The unfortunate thing about small cities is they usually get the worst of both worlds: too sleepy for the big city crowd and too developed for the small-town purists. North Augusta, South Carolina somehow dodges both pitfalls. Eleven minutes from Augusta, this riverside city has managed to maintain the relaxed vibe which makes small towns so appealing while still being established and lively enough that there’s plenty to do for those driving from Augusta.
The secret might be in its geography. North Augusta is positioned at a three-point junction where the Savannah River meets two major highways, which ultimately works in its favor. The riverfront is livened up with new restaurants and entertainment venues in Riverside Village, drawing crowds that spill over into the historic downtown district. That’s where you’ll find the real gems that make this city so great to visit. Downtown boasts antique shops, locally owned boutiques, and walkable blocks that let you leave your car behind and just wander.
Don’t mistake North Augusta for the kind of town that rolls up the sidewalks at sunset, either. With 26,000 residents and the Augusta Regional Airport just 11 miles away, it pulses with life, which makes it worth sticking around for longer than planned. Visitors will also be within easy reach of other South Carolina treasures. Drive 30 minutes and you’ll find yourself in places like the “best small town of the South,” aka the eccentric and creative destination of Aiken or Edgefield, the underrated community with peach orchards, artisan goods, and storybook charm.
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Shopping in North Augusta
Store owner handing over a paper bag to customer – Maskot/Getty Images
Walking through North Augusta’s streets, you’ll notice they’re packed with shops that feel like distinct characters of their own. Take Impressions of the South, for instance. The front tables are stacked with seasonal décor, but you’re just as likely to find someone with a coffee in hand browsing for jewelry, houseware, or a box of chocolates. Impressions of the South doubles as a creative hub, too. Visit for a wreath-making class, if you want to try your hand at the craft, or head across town to The Culture Shoppe, a store of international goods, clothing, and metaphysical curios like crystals.
Even North Augusta’s antique stores (which could easily slip into sameness) carve out their own personalities. Riverside Antiques & Treasures feels like an old marketplace with two buildings that host over 90 vendors selling an ever-changing collection of items ranging from mid-century lamps to vintage collectables. By contrast, Singing Hills Antique looks more like someone’s front porch turned into a shop, with flags waving out front and offering everything from ivy topiaries to candles and books.
A city designed to be taken on foot
A dirt pathway through fall foliage in the park – DarkBird/Shutterstock
North Augusta is unusually easy to navigate for a city its size. A whopping 19 parks are scattered across town and half the residents can reach one of them within 10 minutes on foot. That’s quite the feat, and it’s all made possible thanks to the North Augusta Greeneway, stretching 12 miles and linking neighborhoods to the riverfront.
Taking the Greeneway lets you wind through residential blocks before ending up beside the Savannah River so your morning walk can start in suburbia and finish with water views. If you follow it west from there, you’ll hit the Riverview Park, where the sports fields and athletic center host everything from local leagues to major events. In most cities you’d have to drive for that kind of access, but here it’s comfortably built into the everyday grid.
The historic homes on Georgia Avenue and West Avenue create natural breaks between commercial strips while the distance from the antique shops to Riverside Village is walkable but substantial enough to constitute a real neighborhood exploration. Walkability also means history is always within reach. The Living History Park sits right on the edge of downtown, a 9-acre site that recreates North Augusta between 1735 and 1785. There’s also the Arts and Heritage Center in the Municipal Building which pulls you indoors with galleries that unpack the city’s narrative as part of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor.
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Read the original article on Islands.