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Top 5 things to get excited about in Augusta, Ga during November

November 5

Just in time to see all the beautiful fall colors, take a hike through Phinizy Swamp this weekend for Swamp Saturday! A trained volunteer will guide you through an 2.5 mile hike through the trails at Phinizy. And best of all, it’s FREE! Make sure you bring your camera!

November 11 – 13

The clock has begun ticking down for the holidays and Christmas Made in the South is the perfect opportunity to get some early gift shopping done. All those hard to buy for friends and family will be happily surprised! One of our favorite things about Christmas Made in the South is the free samples – so your taste buds will be happy too!

November 11, 12, 18, 19 & December 2 – 3

 In the South, we take our annual Christmas pageants very seriously. Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre’s Christmas Belles takes an annual Christmas play, throws in three crazy sisters, a vengeful sheep, and a family secret to create one holiday show you won’t forget!

November 17

The holidays make us think of warm cookies, hot chocolate, fireplaces, beautiful decorations, caroling and family.  Savor the sounds, smells, and tastes of the season at Sacred Heart Cultural Center during the annual Holiday Open House.

November 26 – 28

 This Thanksgiving weekend, you can spend an evening with your family at the historic Imperial Theatre for a night of magic and sugar plum fairies during The Nutcracker. Dance Augusta’s grand production has become a local favorite and a holiday tradition in Augusta.

When I was a little kid I hated being cooped inside the house. I always wanted to be outside playing, and the same applies today. Luckily I live in Augusta, Ga. where outdoor recreation is just around the river bend…literally!

In the south, we are fortunate enough to have warmer temperatures during most of the year, which means we get to spend a lot of time outside! Here are some of the outdoor recreational opportunities Augusta offers. Be prepared to be surprised, and many places are free!

The Augusta Canal and Towpath

Built in 1845 to harness the water of the Savannah River and produce hydroelectricity to power mills, the Augusta Canal is still in use today. Its smooth waters make it an excellent place for a canoe or kayak adventure. Don’t have a kayak or canoe? There are retailers close by! And its 8.5 miles long towpath is ideal for walking or riding bikes. Pets are welcome.

J. Strom Thurmond LakeIt’s the largest man-made lake east of the Mississippi River. There are several parks and swimming beaches, hiking trails and camping areas. You can also rent boats and jet skis for the day. It is also home to the International Disc Golf Hall of Fame.

Lake Olmstead/Julian Smith ParkIt’s a lake front park which makes it perfect for boating, fishing and picnics. The Augusta GreenJackets, Augusta’s minor league baseball team play at Lake Olmstead Stadium during the season (April through September). Try your hand at one of several disc golf courses. One is located in the park. Disc golf is similar to ball golf, but you use discs/Frisbees and try to throw them into a basket to make par. Pretty simple concept. Fun and free if you own discs!

Phinizy Swamp Nature ParkLocated on 1100 acres and just minutes from downtown Augusta, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park offers visitors the chance to see blue heron, red-shouldered hawk, otter, alligator and the elusive bobcat in their natural settings. Participate in guided tours or venture out on your own. This park is also free.

Savannah River and Augusta Riverwalk

Personal  watercraft vehicles are available to rent. Also a great place for canoeing, kayaking and fishing. The Augusta Riverwalk runs parallel to the Savannah River. Its two-tiered paved trail runs for three blocks downtown. It features a children’s playground, picnic tables and various gardens.

It was a perfect Saturday for a bug hunt. The boys were getting tired of the typical backyard bugs. So we loaded up and in 15 minutes were at the Swamp. Located on 1100 acres and just minutes from downtown Augusta, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park offers visitors the chance to see blue heron, red-shouldered hawk, otter, alligator and the elusive bobcat in their natural settings.

But today we were here in search of the summer dragonflies. With net and hat in place – we were off on the Cattail Trial to search for dragonfly. Once we hit the trail, the bugs were everywhere and the kids could not have been happier. I enjoyed the change in scenery as well.

It is sometimes hard to believe this fantastic preserve is just down the street. As much net swiping was going on, we had not caught anything. No one seemed too upset. We were sitting in the shade in one of the outdoor classrooms when a dragonfly came up to William. He was so excited. It was a beautiful green dragonfly, we had also seen a few blue ones. I was pretty sure this was all about the hunt and not so much about the capture. That was fine with me since at the swamp does not want to you bother any of the creatures at the park anyway. When it came down to it, my bug hunters were only interested in looking at the bugs and not the least bit interested in capturing or touching them.

We also saw lots of beautiful vegetation along the paths – magnolia, some raspberries and other unidentified plants. The trails are really great with lots of information along the way. There are several good spots for picnics. We only explored two trails on this day. There are so many different trials to take. Some are good for bikes, some are good for running and of course some are good for bug safaris with two little boys.

Natural Sciences Academy Phinizy Swamp Nature Park

1858 Lock & Dam Road
Augusta-Richmond County, Ga 30901

Open Dawn to dusk: Every Day Free to public

706-828-2109

www.naturalsciencesacademy.org

Looking for beautiful fall foliage minutes from downtown? Phinizy Swamp Nature Park has great trails to explore!

From the parking lot, follow the Cattail trail to the Visitor Center where you can find maps of the trails.

Once you’ve picked your route, informative kiosks and signs give you the history of the construction of the wetlands, cells as well as flora and fauna you may encounter in the park.

We enjoyed the Beaver Dam trail that led to a bridge over Butler Creek and a boardwalk over wetlands on the Green trail.

The Butler Creek trail that starts at the opposite end of the parking area offers a beautiful wooded trail, views of the swamp from high on the bluffs and other interesting discoveries.

If you go, here are a few reminders.

• Bikes are welcome on the gravel roads, but motorized vehicles are not permitted inside the park.
• Pets are welcome.
• All plant and animal life is protected in the Nature Park; please do not touch these natural resources. For your own protection, do not feed any of the Nature Park’s wildlife.
• Fishing is not permitted.

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
1858 Lock & Dam Road
Augusta, GA 30906
(706)828-2109