Are you in need of a vacation? Do you want to visit a place with a rich history, great culture, fun people, and various activities for people of all ages to enjoy? And are you excited to experience that world-famous Southern hospitality?
If so, you’ve got to plan your next trip to Augusta, Georgia! It’s a great city that’s loved by locals and visitors alike! While many visitors may think of Atlanta or Savannah, one shouldn’t miss out on what Augusta has to offer!
You’ll enjoy marvelous museums, delicious food and drinks, and fun activities that you won’t find anywhere else. But before you book your tickets, you want to prepare your itinerary!
Let’s look at the best things to do in Augusta, Georgia…
NUMBER ONE – Enjoy the diverse cuisine that Augusta has to offer
When you reach Augusta, you’ll want to dig into the diverse cuisine options that the city has to offer.
You can start by going to the Whiskey Bar Kitchen – one of Augusta’s most famous restaurants for traditional American and Southern food. You can enjoy burgers, fried chicken, and, of course, a great selection of bourbon. But you can also enjoy a selection of East Asian foods such as pork curry or Katsu curry.
Another wonderful restaurant for traditional American food is Edgar’s Grille. It’s a great place to visit for lunch or dinner. Apart from delicious foods you can also enjoy great drinks, including craft beers and a varied selection of cocktails.
You can also visit downtown Augusta to enjoy a variety of different cuisines from Southern, East Asian, Indian, and Latin. In fact, on the day you arrive in Augusta, you might want to stroll around the city to jot down the names of restaurants you’d like to visit during your trip!
The cuisine in Augusta is excellent and the hospitality is world-class! You should also consider booking a food tour where you can hop from one restaurant to another to sample foods. You’ll also learn about Augusta’s rich culinary history.
Before we tell you more about the best things to do in Augusta, Georgia, show us some support by giving us a like and subscribing to our channel for more great content on travel and where to plan your next vacation. Now, back to the video…
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NUMBER TWO – Visit the museums
Augusta is a great place to explore for art and culture. The Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art is a great place to see many contemporary art exhibitions. It’s also the place to visit if you want to take art classes or workshops. If you’re traveling with your family, this is a great bonding activity – and one that children will especially enjoy.
Another great art museum is the Morris Museum of Art. It’s a relatively young museum, just under 40 years old. Nevertheless, it’s become one of the great art museums with both permanent and temporary exhibits. It’s especially great to see a variety of paintings and sculptures.
You should also visit the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History. Lucy Craft Laney was instrumental in improving and creating education opportunities for Black Americans, and this museum celebrates her legacy.
It’s one of the most fascinating museums in the city – and we’d argue, one of the most underrated museums in the country.
If you want to learn specifically about Augusta’s unique history, you can go to the Augusta Museum of History. This museum was founded in 1937, and is a superb place to learn how the city came to be. While there, you’ll learn all about how the city has changed throughout American history.
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NUMBER THREE – Historical monuments
Of course, you don’t have to go to museums to learn about Augusta’s rich history. There are many historical monuments around town that you should check out as you explore the city.
You can start by visiting the Historic Meadow Garden. Here, you’ll see the stately home of George Walton. He was one of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence – a true American hero!
It’s a public museum and is a great way to learn about American history. If you’re traveling with your family, this museum is a must-visit!
Augusta is also where former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson spent much of his childhood. You can visit his boyhood home and learn about his life and presidency.
But Augusta wasn’t just the boyhood home to a U.S. President or the home to one of the early American pioneers. Any fan of great American music knows that Augusta was the home where the Godfather of Soul – James Brown – was from! Make sure you stop by the James Brown statue while you’re in Augusta to pay your respects to this trailblazing legend.
You should also check out the Springfield Baptist Church. This church was built in 1787 by former slaves as a place where Black Americans could worship. It’s one of the oldest churches in the country and one that exemplifies the rich history of Augusta!
You can also visit the Sacred Heart Cultural Center. This was once a Catholic Church and is now a place where visitors can learn about Augusta’s cultural history. There you can enjoy viewing the latest art exhibition or even enjoying the occasional concert. There’s also a Garden Festival that occurs once a year. You can either explore the center on your own or take a guided tour.
The center itself is beautiful for architecture lovers. You’ll marvel at the Italian marble and the stained-glass windows. Make sure you add this on your itinerary!
NUMBER FOUR – Going for a stroll
So, where do you go if you need to stroll around Augusta? There are several places to walk around to meet locals and travelers alike and soak up the vibes that the city offers.
As we mentioned before, you should definitely check out the Augusta Historic Downtown District. Much of the architecture was built in the 19th and early twentieth centuries. You’ll get a great juxtaposition of new and old. You’ll especially love the Greek and Federal revival style architecture.
The vibe is energetic, but you’ll also simultaneously feel the slow charm that one expects with a Southern city.
Of course, you should also enjoy the incredible nature that Augusta has to offer. We suggest you visit the Forks Area Trail System. This is a great nature trail, and it’s especially great if you want to go biking.
Make sure you also visit the Augusta Riverwalk. This is a walking path where you’ll get a beautiful view of the Savannah River. It’s a great place to be lost in your thoughts and plan your next activity in Augusta.
If you want to see even more incredible architecture, you should take a stroll at least once through Magnolia Cemetery. Here you’ll see beautiful churches and will also enjoy the incredible nature that surrounds the nature. Far from being a somber area, it’s often a great place to wind down and relax your mind.
You can also visit the Augusta Canal Discovery Center at Enterprise Mill. Here you’ll get to explore nature and history at the same time. If you take a guided tour, you’ll learn about how the industrial revolution shaped the South and helped boost economies across the region – including the economy of Augusta! It’s especially a fascinating place to visit if you’re traveling with children. The nature here is incredible, and you’ll truly feel at peace when you visit!
There are also opportunities to ride on the canal in a kayak or canoe. You can also find great hiking and bike trails here.
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NUMBER FIVE – Unique Attractions
What are a few more must-visit attractions that you can enjoy to round off your trip to Augusta, Georgia?
While we’ve already recommended several great museums, you’ve also got to check out one of America’s remaining “dime” museums. Dime museums were museums built for working-class Americans to provide what we now call “edutainment.” This helped entertain the working classes and provide them with the knowledge to help them move up in life.
In Augusta, this time honored tradition is kept alive at the Pexcho’s American Dime Museum. If you’re traveling with children, then you’ve got to consider visiting the museum!
This museum is an homage to the Dime museums of yesteryear. You’ll enjoy seeing miniature art, circus exhibitions, and even come across some exotic animals. There’s also a great coffee shop at the museum, so you can relax while the kids explore!
Woodrow Wilson’s and George Walton’s homes are fascinating to see. But you should also consider visiting the Ezekiel Harris House. Ezekiel Harris was a tobacco farmer who built this home at the end of the 18th century.
The architecture of the home is stunning and is one that’s often frequented by architecture aficionados. It’s also great for learning about Ezekiel Harris – who was quite a character. He was accused of murder, served in the Revolutionary War, and had a successful business selling tobacco – until it all came crashing down!
To end your trip, you should enjoy a great drink. While you probably came across a few great bars during your trip, it’s highly reccomended to get your last drink in at the River Watch Brewery. Here you’ll enjoy a great selection of craft beers. It’s perfect for solo travelers, couples, and even families – as it’s kid-friendly!
You can schedule a beer tasting session to learn about how the beer gets made. You can even bring your own food to these beer tasting sessions!
We know you’ll love your trip to Augusta, Georgia. It’s a beautiful city with lots to explore and many fun things to do!