Road Trip: Augusta
Many people refer to the Masters by simply saying "Augusta," and it's understood what is meant, especially among golf fans. The host city has become synonymous with the legendary golf tournament, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2011. But Augusta has plenty of other worthwhile activities and attractions besides the Masters, so don't limit yourself to the "hallowed ground" of Augusta National Golf Club and your accommodations. Get out and and explore what else the city has to offer. Here are some highlights, including special events occurring during Masters week this year (April 4-10).
Downtown
Evening is a good time to head downtown during Masters week. Broad Street, the main thoroughfare, is filled with art galleries, eclectic shops, bars, restaurants and coffeehouses along a lively strip known as Artists' Row. Here you're likely to encounter street musicians or even entire bands performing on wide sidewalks where foot traffic is heavy as people shuffle up and down Broad. Plan time during the day to visit the Riverwalk on the banks of the Savannah River. Lined with shady trees, flower beds and pocket parks, this is a great spot to take in a scenic view of the water or do some people-watching from a park bench on this five-block-long promenade.
The Augusta Common, a public green space connecting Broad Street and the Riverwalk, will be the site of the 13th Annual Mayor’s Masters Reception on Monday and the Par 3 Party on Wednesday, featuring live music, artwork and beer and food vendors. Both events begin at 6 p.m. If you want to pay homage to music legend James Brown -- who proudly called Augusta home -- his life-sized statue is directly across from the Common in a plaza on Broad Street where people often leave flowers, letters and other mementos in honor of "The Godfather of Soul" (his burial spot is not open to the public).
The Augusta Canal
Long before it became known for golf, Augusta was transformed by a canal system constructed in the mid-19th century. Had the canal never been built, Augusta most likely never would have become a Victorian-era textile-manufacturing center and resort town. Today the canal is a National Heritage Area where you can take cruises aboard replicas of long, shallow-draft Petersburg cargo boats, or hike/bike a trail, the former levee tow path where mules once hauled the boats to the mills. On April 8 the Moonlight Music Cruise featuring a live band departs at sunset from Enterprise Mill, a renovated industrial space that now houses residential lofts and businesses. Don't miss the interpretive center inside Enterprise Mill with its impressive interactive displays about the canal system that kids and adults will find appealing.
Museums
Golf enthusiasts will want to check out the Augusta Museum of History for its galleries of golf-related exhibits that include an authentic green jacket from the Masters and historical oddities like a rut club (once used to hit balls out of wagon wheel ruts in the pathway). Other highlights are the James Brown exhibit and rare Civil War-era artifacts such as Georgia's flag of secession, featuring a lone red star on a white background, believed to be the only one of these flags still in existence.
The Morris Museum of Art should be marked as a go-to destination on every art lover's map. Housed in a building next to the Riverwalk that looks more like an office tower, don't let the facade fool you. The masterfully curated galleries within are a sight to behold, containing one of the world's finest collections of art from the American South, with works ranging from the antebellum period through the modern age.
If you go
Augusta is approximately a 2.5-hour drive east of Atlanta on I-20.
Stay
The Marriott Downtown. One of the city's larger hotel properties is in a convenient location next to the Riverwalk and directly across the driveway from the Morris Museum of Art. Rates start at $205. Two 10th St., Augusta. 800-868-5354; www.marriott.com
The Partridge Inn. Historic hotel two miles from Augusta National. This is the place to see and be seen during the Masters, so even if you don't stay here you should dine or grab a cocktail on the second-floor veranda. Regular rates start at $139 but rise substantially during Masters week. 2110 Walton Way, Augusta. 800-476-6888; www.partridgeinn.com
Eat
French Market Grille. Located in the Surrey Center shopping complex near Augusta National, the vibe is breezy, sun-lit and casual, the fare steeped in Louisiana traditions with many Cajun and Creole specialties. Entrees $10-$30. 425 Highland Ave., Augusta. 706-737-4865; www.frenchmarketaugusta.com
La Maison & Veritas. This is perhaps Augusta's most romantic dining destination. Veritas is a tapas lounge and La Maison the more formal dining room, both located in a historic pink house with exquisite decor and dim lights. The cuisine is international but grounded in French traditions, and the wine list is extensive. Main courses start at $17. 404 Telfair St., Augusta. 706-722-4805; www.lamaisonontelfair.com
Visitor info
Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitor Center. 560-B Reynolds St., Augusta (inside the lobby of the Augusta Museum of History). 800-726-0243; www.augustaga.org
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