Learn about Augusta's rich history by taking a self-guided walking tour with the National Park Service's "Augusta Discover Our Shared Heritage" travel itinerary as your guide. The itinerary highlights 39 historic places that you can visit that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Some of these places include the Augusta Cotton Exchange Building (no website; 32 8th St.; Augusta; 706-432-3332), the Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson (wilsonboyhoodhome.org) and First Baptist Church of Augusta (fbcaugusta.org).
Augusta has an average temperature of 62.7 degrees, making it an ideal place for a vacation focused on enjoying the outdoors. The Augusta Canal National Heritage Area (augustacanal.com), the country's only industrial power canal built in 1845, is not only historic but a place where you can go walking or biking on trails, canoeing and kayaking. Places for boating and fishing are: Lake Olmstead (no website; 2200 Broad St.; Augusta), New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam Park (no website; 1853 Lock and Dam Road; Augusta; 706-793-9403) and Diamond Lakes (no website; 4335 Windsor Spring Road; Augusta; 706-771-2980). Play a round of golf or practice your swing at the Augusta Municipal Golf Course (no website; 2023 Highland Ave.; Augusta; 706-731-9344). Play a game of tennis on one of Newman Tennis Center's (no website; 3103 Wrightsboro Rd.; Augusta; 706-821-1600) 18 courts. Take a walk along the Augusta Riverwalk (no website; 4 8th St.; Augusta; 706 821-1754), comprised of three blocks and featuring a playground, restaurants, an amphitheater and gardens.
Augusta is home to three places where you can experience live cultural performances and special events. The Augusta Entertainment Complex (augustaentertainmentcomplex.com) is comprised on the James Brown Arena (601 Seventh St.; Augusta; 706-722-3521) and The Bell Auditorium (712 Telfair St.; Augusta; 706-722-3521) and features sporting events, concerts and theater productions. Go to the Imperial Theatre (imperialtheatre.com) if you want to watch a musical or dance performance or stand-up comedy. The Sacred Heart Cultural Center (sacredheartaugusta.org) host the annual Garden Festival. This three-day event in April features garden and floral exhibits, garden experts and vendors.
Augusta is home to different kinds of museums from art to science and history museums. See artwork from local and regional artists for free in the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art (ghia.org), which hosts six major exhibits of contemporary art and rotating student exhibits. The Natural Science Center (nscdiscovery.org) is a 128,000 square-foot math and science center with hands-on exhibits, digital theater programs, a planetarium, educational workshops and demonstrations for people of all ages. If you want o learn about Augusta's history, visit the Augusta Museum of History (augustamuseum.org), which has permanent and changing exhibits. The permanent collection includes slave-made pottery, historical photographs, a 1917 steam locomotive and artifacts from the Antebellum era.
