Local Secrets: Four Great Stops from Those in the Know
There are vacationers, and then there are travelers. Travelers seek out locals to tell them the secret spots reserved only for those in the know. We asked Georgia locals their favorite neighborhood secrets, and here are four we found.
Bob's Brick Oven, Rock Spring
You may go to Bob's Brick Oven for the homemade sourdough crusted pizza with a dizzying array of fresh ingredients and combinations (which earned a spot on 2016's 100 Plates Locals Love list), but you’ll leave raving about the homemade ice cream.
Bob makes the fresh ice cream in house and tries to keep vanilla, chocolate, and cookies and cream on hand every day. We recommend stepping out of the box with the flavor of the day. How does chocolate jalapeno ice cream sound? Maybe something a little less spicy, like Baptist Communion Sorbet, or just plain old milk and honey. You can't go wrong.
- Bob's Brick Oven: 8009 US-27, Rock Spring, GA 30739. (706) 375-4400
Miller's Store, McDonough
Head north from downtown McDonough on Highway 155 for 11 miles, and you'll find Miller's Store, which has been in business longer than any other store in Henry County. The current store, built in the 1960s, even had a brush with fame, appearing in the 2006 film "We Are Marshall." If you ask owners Herman or Ray Miller, they’ll give you a tour of the 1930s building out back that previously housed the store and still contains some memorabilia. Behind the buildings and down the hill are a few other old buildings that used to be a cotton mill and a grist mill that served the area.
Interesting, but what you really want here is one of the homemade biscuits. You can pre-order them the day before, which we recommend, otherwise you might miss out. Biscuits are available first-come, first-served, and each morning a group of local gentlemen called "The Breakfast Club" come in for coffee, conversation and, of course, the biscuits.
- Miller's Store: 3099 Ga. Highway 155, McDonough, GA 30252. (770) 957-3839. Open weekdays 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oconee River Greenway, Milledgeville
The Oconee River Greenway is a beautiful park in Milledgeville for walking, jogging, bicycling or just relaxing. If you want to get on the river for a bit of paddling, locals contact Oconee Outfitters. This local outfitter has the scoop on when the dam is releasing water into the Oconee, and when it’s not. You can go it alone, but if the water isn’t flowing, your float trip will turn into a walk-and-drag-the-float trip. Not the same thing.
- Oconee River Greenway: 400 E. Green St., Milledgeville, GA 31061. (478) 387-4916
- Oconee Outfitters: 112 N. Wayne St. Milledgeville, GA 31061. (478) 452-3890
Antebellum Homes, Washington
Communities like Madison and Social Circle are known for their antebellum homes, but locals in Washington, Georgia, know their community has more antebellum homes (more than 100) than other communities in the state.
This small town between Athens and Augusta, was the first county and the first city in Georgia, pre-dating the American Revolution. Visitors can tour a Greek Revival mansion built with Georgia red clay and containing original antiques, or the home of fiery Confederate legislator Robert Toombs. Visit in December for the Christmas Tour of Homes and in March for the Tour of Homes & Spring Festival.
If you plan to spend the night in town, locals recommend the Red Land Motel, locally owned and operated since 1952.
- Washington Main Street: 104 East Liberty St., Washington, GA 30673. (706) 678-3277
- Robert Toombs House Historic Site: 216 E. Robert Toombs Ave., Washington, GA 30673. (706) 678-2226
- Red Land Motel: 1241 Lincolnton Rd., Washington, GA 30673. (706) 678-3225
