Welcome to Visit Augusta GA blog

Ashton Randall, the Electronic Media Manager at the ACVB, went on her first Moonlight Music Cruise down the Augusta Canal. See video clips and photos from the cruise in this new video blog. For more information visit http://www.augustacanal.com 

WATCH VIDEO

My friend and I were tired of eating at the same places. Not particularly being a fan of chain restaurants, we decided to try a new place called Taste. Taste is located in North Augusta in the beautiful neighborhood of Hammond’s Ferry, along the bank of the Savannah River.

Taste is a simple, quaint tapas restaurant and wine bar with a Southern feel. They use ingredients grown locally in both Georgia and South Carolina. They offer both inside and outside dining; it’s cute and welcoming and the staff is great!

Tapas restaurants are my absolute favorite because it promotes sharing with friends, which means you get to try a nice variety of dishes. What did we try? Well, it’s more like what didn’t we try?

On special was the white peach sangria, made at the restaurant. It tasted fresh, crisp and fantastic! They also serve a red sangria that looked very good. I’ll without a doubt be trying that on my next visit.

We ordered the smoked apple wood bacon pimento cheese with crackers and toast points to start. Now, I’ve grown up in the South my entire life and no one makes pimento cheese like my grandmama, but it was better than hers! Of course, I’d never tell her that.

Then we had the roasted pear wedge salad with feta cheese and a house-made vinaigrette. It was just right and hit the spot.

Another great thing about tapas restaurants is that you eat smaller portions so you can save room for dessert! Because we all know when something tastes good that it’s difficult to stop eating.

What did we have for dessert? Chocolate bread pudding. Yum. We had to wait a little while on this dish, but it was well worth the wait because it was baked fresh to order. It was heaven in a dish.

Taste is one of my new favorite spots and I will definitely be returning to try more of their dishes and weekly specials.

Taste is open Wednesday through Saturday for lunch (11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.) and dinner (5:30 p.m. – until).

Taste is located in Hammond’s Ferry at 465 Railroad Street, Suite 100 in North Augusta, SC 29841. Call today for more information or to make reservations (803) 341-9881 or visit their website: EatAtTaste.com

You could win a fun filled weekend in Augusta, Ga from September 14 – September 16, 2012.! Click here to register.

Shop for local arts and crafts, sample food from around the world, see live performances and much more during the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. Hear bluegrass legend Ricky Scaggs live at the historic Imperial Theatre and eat like a foodie at some of Augusta’s best local restaurants.

Vacation package includes:

• 2 VIP passes to Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival (Learn more about Arts in the Heart of Augusta )
• 2 tickets to Southern Soul & Song presents: Ricky Scaggs and Kentucky Thunder (Learn more about the Southern Soul and Song series)
• 2 night stay and breakfast for two days at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center
• Dinner at La Maison
• Dinner at Rooster’s Beak
• Lunch at The Boll Weevil
• Gas Card
• 2 VIP Passes to Augusta attractions

Winner will be notified by August 24, 2012.

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 in college I needed a place to escape the daily grind of research, writing papers, reading textbooks, projects, and the list goes on…So I found a place. Where was my sanctuary? Where is it that I went for a refill of creative inspiration? It was the Morris Museum of Art.

The Morris Museum of Art is located on the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta. It is “The first museum dedicated to the art and artists of the American South.” Each and every item found in the museum was either created by an artist in the south, or the subject material is related to the South.

There is a permanent collection which holds paintings, works on paper, sculptures, photographs and more. In the collection you can find works for the Antebellum and Civil War periods, all the way to Contemporary Works created in the South. It’s an extensive collection with around 5,000 pieces.

To walk around from room to room and take it all in is an excellent escape from the world outside. Someone actually created this– it is inspirational! This mental, visual break helps me regain the composure I need to finish my assignments.

The Morris Museum of Art also offers eight to ten temporary exhibits yearly. Currently museum visitors can find two astonishing exhibits. One is Preservation of Place by Edward Rice. The Morris commissioned 40 paintings, drawn from public and private holdings in the Augusta area and elsewhere. The collection portrays recognizable Augusta landmarks such as the Sibley Mill, Sacred Heart Cultural Center and more. He uses bright, vibrant colors to draw the eye in through various layers creating a remarkable three-dimensional effect. The exhibit is on display until November 20, 2011.

The second temporary exhibit is Down South: Paintings by Art Rosenbaum and Photographs by Margo Newmark Rosenbaum. Famed painter, muralist and illustrator Art Rosenbaum (also 2011 Westobou Festival Signature Artist) and his wife Margo, well-known photographer joined forces to create a Grammy award-winning box set of field recordings of roots musicians performing songs and hymns unique to the South. The exhibit is on display until November 6, 2011.

The museum is not just a place for adults to escape the world and become engulfed by creativity, but also for children. There are several family fun days! For example, the first Sunday of each month is Artrageous! Family Sunday – where kids of all ages can get crafty and create their own works of art. And remember, Sunday admission to the Morris is free! The next Artrageos! Family Sunday will be November 6 at 2:00 p.m.

For more information on the fun things for both adults and children visit the Morris Museum of Arts’ website http://themorris.org. Or stop by and visit the friendly staff.

The Morris Museum of Art
One Tenth Street
Augusta, Georgia 30901
 706-724-7501

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday Noon – 5 p.m. (Free admission on Sundays)