Last summer my husband and I scooped up the two oldest grandkids (7 and 8) and headed out on a skip-generation road trip to LaGrange, Georgia. If you’re unfamiliar with the term “skip-generation trip,” it’s just a new name for something that’s been happening for many years — grandkids traveling with their grandparents, but without their parents.
Family Lodging
We split our trip in half and spent the first two nights at Great Wolf Lodge (150 Tom Hall Parkway). Our room was plenty large enough for our wolf pack with all the amenities you’d expect plus an on-theme, rustic ambiance. The mega indoor water park, onsite restaurants, mini golf, bowling, MagiQuest (live-action game), and so much more, kept us busy all day long! It was one of our favorite attractions, no doubt.
The second half of the trip, we headed downtown to The Courtyard by Marriott (5 West Lafayette Square) where we enjoyed a clean, spacious room that, proximity-wise, aligned well with the remainder of our itinerary.
Significant Stops
Our first stop was LaGrange Visitor’s Center (206 Ridley Avenue) and it did not disappoint. It proved to be a valuable resource with pamphlets and recommendations on all things LaGrange…plus it’s so darn cute!
Biblical History Center (130 Gordon Commercial Drive) – a lovely place to learn about ancient Bible times through artifacts, activities, and living history.
Wild Animal Safari (1300 Oak Grove Road, Pine Mountain) – lots of wildlife in a self-guided walk or drive through the 500-acre park.
The Fields Golf Club (257 South Smith Road) – an 18-hole, links-style golf course with beautiful views, wide open fairways, and plenty of reasons to come back again.
Hills & Dales Estate Tour (1916 Hills and Dales Drive) – named for the property’s rolling hills and shady dales, this former Callaway family mansion (and adjoining gardens) is open to the public for tours. The grands and I learned lots about the Callaway family and their contributions to this Georgia community. (NOTE: If I’m being honest, I wasn’t sure if the children would enjoy this tour. However, Hills & Dales offers a clipboard with scavenger hunt items at their Visitor’s Center, and they absolutely loved it. They were attentive and involved for both the home tour and the gardens. Don’t skip the Gift Shop where they will pick up their scavenger hunt prizes.)
Southbend Park and Wild Leap Brewery (308 Main Street) – a great place for children to run off some energy, Southbend Park features a large playground, greenspace, and a Tony Hawk-designed skatepark. We eventually made our way across the street to Wild Leap Brewery for some kid-friendly beverages, slushies, and dinner from Midnyt Burger food truck.
Marketplace at Lafayette Square (100 Bull Street) – if you love shopping and searching for unique items and antiques, you simply must visit this two-story emporium filled with treasures.
Pretty Good Books (118 Church Street) – a charming new and used bookstore spotted by my grands while walking downtown. Dollar books on the sidewalk outside, a scavenger hunt inside, plus a resident feline friend…what’s not to love?
Delicious Dining
Truth be told, we didn’t have a bad meal in LaGrange, but we did come away with some favorites. Charlie Joseph’s (128 Bull Street) has been around since 1920 and this charming counter-service diner won us over right along with the hotdogs. El Callejon GTO (133 Bull Street) wowed us with tacos, burritos, nachos, and more. Plus, the family-friendly vibe was perfect for us. Also in the downtown area, Gus’s Grill (110 Greenville Street) was our favorite, simple breakfast with homemade biscuits and plenty of good coffee.
We all agreed on Rock Salt Milk Bar (706 Lincoln Street) as our favorite snack/treat place. Located in the historic Hillside community, this little creamery delivers some of the freshest ice cream you’ve ever had. An added bonus is that you can walk part of The Thread (a multi-purpose 29-mile trail that connects LaGrange’s parks and attractions) starting right outside of Milk Bar and work off those calories.
There’s just no substitute for a well-planned itinerary if you’re looking to cover a lot of ground. We packed about as much food, fun, and frolic into this west-central Georgia adventure as possible and, honestly, we’d do it all again.
