Location: Kennesaw
Top Things to do in Kennesaw
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10 Things to Do in Kennesaw That You Shouldn't Miss
Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States, located in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census. Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history. During the Civil War, Kennesaw was the staging ground for the Great Locomotive Chase on April 12, 1862. The city is perhaps best known nationally for its mandatory gun-possession ordinance.
Restaurants in Kennesaw
1. Swift-Cantrell Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 198 reviews
Swift-Cantrell Park serves as one of the premier recreation, relaxation and central gathering places for area residents. Park hours of operation are from 7 am to 10 pm. At 42 acres, the City's largest community park features: two age appropriate playgrounds, a dog park, a skate park, a splash pad, three picnic pavilions, three restroom buildings, a one mile perimeter asphalt trail, a half-mile inner-loop ashpalt trail, shade structures, acres of open turf for passive recreation, drinking fountains and restrooms.
Reviewed By Melanie M - Kennesaw, Georgia
My daughter is a cross country runner and this park offers a great place to practice. It is in a great location and we feel safe with her running there. Great place for families to enjoy!
2. Marietta Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 856 reviews
Colorful gardens and park in Marietta. Perfect for picnic lunches in the summer.
Reviewed By Martin S - Harpenden, England, United Kingdom
The first time I visited Marietta Square was in October 2017 and it was just great! Lots of nice shops and funky restaurants. My wife and I visited again last week (March 2018) and, well, we were surprised. First, most places don't open until 10am or later. Second, they seem to have ripped out a lot of trees and are remodelling the side walk along one whole side of the square - its a big building site. Also we noticed that a few of the shops that were there last year have closed down and are empty. So, all in all, a bit disappointing to what it was. Hopefully by Summer 2018 it will look a lot better - but in March 2018 it was, like, eh... meh.
3. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 775 reviews
Site of a crucial Civil War battle offers a modern visitor center and a number of hiking trails on its grounds.
Reviewed By HCovik - Atlanta, Georgia
We've taken many foreign guests to the mountain and every single one was impressed by the visitor center. The way civil war history is displayed is very succinct and absolutely superb. The movie is a must.
Well, of course the mountain was waiting patiently in the mean time. Let me put it this way, it's not wheelchair friendly. The walk is absolutely stunning, but strenuous. Flip flops won't do it. If you payed attention at the visitor center you'd be amazed at how the confederates were able to drag their canons all the way up to the top of the mountain. I hope they had what you had, ample water.
The top of the mountain offers a scenic panorama of the surrounding area. If you're up to it, you can climb further up to the canons and the next hill.
You can either go down the same path, or take the paved road down.
Just climbing the mountain taking the dirt path makes the view so much more rewarding.
Oh, by the way, parking is a problem, at least at the location itself, so you'll see people parked along side the road.
4. Cauble Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By Donald B - Kennesaw, United States
I recently revisited this park/beach/lake. I found it to be so peaceful, and that is what I loved about it. After a death in the family I have visited and just sat and prayed. It was just what I needed. There is activity but it is easy to find a quiet spot and just get lost in your thoughts. The park seems to have something for everyone. Walkers, joggers, dog lovers, boats, picnics, cookouts, it has everything including finding peace if that is what you need.
5. Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 293 reviews
Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History As a prestigious Smithsonian Affiliations member, the Museum provides visitors with a unique perspective on the strategic and economic use of railroads during and after the Civil War. The Museum, conveniently located near downtown Kennesaw, Georgia is home to the General locomotive, made famous during the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862, an impressive Civil War collection, and the Glover Machine Works, a restored early 20th-century belt-driven locomotive assembly line. The Jolley Education Center offers numerous hands-on and interactive exhibits that are fun for the entire family, and the Cobb Energy Gallery features traveling exhibits from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), as well as other sources! The Southern Museum’s educational programs reinforce classroom learning by connecting historical information with actual artifacts.
Reviewed By rsr6 - Bel Air, Maryland
Modest, but excellent presentation and interpretation of railroads and the Civil War. Also, great for mechanical engineers, especially if you like 19th century equipment and processes. Begins with photo,artifact, and diorama exhibit of the overall story of RRs in the war. Then you move into the nearby Marietta. GA, Glover Machine Works presentation where an amazing collection of wooden patterns of just about every part that is sand cast for a period locomotive was serendipitously saved from destruction, preserved, and presented in the well laid out exhibit. There is a video on how the wooden patterns were used to make the sand molds and how the molten iron was poured into the molds and the parts cast for the locomotive assembly. You can even make some rub-outs of some of the simpler patterns for a souvenir. From the casting/machine shop of the Glover plant, you move into a re-assembled portion of the loco assembly floor, with parts for two small locos laid out and the locos partially assembled. Two side wall areas presented the only restored, belt driven assembly line in the country (the East Broad Top narrow gauge in Orbisonia still has an original belt drive machine shop with all the machinery, but it has not been restored), including machining equipment. An O-gauge diorama of the entire Glover complex shows how the site looked in the 19th century. From there you move into the movie theater for a re-make of the '60s (I think) Disney movie of the "Great Locomotive Chase" starring one of my favorite Disney actors from my youth, Fess Parker. Small exhibit of memorabilia from that movie included the coat worn by Fess as part of his costume. Exiting the theater you enter the Raiders Gallery to learn more of the actual raiders and their fates. Next is a small exhibit about actual raid itself, including photos taken today of the locations still visible from the original RR line on which the raid occurred. Next is the Medal of Honor exhibit honoring the Confederate conductor of the train the raiders stole and his bull-dogged determination to get his train back. The piece de resistance is the restored "General" itself in a 360-walk around gallery, with a 2nd level balcony looking down head on at the loco. The gift shop was well-stocked with a wide variety of related items and the staff were very gracious to us. My wife and I spent about 3 1/2 hours in the museum and I could have spent more reading all the interpretations. Also in the museum is Georgia' "Gratitude Car" - a specially painted box car from WWII donated by France in gratitude for our sacrifices for that nation. Each state received one. There was also a surprising large and spacious education center for youth with a lot of interactive railroading displays. Sadly, the interactive locomotive engineer software was malfunctioning as my wife sat in a diesel engineer's cab with some controls and tried to drive a loco.Site is a GREAT location to watch a very busy two-track CSX mainline right outside the museum, with a lot of traffic between Atlanta and Chattanooga.
6. Cobblestone Golf Course
Overall Ratings
4 based on 44 reviews
A scenic golf course that is a county-owned facility.
Reviewed By William M
This is a beautiful location, very interesting layout, difficult in areas, and "could" be a very fun place to play golf.....HOWEVER....... I have never been to a course in the world where I was under constant and continuous observation. You drive up to the first tee after a more than wonderful gentleman assists you with your clubs in the cart. Then as you approach the Starter, his first words are: "if you slow down the group behind we will have you pick up and move on!!" WHAT???? We could have all been scratch golfers (which we are far from) but admonishment before you even tee off!!!! Then he goes over the rules where you can drive the cart...same rules as listed on the placard in the cart. After hitting an iron shot (a beautiful 5 iron to the green!!) I laid my club down by my divot, walked forward, picked up the divot and replaced it. From nowhere the Marshall appears and tells me NOT to replace my divots, sand instead!! Again...WHAT!!!! First time on any course I have ever heard not to replace your divot!! After the ninth hole we stopped for a refreshment, but the group who had been behind us did not. They were on the tee as we approach so we let them play on. As we were waiting for them to clear, a two-some pulled up. As a four-some not wanting to hold them up, we invited them to play through. Again, here comes the Marshall admonishing us for stopping, then allowing others to play through??? Again...WHAT???? Then further admonishment...."you need to keep up with the two-some!! We managed to make it through the back nine with only one additional, "you drove the cart a little too far into the rough!!" On the last tee we had to wait for the group ahead to clear...not the two-some, but the original four-some we allowed to play through on number 10!! The two-some was long ahead of them!! When we finished and returned the cart, there again was the very nice gentleman who cleaned our clubs and took them from the cart to the curbside. At least we ended with a smiling face!!! Bottom line, again this course is BEAUTIFUL!!!! Lush and well kept. They just need to learn to RELAX!!!!! Let people enjoy their game. This is a public course, but at times felt like I was in the recreation yard at the Georgia State Pen!!!
7. Smith Gilbert Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 90 reviews
With a variety of plantings, the Hiram Butler Home (ca. 1880) and 31 sculptures, Smith-Gilbert Gardens has something for everyone. At the center of Smith-Gilbert Gardens is the historic Hiram Butler House, dating back over 150 years. The house was once owned by Mr. Butler, a Confederate railroad man, who worked the lines most of his life and was present during the "Great Locomotive Chase." In 1970, Mr. Richard Smith and Dr. Robert Gilbert bought the Hiram Butler House and surrounding acreage in Kennesaw, Georgia. Over the following 35 years, they realized their dream of developing the house and grounds, with an emphasis on unique plantings and thoughtfully positioned sculpture. Now open to the public, Smith-Gilbert Gardens is 16 acres of serene setting with over 3,000 species of plants, several rare in American gardens. United by woodland paths, the Gardens consist of separate groupings with individual elements of fascination. These include the Bonsai Exhibit, Palladino Camellia Garden, tea house and waterfall area, Rose Garden, and Conifer Display. Our Garden is a proud member of various horticultural groups including the American Conifer, American Daffodil, American Hosta and the Southeastern Camellia societies. We are also a designated wildlife habitat by the Atlanta Audubon Society. Both our Rose Garden and the Conifer Collection have received special recognition as places to visit by their respective societies.
Reviewed By chassidyl2014 - Las Vegas, Nevada
It needs more up keep. I think it's priced right for what it is. I was good spending a hour there. I wish there was more in bloom it's more plant based then flowers. The check in lady was very helpful.
8. NCG Cinema
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By William H - Chatsworth, Georgia
This was our first time coming to this theater. The first thing that really struck me was the ticket prices and the concession prices. Extremely well priced given that it's a movie theater and good cheap eats. Once in the theater we went to the extreme Atmos theater with a very large screen and wide comfortable seats all in all it was a pleasure to enjoy the movie with
9. Dixie Speedway Inc
Overall Ratings
4 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By 499theresas
It's always a great place to people watch. The races are fun to watch; they go very late into the night. The best race is the waterless boat race. Beware, it is LATE at night. It is the last race because debris litters the track. We go every summer!
10. Noonday Creek Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By The_Wisz - Kennesaw, Georgia
This trail has always been clean and well maintained. Love to ride the bike there in the Evenings. It also has the loaner stations that allows you to use a bike if you don't have one via an app that can be downloaded to your phone.
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