The Best Things To Do In Senoia, Georgia
This small Georgia town is a charming weekend getaway.
Few towns find the balance between sensationalized and sleepy, yet Senoia, Georgia manages to do just that. What started as a railroad town was eventually made famous thanks to the silver screen. Award-winning classics such as Driving Miss Daisy and Fried Green Tomatoes were filmed here, which eventually paved the way for cult favorites like The Walking Dead. Each year, Senoia draws countless tourists eager to visit filming locations, but these visitors soon find there’s so much more to this town. Discover how to spend a weekend in Senoia, Georgia.
Getting There
Located southwest of Atlanta, minutes off of I-85, Senoia is easily accessible. Opt for a day trip or stay a few nights. Once you arrive, you can easily park your car and walk almost anywhere you need to go.
Things to Do
Tour the Town
Start your tour at the Senoia Area Historical Society and Museum. Housed in the former family home of the town coroner, the exhibits include several rooms of local history and memorabilia. Pause at the postcard station which showcases mail from the now-shuttered post office. Select a postcard to read about town life. In the film room, you’ll find a list of movies, shows, and more that were filmed in and around town. The large projector was used for the production of Fried Green Tomatoes and later as a prop in The Walking Dead.
Browse the Farmers' Market
Next, head to the Senoia Farmers Market held on most Saturdays throughout the year. Located on Travis Street in a former abandoned cotton warehouse, vendors fill stalls with eggs, flowers, produce, handmade gifts, and baked goods. Finkles Bakeshop, from husband-wife team Jimmy and Jessica Payne, offers seasonal flavors of perfectly plump doughnuts while Pottery by Kent sells brightly-hued ceramics. Nic & Norman’s, an outpost of the popular restaurant nearby, pours Bloody Marys, mimosas, and Gate City beers. Rotating vendors such as The Bitters Reality and Brewer’s Fire sell bitters and hot sauce respectively. Most stalls accept credit cards, but it’s smart to have cash on hand.
Shop Around Town
Browse boutiques on Main Street for local flavors and personality. Olivia James Apparel has streamlined women’s styles while Dang! That’s Crazy is worth a spin to peruse oddities, knickknacks, and The Walking Dead production clothing and props. Book Love is one part book shop, one part cafe, and Greenhouse Mercantile has a selection of fair trade gifts and decor.
Take a Walking Tour
Embark on the Senoia historic homes walking tour which makes over 50 stops. On the journey, you’ll see meticulously cared for, and in some cases, restored residences. Among the stops are the Buggy Museum, considered to be one of the oldest continuously operating wooden commercial structures in the state, as well as the Travis House, which among locals is referred to simply as “the Fried Green Tomatoes House.” Completed in 1910, the corner beauty served as the Threadgoode home in the film.
For even more behind-the-scenes lore, book an experience with Georgia Tour Co. Choose from one of several themed tours covering scoop and settings ranging from Stranger Things to the Marvel universe. Depending on your fandom, there are walking, golf cart, and even bus excursions. All tours depart from Main Street in Senioa.
Where to Eat
For a small town, Senoia doesn’t miss a beat when it comes to food. Nic & Norman’s is a crowd-pleaser and often recommended. It has a menu of burgers and Southern-inspired entrees such as pimiento mac and cheese topped with brisket. Mess Hall, just a few doors down, is Senoia’s micro food hall. There are four stalls anchored by the local coffee shop, Senoia Coffee. Lisa’s Crêperie presents authentic French crêpes, and Beez Freeze slings snowcones.
The scene stealer, however, is Bistro Hilary. Helmed by chef Hilary White, the restaurant is a high-end French and American-inspired bistro. Get started with one of the specialty cocktails, and be sure to ask the bartender if there are any off-menu specials such as batch sangria. Appetizers range from crispy deviled eggs to salmon rillettes, and the made-in-house organic wheat bread and salted butter arrive table side fresh from the oven. Spatchcock Cornish hen, beef bourguignon, and trout meunière amandine round out the menu. Vegetarians will delight in the farm-inspired, seasonal vegetable plate. The iterations change as the available produce does, but a recent iteration included lentils, roasted hakurei turnips, and cheesy squash casserole.
Where to Stay
After a day in town, kick up your feet at The Veranda Inn. The hotel was built in 1906 as a way to encourage train travelers to stay a few days to experience Senoia. It has remained an inn since its inception and has ten guest rooms. Margaret Mitchell reportedly conducted interviews here during her research when writing Gone with the Wind. Breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays has the usual fare along with two signature dishes: a tomato and feta salad and peach cobbler topped with homemade whipped cream. Southern hospitality at its finest.
