Nickelodeon Parents' Pick for Best Local Blog in Atlanta
80 years and still going strong!
What: See Rock City
Where: 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mtn., GA 706-820-2531
When: Hours vary by season, so check the website
Cost: $18.95 adults, $10.95 children (3 – 12) Free Parking
Photos: For more photos of Rock City visit Field Trips with Sue on Facebook
What drew me initially to See Rock City, was the famous ad campaign on rural barns and the See Rock City bird houses. I once bid unsuccessfully at a silent auction for a coffee table book of the famous barns and a birdhouse. I don’t remember what it went for, but there was fierce bidding. You gotta love an ad campaign that started in 1936 and is still working more than 70 years later!
See Seven States!
Rock City Gardens has a 1950 ‘eque feel, which is what I like about it. Sure, they’ve added gem panning and rock climbing for the kids, but the rest of it is a walk through time that brings you back to a simpler day when families drove to their destinations playing car bingo and kids fought for real estate in the back seat. Like the ad campaign, kids still clamor 80 years later to get a good look atop the mountain and “See 7 States”. Of course now they’ve added binoculars for a closer view. If you have small children, look for the short look-out stands that are just the right height for kids. The views and photo opportunities are truly spectacular.
The self-guided walking tour along The Enchanted Trail takes you through huge rock formations, some estimated to be 200 million years old. They have great names like “Needle’s Eye” and “Fat Man’s Squeeze.” My kids loved the 180-foot long Swing-a-long bridge, but if that’s not for you don’t worry, you can go around. For those with smaller children, note that strollers won’t be able to get around the entire path, so plan to carry your little ones or pack them in a carrier of some kind. Of course, even then you may have to make some adjustments. We had my youngest in a backpack years ago and had to get him out to fit through Fat Man’s Squeeze.
Threading the Needle’s Eye
Enter Fairyland Caverns and test your knowledge of Mother Goose Rhymes
Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village add some whimsical to the visit. I was actually surprised that my boys didn’t know more of the Mother Goose rhymes. They can dazzle you with knowledge of intergalactic planets and beings, but were a bit stumped on why Jack and Jill went up the hill. Both of these attractions are underground and lit by black light. If your child is afraid of the dark, distract them by focusing attention on white shoelaces or glowing t-shirts until they adjust and they’ll be more likely to enjoy the exhibits.
When I think of Rock City, I think of the rock formations. The formations and natural pathways were the inspiration for a 14-acre garden with more than 400 different species of native wildflowers, plants, shrubs and trees. Visitors can use their cell phone to hear a guided tour of the Gardens. We visited in the spring when everything was beginning to bloom and it was beautiful.
Garden gnomes are everywhere.
Stop and smell the beautiful flowers along the path.
Rock City is a destination for anytime of year. Perhaps time your visit for the many events and festivals hosted by the Gardens. Rock City is located in Georgia, but only six miles from Chattanooga, TN. We stopped at Rock City on our way to a vacation in Chattanooga. There are packages to See Rock City, Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway all in one day. All great attractions, but this is a lot for kids (and adults) to do in one day. I would suggest splitting it into two. If you must do it all in one, plan a lighter schedule the next day.
Although we were provided complimentary attraction tickets for the purpose of reviewing it (as is common in the travel industry), we only recommend places we would stay and products we would use.
I would love win the tickets to be able to take my kids on this trip. Thank you!
I would love to win these tickets. Been many times and it never gets old!
We’re going to be studying geology this next year and a trip to Rock City would be perfect!
We plan to go to Chattanooga when school gets out. Would love to win tickets!
This is a trip our family has always wanted to do. Sounds like so much fun! Thank you!
My son is 7 and has been asking to go he loves everything outdoors and is a awesome little boyscout. He has even earned a “stinky boot”award for hiking more miles than anyone his pack which is about 135 kids. I know that this would be a great summer memory. Thanks
I remember Fat Man’s Squeeze as a little girl and would love to go back with the family and visit again!
Always wanted to see Rock City!
I would love to win these so my family can make even more memories celebrating and exploring this cool place together!
I have heard amazing things and my kids are really into nature and rocks. this would be a great homeschool field trip.
Haven’t been to Rock City since I was a 5th grade girl scout! I would love to take my 2 kiddos!
I would love to be able to take my little boys!
I live in Chattanooga and would love to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. Sadly, we don’t visit the beautiful places in our own hometown as much as we should. We’re always hopping down to Atlanta for fun activities!
We would love to win and take a much needed break and see Rock City. What a great way to spend time together as a family making memories!
My children would love this trip.
I’ve never been but would love to go this summer.
I would love to go to take my nephew and nieces to scratch it off our bucket list and to give their parents some R&R…
I always see those bird houses and have always wondered where on earth Rock City was. Now I know! Thanks. We’d love to experience it first hand.
It is great place-we went 2 years ago! Wear god shoes and enjoy!
The fairy ltale village is great it glows!
Because its a great place!
Nice family vacations destination.
[...] See Rock City: One Tank Vacations from Atlanta (giveaway) [...]
What a fun getaway with the kids.
Looks cool, thanks!
What a great day trip! Hope we win!
Have never been, but heard it’s a great place to visit!
Thanks as always Sue!!
This would be a fun vacation. We haven’t had one in a long time. Thanks Sue!
It’s a fabulous place to visit. The Christmas lights is my favorite time to visit.
I want to see Rock City because I’ve never been there, for all that I’ve lived in the area all my life.
I went as a child and now that I have children, I would love to take them!!!
We’d love to go to see the breathtaking “See 7 States” panoramic view!
this would be a nice trip to take during summer break
I dont’t see my blog comment! So, I would love to take my kids this summer
Would love to win these tickets! My husband & I have been before kids, but now the kids are a perfect age & I know it would be lots of fun to take them!
I haven’t been there in 30 years (I’m guessing since my memory is mostly of the signs to get there!). So, it would be awesome to share this childhood expedition with my non-native Georgian husband and our child!
I would love to take my son here! I think he would absolutely love the views and the little “fairytale” area. It would be a great surprise weekend trip!
I would love to win! My 7 and 3 year old would LOVE it! I know I did as a child!
I’d love to win!
My hubby and I have been to Rock City, but the kids never have. Would love to take them!
Kristen, congrats to your son on his ‘stinky boot’ award. Kat, I had to laugh that you’ve seen the signs and didn’t know where Rock City was (sounds like my experience with that place called NOVA when I lived in Va. – there were a lot of people from that town NOVA. Then I realized it was Northern (NO) Virginia (VA).
Melissa – you must do a staycation and visit your hometown. We had a BLAST. You could live in Chattanooga for years and not do it all.
Love those birdhouses!
I would love to take my kids to see this–We love TENNESSE-GO VOLS!!!
My girls would love to go to Rock City!!
I loved it as a kid and would like my kids to experience it also.
I would love to take my boys here. I’ve always wanted to visit Rock City.
I’ve never been, would love to take my two kids, and really need a new t-shirt!
I would love to win these.
I want to take my family there because I work 2 jobs and we rarely get to take a vacation. I would love this because it is only a short drive from Atlanta. I know my 7 year old daughter and 3 year old son would love it.
Because it is a place that my family and I have never been before.
Every time we passed by Rock City as a child, my parents never would stop. As an adult, my husband didn’t want to stop. Now, it’s time for me to take the kids!
Jennifer, I love it. You DO need to go to Rock City.
We pass by on the way to Grandma’s. Sure would help break up the trip to Nashville.
I would love this! We have not been since we moved to GA 5 yrs ago.
I wanted to get married at Rock City, but unfortunately, my husband wasn’t impressed by the idea.
I have never been to rock city before. Happy 80th Birthday Rock City!
I think my kids would love it!
I haven’t been since I was a kid but would be fun to go back and let my children experience it!
Looking forward to taking the kids to Rock City this summer! I haven’t been since I was their age!
I would love to take my kids to Rock City. I remember driving from Ohio to Florida a few times a year growing up and seeing all the red barns along I-75 that said “SEE ROCK CITY” painted on the barn roofs. My parents would never stop to visit. Now I live in Atlanta and would love to take my kids to see what I never have seen!
The winner of the tickets to See Rock City is Rachel Derosa-Priest. Congratulations Rachel.
I would love win the tickets to be able to take my kids on this trip. Thank you
[...] are packages to See Rock City, Ruby Falls and the Incline Railway all in one day. All great attractions, but this is a lot for [...]
[...] See Rock City [...]
[...] See Rock City – See Rock City has graced the roofs of barns since the 30’s drawing people to this natural wonder. The amazing rock formations are still a highlight even after 80 years. [...]