Lake Hartwell is absolutely brimming with opportunities to explore local hotspots. Royston and Lavonia on the Georgia side of the lake are just two of the many cities worth visiting within an hour’s drive (or less).

You can easily visit both of these cities within a single pass, as they line up in almost a straight line from north to south, about 25 minutes’ drive from start to finish.

If you are anything like me, you love a good day trip. From Lavonia, you could head up to Toccoa Falls or even start your fall leaves driving tour.

Here are some fun things to do in Royston and Lavonia

Things to Do in Lavonia, Georgia

Browse Antiques

If you enjoy looking through antiques, be sure not to miss the Lavonia Antique Market. This large space hosts over 15,000 square feet of treasures from year past, and it’s an easy (and fun!) way to spend an afternoon.

Do Some Wine Tasting

Visit the Southern Alpaca Connection between 1pm and 7pm Thursday through Saturday to taste some local wines. If wine’s not your thing, you’ll still enjoy their fresh roasted coffee.

After you’ve wet your whistle with your beverage of choice, be sure to take a look around the shop and get some unique alpaca related products and services.

Purchase Local Art

While you’re downtown, make sure you stop by Sweet Combs Of Honey. Local beekeepers opened this store with the vision of bringing not just their own delicious honey and bee wax products but showcasing other local artists’ creations as well.

Of course, there’s still plenty of sweet and savory honey seasonings. But you’ll also find a nice selection of really cute home decor and locally sourced art.

Take an Art Class

If you’d ever like to try your hand at a new arts and crafts project, now your opportunity! Heart Strings Arts and Crafts offers monogramming and screen printing, as well as a slew of other items. Vendors have unique gifts and home decor pieces for sale, and you can also find antique and vintage items to take home.

What to do in Royston, Georgia

Visit a Baseball Museum

Baseball fans will love to stop by and peek at the Ty Cobb Museum, a small, one-room museum housed on land owned by the Cobb family. The admission is reasonable, and the staff is exceptionally friendly. The museum is set up like a baseball field, with each base touching on a different part of Cobb’s life.

Make A Friend At The Coffee Shop

You won’t meat a friendlier crew than the grounds crew at Centerfield Coffee Shop. This baseball-themed coffee shop is the perfect next stop during your day in Royston.

Grab a cuppa joe and one of their fresh baked goods. Too hot for coffee? That’s okay. They also have ice cream!

Golf at a Local Park

If you are looking for a sport with a view, try Victoria Bryant Park, which houses the Highland Walk Golf Course. The park itself is worth the trip, even for the non-golfer. It’s nestled in the state’s rolling hills and has a beautiful stream flowing through the park. Take a hike around the perimeter to get a full view of the park.

For those who want to partake in golf, Highland Walk is the perfect opportunity to both take in the beautiful views while golfing. The course is built on the park’s rolling hills and has broad fairways, making it a challenging course.

Grab a Meal at a Local Hotspot

If you are hungry (and you undoubtedly will be at some point!), make sure not to miss the Old Corner Hardware Store. Contrary to the name, you won’t find any hardware for sale here, but you will find fantastic food options to enjoy.

This local favorite has something for everyone. Southern comfort food is prepared just like grandma used to make, including chicken and dumplings, pimento cheese sandwiches, and sloppy joe grilled cheese.

Have you visited Royston or Lavonia?

If so, please let us know what your favorite spots are, and we’ll add them to the list.