The Sustainable Travel Guide to Augusta, Georgia

A street in Augusta, GA

WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT AUGUSTA, GA

My latest trip was to Augusta, Georgia, to accompany my partner while he competed in the Half Ironman. This is a long-distance triathlon race in which participants swim 1.2 miles, do a 56-mile bike ride, and a 13.1-mile run. It was his first time doing this distance, and as it is a long one, we decided to spend Friday driving from Miami to Augusta, and have the Saturday off, which was the perfect opportunity to explore the city. I also had time to find the eco-friendly spots around downtown on Sunday, while he was competing. Because we all know how important sustainability is, and travel is no exception, I put together this sustainable travel guide for Augusta, GA.

The Best Time to Visit Augusta, GA

Any season of the year can be a good time to visit Augusta. However, there was something very special about going during Ironman weekend, as the entire city got together for a common purpose, filling each block with words of encouragement, giving free water and food to supporters, rooting for anyone who needed an extra push from a stranger. There was a general positive energy reigning the streets, which I believe is one of sports’ many perks. As Augusta is also the host of The Masters Tournament, one of the four major championships in professional golf, visiting it during that time in April can make your visit even more exciting.

Bee’s Knees in Downtown Augusta, GA

A SUSTAINABLE AND CONSCIOUS TRAVEL GUIDE TO AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, USA

FARMER’S MARKETS IN AUGUSTA, GA

Augusta offers plenty of spots to buy local veggies and fruit, as well as other regional products. It’s a great option to reduce one’s carbon footprint, as buying locally reduces the miles food travels to get to the grocery store.

I found The Augusta Market while I was running on Augusta’s Riverwalk our first morning there. It opens on Saturdays, when several local vendors offer everything from local vegetables and fruit, to ceramics, nuts, or corn.  Everyone gets together there to spend their morning, walking from stand to stand, and then sitting on a bench by the river, probably eating the boiled peanuts they just bought.      

Another farmer’s market is the Good Earth Produce and Garden Center, where you can also find fresh fruits and veggies, or seasonal plants all year round. If you’re staying somewhere with a kitchen, like an Airbnb, it’s the perfect place to sustainably buy some vegetables to cook for dinner!

Augusta Market, in Downtown, where you can find local vegetables and fruit, and other plant-based products.

VEGAN AND VEGAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN AUGUSTA, GA

As I’m vegan, and a plant-based diet is more sustainable, I think a very important part of this eco-friendly guide is to recommend some vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in Augusta, GA.

My favorite one was Humanitree House, a completely vegan restaurant in Downtown Augusta with a very laid-back ambience–they even have sofas!  We ordered the Vegan Burger and the Toona Salad Sandwich, as well as The Matcha Madness smoothie, and everything was delicious. They even had a live DJ, so we listened to some music while we ate on the big couch.

On Sunday I had some time to spare while my partner was competing in the race. Luckily, I arrived at New Moon Café as soon as it opened, before the crowds, and was able to enjoy some silence while I drank a build-your-own smoothie: strawberries, mango, pineapple, and orange juice. They also have some vegan-friendly options, and some items in the menu that could be made plant-based, like the McHippie, by changing the cheese for hummus.

Our lunch at Humanitree House, a vegan restaurant in Augusta, GA

COFFEE SHOPS IN AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

The two coffee shops we visited had more than one vegan milk option. We drank specialty coffee lattes with oat and soy milk in Ubora Coffee Roasters on Saturday morning. We enjoyed seeing the machines they had in the back, as they roast their own coffee there. Something I also liked about this place, is that they sell reusable and eco-friendly straws made from reed stem, a great alternative to the unnecessary plastic straws.

The other coffee shop we spent some time in on Saturday afternoon, sitting on the sofas they had and reading–as my partner needed some rest before the big day–was Cavalier’s Coffeehouse, which is only a 10-minute drive from Downtown Augusta, in North Augusta, and that’s actually in South Carolina, across the river! They offered almond and oat milk, and a cute place to spend the last hours of the day.

Reusable, biodegradable and eco-friendly straws made from reed stem, in Augusta, GA

Eco-Friendly Shopping in Augusta, GA

Whenever I’m traveling, I make sure to look for a bookstore, as getting lost in them is one of my favorite activities. Right next to New Moon Café, I discovered The Book Tavern, which sells new, used, rare, and vintage books. Buying used books when you visit Augusta is a great way of helping the local economy, as well as being an eco-friendly shopping experience, as you’re giving a second-hand object a new chance. Besides, there’s nothing like the smell of yellowish pages in a book!

Also, if you want to buy some clothes without hurting the planet, you can go to Changing Up, a thrift store in Downtown Augusta, which is owned and operated by Changing Faces, a company that has the mission to provide support services and housing initiatives to individuals and families in the area.

The Bee’s Knees was a paradise for plant lovers, as they had a pretty collection on sale, and you could also sit down at one of their tables for a morning coffee. Unfortunately, they closed. Right next to it, in the same street, there’s the Hive Bodega, which is a cute store from the same owners, that offers some vegan products and food.

The Book Tavern, used books in Augusta, Georgia

Spending time outside in Augusta

Spending time in nature is important for conscious living because it helps you appreciate this planet. When we fall in love with the world, we take care of it, and that’s a big part of being sustainable. This is easy when you travel to a place specifically to be outside in nature, for example, a national park. In the city it can be more difficult to find such a place, in which to unwind and relax, but there’s always somewhere to go spend time in nature in the heart of the city or right outside it.

As I mentioned before, I went running around Augusta Riverwalk, a great walkway that goes along the Savannah River, right next to the South Carolina border. It features some gardens, and it’s a great location to exercise, walk with the family, or spend some time sitting back or reading a book. Augusta Common is a park in downtown Augusta that serves as the green lung of the city, and it’s where you can rest in the grass after some hours of tourism.

However, if you’re more in the mood for a water activity, you can rent a boat or a kayak at the river’s edge and spend a morning or afternoon rowing. Another spot where you can enjoy some time in the water is in Clarks Hill Lake, 45 minutes by car from Downtown Augusta. Sunbathing, hiking, and swimming are all sustainable activities you can enjoy in this lake.

For those of you who don’t want to drive 45 minutes to the lake, a 12-minute drive will take you to the Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, which is free and opened from dawn to dusk every day of the year. There are several trails, picnic spots, bridges, boardwalks, and observation decks for you to find some peace in nature.

There it is! My sustainable travel guide for Augusta, GA, an eco-friendly approach to get to know the city that lives next to the Savannah River. Would you add anything to this list?

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Hi, I’m Melina,

I’m the creator of Sustainable Rookie, and my goal is to share what I learn throughout my sustainability journey, so that I can help other people live a more conscious life.

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