We drove to the Mule Day Festival at Calloway Plantation on a whim and we had a great time. The…read morehome was open for tours and there were lots of craftspeople demonstrating lost arts from years gone by. This suburban girl really enjoyed seeing the mules too!!

While driving Hwy 78 from Athens, GA to Augusta, Ga I was looking for a tourist stop. My GPS found…read moreme the Callaway Plantation. Has 56 Acres of History. Modest cost of $4.00 with a docent to talk about the history of the plantation. Has picnic grounds available so take your time.

Such a nice trail for walking, running or biking. Reminds me of Silver Comet Trail, how it goes…read morethrough the backyards of older neighborhoods. The spur down by the river was the trip's highlight. Quite lovely. This trail has all needed amenities... bathrooms, bike tire inflation stations, good signage, and nicely paved asphalt.

The greenway in runs right to the ritzy waterfront area, but there several miles of it. It is…read morepaved, and while on occasions it passes sports facilities or people's backyards, it is generally quite green. It is usually well-attended and I have not had any safety concerns; it certainly feels better than comparable areas on the other side of the river. There are plenty of bikers, but the trail is generally wide enough not to present any major issues of overcrowding. It's definitely a good way to get a taste of the environment without driving too far from the city.

Headed out for a group hike and was NOT disappointed. We opted for the Red Oak and Black Gum Loop…read more This hike was relatively easy, well marked with just a few inclines and gorgeous views along the trail. The highlight was finishing near the tulips at the end of our hike. Gorgeous morning out and perfect location for a spring kick-off in nature.

Found this hidden gem on Yelp! Had no idea we were so close to the impressive State Botanical…read moregardens! The indoor and outdoor gardens were decked out for Christmas. Even during the day, they were stunning. I really enjoyed the warmth of the tropical gardens and learning about all of the different plants and trees - coffee, papaya, and lemon for example. The water features - streams, and a gorgeous koi pond - were highlights. The $5 suggested donation seemed cheap. There is plenty of parking and an elevator. I really appreciated the wheelchairs available for use for one member of our party. We did not get a chance to explore every inch of this garden, but we will be back. You will get your steps in with so much ground to cover!

On this rainy and chilly Sunday morning the park felt almost suspended in its own quiet, the kind…read moreof stillness you only get when the weather keeps everyone else home and you end up with the place to yourself. No one was camping or fishing or wandering the grounds (though I did see one park ranger pickup truck on patrol), which meant I had time with the real centerpiece of the park, the Watson Mill Covered Bridge, and the soft sound of the river underneath it carried farther than usual in the damp air. The bridge was built in 1885 by W. W. King, one of Georgia's most skilled nineteenth century bridge builders, and it remains the longest existing covered bridge in the state at 236 feet. It uses the Town lattice truss system, a design patented in 1820 that relies on a crisscross pattern of planks secured with wooden pegs, and Watson Mill is one of the best surviving examples of that method in the Southeast. The bridge once served the workers of the grist mill and sawmill that stood nearby, and it doubled as a community gathering place where people held picnics and even square dances. The Georgia Department of Transportation restored it in 1973, and the bridge became the anchor for the surrounding state park, which preserves both the structure and the landscape that supported it. The posted clearance was too low for my Sprinter van so I walked the length of the bridge instead, letting the boards creak underfoot and taking in the smell of wet timber that always feels older than the structure itself. There is no dedicated pedestrian lane, but the interior is wide enough that I could step to the side when a car approached, and the drivers moved slowly enough that it never felt unsafe. The combination of the rain, the quiet, and the long wooden tunnel made the whole experience feel like stepping back into the late nineteenth century for a few minutes. [Review 245 of 2026 - 942 in Georgia - 25434 overall]

Beautiful, just beautiful place to go hike walk enjoy peace and quiet family time or whatever you…read morewant. Lovely, beautiful place small country perfect setting.

I love that this bridge is open to traffic! It is rated for enough weight that my Sprinter van…read morecould cross and the bridge has enough clearance that I could fit in. The Elder Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1897 by Nathaniel Richardson. It is a Town lattice design with the planks connected with wooden pegs. It is one of the few covered bridges in Georgia continuing to carry traffic without underlying steel beams. It is possible to get to the side of the bridge and get some great pictures. I love this bridge! (Note that some of the approach road is only hard packed dirt. I was okay with it but your vehicle may have issues.) [Review 18057 overall - 532 in Georgia - 1578 of 2022.]

I happened to be dining at a restaurant in Watkinsville and noticed they were selling a magnet with…read morea picture of a covered bridge. When I inquired about it, I was surprised to learn that the Elder Mill Covered Bridge was nearby and still functioning as a working bridge. I was delighted to find more information about it on Yelp and decided to take a spontaneous outing to see this historic structure. The bridge is on a back country road. The road narrows as you approach the one-lane bridge. There is no where to pull off the road on this side of the bridge. Slow down to read the signs. There is a five ton weight limit. Your vehicle needs to be able to clear the metal structure before you drive through. It will prevent you from damaging the bridge (and your vehicle). You are supposedly on video surveillance, so don't block the private driveway and don't trespass the private land surrounding the bridge. Once you drive through to the other side, you can pull off on the paved strip on the side of the road. Feel free to get out of your vehicle to read the historic marker and take a few pictures. You can even walk across the bridge if you want to see the internal support beam structure. It is remarkable that this bridge is still in working order considering it was built in 1897. The wooden beams have obviously been updated and maintained to keep the bridge in working order, but there are no steel support beams and it is fastened with wooden pegs also called trunnels (or treenails). It is a work of art and definitely worth the 10 minute visit if you happen to be in the area.

This National Historic Site is free! There's a 1-mile paved trail with occasional informational…read moresigns to guide you through the historic site, as well as a log cabin you can look into, clean bathrooms, and a visitors center with a few displays, a small theatre, and gift shop. We were visitors but it appeared several locals come here to take a walk or walk their dogs as well. Highly recommend visiting if in the area.

Good site to learn a little about the revolutionary war. There were many battles in SC. Ninety Six…read morewas a small settlement and the fort was controlled by the British. The wooden parts of the fort are gone but the earthworks are still there. The main pathway is about a mile long and is paved so it's easy walking. There are some slight inclines and declines but with the pavement it should still be wheelchair accessible as well.

So I dropped my luggage in room 666, map in hand, inappropriately dressed for the cold, but looking…read moreimpractically chic. Just loved how the traffic light posts spoke to me: "wait! Wait!" Wait!" as I kept pressing the button just to hear it. Did it so often in each traffic light I encountered that I skipped psychotherapy that week. I decided to put everything on hold...and waited. Augusta's River Walk overlooks the Savannah River and on the other side incredibly gorgeous homes of South Carolina. The weather man had predicted cloudy skies and he was wrong. The sky could not have looked more blue (will not use the correct "bluer," because it's shortness sounds so limiting and this sky was boundless) or more spacious. As I sat on the steps of the Jessye Norman Amphitheater, I thought about Louis Armstrong and his rendition of "What a wonderful World"... and now that technology is prevalent, I pulled out my cell phone and YouTubed it. The place was deserted... an old lady feeding some birds and a grandchild giddily watching. Some rowers practicing for the Regatta which was to take place the next day. Red buoys bobbing and floating marking the course. Bare limbs on trees calling forth Christmas. I felt a pang of envy wishing I could listen to Norah Jones or Diana Krall playing her piano right there. From what I heard when I inquired to some of the bartenders I met later on... the amphitheater is barely used now. Forgotten. It is sometimes rented for around $300 as a wedding ceremony venue, but concerts have become a rarity. I can't think of another place where I might watch a concert so perfectly nested. So I sat there enjoying the concert in my head.

This is a very beautiful public park near downtown Augusta, GA, that we visited last weekend. This…read morewas a pleasant place to w, walk here visitors can enjoy local artists, flowers, and a great review of the river. We really enjoyed this area as it was very safe, quiet, and relaxing. We visited in December so we had great weather. BOAT HOUSE RENTALS look on Airbnb! The hostess (Beth) operates the rentals and the Sunday market along river. Beth was absolutely informative and an excellent host. This was a great experience, one of my bucket list! This was an excellent and very comfortable hotel option while we were visiting the Augusta, GA area last weekend! This boathouse lodging is situated conveniently on the Augusta marina, so there was no parking issues. The reservation process was very easy, and we had no issues communicating with the owner all through our visit. This houseboat was an older vessel, that was restored and could easily be enough space for 4 adults. On our visit we just had 2 adults, so the full size bed was more than comfortable. They also have two two size buckbeds that could be used for kids or other adults. This houseboat was very cozy and comfortable. It had direct TV and all the other options (microwave, refrigerator, stove.

Quite very nice place to visit. Take your day trip there walk along the Riverwalk. Beautiful houses…read moreto look at as you sit on the riverbank after the walk past all the vendors selling their personal goods.

The Mary Willis Library ended up being a quiet Sunday‑morning stop for us, and even though the…read moredoors were locked, the exterior alone made it worth pausing. The red brick, the steep Queen Anne roofline, and those tall stained‑glass windows give the building the presence of a small civic cathedral, and the central Tiffany memorial window still manages to glow even when you're viewing it from outside. It's one of those places where the architecture does the talking, and you can feel the pride that went into building it. The historical marker fills in the story and makes the building even more meaningful. "This library was Georgia's first free (without a subscription fee) public library. Founded in 1888 by Dr. Francis T. Willis in memory of his daughter, it opened in 1889. Willis also created an endowment for the library and donated his personal collection of books. Atlanta architect Edmund Lind designed the building in the Queen Anne style and the central memorial window was made by Tiffany Studios. The library operated as a privately-endowed institution until 1967 when it became part of the regional library system. Annexes were added in 1977 and 1991." Even without stepping inside, it's a lovely stop. The stained glass is beautiful, the brickwork photographs well in morning light, and the whole place feels like a reminder of how seriously communities once took the idea of public learning. I'd love to come back on a weekday to see the interior and the rare book collection, but even from the sidewalk, this is a gem. [Review 235 of 2026 - 932 in Georgia - 25424 overall]