Marjolein Dilven
Are you looking for your next fun vacation destination in Georgia? This small, charming Southern U.S. city will etch wonderful memories in your heart. Fun activities await you with the best things to do in LaGrange, GA.
LaGrange is a city in Georgia that is packed with pleasurable water fun, outdoor recreation, cultural fares, and indoor adventures.
Located an hour from Atlanta in the foothills of Georgia Piedmont, the city was named after Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who visited the city in 1828.
This small town is blessed with a rich history, lush greenery, and vibrant culture. Some fantastic museums and water parks can keep you busy all day long.
This article covers key information for your trip to LaGrange GA, including transportation options, a list of year-round activities and accommodations, and tips to make your solo or family vacation in the US enjoyable.
Weather in LaGrange, GA
Weather conditions in this part of Georgia are characterized by oppressive and hot summers, whereas the winters are very short and not too cold.
In summer, the temperatures can go as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32°Celsius). However, the winter season temperature rarely goes below 34°F (1°C).
The weather reports show that the best time to visit LaGrange, GA is between September and October, when the temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold.
Things To Do in LaGrange, GA – Activities
1. Skating at Southbend Park
Located just beside Lafayette Square, Southbend Park is an amazing place to skate amid scenic views. While the park opened in 2019, it has since become one of the most visited tourist places in the city.
The skating rink and park receive some really good reviews from skaters online. It provides an ideal outdoor adventure setting for any skateboarder, BMX biker, scooter rider, and in-line skater.
2. The Fields Golf Club
The Fields of Golf Club has an 18-hole links-style golf course surrounded by astonishing landscapes. It is the perfect place for someone who wants to enjoy the fresh air and play golf amid breathtaking natural beauty. Some instructors provide golf lessons to both adults and juniors if you are a rookie at the game.
In addition, there is a golf club-operated store where you can buy caps, shirts, mugs, and many other sports-related items.
If you seek to play in a variety of golf courses as you travel across the USA, check out these other outstanding destinations for golf enthusiasts and women golfers.
3. Music and Sports at Sweetland Amphitheater
Sweetland Amphitheater is a great place to spend a day enjoying musical concerts and dramas. The outdoor venue has space for 2,500 attendees at a time. It also offers a wide variety of foods and drinks.
The best part is to experience your favorite artist perform while eating delicious local cuisine under a mesmerizing sunset. This place is one of the best entertainment spots in the entire state of Georgia.
4. Watersports at West Point Lake
West Point Lake is an artificial lake surrounded by the rolling fields and deep forest of LaGrange. It is under the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The lake has a 525-mile (845 kilometers) shoreline that provides a wide variety of tourist activities, such as boating, camping, birdwatching, fishing, swimming, hiking, etc.
Moreover, there is also a public hunting area nearby if you are an expert hunter.
5. Fun at Water Wiz
Water Wiz, an indoor water park, is a perfect place for water entertainment if you are traveling with kids. It has great pools and water slides for adults and kids and provides bookings for private picnics and parties.
If you want to enjoy food while swimming, there is a snack bar with delicious hotdogs, nachos with cheese, and more good stuff.
Keep in mind the place is kid-friendly, so no alcohol is allowed.
6. Lamar Dodd Art Center
Lamar Dodd Art Center was named after a famous local artist Lamar Dodd. It is located at LaGrange College. Lamar was a bright student of arts in this college. The center has three floors spread over 0.3 hectares (32,292 square feet).
The artworks displayed are changed after the new batch arrives. You can experience different art styles, including pencil drawings, colored photographs, and paper cutouts.
7. Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is a great place to enjoy time with your family. It is one of North America’s largest indoor water park resorts and one of Georgia’s top attractions for kids.
From little ones to adults, the park has something for everyone. There are many different water slides, wave pools, toddler-friendly pools, water treehouses, etc. There are so many activities for kids to do and enjoy. You can even find indoor games such as mini-golf, MagiQuest, bowling, and arcade games.
As a luxury resort, there are some great accommodation options. You can book luxurious rooms with amenities such as a mini-fridge, flat-screen TV, balconies with amazing views, and chill-out areas.
Things To Do in LaGrange, GA – Sights
8. Troup County Archives and Legacy Museum
If you want to know about the history of LaGrange, Troup County Archives is the best place to visit. The archives here include materials about the history of Georgia, Troup County, and the rest of the southeast.
On the other hand, the Legacy Museum features the history of West Georgia. This museum is also operated by Troup County but has different exhibits. The place is closed on Sundays and opens from 9 am to 5 pm on the weekdays.
9. Hogg Mine
Hogg Mine is the perfect place for you if you want some real adventure and exploration. It provides visitors an opportunity to find unusual jewels from the mine. There are plenty of things to find, such as rose quartz, green beryl, clear quartz, aquamarine, black tourmaline, and kaolin clay.
Make sure to bring a bucket, shovel, and a pair of gloves to be equipped well for the digging.
10. Callaway Memorial Tower
This amazing memorial tower is situated near Troup County archives and the legacy museum. It is a monument dedicated to Fuller E. Callaway, a great textile mogul who transformed Georgia by constructing and operating textile mills.
Built in 1929 and patterned after the tower in Venice’s St. Mark Square, the memorial tower has become a great spot for picture-taking to preserve memories of your LaGrange trip.
11. LaGrange Art Museum
Another place that art lovers should not miss is the LaGrange Art Museum. The museum is a non-profit with artwork displayed by local and international artists.
There is also a sculpture garden on the grounds, where you can find 500 American sculpture pieces, including masterpieces by Mildred Thompson and Lamar Dodd.
12. Bellevue Mansion
The historic Bellevue mansion house was the home of US Senator Benjamin Harvey, who designed it for his wife in 1855. Here, you can marvel at the house’s Greek Revival-style architecture. The National Park Service has now registered it as a National Historic Landmark.
When you visit this place, do not forget to ask them about the hidden stairway. It is surely a unique experience.
13. Lafayette Square
Lafayette Square is a famous tourist spot located in the downtown area. It features a lovely fountain with a statue of Marquis de Lafayette, a French royalty, military officer, and war hero. His statue was built in 1976 to honor the Marquis, who helped launch the 1789 French Revolution.
The square has become popular for its lovely scenery and fresh air.
14. Hills and Dales Estate
The Hills and Dales Estate, an important part of the city’s heritage, is sprawled in a 13,000-sq ft (0.12 ha) property with amazing gardens, beautiful terraces, and well-trodden paths.
It is remarkably well-maintained as all the décor gleams as if the estate was constructed only a few months ago instead of in 1916.
We advise you to take a tour guide to explore this house with detailed information on its history.
15. Biblical History Center
The Biblical History Center is another great historic place with exhibitions, objects, and artifacts from the ancient world. In addition, this cultural museum provides a unique experience to its visitors by taking them through biblical history.
This biblical artifact gallery is unique, being one of seven such galleries in the entire world. Here, you can also find a replica garden with tombs, a tent made with goat’s hair, and a Roman step theater.
16. LaGrange College
LaGrange College is not only an institute but a home to many historic monuments and structures. Established in 1831, the college boasts of historical architecture with a touch of modernism, making this place a must-visit.
Recently, the college has completed a 40,000-sq ft (3,716 sq m) science lab building, which you can also check out on your visit.
Things To Do in LaGrange, GA – Food, Drinks, and Nightlife
17. Nutwood Winery
Nutwood Winery is located in the rolling hills of LaGrange. It is built over a 4 ha (40,469 sq m) property, surrounded by pecan trees. Before buying anything from this place, head to the tasting room, where you can sample a great variety of wines.
18. Taste of Lemon
Taste of Lemon is undoubtedly the best place to try local food. The restaurant has an old and rustic exterior similar to a church.
It serves some divine fried steak, mouth-watering seed chicken, fresh vegetable sides, and delectable salmon croquettes.
The specialties of this place are its Mac n Cheese and Pineapple Casserole.
19. Mare Sol
Mare Sol, a restaurant in the downtown area, serves great Mediterranean cuisine amid modern interiors. Moreover, the place offers more than 15 different crafted beers, with a special menu for vegans.
The menu has great options; we highly recommend the shrimp and grits, Butterfinger cheesecake, and chicken hoagie.
20. Sound Factory Nightclub
The Sound Factory Nightclub is located just outside the town of Columbus, a 50-minute drive from LaGrange. The place has a reputation as a venue for adult drama-free parties (no drunken brawls or catfights, perhaps?).
Moreover, this nightclub has a karaoke bar, darts, slots, and hookahs, making it a fun spot to keep you entertained.
How To Get to LaGrange, GA?
To get to LaGrange, you can choose to travel by bus or plane. Some buses leave directly to LaGrange from Atlanta, the nearest major city in Georgia.
However, if you want to travel by air, you need to land at the Atlanta International Airport, the only major airport near LaGrange that can accommodate international flights from all over the world.
Once you have reached Atlanta, take a bus from the nearest station to the airport. The bus trip lasts for around one hour and 15 minutes and costs $32 to $42 per person. The distance between the airport station and LaGrange City is 66.8 miles (107.5 kilometers).
How To Stay Safe During Your LaGrange, GA Visit?
To enjoy your LaGrange visit, follow these four expert tips.
- The poverty rate in the area is high, so make sure to take that into account when traveling.
- Please do not stay on public roads late at night. Overnight street parking is prohibited from 2:00 to 6:00 am.
- Living costs here are quite low compared to other cities, so you can plan a long trip to explore the area completely.
- Try as many restaurants as possible; there are plenty of delightful options.
- Additionally, consider protecting yourself with travel insurance such as SafetyWing, which can cover medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and other unforeseen incidents during your stay. Use the widget below to snag the perfect policy for your needs and travel with peace of mind knowing you’ve got your back covered, no matter what adventures come your way!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Things To Do in LaGrange, GA
Which City Is Close to LaGrange, Georgia?
Atlanta is the closest city to LaGrange at a total distance of 67 miles.
Is LaGrange, GA, in the Mountains?
LaGrange, GA, is located in the foothills of Georgia Piedmont.
What Is the Crime Rate in LaGrange, GA?
The chances of being targeted by criminals in LaGrange is 1 in 175.
Conclusion – Things To Do in LaGrange, GA
Having taken a closer look at what LaGrange, Georgia has to offer through this article, you now know that LaGrange is a charming destination where you won’t run out of fun things to do. For a city this size, there are surprisingly numerous activities to be experienced with various options that would suit everyone.
Hop on the next bus or plane to LaGrange; you won’t regret it! Or check out other wonderful US destinations.
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Founder of Spark Nomad, Radical FIRE, Copywriter
Expertise: Personal finance and travel content. I’m a full-time traveler, and I’ve been to 49 countries and 5 continents.
Education: Bachelor of Economics at Radboud University, Master in Finance at Radboud University, Minor in Economics at Chapman University.
Over 200 articles, essays, and short stories published across the web.
Marjolein Dilven is a journalist and founder of Spark Nomad, a travel platform, and Radical FIRE, a personal finance platform. Marjolein has a finance and economics background with a master’s in Finance. She has quit her job to travel the world, documenting her travels on Spark Nomad to help people plan their travels. Marjolein Dilven has written for publications like MSN, Associated Press, CNBC, Town News syndicate, and more.