Welcome to Visit Augusta GA blog

Have you been to the Kroc Center yet? If not, what the heck are you waiting for? It’s amazing! Tours are offered daily on the hour.

The Kroc Center has a very interesting story, for more information on how the Kroc Center operates please click on the link below and check out their informational video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4r2hTeb_pQ

When you first walk in you are greeted by the friendly staff at the reception desk. Tell them you’d like a tour. Whether you are interested in meeting space, aquatics, aerobics, arts and education, group fitness, performing arts or practically anything, the Kroc has something for you! Want to actually experience what the Kroc has to offer and not just tour it? No problem! The Kroc Center offers day passes for only $5 and children three and under are free! And of course, memberships are available.

If you’re looking for a gym that’s great for the entire family, you’ve found it here! Check out this fly through video of the facility! WARNING – prepare to be awed!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXp59d4J0Ok&feature=player_embedded

The Kroc Center has a fitness area that has state of the art aerobic and strength/weight training equipment.

They also offer a remarkable aquatics center which has lap lanes, a water slide, a lazy river, outdoor sun decks and more!

There are several options for meeting space in the Kroc Center, there’s a gymnasium, board/meeting rooms, a performing arts theatre, banquet hall, six acre green space that backs up to the Augusta Canal (for outdoor functions) and party rooms for the little ones’ birthday celebrations. The possibilities are endless. They also offer an in-house catering service, experiences technicians who can help manage all of your audio, video and lighting needs and business and marketing services are all offered.

Want more information about the Kroc Center? Give them a call at (706) 364-KROC or visit the facility for a tour at 1833 Broad Street  Augusta, GA 30904

The Kroc Center
Hours of Operation:
MON-FRI 5:00 am-10:00 pm
SAT 7:00 am-6:00 pm

SUN 1:00 pm-6:00 pm

I am a big fan of the “meat and three” type of place. If you are not from the South that means – you have your entrée plus three side dishes. Today I went to Honey from the Rock for my meat and three. As you walk in the door, you are greeted by a smiling face, which was great because she handed me a menu and explained how to order. Okay – it is not that difficult, but it is always nice in a new place to have a little help. I got the fried pork chop (the meat) and squash, sweet potato casserole, and fried cornbread (the three).

It was funny, when they asked what bread – I asked about my choices. I was floored when she mentioned my final choice as fried cornbread. What?!? Since anything fried is my favorite food, I thought I would give it a try. Look at the photo, that thing was as big as my head! However, I do look forward to my next visit to try the jalapeño corn bread.

The food was excellent. The squash tasted super fresh. The fried pork chop was juicy and a little crunchy. I saved the sweet potato casserole for dessert and it hit the spot. However, next time I really want to try the homemade ice cream for dessert. That would be meat and three plus one.

From the website: “A favorite of families, serving real southern cooking prepared fresh daily. Specialties include fried chicken tenders, pork chops, sweet potato casserole, mouth-watering meat loaf, specialty desserts, homemade ice cream – churned on location and much more! A family friendly atmosphere ; where the presence of the LORD abides.”

OPEN for Lunch – Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Honey From The Rock Cafe

2621 Washington Road

Augusta, GA 30904

Phone: 706.434.1098

www.honeyfromtherockcafe.com

“Whirl (N): a rapid round of events, affairs, etc”

We all need a little mini-vacation sometimes and a weekend whirl to freshen things up is always fun. So whether your planning a weekend trip to visit Augusta or looking to show visiting friends and family a good time, this is a fun itinerary that has a few of my favorite things to do.

Friday Night

Get a taste of Augusta’s downtown dining scene. There’s something to please everyone’s taste buds. Feeling adventurous? Try Bees Knees – this tapas style restaurant adds Southern flair to international dishes.

Get a shot of Augusta’s downtown nightlife. While you’re out and about, enjoy live Indie bands, bar bands, and drink specials downtown. A few of my favorite hot spots are Sky City, Soul Bar, Metro Pub and Stillwater Taproom.

   If you’re in town the first Friday of the month, go and enjoy the First Friday festival in the Augusta Commons area. It’s one of my favorite things to do on a Friday night. You’ll find live performances, music, art, vintage cars, fair food and more. Many of the downtown businesses host special First Friday events as well.

Saturday

Get a look at the local market. Take advantage of the cool morning weather and stroll down to the Saturday Market on the River. Grab a freshly roasted and brewed cup of coffee and some locally grown fruit to snack on for a light breakfast while you peruse the work of local artists and are serenaded by local jazz musicians.

Get some grub. Since you had a light breakfast, grab a good lunch—there are lots of cafes and restaurants to choose from. One of my favorite lunch spots is New Moon Café. They offer a good variety of soups, sandwiches and Panini’s that are made with fresh, and mostly local, ingredients.

Get on a trolley. Hop on the Lady Liberty trolley for the Saturday Historic Trolley Tour. Hear the legend of the Haunted Pillar and Civil War stories. Learn about the bones in the Old Medical College basement and a rambunctious boy who grew up in Augusta and became a U.S. President. Tour historic downtown and get a feel for all the unique shops and restaurants that you want to visit and more! Sound like fun? Make sure you call ahead  (706-724-4067) and make reservations at least 24 hours in advance.

Get a glimpse of nature. Rent a canoe, pontoon boat, or jetski from the Riverwalk Marina before setting off for a self-guided nature cruise down the beautiful Savannah River. If you prefer to hand over the captain’s hat, try an Augusta Canal Cruise so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.

Get some seafood. Before you head out for a night on the town, stop by Rinehart’s Oyster Bar for a “beyond casual” experience and enjoy fresh, simple seafood. My favorite thing on the menu is their fresh oysters, of course!

Get your groove on. A short drive down the road from Rinehart’s, you’ll find the Country Club Dance Hall and Saloon. Grab a friend and hit the dance floor. If you’re feelin’ lucky, go try and grab a balloon during the balloon drop and see if you’ve won a prize!

Sunday

Get to sleep late. After a late night, if you’re like me, you’ll want to sleep in a little. But don’t worry, you can still make it in time to enjoy “Augusta’s Best Sunday Brunch” at the Partridge Inn. Cheesy grits, bacon, biscuits and gravy, omelets, muffins, fresh fruit…you name it, they’ve got it!

Get a piece of Southern art. Take some time to explore the Morris Museum of Art. It’s the first museum that is dedicated to Southern art and works of Southern artists. Admission into the Morris is free on Sundays.

Get something to take home with you. I never leave someplace without doing a little shopping first. Augusta has tons of cool shops for you to check out. Downtown you can hit Artists Row—a group of galleries and studios that sell local art and hand-made jewelry, The Book Tavern—a little bookstore packed full of new, used and rare books, Vintage Ooollee—a vintage clothing and accessories boutique, and any of the quirky antique shops—my favorite thing about antique shops is you never know what you’ll find!  

Looking for someplace to stay? Check out our hotel listings to see which Augusta hotel best fits your style and budget.

Recently I tried the Mellow Mushroom in downtown Augusta for the first time. If you’re hungry at this moment, then don’t worry. I’m gunna keep things short and sweet so you can go eat at Mellow Mushroom too!

Top 5 Reasons why Mellow Mushroom is awesome:

1. Bruschetta is betta with Feta. I’m a tomato lover. I’m also a carb lover. And a cheese lover. Give me tomatoes, fresh basil and feta on bread and I’m in heaven. Try it and you will be too.

2. Hummus. This was my first experience with hummus. I was a little skeptical about something made out of mashed up chickpeas, but boy was I wrong. After eating almost all of it, I felt the need to write an equation that would demonstrate my newfound feelings. Hummus + Pita Bread = True Love

3. Atmosphere.  I think I should mention that it looks like a hippie exploded in the restaurant. Bright colors, retro flowers, a HUGE mushroom in the middle of the room. It’s fun and relaxing. And if my Uncle Tony were to walk into the room he might say (in his best hippie voice) This is so rad, maaaaaan. Right on.

4. Service. Our server was perfect. She was friendly, quick to fill our drinks and very helpful.

5. Location. I love downtown Augusta. It’s where I work and where I like to play. Stop by for Trivia Night on Tuesdays, after a GreenJackets or Riverhawks game, or before you head out for a night on the town.

Mellow Mushroom

1167 Broad Street, Augusta Ga

706-828-5578

http://www.mellowmushroom.com/

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mellow-Mushroom-Augusta/110784081977

One of my absolute favorite places to eat in downtown Augusta is Bees Knees. It’s a great place to meet friends and share great conversation and amazing food! Bees Knees is a tapas restaurant and lounge. The name itself suggests it’s cool or hip existence.

Bees Knees is famous for their tapas. Tapas (by definition) are small, savory dishes perfect for sharing. And I can vouch for this. My friends and I frequent Bees Knees! We make it a rule that everyone has to order something different and we sample each others. It’s great!

Tonight my friend Jennifer and I ordered our absolute favorite, the  Pad Thai, a spicy thai rice noodle stir fry with egg, cilantro, garlic, bean sprouts, carrots, & peanuts with your choice of tofu (vegan upon request), chicken or shrimp.

Cortney ordered the Coconut Curry Panang, a spicy thai coconut curry dish over basmati rice with your choice of tofu, chicken or shrimp.

Bees Knees is different because this restaurant takes a global approach to dining. They have a variety of dishes that represent cultures all over the world: Thai, Spanish, French, Japanese, Mediterranean and more! They even offer several options for Vegans and Vegetarians.

May I suggest you try a glass of their homemade red or white sangria with fresh, seasonal fruits, it is both delicious and refreshing.

We also ordered dessert—we had the delish crème brulee and tiramisu!

Bees Knees is only open for dinner during the week, but it open for Sunday Brunch and is also available for special events.

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday – Thursday 5 – 11 p.m.
Friday – Sunday 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Sunday open for brunch 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Bees Knees Tapas Restaurant and Lounge
211 Tenth Street
Augusta, Georgia 30901
(706) 828-3600