Rome Away From Home: Where To Eat and What To Do
If you and your spouse are traveling to Rome, Georgia, for a WinShape Marriage Retreat, and you aren’t local Romans, you may be wondering what’s there to do in this northwest Georgia town? It’s worth considering extending your stay one or two days on the front or back end of your weekend Marriage Retreat, especially if you’re flying in. If you’ve never been to Georgia before, or if you’re from Georgia but don’t spend much time in the northwest part of the state, we’ve got some great places to check out! Here are our suggestions for restaurants to eat and things to do while you spend time in Rome.
TO EAT
You won’t go hungry while exploring Rome. Below are a few of our favorite spots for coffee and breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert while you’re in town.
Coffee and Breakfast
- The Sweet Bar is a family owned bakery that offers fast and friendly service along with the best doughnuts in town!
- Alongside their ethically sourced coffee, Lumina Coffee Co serves great breakfast and lunch sandwiches and pastries. Enjoy either in their comfortable atmosphere or on the go.
- Swift & Finch Coffee is a Roman favorite, fondly known as the downtown living room. Here, you’ll try excellent coffee and an assortment of snacks.
- The Sharp Sickle is new to Rome, but they’re already great at making you feel at home. Bonus—they’re known for their wide variety of gluten free and vegan menu items.
Lunch
- Moe’s Original BBQ is right off Broad Street, and it’s Rome’s favorite restaurant for chicken wings.
- Doug’s Deli Downtown is loved by Rome and especially loved by WinShape! Owned and operated by former WinShape Homes house parents, their sandwiches and salads are a must-try.
- Ana’s by the River is a great lunch spot, known to Romans by Ana’s famous rotolo.
- You may know Chick-fil-A, but Truett’s Chick-fil-A Rome offers a dine-in experience with a menu you won’t find in a typical Chick-fil-A drive-thru.
Dinner
- Blossom Hill BBQ & Burgers has a great mix of both indoor and outdoor space. Play ping-pong or cornhole while you chow down, and try one of their great milkshakes for dessert.
- If you’re looking for a special dinner date night, Aventine offers a fine dining experience. Their menu has incredible food options—specifically they’re known for their gourmet pizzas.
- Conveniently located on Broad Street, John Henry’s Grill is a great dinner spot with a menu that has many “land and sea” options. Their French fries are awesome! If you can’t make it for lunch or dinner, they also have a Sunday brunch menu that’s perfect for when your Marriage Retreat ends.
- Harvest Moon Cafe dates to 1988 and is certainly a Roman staple. All their breads are baked in-house, and be sure to order their Hot Wicked Pimina Cheese Dip with homemade tortilla chips as an appetizer.
Dessert
- Operating for over a decade, Honeymoon Bakery has a wide variety of cupcakes, cookies, and other sweet treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. On a hot day, their gelato hits the spot.
- Take a step back into your childhood when you walk into City Creamery. You can get soft serve ice cream or frozen yogurt with all the toppings imaginable. Additionally, they sell lots of candy you can load up on before heading home!
TO DO
When you’re not eating your way through Rome, see below for places to visit—sites to see, stores to shop, and activities to do year-round or based on the season.
See
- Since you’ll be spending the weekend on a portion of Berry College’s campus for your Marriage Retreat, you may want to learn a bit more about it. Oak Hill & The Martha Berry Museum tells the story of Martha Berry and Berry College.
- The City Clocktower is a great spot for a photo opportunity, and it’s also located in the middle of the Victorian Era District, where there are beautiful historic homes.
- Though it’s technically not in Rome, The Rock Garden is a must-see site. You’ll travel about 30 minutes away to Calhoun, Georgia to visit this beautiful garden.
- Make sure you visit the Labyrinth at WinShape Retreat during your Marriage Retreat, and then, you’ll certainly appreciate visiting the Labyrinth of Rome, too.
- If you didn’t know, several iconic movie and TV scenes have been filmed in Rome. You can check out some of them featured on this Filming Around Floyd County webpage. Not listed is The Claremont House aka the Creel’s House in “Stranger Things” located at 906 E Second Ave SW.
- The Pocket Recreation Area is a very beautiful drive. You can stop and dip your toes in the natural spring right where it bubbles out of the ground! Note—there isn’t much cell phone service, so it’s a great chance to talk about the weekend without being distracted.
- Converted into a pedestrian bridge in 1976, The Robert Redden Footbridge is better known to Romans as The Lock Bridge. Here, couples bring locks to link on the bridge, and they throw the key into the river. The bridge also offers a gorgeous view at night
Shop
Babies and Kids at Home
- Do you have a baby on the way or one at home? You can shop Cheeky Baby online, but make sure to visit them in person while you’re in Rome.
- Rabbit’s Nest is the cutest children’s boutique, where you’ll have no problem loading up on goodies for your little ones at home.
- R.A.D. Toys is a local educational toy store that features unique toys your kids will enjoy—you won’t find their stuff on Amazon.
You and Your Spouse
- The Canoe House has a little something for everyone. Purchase quality, casual, outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear.
- Blue Sky Outfitter is a laid-back environment that sells men’s and women’s outdoor clothing and shoes. Think Patagonia, YETI, Costa Del Mar, and more.
- Everjean is a boutique clothing store that sells beautiful and trendy women’s clothing and accessories.
- Into the Past is a vintage retail shop that has loads of one-of-a-kind, vintage second hand finds ranging from clothes to products to tech such as Nintendo and VHS tapes.
Activities
- If you want a slower afternoon to see a new film and enjoy movie theater popcorn without interruptions, catch a movie at Rome’s local theater, Movies at Berry Square.
- When’s the last time you and your spouse enjoyed a date at the bowling alley? If it’s been a while, get a few games of bowling in at Floyd Bowling & Amusement Center.
- Game of Throwns Urban Axe Throwing is the perfect date idea for the fun, adventurous, and even competitive couple. If you’re bringing friends with you to your Marriage Retreat, this would be a unique double date idea to do before or after the weekend.
Seasonal Activities
- If you’re visiting us mid-April through mid-June, which is typical strawberry season, stop by LCCL Strawberry Farm to load up on yummy, fresh berries to take home.
- During autumn, make sure to get a pumpkin or two from Lazy Creek Farms Pumpkin Patch. In addition to their pumpkins in the fall, this farm also offers strawberries in the spring.
- River Ratz Tubing & Kayak will set you up with everything you need to float or kayak down the Etowah River during the warmer months of the year.
- April through September the Rome Braves, a minor league baseball team, play home games at AdventHealth Stadium. Be sure to check the schedule to see if you can take your spouse out to the ball game!
TO STAY
Either before or after your time at WinShape Retreat, where should you stay while you’re visiting Rome? Here are our suggestions.
Lodging
- Not your traditional hotel, Hawthorne Suites by Wyndham is a beautifully renovated 1890s warehouse that features a restaurant, spa, and other amenities.
- The Courtyard Rome Riverwalk by Marriott is a newer, traditional hotel, and you can see the river from their outdoor patio.
- See if there are any unique Airbnbs available in or near Rome.
This blog is not a sponsored post. The restaurants and places featured were compiled by local Romans who work for the WinShape Foundation.
