Welcome to Visit Augusta GA blog

Deep Step, a former cypress swamp that runs alongside the Savannah River, was where some friends and I decided to explore this weekend.  Despite having lived in the area over ten years, I’m still finding new areas around Augusta to discover with scenic beauty and an abundance of flora and fauna. 

The first thing we learned is that Deep Step is deep in name only!  After paddling far into the area we found  the waterway narrowing considerably and ourselves barely floating above the bottom.  We had to pull our way through some muddy spots with our paddles, but catching a glimpse of this tranquil and beautiful spot was well worth it. 

Fishing Deep Step is another popular activity, but the water level is key!  Bass boats and the like will likely get stuck or have their hulls pierced by the many remaining cypress stumps.  Canoes, Johnboats and kayaks are ideal in this type of water.

If you’re interested in exploring Deep Step or any other area of the Savannah River, kayak and canoe rentals are available at American Wilderness Outfitters Limited.

Are you ready to RUUUUUUUUMMMMMMBBBBBBLLLLLLEEE?  Did you bring your ear plugs?  Because you’ll definitely need them at the Monster Truck show that my family and I recently attended at the James Brown Arena in Augusta.

There’s never a shortage of things to do with your family in Augusta, and this Monster Truck, Freestyle Motorcross, ATV, and BMX show was certainly an example of that.  My husband, my 16 year old step-son, Matt, and our 6 year old son Brandon had a blast watching these incredible machines smash old jalopies to smithereens. The boys, couldn’t take their eyes off of (not me, some of the time I covered my eyes it was so dangerous) the motorcycle and ATV riders as they took death defying leaps into the air, flipping from one ramp to another and even doing handstands on the handlebars.  The skill of the BMX bikers was incredible as they powered over ramps, jumped over a girl sitting in a chair, and made their bikes bend in their hands like silly-putty.

The entire show was really family friendly.  After it ended the riders signed hundreds of autographs for kids and fans of all ages.  Of course the popcorn and Coke was a treat and the company of our neighbors in the seats nearby was great!

We’ve still got the earplugs, ready for the next time we’re ready for the roar of monster trucks, the sweet smell of exhaust and the awesome aroma of burning tires!

Check out what you can take your family to see and experience at Augusta’s James Brown Arena at http://www.augustaentertainmentcomplex.com/.

Okay, the Augusta tournament may be about seeing the Masters of Golf or maybe even seeing the Masters of all Golf Courses. But you should also know they are also the Masters of inexpensive tasty food. I am serious! It is fabulous. And just when I thought it could not get any better… in 2009, they added the Sausage Biscuit! The best $1.50 spent all day…. well except for the egg salad sandwich….and maybe the chocolate chip cookie but that was only a dollar. Four of us ate lunch for less than $20. That’s including some headache medicine for one of us out a little late the night before. The food was so great and affordable I took a few photos. This was last year’s menu, but I thought it still might help you prepare for when you get in line in Augusta for the Masters Tournament snack.

Several friends and I kayaked down a creek just a mile or two downstream of downtown Augusta on the Savannah River.  What a gorgeous time of year to be out enjoying nature.  The colors were vibrant and nature still full of life.

I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves!

Around each twist and turn of the creek, we came across new discoveries. 

We hoped we didn’t disturb this fisherman where the creek met the Savannah River.

It was a good workout paddling back upstream to the boat house, but the good company and warm weather helped it fly by.

If you’d like to rent a canoe or kayak and go on your own adventures, you’ve got options!

American Wilderness Outdoors Limited (AWOL) and the 5^th Street Marina both rent kayaks and canoes and will even provide drop off / pick up at locations of your choice.  Both businesses have knowledgeable staff who can recommend the best routes for your interests and skill level.  The Savannah River, Strom Thurmond Lake and Bettys Branch are all popular choices. AWOL will also provide guides for groups or you can join their Thursday Night Twilight Paddles in the warmer months. Be safe and have fun exploring Augusta by water!

What a gorgeous season to be outside enjoying Augusta!  Saturday my girlfriend Stacey and I rode along the Augusta Canal to explore downtown Augusta.  The Augusta Canal Heritage Area has a path you can follow all the way from the Savannah Rapids Pavilion straight into the downtown area. 

Along the way, there were all sorts of things to see. 

The trees are all turning beautiful colors.

As we got closer to town, we passed some of the old mills and historical buildings close by.  Here is Sibley Mill and the Ezekiel Harris House.

We went by a Petersburg Boat tour in progress – they’re a lot of fun too. 

They start at the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center located in Enterprise Mill.  The regular hour-long tours are narrated by story-telling guides who share all sorts of information about history, nature and wildlife. 

Once downtown, we crossed over the Butt Bridge and made our way to Springfield Village Park.

Chicago artist Richard Hunt sculpted the Tower of Aspiration that reaches to the skies above the park.

Just down Broad Street a little ways, another well-known artist, I.M. Pei, designed the pyramid-shaped structure atop this building downtown. 

And of course, no visit to downtown is complete without visiting the James Brown statue!  Here he is all decorated for the Christmas season.

We rode a little further to the Marina to check out the Head of the South Regatta with teams coming to compete from all over the east coast.

While we were down there, we also noticed you can rent bicycles and canoes at the Marina.  That means when you visit Augusta, you can ride bikes and follow our steps or create your own tour of downtown Augusta!

Afterwards, we hopped back on our bikes, totally satisfied by a beautiful morning exploring our hometown.