Prater's Mill Historic Site - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Hampton Island, is an adventure destination for all ages. Here, nature lovers can enjoy miles of trails for biking or hiking that lead to unique and breathtaking scenic views. Visitors can take a boat out on the nearby Coosawattee River and cast their line for a variety of freshwater fish species. Those who dare can even paddle along the saltwater border of Hampton Island and kayak amongst dolphins and sea turtles!

Red Clay State Historic Park is a unique and beautiful historic park. It is located on the ancestral land of Cherokee tribes, whose history is memorialized throughout the park. It features ancient earthy mounds, quartzite masonry walls, and a unique wooden bridge that stretches over a beautiful lake. The surrounding tranquil forest provides perfect wildlife viewing opportunities for visitors to enjoy, including beavers, otters, deer and other wildlife.

This is an outdoor oasis located within minutes of Atlanta. This expansive park boasts miles of wooded hiking and biking trails, as well as lovely pavilions and picnic shelters for relaxing gatherings. Avid fishermen will be pleased to discover the catch-and-release fishing pond, where they can spend hours trying to snag a big one! There are also several nature preserves on the property, providing visitors with spectacular views of local flora and fauna in their natural habitat.

The Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel is a railroad tunnel built in 1850, the tunnel is 0.75 miles long and has become a National Historic Landmark. An amazing feat of engineering during that era, the tunnel runs beneath the crest of a ridge that raised 540 feet above its entrance in Chattanooga. It was really quite a dangerous venture to bore through solid rock but crews were able to get it done quickly and safely allowing railroad traffic to continue under the mountain.

Old Stoner Church is a small but historically significant religious structure built in the late 1880s and named after the founders of the community, Reverend Joseph Stoner and his brother-in-law Deacon Jesse Hall, it has served as a site of worship and fellowship for many generations. The church holds an annual homecoming each year, with hundreds of members returning to relive their memories and honor the legacies of their ancestors.

The Ringgold Gap Battlefield is a historic site dedicated to remembering the Civil War battle that took place there in 1863. On November 27th of that year, Union forces engaged the Confederate Army in an effort to stop them from advancing further into northwest Georgia and Chattanooga. The intense battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides: 596 Confederates died, compared with 375 on the Union side.