Henry County, Georgia offers the full gamut of family-friendly attractions—outdoor recreation, historic hot spots, indoor activities, charming shops, and more—all within 30 miles or less of Downtown Atlanta.
Whether you’re planning a day trip, an overnight stay, or a weekend getaway, there’s no shortage of fun things to do during your visit to Henry County.
The following suggested itinerary maps out a variety of local hot spots to ensure your visit is well-planned, well-spent, and filled with unforgettable memories.
Begin the Day with Breakfast at McDoughnuts
There’s no better way to start the day than with freshly baked, homemade goodies—and that’s exactly what you can look forward to with a visit to McDoughnuts.
Their full menu includes a delicious selection of donuts, an array of homemade breakfast sandwiches, freshly made fruit smoothies, creative coffee creations, Thai teas, and more.
Along with top-rated morning meal options, visitors can expect a warm welcome upon arrival and a dining experience brimming with Southern hospitality.
Enjoy an Easy-Going Morning of Shopping, Fruit-Picking, and Museum-Touring
The morning’s activities have something in store for everyone in the family—mom, dad, the kiddos, the artisan-at-heart, the farm-lover, and the history buff.
Handmade soaps, bath products, and more
Mom will enjoy a visit to Buff City Soap to get fresh-smelling, handcrafted scents made with plant-based ingredients to take home. At this boutique soapery, you can watch your bath, laundry, and hygiene products be made to order—and you can even design a custom loaf of soap with your own signature scent.
Farm fun
The whole family will enjoy a trip to Southern Belle Farm, a family-owned, 330-acre farm where memorable experiences await year-round.
If you’re visiting in the spring, you’ll have the opportunity to pick the season’s fresh harvest of strawberries straight from the fields (or buy them pre-picked, if you prefer) and indulge in the farm’s famous homemade strawberry shortcake topped with fresh, homemade strawberry ice cream. When you’ve got your strawberry fill, enjoy playing at the farm and meeting the farm animals, riding the cow train, taking a hayride, and more.
Summer brings more tasty Georgia-grown fruits to harvest, including peaches, blueberries, and blackberries. You can also peruse the on-site Country Market for freshly picked produce and homemade baked goods to enjoy.
The fall season is an especially festive time to visit the farm. Good old-fashioned fun awaits with more than 20 festive activities, including pumpkin picking, hayrides, pig races, corn maze challenges, and more.
During the winter, the Christmas season becomes all the more magical and memorable with the farm’s Christmas in the Country celebrations. Pick the perfect tree to cut down and take home to decorate. Visit with Santa and fill him in on this year’s wish list while you get a photo with the jolly guy. Get lost in the merriment of the season’s main activities, including making ornaments and visiting Whoville with the Grinch.
Tour of the local veterans museum
Add some history and adventure to your itinerary with a visit to Heritage Park Veterans Museum, where soldiers’ stories come to life.
Step into the shoes of soldiers from various conflicts as far back as WWI and learn about the wars and time periods in which they served and their military experience. For an extra special experience, embark on a free, guided tour of the museum, led by volunteers who are veterans themselves.
While you’re on site, be sure to visit the Veterans Wall of Honor, Veterans Walk of Honor and the POW/MIA Tribute, all just steps away from the museum.
Have Lunch At Restaurants Locals Love
The morning’s stops were just the beginning of your fun-filled day in McDonough and Henry County. Refuel with a yummy lunch at restaurants locals love before taking on the afternoon fun.
Craving pizza paired with locally crafted beer? Authentic Mexican cuisine? Or a filling burrito with a west coast-flair? Henry County has you covered!
Part of the county’s Artisan Trail, 15th Street Pizza & Pub is the place to go for pizza made with Georgia-grown produce, served alongside a large selection of Georgia craft beer. Their pizza line-up includes classics, as well as specialties you can’t find elsewhere—all of which go well with the eatery’s full craft beer menu, featuring two dozen tasty choices.
Dive into the fresh, creative Mexican cuisine at Castillo Real Mexican Cocina & Bar, known for their timeless dishes and fun atmosphere. Their menu boasts traditional authentic Mexican go-tos, in addition to original entrees featuring a Southern twist.
If you’re wanting something other than pizza or delicious Mexican or you have certain dietary restrictions, Gezzo’s West Coast Burritos—Henry County’s first west-coast burrito shop—is an excellent option. The menu reflects the co-founders’ Californian and Hawaiian roots, and features burritos and entrees made with fresh ingredients and daily prepared meats and vegetables.
If you’ve got room for dessert after lunch, head over to Sweet Charlie’s for Thai-inspired, hand-rolled ice cream that’s made from scratch. The popular ice cream shop offers milk-base, dairy-free, and vegan-base ice creams, as well as non-fat frozen yogurt base options. Make your custom creation all the sweeter with one of their fun flavor combinations and toppings.
Paint the Town with Afternoon Activities for All Ages
Whether you’ve got little ones or teens in your group, shoppers, craft-lovers, or golfers, Henry County’s hot spots will keep your crew entertained for hours.
For the kids and teens
McDonough and Henry County’s kid-friendly attractions will keep the kiddos and teenagers in your group entertained for hours.
Urban Air Adventure Park is home to an expansive trampoline park, laser tag, virtual reality (VR) games, a ropes course, climbing walls, an obstacle course, a playground, a Sky Rider zip line, and more.
Another great option is Sky Zone Trampoline Park. The popular indoor trampoline park features a huge foam pit, a warrior course, ultimate dodgeball, a skyladder and skyslam, freestyle jump trampolines, a VR zone, and more.
For classic family fun, Starlite Family Fun Center offers roller skating, laser tag, arcade games, and an indoor playground for kids ages 10 and under.
The teens in your crew will enjoy snapping creative shots and videos at The Selfie Experience, Henry County’s first interactive selfie dream park with more than 30 creative spaces.
For the creatives
Looking for a more chill afternoon channeling your inner artist? The Creativity Cafe is the place for you! This locally owned, contemporary DIY arts & crafts studio offers a wide range of activities to express your creativity, from pottery painting and clay handbuilding to canvas and glass painting, board art, and more.
If you’re only visiting for a day or weekend, canvas painting is the best option, as you can easily take your masterpiece home to remember your Henry County visit for years to come! Pottery painting is a great option if you’ll be in town for a bit longer, as these pieces take time to set and dry before they’re ready to take home.
For the shopper
Mom or the avid shopper in your group can shop ‘til they drop at Peachtree Peddlers Antique Mall & Flea Market, the largest indoor flea market in the heart of Georgia featuring 85,000 square feet of unique finds.
The indoor antique mall is open daily from 11am-6pm, but closed on Wednesdays, and the flea market takes place Saturdays from 9am-6pm and Sundays from 10am-6pm.
Savor the Local Flavor with Dinner at Henry County Staples
You’re sure to be ready for a warm, delicious dinner after a full day of exploring Henry County’s many attractions. The area’s eateries offer something for every palate and every craving.
Going casual with BBQ and home cooking
For a great meal in a casual setting, you can’t go wrong with The Original Shane’s Rib Shack or Cravings Home Cooking.
What started out as a little shack serving up some of the area’s best barbeque has grown to now include more than 70 locations, but the Original Shane’s Rib Shack—located on Hwy. 155 N.—is still operating today and dishing out their famous barbeque, ribs, and peach cobbler.
When you’re craving some Southern, down-home cooking, a visit to Cravings Home Cooking is just the ticket. This quaint restaurant offers the full scope of homestyle comfort food, with a rotating menu of choices like chicken & dumplings and country fried steak, to smothered pork chops, chicken pot pie, beef liver & onions, and more.
Their sides include more than two dozen Southern favorites, like mashed potatoes, turnip greens, fried okra, squash casserole, and more. For dessert, take your pick of just about every type of pie, cake, or cobbler you can think of.
Relishing international cuisine
A five-star exotic meal awaits at Masala Cottage, a local eatery serving genuine Indian cuisine. Their dishes are made with “rich spices and aromatic herbs that transform vegetables, lentils, and rice into tasty meals that are as fulfilling as they are filling.” Fan favorites include the Butter Chicken, Tandoori Chicken, Goat Curry, and Chicken Biryani.
Indulging in fine dining
Scoping out the area’s steakhouses? Pilgreen’s on Lake Dow has been a local staple known for high-quality steaks and excellent service since 1932. With a longstanding reputation like that, you know your meal and experience won’t disappoint.
Their wide selection of juicy steaks—from T-bones, sirloins, and ribeyes, to center-cut filets—are all served with a tossed or Caesar salad or soup of the day and your choice of a baked potato, French fries, mashed potatoes, onion rings, or collard greens.
Ready to visit Henry County, Georgia and make unforgettable memories? Book your stay at one of the area’s many lodging options.
Inspired to visit the other Henry County communities? Get the scoop on fun things to do and see in Locust Grove, Stockbridge, and Hampton.