Acworth, GA

The oldest highway in the South passes through Acworth as its Main Street. The historic Dixie Highway was built between 1915 and 1927, when paved roads were still considered a novelty (especially in the less-populated Southern states).

Long before then, in 1845, the Western and Atlantic Railroad created its first stop north of Atlanta, in a tiny settlement called Northcutt. The railroad engineer was from Acworth, New Hampshire and he decided to name the railroad station after his hometown. In 1860, the area surrounding the station became the City of Acworth.

Acworth has some terrific historic sites, such as the Lemon House. Built in 1856, this home served as General Sherman's headquarters for a short period in 1864, during the Civil War. After the battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the house was used as a hospital. Union troops burned much of the city, but this house was spared. The Historic Acworth Walking Tour is a terrific way to learn about the city once you move to an apartment here. It leads past the ruins of a flour mill, downtown Main Street, the Abbot House, the Lemon House, the McClure House, and the Collins Homestead, among other locations.

The Main Street Gallery, run by the Acworth Cultural Arts Center, hosts a variety of shows throughout the year. Stop in and explore works by local artists. If you are moving to Acworth with kids, the Acworth Gallery offers a variety of art classes designed for children.

The Acworth Art Fest is a terrific festival held every spring. Held on Main Street in the historic district, this art festival features about 100 artists from around the country and includes pottery, paintings, folk art, jewelry, glass, and metalwork. The festival also offers a Kid Zone and food vendors.

You'll want to dine out every night once you move to an apartment in Acworth. The choices are terrific -- Dogwood Terrace, for example, offers "New American" cuisine in a 1940s bungalow. Henry's Louisiana Grill serves Cajun dishes such as Lagniappe, Shrimp Creole, Etouffee, Jambalaya, and Louisiana Shrimp & Grits. When you want traditional pub favorites, Center Street Tavern is located in a historic former hardware store.

After filling up on pub favorites like Corned Beef & Mash, Fish & Chips, and Fried Dill Pickles, stay and watch the game at Center Street Tavern -- they provide 10 wide-screen, high-definition TVs. They also offer a separate lounge and a game room with dart boards. This is the place to be for live music, held every Friday and Saturday night.

Neighboring Kennesaw is home to Kennesaw State University -- and the Owls. The Owls play baseball at the Fred Stillwell Stadium and football games are held at the Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The football stadium also hosts a variety of concerts and other sports events, including International Rugby tournaments. The stadium is the location of the Shaky Boots music festival, the annual Owl-O-Ween festival, and musical guests such as Wiz Khalifa and Phillip Phillips.

While there are some businesses and a healthy tourism industry in Acworth, many residents commute to work. With I-75 as the northern border, the trip to Atlanta is simple (but often congested). Alternative highways include 41 and 92. And while Downtown Acworth is pedestrian-friendly, you'll need your car to get to other parts of the city and beyond.

Acworth Beach, complete with white sand and a beach house, is the city's biggest attraction. The sand was trucked in to create a true seaside feel. The swimming area is roped off to keep swimmers safe from boaters who also take advantage of the lake. The Lake Acworth Beach and Beach House are historic -- they were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. You'll find Acworth Beach at Cauble Park, which also offers two playgrounds, a boat ramp, a boardwalk, fishing areas, and picnic areas. A variety of festivals and events are held at the park, including the Smoke on the Lake BBQ Festival and a Summer Concert Series.

While Lake Acworth and Lake Allatoona are the biggest draws in Acworth, the city's location near the North Georgia Mountains is ideal for all types of outdoor adventures. In addition to swimming, sunbathing, boating, kayaking, and fishing, go hiking, mountain biking, and camping. Nearby Red Top Mountain State Park is a terrific lakefront park offering camping, a lodge, a swimming beach, boat ramps, and picnic shelters. For mountain biking, the park offers the four-mile Iron Hill Trail. There's an additional 15 miles for hiking.

Other parks in Acworth include South Shore Park (offering a beach and fishing areas), Proctor Landing Park (an 82-acre park with picnic areas, a beach, horseshoe pits, and volleyball courts), and Logan Farm Park. Logan Farm Park is 120 acres with several entrances. The park has a walking track, a playground, a fishing pond, ball fields, and picnic pavilions.

The median household income is slightly higher in Acworth than the rest of the state at $52,000 (compared to $48,000). Renting an apartment in Acworth will cost about $900. If you decide to stay in Acworth and buy a house, the average home is fairly typical at $147,000 (compared to the state average of $142,000).

If you are moving to Acworth with kids, this city is part of the Cobb County School System. It offers a number of top-rated schools, such as Ford Elementary School. This school is located on Mars Hill Road in Acworth. It rates 10 out of 10 by Great Schools. Baker Elementary School also ranks at a 10, while Durham Middle School and Allatoona High School both have ratings of nine.

The antique stores, boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and specialty shops in Downtown Acworth are perfect for exploring. When you prefer brand-names and chains, the Town Center at Cobb is located just outside of Acworth. This indoor shopping mall is anchored by Belk, Macy's, JC Penney, and Sears. The restaurants surrounding the mall include the Varsity Town Center, Shogun, J. Christopher's, and Provino's.