48 Hours in LaGrange, Georgia

History, Southern Charm, Beautiful Gardens
and Hidden Stories

There are some destinations that surprise you from the moment you arrive. 48 Hours in LaGrange Georgia, is one of them.

Located about an hour southwest of Atlanta, LaGrange blends elegant estates, fascinating Civil War history, beautifully preserved downtown streets, local boutiques, outstanding restaurants and one of Georgia’s most remarkable historic gardens. It’s the kind of place where every street seems to tell a story, every shop owner knows the history behind the merchandise, and every meal feels like you’re dining with friends.

Whether you’re interested in architecture, history, shopping or simply slowing down for a relaxing weekend, here’s how to spend the perfect 48 hours in LaGrange.

Day One

Check into the Courtyard by Marriott
25 West Lafayette Square

Begin your weekend by checking into the Courtyard by Marriott overlooking Lafayette Square. Its location couldn’t be more convenient. Once you park your car, most of downtown is easily explored on foot. Something extra special – parking is free.

Spend a few minutes strolling the square before beginning your afternoon adventure.

Discover the Story of the Callaway Family

Your first stop should be the Callaway Memorial Tower, located in the historic Hillside Mill Village. Standing nearly 200 feet tall, the tower was completed in 1929 in memory of textile pioneer Fuller E. Callaway. The impressive monument overlooks the community his family helped build, reminding visitors that LaGrange’s rise as an industrial powerhouse was largely fueled by the textile industry.

The beautifully landscaped grounds surrounding the tower make for wonderful photographs and offer a quiet place to appreciate one family’s lasting influence on the city.

Lunch at Beacon Brewing Company
700 Lincoln Street

Few restaurants embrace LaGrange’s history as beautifully as Beacon Brewing Company. Located inside a restored textile warehouse, the brewery pays tribute to the city’s manufacturing heritage. Even its name comes from the employee newsletter once distributed throughout the Callaway mills.

Today, exposed brick walls, massive wooden beams and historic details provide the backdrop for craft beer, gourmet burgers, sandwiches and elevated pub favorites.

Whether you order one of their house-made beers or simply enjoy lunch, you’re dining inside a piece of LaGrange history.

Shop Along Lincoln Street
Lincoln Street has quietly become one of Georgia’s most enjoyable shopping districts.

Tournesol
This charming boutique combines Southern elegance with French-inspired style. Decorative accessories, gifts and home décor make it almost impossible to leave empty-handed.

Home & Thread Thriftique
Vintage lovers could spend hours browsing this carefully curated collection of antique furniture, home décor, clothing and one-of-a-kind treasures. Every piece seems to have a story.

Rock Salt Milk Bar
No afternoon stroll is complete without ice cream. Choose from handcrafted waffle cones, milkshakes, sundaes or seasonal specialty flavors that have made this local favorite one of LaGrange’s sweetest stops.

Marketplace Antiques & Crave Cookies
Grab a fresh cookie while browsing antiques and collectibles inside this unique collaboration where shopping and dessert happily coexist.

Tour Hills & Dales Estate
1916 Hills and Dales Drive

No visit to LaGrange is complete without touring one of Georgia’s finest historic homes. Named for its rolling hills and wooded valleys, Hills & Dales Estate was built by the Callaway family in 1916 and remains one of the state’s most elegant private residences open to visitors.

Begin your visit with a short orientation film before touring the magnificent Italian-inspired mansion filled with original furnishings, artwork and family heirlooms.

Outside, nationally recognized gardens spread across more than 35 acres, featuring boxwood parterres, camellias, azaleas and spectacular seasonal blooms. The gardens are considered among the finest preserved historic gardens in America. Even if you’ve toured famous estates such as Biltmore or Longwood Gardens, Hills & Dales offers a more intimate glimpse into Southern elegance.

Dinner Downtown

Choose between two longtime favorites.

Mare Sol
Fresh local ingredients shine in creative seafood, steaks, salads and Southern-inspired specialties. The restaurant has become a downtown institution thanks to its warm hospitality and consistently excellent menu.

Venucci
If you’re craving classic Italian-American comfort food, Venucci serves generous portions of pasta, chicken, seafood and steaks in a relaxed atmosphere that’s popular with both visitors and locals.

Finish your evening with a leisurely walk around Lafayette Square before turning in for the night.

 

Day Two

It’s day two of your 48 hours in La Grange Georgia

Breakfast Downtown
Start your morning with one of two local favorites.

Gus’s Grill serves homemade biscuits, hearty Southern breakfasts and endless cups of coffee.

Or stop by Café Brûlée, where organic coffee, pastries and breakfast sandwiches provide a lighter beginning to the day.

The Stories Hidden Inside Mulberry Street Cemetery
101 West Mulberry Street

History comes alive inside Mulberry Street Cemetery. Established in the early 1800s, the cemetery serves as the final resting place for many generations of local families from the area.

One of its most fascinating stories belongs to Horace, a formerly enslaved craftsman remembered for building the cemetery’s picturesque wooden bridge. Walking across the bridge today offers visitors a tangible connection to his remarkable craftsmanship and perseverance during Reconstruction.

The cemetery also contains Confederate soldiers who died after being treated in the area at what once served as a nearby military hospital during the Civil War. Several markers simply read “Unknown,” reminding visitors that many soldiers never returned home identified.

Large magnolias, historic monuments and quiet pathways create one of Georgia’s most reflective historic sites.

Lunch at Taste of Lemon

Housed inside a beautifully restored 1892 church, Taste of Lemon has become one of LaGrange’s favorite lunch destinations. This classic Southern meat-and-three serves homemade comfort food including poppy seed chicken, pineapple casserole, fresh vegetables, cornbread and irresistible homemade pies. The church setting only adds to its charm.

 

Explore Historic Downtown

Spend the afternoon browsing locally owned shops surrounding Lafayette Square.

Highlights include:

• Marketplace at Lafayette Square, where owner Al happily shares fascinating stories behind antiques and collectibles.
• Spellbound Books, a wonderful independent bookstore.
• Pretty Good Books for even more literary treasures.
• The Medicine Cabinet Soda Shoppe, complete with an old-fashioned soda fountain, milkshakes, sundaes and tabletop games.
• Elliebelle’s Boutique for stylish women’s fashions.
• Dapper Den Haberdashery featuring classic men’s clothing and accessories.
• Splash Home Interiors for elegant gifts and home décor.
• ECI Elements showcasing gifts and interior design.
• Simon & Pine for contemporary fashion.

If your visit coincides with a concert, don’t miss the beautiful Sweetland Amphitheatre, one of Georgia’s premier outdoor entertainment venues.

If You Have Extra Time
Extend your stay by exploring some of west Georgia’s scenic treasures.

West Point Lake
Fishing, kayaking and lakeside sunsets make this reservoir a favorite with outdoor enthusiasts.

Bellevue
Tour another beautifully preserved Callaway family home that offers additional insight into the family’s remarkable legacy.

Covered Bridges
History lovers should take a short drive to visit two of Georgia’s picturesque covered bridges:

• Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge near Woodbury, one of Georgia’s oldest surviving covered bridges.
• Auchumpkee Creek Covered Bridge near Thomaston, dating to the late 1800s and one of only a handful of authentic covered bridges remaining in Georgia.

Both make excellent photography stops and pair perfectly with a leisurely scenic drive.

LaGrange doesn’t overwhelm visitors with towering attractions or crowded tourist districts.

Instead, it wins people over through genuine Southern hospitality, beautifully preserved history, remarkable architecture, locally owned businesses and stories waiting to be discovered around every corner.

It’s proof that sometimes the best weekends aren’t spent rushing from attraction to attraction, but slowing down long enough to appreciate a community that proudly remembers where it came from while warmly welcoming those who come to visit.

Know Before You Go

Best Time to Visit
LaGrange is beautiful year-round, but spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) offer comfortable temperatures and colorful gardens. Spring brings spectacular blooms at Hills & Dales Estate, while fall is perfect for strolling downtown and enjoying outdoor dining.

Getting There
LaGrange is conveniently located about 70 miles southwest of Atlanta along Interstate 85, making it an easy weekend getaway from Atlanta, Columbus, Montgomery and Birmingham.

Where to Stay
The Courtyard by Marriott on Lafayette Square places you within walking distance of restaurants, shopping and many downtown attractions, making it an ideal home base for exploring the city.

Getting Around
Downtown LaGrange is highly walkable. For attractions like Hills & Dales Estate, Bellevue and the Callaway Memorial Tower, a short drive is required.

How Much Time
Plan on at least two full days. History enthusiasts and garden lovers could easily spend a third day exploring nearby covered bridges, West Point Lake and additional historic sites.

What to Pack
Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Bring a camera for the gardens and historic architecture, and don’t forget a light jacket during spring and fall evenings.

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Travel With Annita Tips

Tour Hills & Dales Estate early in the afternoon.
The gardens photograph beautifully when the afternoon sun filters through the towering trees, and the later tour times are often less crowded.

Don’t rush through the shops on Lincoln Street.
Many store owners know the history behind the merchandise they sell. Spend a few extra minutes chatting—you’ll often leave with a story as memorable as your purchase.

Take your time at Mulberry Street Cemetery.

This isn’t simply a cemetery, it’s an outdoor history museum and a place for quiet reflection. Pause at Harold’s bridge, read the oldest headstones, and notice the graves marked “Unknown.” They quietly tell stories that aren’t found in most history books.

Save room for dessert.
Whether it’s homemade pie at Taste of Lemon, handcrafted ice cream at Rock Salt Milk Bar or an old-fashioned milkshake at The Medicine Cabinet Soda Shoppe, LaGrange knows how to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Look up.
One of the best ways to appreciate downtown LaGrange is by looking above the storefronts. Many of the historic buildings feature beautiful architectural details that visitors often miss while browsing the shops.

Visit a covered bridge on your way home.

Extend your weekend by taking the scenic route to the Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge or Auchumpkee Creek Covered Bridge. Auchumpkee Creek Bridge is a little over an hour away, but worth it for the Covered Bridge lovers.  They’re wonderful reminders of Georgia’s rural past and make terrific photo stops.

Ask the locals.
One thing I’ve learned after visiting more than 135 countries is that the best recommendations almost always come from local residents. Whether it’s the best biscuit in town, a hidden antique shop or a scenic back road, don’t hesitate to ask. The people of LaGrange are proud of their hometown and eager to share it.

One Last Stop...

Before leaving LaGrange, take one more walk around Lafayette Square. Grab a cup of coffee, settle onto one of the benches and watch the town come alive. You’ll notice neighbors greeting one another by name, shop owners sweeping their sidewalks and visitors discovering a place they didn’t expect to love.