Sunday, December 02, 2007
Life, Travel
Short Jaunt
Travel to Augusta
The Partridge Inn
CREDIT: Courtesy of Randall Perry Photography
By Hope S. Philbrick
Want to getaway from Atlanta, but don’t want to hassle with the airport or use too much gas? Whether you’re looking to escape for a week, weekend or even just for dinner, Augusta, Georgia, offers plenty of reasons to visit.
Driving two hours for dinner may seem long, but one bite of the blackened tilapia with banana curry sauce at Augusta’s Blue Sky Kitchen makes the trip from Atlanta worthwhile. The flaky fish is served with jasmine rice and mixed vegetables, but it’s the spicy sweet red curry with chunks of banana that give the dish its distinctive flavor. Owner Barry Blackstone’s globally influenced menu features dishes like Cuban sandwiches, redneck stir fry, Jamaican jerk chicken, Korean beef, fried eggplant with goat cheese and many more. The best news is that all entrées are priced $15 or less.
Visit Augusta on the first Friday of any month, and, before or after dinner, wander along Broad Street between 7th and 12th streets exploring the studios and galleries. The shops along Artists’ Row stay open from 5 to 10 p.m. and many debut new works during the monthly festivities. Street vendors selling their wares and bands playing their tunes add to the family-friendly atmosphere.
Spend the night or the weekend at the Partridge Inn. New owners recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of the property, updating all guest rooms, exterior, meeting rooms and public spaces. Now all 145 guestrooms, which range from king rooms with balconies overlooking the city to spacious two-room suites, boast plush bedding and linens, rich reproduction furnishings and amenities like high-speed Internet access. The new interior color scheme features harmonious earth tones with rich shades of green—the color most associated with Augusta and the internationally renowned Masters Golf Tournament. The exterior is now a soft, sunny yellow to complement the lush landscaping. Established in 1892, the Partridge Inn was the first hotel in Georgia selected for inclusion in Historic Hotels of America. Famous for its outdoor seating, the Verandah Grill boasts a long legacy of culinary excellence; as an example, in 1923, it hosted a welcoming banquet for President Warren G. Harding. Chef Bradley Czajka’s menu showcases steaks, seafood, burgers and sandwiches. If you stay until Sunday, try the award-winning “Best of Augusta” brunch buffet, which includes made-to-order omelet and waffle stations.
Of course, Augusta is famous for its golf. The Georgia Golf Hall of Fame’s Botanical Gardens honors some of golf’s greatest masters like Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus. Bronze sculptures of these and other legends of the sport are artfully displayed amidst impeccable landscapes. There’s even a miniature golf course where you can practice putting. But if playing 18 holes is the only way you can satisfy your love of the game, there’s great news: Visitors to Augusta are welcome to whack away at the dozen course options that allow non-member play.
Even if you never step onto a golf course, Augusta will keep you entertained. The Morris Museum of Art showcases the art and artists of the American South with a collection of nearly 3,000 works from the Antebellum through contemporary periods.
Explore 12,000 years of local history at the Augusta Museum of History. Collection highlights include a 10,000-year-old projectile point, a 1914 locomotive, a 1920s trolley car, an exhibition on the history of healthcare in Augusta and much more.
Discover the influence of African-Americans on education, banking, the arts and more at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History.
Glimpse Georgia life during the Civil War and Reconstruction at the boyhood home of President Woodrow Wilson. The 28th President’s family home has been restored to its 1860’s appearance with original paint colors, period furnishings including 13 original pieces used by the Wilson family, period accessories and replica floor coverings and window treatments.
Let loose your inner child at the National Science Center’s Fort Discovery, located on the scenic Riverwalk in downtown Augusta. More than 250 interactive exhibits inspire imagination while promoting science and math through hands-on exploration of electronics, communications, automation, robotics, power generation and more.
Take in the sights along the Augusta Canal, Georgia’s first designated National Heritage Area. Built in 1845 to harness the water and power of the Savannah River, the 8.5-mile canal today offers historical and recreational experiences. Enjoy it via foot, bicycle, canoe or kayak, or relax during a guided tour aboard a replica canal cargo boat.
The journey from Atlanta to Augusta is short for us, but 1.5 million people from around the world make an even longer trek to visit each year. With a visit of my own, it’s easy to see why. SP
IF YOU GO
Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visitor Information Center
560B Reynolds St.
706-724-4067
www.augustaga.org
Augusta Canal
Interpretive Center
1450 Greene St.
706-823-0440
www.augustacanal.com
Augusta Museum of History
560 Reynolds St.
706-722-8584
www.augustamuseum.org
Blue Sky Kitchen
990 Broad St.
706-821-3988
Open for lunch Mon.–Sat., 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and dinner Tues.–Sat., 6–10 p.m.
Georgia Golf Hall of Fame’s Botanical Gardens
706-724-4443
www.gghf.org
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History
1116 Phillips St.
706-724-3526
www.lucycraftlaneymuseum.com
Morris Museum of Art
1 Tenth St.
706-724-7501
www.themorris.org
National Science Center’s Fort Discovery
1 Seventh St.
706-821-0221
www.nscdiscovery.org
The Partridge Inn
2110 Walton Way
706-737-8888
www.partridgeinn.com
President Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home
419 Seventh St.
www.wilsonboyhoodhome.org