If you’re staying at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, one of the biggest advantages is the location.
This hotel is not just near downtown Augusta. It is directly connected to the Augusta Convention Center, sits beside the Savannah River, and gives you easy access to the Augusta Riverwalk.
For my family’s first visit to Augusta, that made a huge difference.
We only had one night in the city, but because of where the hotel is located, we were still able to explore Broad Street, visit Augusta & Co., walk the Riverwalk, check out public art, cross into South Carolina on foot, and learn more about Augusta’s connection to James Brown.
So if you’re planning a stay here, these are some of the best things to do near Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center from my teen and family travel perspective.
For my full hotel stay breakdown, including the suite, pools, Wi-Fi, food, Concierge Lounge, and final verdict, you can also read my full Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center review.
Start at Augusta & Co.
If this is your first time visiting Augusta, I would start at Augusta & Co.
It is only about a five-minute walk from the hotel and works really well as a first stop because it is more than just a basic visitor centre.
Inside, you can find local products, regional merchandise, rotating artwork, souvenirs, and helpful staff who know the city well.
When we visited, the staff gave us useful information about the area, and I also picked up a few souvenirs. For families, road trippers, or first-time visitors, this is a good way to get a better feel for Augusta before exploring the rest of downtown.
Another reason Augusta & Co. works well is that it gives you ideas without making you feel like you have to plan the whole day by yourself. That helps if you only have one night in Augusta, like we did.
During our stay, the Augusta Marriott also had an interactive Visit Augusta kiosk on the second floor. That was a useful backup if you wanted ideas without leaving the hotel right away.
Walk Along Broad Street
Broad Street is one of the main areas to explore near Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center.
It runs through downtown Augusta and has historic buildings, local restaurants, public art, independent businesses, and a lot of character. We walked through this area during our stay, and it helped make downtown Augusta feel more interesting than just a quick overnight road trip stop.
This is also where you’ll find Augusta & Co. and several restaurants that are easy to reach from the hotel.
For families staying downtown, Broad Street is useful because it gives you restaurants, photo stops, and city history all in one walkable area. You do not need a huge plan to enjoy it. You can just walk around, look for murals, stop for food, and take in the downtown atmosphere.
Broad Street was also important for me because of Augusta’s connection to James Brown. That was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to visit Augusta in the first place.
Things to Do Near Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center: Augusta Riverwalk
The Augusta Riverwalk was one of the biggest reasons this hotel’s location stood out.
The Augusta Marriott connects directly to the Riverwalk, so we did not have to drive anywhere to start exploring the Savannah River area. We could leave the hotel and walk almost straight into one of the city’s most popular public spaces.
That made the stay feel easier.
The Riverwalk has brick pathways, river views, public spaces, and access to several nearby attractions. It is also a good place to walk, take photos, or just get outside after being in the car or inside the hotel.
For families, this is one of the easiest things to do near Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center because it is right there.
It also gives the hotel more than just a “conference hotel” feeling. Yes, the Augusta Marriott is connected to the convention center, but the Riverwalk makes it feel like you are also connected to the city.
Check Out the Augusta Sculpture Trail
Around the Riverwalk and downtown area, we also found several pieces from the Augusta Sculpture Trail.
This was a fun bonus because it made walking around the area feel more like a mini scavenger hunt. Instead of just walking from one attraction to another, you can spot different sculptures along the way and stop for photos.
During our visit, the trail included sculptures around the downtown and Riverwalk area, which gave the riverfront more personality.
This is a good option for families or teens who like public art, photography, or simple free things to do nearby. It also makes the Riverwalk more interesting because there is something to notice as you move through the area.
For me, this is the kind of thing that makes a city feel more fun to explore.
Visit the Morris Museum of Art
The Morris Museum of Art is located near the Riverwalk and is another option close to the hotel.
I did not spend as much time here as I would have liked, but it is worth knowing about if you are interested in art, Southern culture, or indoor things to do in Augusta.
This could be a good stop if the weather is too hot, rainy, or if you want something quieter near the Riverwalk.
It also works well because it is in the same general area as the hotel, the Riverwalk, and other downtown attractions. You can add it into a walking route instead of making it a completely separate trip.
Visit the Augusta Museum of History
The Augusta Museum of History was one of the most interesting nearby attractions for me because of its James Brown connection.
During the school year, two of my classmates and I completed a project about James Brown. That was actually one of the reasons I wanted to visit Augusta during our summer road trip.
The museum has exhibits about Augusta’s history, transportation, local industries, the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company, and important people connected to the city.
It also has a major James Brown collection, which made it especially interesting after learning about him at school.
For families staying at the Augusta Marriott, this museum is one of the strongest nearby indoor attractions. It gives you more context about the city, and it helped me understand Augusta beyond just the hotel, restaurants, and Riverwalk.
It is also a good option if you want something educational but still connected to real people and stories from Augusta.
Cross the Fifth Street Freedom Pedestrian Bridge
One of the coolest things we did near the hotel was walking across the Fifth Street Freedom Pedestrian Bridge.
The bridge crosses the Savannah River between Augusta, Georgia, and North Augusta, South Carolina. For me, that made it extra memorable because I got to walk from one state into another.
That was a first for me on this road trip.
The bridge also has murals, seating areas, and river views, so it works as both a walk and a photo stop. It does not take a full day, but it gives you a cool travel moment.
For families or teens, this is an easy activity that feels different from a typical downtown walk. You can say you walked from Georgia to South Carolina, and that is a pretty fun thing to add to a road trip.
Look for James Brown Tributes
The James Brown statue was one of the main things I wanted to see in Augusta.
When we reached the area where the statue is normally displayed, we found the sign and location, but the statue itself was not there. It had been temporarily removed because of construction for the James Brown Linear Park.
We later learned the statue was being stored at the Augusta Museum of History, but it was not publicly displayed when we visited. I also found out later that I had missed seeing it by only about three weeks.
That was disappointing.
But it did not ruin the visit.
Even though I did not get to see the statue, exploring Augusta still helped me better understand the city’s connection to James Brown. We found other tributes and references around downtown, and the museum helped connect the story together.
This was one of the parts of the trip that felt personal for me because it connected back to something I had already learned about in school.
See the Augusta Common Area
The Augusta Common area is also worth knowing about because it is near the usual James Brown statue location and close to Broad Street.
During our visit, this area was part of the reason we were walking around downtown in the first place. We were looking for the statue, but we also ended up seeing more of the surrounding downtown area.
For families, the Augusta Common area can work as part of a downtown walking route. It connects well with Broad Street, public art, restaurants, and other nearby stops.
Walk to Downtown Restaurants
Another good thing about staying at Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center is that you are close to several downtown restaurants.
Some of the places that were recommended to us or had strong reviews included Nacho Mama’s, Knuckle Sandwiches, Groucho’s Deli, Tacocat, Whiskey Bar Kitchen, and Mellow Mushroom.
For dinner, we went to Farmhaus.
My dad ordered the Farmstyle Burger with fries and creamy coleslaw. My mom ordered the Grilled Yard Bird with creamy coleslaw, and I ordered the Original Grilled Cheese with fries because I wanted something a little lighter.
Everything we tried was delicious. The food was casual, filling, and a great choice for our first dinner in Augusta.
For a family staying downtown, having restaurants within walking distance makes the hotel location even stronger. After a long road trip day, it is nice when dinner does not require a long drive.
Use the Hotel as a Downtown Augusta Base
One thing I realized during this stay is that the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center works well as more than just a place to sleep.
Because of the location, you can use the hotel as a base for exploring downtown Augusta.
You are close to the Riverwalk, Broad Street, Augusta & Co., museums, restaurants, public art, the Savannah River, and the Fifth Street Freedom Pedestrian Bridge. That matters, especially if you only have one night in the city.
For us, the hotel helped make Augusta easier to explore.
We could check in, walk around, visit nearby places, and still get back to the hotel without feeling like we had to keep moving the car. That made the visit feel more relaxed.
Final Thoughts: Things to Do Near Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center
For a one-night stay, we were able to see a lot near Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center.
That is the biggest reason this location works so well.
You can walk to Augusta & Co., explore Broad Street, access the Augusta Riverwalk, visit museums, see public art, cross the Fifth Street Freedom Pedestrian Bridge, and learn more about James Brown’s connection to Augusta.
For families, road trippers, conference guests, or first-time visitors, this area gives you a lot to work with.
The hotel itself is strong, but the location is one of the biggest reasons the stay stood out. If you are staying at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, I would definitely plan time to explore beyond the hotel.
The Riverwalk, Broad Street, museums, restaurants, and public art made our first visit to Augusta feel like more than just another road trip stop.
— Mateo
This Teen Travelz