreading to surrounding warehouses.
The thankful owners of the Winters and Legg Warehouse thanked the firefighters for the quick response and dedication with an oyster dinner. As with many events of the time, the white members of Marrietta Fire Company No. 1 and the Marietta Hook and Ladder Co. enjoyed their dinner on a Tuesday night at the Whitlock House. Meanwhile, on the same evening, Winters and Legg treated the Blue Eagle Company to a similar oyster dinner at the Simm’s Restaurant, the Marietta Journal reported.
Parades and Contests
Marietta hosted a fire tournament on July 4, 1902, which featured all the city’s firefighting units. A 4 pm parade featured the fire fighters and their fire wagons, starting at the fire house on Atlanta Street and led by a military band. The Blue Eagle Firemen, with engine and reel, participated in costumes of black pants and blue shirts.
The Marietta Journal estimated “that some three thousand people were on the square at the time the parade and tournament took place. There was a regular jam of human beings.”
The day’s activities also included a reel race and foot races by the firefighters, with prizes of rubber fire coats and cash to the winners. The Blue Eagles received two rubber fire coats in the reel race. In the foot races, Blue Eagle member Gus Nelson won the $2 first prize and Ed Robinson received the $1 second prize.
Of the day, the Marietta Journal concluded: “Marietta has had no more enjoyable day than the fourth of July. Good order prevailed throughout the day, no drunkenness and everybody seemed to be in a good humor. We have a splendid citizenry, hospitable, courteous, clever and enterprising, and the best town in the state.”
The final reference we could find to the Blue Eagle Fire Company appeared in May 1911. While the white Marietta firefighters participated in a city recognition event, the Blue Eagles were provided a separate barbeque lunch for their members.
Final Chapter for the Blue Eagles?
The final chapter of Blue Eagle history is unclear.
The Marietta department responded to a fire call at Zion Baptist Church in July 1914, after which the pastor publicly thanked the department in the Marietta Journal. But no mention is made of the Blue Eagles, who likely would have responded to the emergency at the church which was the heart of Marietta’s black community.
In October, 1914, the Marietta Journal published a notice or a meeting for reorganization of the volunteer fire departments, but published no follow-up report.
And, Sometime in the 1900s, Marietta switched some of its firefighting duties to a paid force. The volunteer departments continued alongside for awhile. A request in the Marietta Daily Journal requested that volunteer departments continue answering the fire bell along with the city’s new department. But how long that arrangement lasted is unclear.
We’re continuing to search the available digital records of the Marietta Journal and other sources for more information. You can also find a reference to Marietta’s Blue Eagles at the Marietta Fire Museum, located in the main fire station near downtown. Check out our article on a previous visit.
Some school systems in Georgia soon will be observing a winter break. There’s still time to plan a fun, family getaway in Georgia or nearby — without risking flight delays.
For those Georgia families looking but undecided, here are a few of our favorite options to amp up your winter break:
State Park Staycation
Park destinations are most heavily booked in spring, summer and fall. But it’s easy to find a comfy cabin, funky yurt or a camping spot during winter break. Approximately 40 Georgia state parks offer overnight stay options, including tent and RV sites, spacious and full-featured cabins, and yurts. And several, like Amicalola, Unicoi and others, offer full-service lodges for those who prefer a hotel or resort style experience. Find detailed information on each park’s accommodations and make reservations, on the the Georgia State Parks reservations page.
Whether you like primitive camping or modern “glamping,” Georgia’s state parks have a plethora of lodging options for all tastes.
Mountain Adventures
Beyond state parks, North Georgia offers lots of mountain adventures and exploration opportunities. Four of our favorite winter break destinations include Helen, Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, and Clayton, all offering unique local outings, excellent farm-to-table dining and interesting exploring. For example, in Dahlonega, combine gold and mining history with a tour of the Consolidated Gold Mine. Helen’s German-themed town offers unique shopping and exploration. Plus, there’s lots of scenic adventures by car or by foot around all the mountain towns. Or, perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to enjoy a frozen winter wonderland at one of Georgia’s tall frozen waterfalls.
In the North Georgia mountains, winter break means uncrowded hiking trails, new scenic views, and farm-to-table dining.
Savannah Sojourn
This historic Georgia riverport attracts throngs of visitors in peak season. But except for St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll find fewer visitors and more bargains on hotel stays during winter break. And “winter” in Savannah typically means sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s. Thus, walking the city’s historic squares or taking the open tour carriages are still great options.
Savannah’s moderate winter means lots of warm, sunny days to enjoy dining al fresco and exploring the historic squares.
Always Atlanta
Yes, Atlanta is always an option when you think of a Georgia destination. Downtown offers a plethora of high-end hotels that deliver on fine accommodations and luxury spa services. Plus, many of the city’s best eateries also are near downtown. Some favorite winter attractions include touring the Carter Presidential Library, visiting the Georgia State Capital under it’s golden dome, and exploring Martin Luther King National Historical Park. Sports fans will enjoy the 90 minute tour of spectacular Mercedes Benz stadium. Just outside the city, scenic and historic Stone Mountain offers spectacular views.
Whether you choose one of the city’s historic indoor sites or a visit to nearby Stone Mountain, Atlanta delivers as a winter staycation choice.
Small Town Charm
Throughout Georgia, the countryside is dotted with charming small Southern towns. Often built around a historic square, these Georgia treasures deliver on relaxing days full of antique and bargain shopping, site seeing, history and hometown favorite foods. Of course, we’re partial to Marietta since we live there. We can walk to the historic square, bike to Kennesaw Mountain or saunter downtown for cocktails and dinner. Some of our other favorites nearby and around the state include Acworth, Kennesaw, Woodstock, Roswell, Alpharetta, Dahlonega, Blue Ridge, Taccoa, Ellijay, St. Simon, Clayton and Pine Mountain. And if you ignore some of the politically-charged commentary, we loved our time in Columbus, too. That’s not a comprehensive list, but consider it a starter for small-town adventures. And given Georgia’s place in the movie industry, don’t be surprised if you stumble across a film site.
With Georgia’s major presence as a Hollywood filming destination, we’ve often run across movie sets as we visited Georgia’s charming small towns like Toccoa, Marietta and others.
Amtrak Adventure
We haven’t done this one — YET! — but it’s definitely on our list. Amtrak’s Crescent line serves Atlanta’s Peachtree Station (ATL), providing daily service on it’s route that runs from New York City and New Orleans. Theoretically, you can make a one-day round-trip southbound journey from Atlanta to Birmingham, leaving Atlanta at 9:08 am and arriving in Birmingham in early afternoon. Then, you can return on the 5:15 pm northbound from Birmingham, arriving in Atlanta around 11:30 pm. BUT, Amtrak’s long-distance trains are notorious for not keeping schedules due to freight train priorities and other track issues. So it may be best to plan an overnight stay — or just make the longer run to New Orleans and stay awhile. Going northbound from Atlanta, be aware that the Crescent departs in late evening. Thus, stops like Charlotte, Washington DC, Baltimore and New York require an overnight journey.
While we’ve taken Amtrak elsewhere, a trip on the Crescent route from Atlanta remains on our to-do list. We’re thinking a trip to New Orleans or Washington is in our future.
Georgia’s Discovery Trails
Whether you enjoy scenic drives or historical exploration, Georgia’s state tourism department has something for you. Several designated scenic drives cut through regions of Georgia, including the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway through the mountains, the Altamaha Historic Scenic Byway along the Southeastern Georgia low country, and the Enduring Farmlands Scenic Byway in mid-state. More historically-themed exploration “trails” also have been established, with recommended stops and supporting guides. The 200-mile Chieftains Trail in Georgia is a heritage tourism route that highlights key historical sites associated with the Native American Cherokee Nation. Established to honor the legacy and culture of the Cherokee people, the trail takes visitors through significant locations in Northwest Georgia that played a central role in the Cherokee’s history before their forced removal on the Trail of Tears in 1838. The Georgia World War II Heritage Trail is a state-wide tourism initiative that commemorates Georgia’s significant contributions to the war effort during World War II. This trail links historic sites, museums, and memorials across the state that highlight various aspects of the war, including military training, manufacturing, home-front efforts, and the personal stories of Georgians who served.
At a stop on St. Simons Island along the Georgia World War II Heritage Trail, we learned about the blimps that once protected the Georgia Coast.
Caribbean Cruise
For those who want to get a bit farther away, the Port Canaveral cruise port in Florida is one of the country’s best starting points for cruises of all types. During winter, several cruise lines offer three, five or seven day cruises that fit just about any budget. Favorite destinations include the Bahamas, and Eastern Caribbean Cruises. Port Canaveral is less than a one day drive for most Georgians.
A variety of 3, 5 and 7 day cruises depart nearby Port Canaveral, an easy one-day drive from most points in Georgia.
