Walking in Watkinsville

There is a lot to do on foot in Watkinsville. Park your car and explore locally owned restaurants and walking trails.

Self-guided walking tour

Stroll through downtown Watkinsville at your own pace with a free self-guided historical walking tour. Start at the Eagle Tavern Museum and follow the self-guided walking tour map highlighting the area's unique shops, historic sites, dining, and parks. The printed map also highlights local shops and restaurants nestled among the beautifully preserved 19th-century storefronts, just waiting for you to discover. The tour weaves together the history of a frontier-era settlement to the vibrant town you see today all anchored in friendly Southern hospitality.

Eagle Tavern Museum, built circa 1803, once a stagecoach stop, inn, and tavern, has hosted visitors for well over 200 years. Today, the tradition is continued with tours that reflect on the tavern’s history, local history, and Georgia history. Come find out about life and travel on the early Georgia frontier. The tavern also has a variety of maps, local information, and brochures.

Locally owned restaurants

There are endless options of dishes from local favorites like Kiki’s Bakeshop, Chops & Hops, The Traveling Hobo, and Girasoles.

Walking trails at Thomas Farm Preserve

The Thomas Farm Preserve, located just inside the city limits along Simonton Bridge Road, includes more than one-third of a mile of frontage along Calls Creek, more than 60 acres of open pasture, 33 acres of woodlands, two ponds comprising approximately five acres, and one of Oconee County’s most iconic views. There is one mile of paved wheelchair-accessible 10-foot-wide paths around the two ponds, more than 2 miles of crushed gravel paths through pastures and woods, and 2.3 miles of backcountry biking and hiking trails that run along the property boundary lines.

For more information about Watkinsville and the surrounding area, visit VisitOconee.com or call the Oconee County Welcome Center at 706-769-5197.