What to do
Art, Historic, and Haunted Tours
Eagle Tavern Museum, Circa 1801
The Eagle Tavern is one of the earliest surviving structures in Oconee County. The Eagle Tavern was built in circa 1801 when Watkinsville was a frontier town on the edge of Creek Indian Territories.
Tours of the Eagle Tavern Museum are available Monday through Friday 10:00am-4:00pm. Call 706-769-5197 to schedule a private tour.
Donations are appreciated.
North Georgia Tours is owned and operated by Melissa Piche, a long time resident of Oconee County, Ga. A passionate interest in the history, architecture, legends and ghostly tales has inspired Melissa to narrate historic tours and ghost tours Oconee County and the surrounding area.
The historic Haygood House in downtown Watkinsville, served as the birthplace of Atticus and Laura Askew Haygood in circa 1827. Atticus Haygood was a president of Emory College from 1876-1882 and also a bishop in the Methodist Church. His sister Laura became the principal of a girls’ school in Atlanta, Ga. as well as one of the first missionaries in China. To learn more about the Haygood’s and their history, schedule a tour by contacting Jerry & Kathy Chappelle at 706-310-0985.
Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation
Open to the public (tuesday through saturday from 10:00am - 4:00pm), the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation (OCAF) is a non-profit organization and local art gallery that showcases a variety of local and surrounding arts all year long. Stop by the gallery to catch a tour or schedule a private group tour by visiting the OCAF website.
Farm/Outdoor Fun
Come enjoy the farm fun life out at Washington Farms with pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Or, ring in the autumn weather with that special handpicked pumpkin and get lost in our extensive corn maze. While you’re here, enjoy the many other farm fun games and activities during our seasonal harvests. For more information visit our website or call us at 706-769-0627.
The Oconee Farmers Market is operated by and for its members, who are the original producers of the items sold at the market. The market is designed to support local and regional farmers and gardeners by providing a direct marketing opportunity for their produce and value-added agricultural products. The market is open on Saturday mornings from approximately 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the back lawn of the Eagle Tavern Museum in downtown Watkinsville, Georgia.
Thomas Orchards: Nursery, Garden & Giftshop
Thomas Orchard is Oconee County's premier Greenhouse - Gift shop and Nursery Facility. They specialize in unique plants, outdoor art, pottery, fresh-picked peaches and more. Be sure to bring the kids! They always have plenty of their world famous homemade peach ice cream.
Greenbriar Creek Christmas Tree Farm
Whether you're in the market for a Christmas tree for the holidays or simply overdue for a family outing in the country, Greenbriar Creek Farms has you covered.
This spectacular display of daylilies is the best in all of Northeast Georgia! Open to the public during the bloom season for just admiring or for purchase. Be sure to call ahead on the gardens availability.
This center is nestled among 100 acres of rolling hills, creeks, springs, meadows, fern grottos and hardwood forests known as the Indigo Preserve. Tours of the center feature our Clean Energy Exhibition with 3,000 watts of solar power, a wind turbine, and a 600-foot long geothermal air-cooling system.
Ashford Manor Concerts on the Lawn
Ashford Manor Concert on the Lawn
Enjoy the many nights of live music featured on the sprawling grounds of the Ashford Manor B&B in downtown Watkinsville. Quite simply, there is no place quite like it.
2012 Concert Lineup: Coming soon...
Watkinsville's First Fridays
First Friday on Main Street in downtown Watkinsville has become THE place to be on Friday nights. Held from April through December, and sponsored by the Watkinsville Trade and Tourism Association, it provides a family-friendly atmosphere with shopping, dining and kid’s entertainment. The “Kid’s Zone,” across the street from the courthouse, has themed activities in addition to a moonwalk (weather permitting) and free popcorn. See our schedule under the Events tab for dates and times.
Golfing & Driving Ranges
Jennings Mill Country Club
*Membership required.
Salons & Day Spas
Parks & Recreation
Geocaching
Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.
With your GPS device in hand, Go to Geocaching.com enter the area code ‘30677’ in the appropriate search tab on the homepage. Once on the location page, find a cache or “item” that interests you and begin your search. It’s that easy! Now you are ready to join the world’s largest treasure hunt. Good hunting everyone!!
Surrounding Area Attractions
The State Botanical Gardens of Georgia
Historic Scull Shoals Mill Village