Travel Georgia 13 Best Things To Do In Greensboro, Georgia The lakeside town has year-round festivals and countless outdoor adventures. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Abby Fribush Abby Fribush Abby Fribush is the Editorial Fellow at Southern Living and joined the team in 2023. She is a writer and editor with almost 5 years of experience in lifestyle content for local and international magazines. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on February 16, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Outdoor Activities Explore the City Go Shopping Dine and Drink Places To Stay Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: ExploreGeorgia.org Greensboro originally came about as a retirement and second-home community formed by those who were looking to take a quick getaway from Atlanta. Over the past two decades, though, a boom in vacation rentals and new businesses has attracted younger families from all over the country to settle in Greensboro. Still, the city has a remote feeling, with lots of outdoor recreation spaces centered around Lake Oconee, six championship golf courses, and many campgrounds. During spring and summer, multigenerational vacationers spend entire days on the water, indulging in water sports and relaxing by the beach. And after a fun day in the sun, there are several music venues, festivals, and restaurants to pleasure all the senses. Here are some of the best things to do in Greensboro, Georiga, no matter the season. Outdoor Activities Water Sports Whether you favor land or water, there are a variety of outdoor activities available in Greensboro to keep you out in nature. The 19,050-acre reservoir, Lake Oconee, is ideal for kayaking, jet skiing, boating, wakeboarding, tubing, paddle boarding, or simply relaxing on a pontoon. You can bring your own boats and equipment or rent them at one of the marinas. The lake has 374 miles of shoreline, offering plenty of spots to camp, fish, and sunbathe on the beach. Old Salem and Parks Ferry campgrounds have full-service amenities, including swimming beaches, children's playgrounds, picnic pavilions, boat ramps, and restrooms. For a unique glamping experience, sleep inside an authentic railroad boxcar with a full bath at the KOA in Greensboro. Land Activities Set on Reynolds Lake Oconee's 100 acres, the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds is the ultimate destination to test your physical and mental agility. Here you can play tennis at one of the 16 hard and clay courts, take an off-road adventure through a thrilling course, or try your hands on a sporting clay course. There is also a five-stand shooting range, an air rifle range, and an archery range. If you are not a shooter, head out to fish, canoe, kayak, or hike through the pristine settings including scenic ponds, rolling terrain, forested thickets, and pecan orchards. If you want to practice your swing, there are six championship golf courses around the area, including The Preserve, The Landing, Great Waters, and Harbor Club (the only public course). The Kingdom at Reynolds Lake Oconee is one of two of its kind in the world, integrating advanced technology and expert instruction. Membership is required to access most courses, though Ritz-Carlton hotel guests also enjoy some of these benefits. Explore the City Historic Downtown To learn more about the history and culture of Greensboro, take a self-guided walking tour through downtown. Starting on Main Street, check out the Chamber of Commerce that housed a phone switchboard named "gossip central" and The Herald Journal building that once had a bowling alley. There are also murals depicting the razing of Greensboro by the Creek in 1787, painted at the Greensboro Post Office. one of the spookiest places in Georgia—the Wyatt Jail, and a number of historic homes boasting unique southern architecture. Visit a Museum Georgia's Lake Country is filled with interesting history, and there are plenty of great museums to highlight it. The Lake Oconee Discovery Museum offers a chance for visitors to see historic artifacts and get a deeper look at the culture of Georgia's Lake Country. The museum features an impressive 10-foot scale model topographic map of Lake Oconee and surrounding areas to get a glimpse of the area's geography. Located just minutes from downtown, the Greene County African American Museum is dedicated to sharing the history and the empowerment of African American lives in Greensboro and all of Greene County. The museum’s galleries share stories and artifacts from different periods in African American life in Greene County to document and honor the history in the area. Catch a Festival Greensboro is home to arts, crafts, music, and food festivals taking place throughout the year. In spring, the Southland Jubilee, a heritage arts festival in downtown, has live music, classic cars, antique tractors, arts, and crafts. And in the summer, there's Pickin' on the Greene and Motown on Main. Fall brings the Rock 'n' Roll Cruise In and Rhythm and Brews Festival. Go Shopping Genuine Georgia Genuine Georgia is Greensboro's premier artisan marketplace. Located in downtown, it's one of the best places in the state to shop for gifts and art handcrafted by over 100 Georgia artists. You can browse for works in clay, fiber, folk art, glass, and wood, and each piece comes with a note about the artist who made it. During festival weekends, you can also meet the artists and watch live demonstrations. genuinegeorgia.com, S Main St, Greensboro, GA 30642 Farmview Market If you're coming into Greensboro from I-20 East, Farmview Market is definitely worth a quick trip. Only 20 minutes from Greensboro, this market features high-quality, locally-sourced products from farmers and producers all over the South. Whether you want to stock up on groceries for the weekend or need a quick sandwich and smoothie for the road, Farmview Market has you covered. The curated collection of local butchered meats, specialty foods, farm-to-table menu items, and even artisan crafts makes for a fun pitstop. farmviewmarket.com, 2610 Eatonton Rd, Madison, GA 30650 Dine and Drink Oconee Brewing Company The craft beer production facility and tasting room at Oconee Brewing Company is worth a visit. It's a 5,000-square-foot event space located in a former cotton mill house that hosts live concerts practically every weekend. Kids and pets are also welcome here. oconeebrewingco.com, 202 N West St, Greensboro, GA 30642 Ripe Thing For lunch, head over to Ripe Thing, a local farmers market and shop that creates daily alternating soups and sandwiches. The cozy interior serves as a community table and a marketplace offering locally-grown and seasonal food and products from around the South. facebook.com/RipeThingMarket, 112 W Broad St, Greensboro, GA 30642 5B's Barbecue and Brews Close to Lake Oconee is 5B's Barbecue and Brews, an elevated barbecue spot serving Texas-style barbecue and a great selection of craft beers and cocktails. This restaurant is family-friendly and has something for everyone. 5bbarbequeandbrews.com, 1017 Park Pl Blvd, Greensboro, GA 30642 The Silver Moon To eat like a local, check out the Silver Moon. This hidden gem is one of the city's best-kept secrets: there’s no hostess stand or sign outside—just walk in and write your name on the chalkboard to get a table. Featuring made-to-order Southern favorites, the Silver Moon is known for their crispy fish and chips and creamy parmesan grits. thesilvermoonpub.com, 1077 Greensboro Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024 Places To Stay The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Set along Lake Oconee, Ritz-Carlton Reynolds is designed to blend in with the quiet natural surroundings. The family-friendly resort offers the ultimate luxurious getaway on the waterfront. You can walk along the manicured gardens, take a dip in the family pools and splash pads, sit in an Adirondack chair along the shore, and gather with the family around the fire pit at night. Lake adventures can be accessed right from the hotel's docks, on a Hacker-Craft boat or motorized water sport equipment from Young Harris Water Sports Boat Rentals. During the holidays, there is a life-size gingerbread house in the lobby, breakfast with Santa, and an ice skating rink. With an impressive spa with steam rooms and a sauna, signature golf courses, Southern-inspired dining, and a Ritz Kids Clubhouse to engage young travelers, there's really no reason to leave the property. ritzcarlton.com, 1 Lake Oconee Trail, Greensboro, GA 30642 The Farmhouse Inn Just 15 minutes from downtown Greensboro is the Farmhouse Inn. This boutique, farm-stay style inn is perfect for a restful getaway. The property is on 100 acres and features great opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, kayaking, and more. With complimentary farm-to-table breakfasts and charming farmhouses and cottages, the Farmhouse Inn is a fabulous option when staying in Greensboro. thefarmhouseinn.com, 1051 Meadow Ln, Madison, GA 30650 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit