Augusta Offers Historic Southern Charm
By Kathie Farnell and Jack Purser

Augusta, Georgia, home of The Masters golf tournament, is a city steeped in history and romance. The Partridge Inn, now entering its second century as Augusta’s premier hotel, offers Southern charm in a setting that--along with plush rooms and spacious verandahs--includes the opportunity to sample cutting edge cuisine.

Romantic Fine Dining

The hotel’s second annual Best Chefs of the South culinary series, monthly dinners running through October, spotlights celebrity chefs from across the region. The Inn’s executive chef Philippe Chin, the world’s youngest French Master Chef, works closely with the visiting chefs to map out food and wine pairings for the elaborate four-course menus.

Chin, who came to the Inn in 2001 from Philadelphia, masterminded the hotel’s culinary renaissance, including the transformation of the property’s vintage Bamboo restaurant into the state-of-the-art Bambu on Hickman The restaurant draws diners from as far away as Atlanta to sample Chin’s innovative fusion cuisine, which marries French technique to Asian spices.

The evolution of the Partridge Inn mirrors that of Augusta. First built as a two-story private residence in the early 1800s, by 1900 it was the gathering place for Southern society. The hotel grew through a series of renovations to the present six-story edifice which occupies an entire city block. A million-dollar upgrade in 2001 completed its transformation to one of the South’s greatest historic hotels. No two of the 156 rooms are alike; accommodations include full suites, some with kitchens, balconies, and in one case a patio. The rooftop Century Club, featuring sweeping views from its open-air deck, is open to guests every evening for cocktails and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.

Weddings at the Partridge Inn

The Century Club is a favored venue for weddings at the Inn. Other options include the Partridge Ballroom, the weather-protected outdoor Verandahs, or a tented private courtyard. Hotel staff works with guests to arrange for flowers, an officiant, and catering.

Seven banquet rooms are available. The hotel’s Sunday brunch, in its P.I. restaurant, has won accolades as "Augusta’s Best" for the past fifteen years, and is popular with stay-over wedding guests. Bambu is also available for private functions on Sundays and Mondays.

The Inn offers special packages including "Sweet Suites" which allows visitors to experience one of its luxurious suites, with complimentary champagne and continental breakfast for two.

Outdoor Fun for Couples

Golf is the big draw in Augusta. The city is within easy driving distance of ten public or semi-private courses which allow nonmember play. Golf history is showcased at Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, at Georgia Golf & Gardens on the banks of the Savannah River. The property includes a series of display gardens, a half-acre lake and 18-foot waterfall, and statues of Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and other golf legends.

Augusta’s most recent outdoor attraction is the Augusta Canal Petersburg Boat Tours. The 65-foot-long electric boats, replicas of the Petersburg boats which used to carry nine tons of cargo from the Augusta mills, leave the downtown Enterprise Mill docks for one-hour narrated tours down the scenic and historic waterway. A three-hour Saturday evening tour takes groups all the way to the canal headwaters and provides an opportunity for passengers to bring a picnic supper and enjoy the peaceful ride in the cool of the evening. The boats, which have a capacity of 49 passengers, are proving popular with family groups.

Tours glide past Augusta’s two remaining mills--at one time thirty-seven lined the canal banks--which now produce electricity as well as textiles. One of these, Sibley Mill, has the odd distinction of being built in a reasonable likeness of the British Houses of Parliament. Enterprise Mill, home of the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center, provides a fascinating look at Augusta’s industrial past and the lives of its boatmen, millworkers and merchant class. Today more than 2000 acres on the banks of the canal have been designated a National Heritage Area, and are home to turtles, otters, alligators, and a variety of birds. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent, and a canalside tow path accommodates bikers and hikers.

Augusta’s "front porch"--the Riverwalk area--hosts a variety of festivals and events on the banks of the Savannah River. The Riverwalk’s brick paths provide access to the Riverwalk Marina, the Morris Museum of Art, and the National Science Center’s Fort Discovery. The Augusta Common, a park and festival venue, links the area with the shops and galleries of downtown’s revitalized Broad Street.

For More Information:

Website: www.partridgeinn.com
Reservations: 1-800-476-6888

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Kathie Farnell and Jack Purser are based in Alabama and have been doing travel writing and photography since the early 90s. Their favorite topics include nature travel, romantic destinations, weekend getaways and offbeat topics. They both come from a legal background; Jack was an attorney for the US Department of Agriculture, and Kathie founded Farnell Legal Research. Kathie also produces programming for public television and radio. kfarnel@gulftel.com, www.artemismedia.org