The town of Griffin has grown from a sleepy railroad town to a beautiful destination for weekend getaways and short excursions.
This small-town charm in Georgia’s Spalding County, an hour’s drive south of Atlanta, is known for its many beautiful things.
It has rich history and heritage, and a thriving art and entertainment community that are worth seeing.
You won’t run out of recreational activities centered on historical sites that have immense significance to Georgia’s rich history.
It’s also well-known for having a unique festival, delicious diners, museums, and historical sites with exciting stories to tell.
Griffin is a town with a charming southern beauty that offers you the perfect escape from stressful city life.
The town’s 22,700 plus inhabitants are known for their southern hospitality and diverse culture.
If you’re planning for a memorable weekend getaway to this town, here are the 15 best things to do in Griffin, GA:
Judson McCranie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This historical house serves as the office of the Griffin Spalding Historical Society.
The house has many exciting stories about Georgia’s history and the Civil War in the 1800s.
Completed in the early parts of the 1860s, the Bailey-Tebault House served as a hospital for confederate soldiers wounded in battles.
Judson McCranie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Countless soldiers were treated there during that time.
Despite the war, the house was spared from utter destruction or damage.
Until today, its beautiful Greek Revival architecture design is well-preserved.
The house has a lot of similarities to the White House in the nation’s capital for its two story-Greek columns on its front entrance.
Judson McCranie, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Roaming inside the house will take you to numerous cast moldings beautifully hanging on the walls and ceilings.
The Bailey-Tebault House is at 633 Meriwether St, Griffin, GA.
To find out the house’s business hours, visit the official website of the Griffin Spalding Historical Society.
The Main Street Players are Griffin’s top-notch stage performers well-known for entertaining live performances at the 100-seater Black Box Theater.
The group was created by Norma Richardson, who is their founder and artistic director.
The group comprises Joe McKaughan, Dan Strickland, and Charles Walker, the group’s leading performers.
Their first performance in Griffin was on September 20, 2001, and from then on, they successfully staged countless performances.
To learn more about the group and their upcoming shows, check their official website.
It’s a highly-recommended that you visit the Griffin Welcome Center before doing anything else in the town.
It is because the welcome center also houses the Griffin Spalding Museum.
It contains an extensive collection of memorabilia, artifacts, photographs, documents dating back from the early 1800s.
It is where you’ll also find the Doc Holliday Museum, the famous gunslinger of Griffin.
Old dental, medical, and pharmaceutical equipment are displayed in the museum and its local cotton industry equipment.
Visiting this place is well worth discovering the history of the town’s rich historical past.
The museum opens from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays.
The Griffin Ballet Theater is a professionally run ballet theater featuring young and talented ballerinas composed mainly of locals.
The group is dedicated to promoting their art of creative ballet through their stage performances to the public.
They have been entertaining and teaching youngsters in ballet for more than 20 years already.
They also hold outreach programs using the proceeds of their shows in Griffin.
So, watching one of the ballerinas’ shows can go a long way to the community.
To learn about their upcoming shows, visit their official website.
To visit their theater, it is at 111 N. Hill St., Griffin, GA.
This Mexican restaurant in Griffin started serving their mouthwatering authentic Mexican dishes to locals in 1986.
The restaurant was formerly named the El Durango but later renamed Catarina, the co-owner’s mother’s name.
Catarina, according to Jimmy, was passionate about having a restaurant business.
Thus, he dedicated himself to the business by renaming the restaurant Catarina to honor her legacy and passion after she passed away.
It’s one of Griffin’s most beloved restaurants because of its delicious burritos, tacos, nachos, quesadillas, along with other Mexican and American food items on its menu.
To dine at this popular local favorite, they are at 650 N. Expressway.
They start serving their delicious Mexican food from 11 am to 11 pm, but they close every Sunday.
Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
This place serves as the main office for many of the town’s businesses and essential establishments.
This building houses the town’s chamber of commerce, historical museum, archives, art association, general store, and convention center.
Thus, it is essential to head to this place before you roam around the town.
You will be greeted with the welcome center’s friendly staff, who will gamely answer all your questions regarding Griffin’s attractions and activities.
It’s most likely where you’ll get your itinerary for Griffin.
Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Plus, you can head straight to the museum, general store, and art gallery right after.
A prominent local citizen, B. R. Blakely Sr., who had numerous businesses in Griffin, built the historic building.
He ran agribusiness, wholesaling, and banking, which made him decide to construct the building in 1899.
When you arrive at Griffin, head to 143 N Hill St. to reach the welcome center.
The welcome center opens from 8 am to 5 pm except on weekends.
The Griffin Spalding Historical Society has taken care of and preserved the town’s rich historical landmarks and sites since 1969.
The group aims to present the exciting story of Griffin’s past in the most engaging ways through their exhibit, museum, and historical landmark tours.
That is why you need to visit this group for guided tours around Griffin.
In addition, they have their office in the historic Bailey-Tebault House, which served as a field hospital during the Civil War.
If you want to experience a guided tour, contact the Griffin Spalding Historical Society to book a reservation.
In 1994, the St. George’s Episcopal Church was officially listed to the National Register of Historic Places.
This historic church built in 1859 witnessed the historical events that occurred during the bloody Civil War.
In 1868, its construction went full swing after it was delayed numerous times during the Civil War.
It found its perfect spot on the corner of Tenth and Broad Street in downtown Griffin.
It had its first mass in April 1871 and has become a famous historic landmark in the town.
To visit the church, it is at 132 N. 10th St., Griffin, GA.
The Griffith’s Drive-in, a family-owned restaurant in Griffin, started serving the locals in 1975 with their delicious home-cooked meals.
However, they became more famous for their unique restaurant atmosphere that takes you back to the 1950s.
The restaurant’s exterior and interior designs devotedly follow the vintage era, which lets you travel back in time where vintage Cadillacs rule the streets.
So, don’t forget to take pictures of their vintage cars and the restaurant while enjoying their delicious food.
Moreover, they serve one of the best chilis and coleslaw in town and delicious desserts and pastries.
They are at 1015 Memorial Dr, Griffin, GA.
They start serving their delicious home-cooked meals from 6 am to 8 pm.
Formerly known as the Griffin Country Club, the 18-hole, 72-par golf course was renamed to The Club at Shoal Creek by its new owners, the Triple B Properties Inc.
From then on, the golf and country club have undergone several renovations and beautifications.
It includes improvements on the mini-Verde greens, cart paths, and bunkers.
This place is a must-visit area in Griffin because of the golf course’s one-of-a-kind experience, wherein you’ll come across different animals roaming while you play golf.
You’ll encounter deer, birds, rabbits, and even a bald eagle.
To visit the golf course, it is at 430 Country Club Dr, Griffin, GA.
The golf course and country club open from 7:30 am to 6 pm.
Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Roaming around a university campus is always fun and relaxing.
The University of Georgia Griffin Campus is a go-to place for afternoon relaxation.
The campus itself, established in 1889, has a crucial role in modern agriculture development.
It was the former Georgia Experiment Station but converted into the University of Georgia campus later on.
Moreover, the Griffin campus is home to several research facilities like the Food Product Innovation and Commercialization Center (FPICC) and the Center for Food Safety.
The campus has 120 acres primarily dedicated to its groundbreaking innovation in environmental and agricultural sciences.
The Griffin Area Concert Association is arguably one of the best orchestra musical groups in Georgia.
When you’re in Griffin, don’t forget to catch one of their regular shows in different venues around the town.
What makes them popular is their ability to adapt to different genres in the most harmonious way.
The group regularly posts their upcoming shows on their website and social media pages to invite as many people as possible.
If you’re seeking an entertaining evening in Griffin, catch one of the group’s performances.
They usually perform at the Griffin Auditorium or the Griffin First United Methodist Church.
Griffin has an inviting café experience that you rarely find in small towns.
It is Louise’s Cafeteria which serves delicious home-cooked Southern-style meals in an all-you-can-eat setting.
They are well-known for serving various American food, such as sandwiches, burgers, steaks, ribs, and pasta at an affordable price.
To visit the cafeteria, it is at 426 E Solomon St, Griffin, GA.
They start serving customers from 5 am to 6 pm daily.
The University of Georgia Griffin Campus houses the UGA Research and Education Garden, a 26-hectare botanical garden.
The garden’s overall design is a combination of gravel and brick.
Its main focal point is its greenhouse, which has a collection of endemic plants and flowers.
It is one of Griffin’s must-visit places because of its tranquil atmosphere, perfect for early morning or afternoon walks.
To visit the garden, it is at 129 W Ellis Rd, Griffin, GA.
The UGA Research and Education Garden is open from 8 am to 5 pm and is closed every weekend.
Griffin is home to a unique festival celebrated annually.
The Doc Holliday Festival is the official reenactment of the story and adventures of Western figure Doc Holliday or formally known as John Henry Holliday.
Holliday was a renowned gambler and slinger in the town who has a remarkable life story that drew the interests of many.
His life and his famous gun battles are being reenacted every September by locals during the festival.
Aside from the reenactment, other highlights include different side events.
Plus, around a hundred food stalls, vendors, and concerts add more excitement to the festival.
The main highlight of the festival, aside from the reenactment, is the annual barbeque competition.
For those who want to rub elbows with Griffin’s locals, this festival is your perfect chance.
The festival is commonly held at Camp Northern Rd, Griffin, GA.
There you have it! The 15 best things to do in Griffin, GA.
For sure, you’re more excited to visit the town after reading this list.
Griffin is one of the finest examples of a historic small-town charm.
Whenever you’re ready to travel there, make sure to visit one of the places we have listed above!
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