Carthage

Arriving in Carthage is like traveling back in time to a more tranquil era when life was simpler, and people were less hurried. Carthage's history includes ragtime musicians, women's rights activists, and Wild West outlaws, and it's now a town that welcomes visitors with open arms and offers a taste of small-town America that's hard to come by these days. Carthage comes to life at the Jasper County Courthouse and Square. The courthouse's architecture is stunning, with medieval-style turrets and towers. People congregate here, and the town hosts open markets and events.

Mother Road Coffee is a fantastic coffee shop where people will tell you stories from the past and the owners couldn't be nicer. In the square, there is also a small but interesting Civil War Museum, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable. We drove to the Precious Moments Chapel & Gardens after enjoying the square. The peaceful and serene chapel, inspired by Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel in Rome, is unlike anything you've ever seen. It tells Biblical stories with Precious Moments figures that are childlike and angelic. There are murals and stained-glass windows, as well as lovely landscaping, a gift shop, and a café. It is difficult to describe the chapel's uniqueness; you must go and see for yourself.