canal tour augusta

Augusta Canal Discovery Center

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Augusta Canal Discovery Center - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Augusta canal national heritage area.

Augusta Canal Photo

The Augusta Canal  National Heritage Area interprets the story of the coming of the Industrial Revolution to the American South. Built in 1845 as a source of power, water supply, and transportation, the Augusta Canal channeled the Savannah River to power cotton mills and other factories beginning in the late 1840s. During the Civil War, the Confederate Powder Works gunpowder manufacturing complex was built along the canal;  many more textile plants and industries followed in the late 19th century.

Today the Augusta Canal is the only fully intact American industrial canal in continuous operation.  Although none of the textile plants are still in operation, their hydroelectricity plants still operate to generate electric power using the canal’s water; in fact, Augusta’s municipal water system still draws from the canal.  No longer a major industrial area, the waterway is now a popular recreation destination where visitors enjoy land and water trails for paddling, hiking, and cycling. The heritage area hosts guided history and nature tours on replica canal cargo boats, departing from the Augusta Canal Discovery Center, housed in a former textile mill.

• The Fall Line and Headgates
• Augusta Canal Discovery Center
• Savannah Rapids Park and Visitor Information Center
• Columbia County’s Visitor Information Center
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Last updated: April 30, 2019

Hours: Thurs - Sat 10am | Sun 1pm - 5pm | Mon - Wed CLOSED

Admission: Free for Members | Adults: $5 | Seniors: $4 | Child 6-18: $3 (Children under 6 Free)

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Augusta Canal

Augusta Canal National Heritage Center 1450 Green Street, Suite 400 Augusta, GA 30901

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The Augusta Canal was built in 1845 as a source of power, water and transportation. It is the only intact industrial canal in the American South in continuous use. During the Civil War it was the site of the Confederate States of America Powder Works complex. Deepened and widened in the 1870s, the canal brought an industrial boom to the city, especially in textile manufacturing. The Canal and its mills were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1978. The United States Congress designated the Augusta Canal and nearby land a National Heritage Area in 1996. Several canal-side structures pre-date the Civil War while others date to the later 19th Century and the heyday of America's Industrial Revolution.

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Take A Ride On This One-Of-A-Kind Canal Boat In Georgia

Marisa Roman

A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.

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We love coming across those few attractions where you can really sit back and say, “yep, only in Georgia!” We have one particular attraction in Augusta that is so undeniably unique—so truly Georgia, that it is worth visiting with the whole family. Take a wild ride down the Augusta Canal with this Petersburg Boat Tour.

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The canal boat tour in Augusta, Georgia begins at this address: 1450 Greene St., Ste. 400, Enterprise Mill, Augusta, GA 30901. Departure times and schedules may vary, so it is important to check the website for more information. The boats are uncovered, so make sure you dress accordingly for the weather. Umbrellas will be provided on board in case rain or extreme sun is abundant.

Meanwhile, before you take to the canal by boat, learn more about how fascinating Augusta, Georgia is .

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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• Savannah Rapids Kayak Rental
• Savannah Rapids Park Martinez ,  GA   30907 USA
• 1 (706) 832-5323
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Group rates available. Call ahead to reserve.

KAYAK RENTAL RATES:

· Kids and military shuttle back for free · Paddles, lifevests, whistles are included in price · Shuttle price is per person; there are no discounts on personal shuttles  · You may want to stage a second car at the boat ramp at Lake Olmstead to avoid shuttle price

Group Rates available on Weekends. Our group rate is $5 off each kayak and applies to any group that rents 5 or more Kayaks! We encourage large groups to fill out waivers ahead of time, download one  HERE

>>>>> CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR BOATS NOW <<<<   WE HAVE MOVED TO ONLINE BOOKING!!                  *You will be charged a $5 deposit per kayak at the time of booking, which will go toward the price of your rental bringing each boat down $5 when you pay your remaining balance due upon arrival for your reservation. You must reserve at least 2 hours prior to the time you’d like to come. Deposits are refundable if you cancel 12 hours or more in advance or in the event of inclement weather. If your confirmation email does not show up in your inbox, check your junk mail folder! If you’d like to do any route other than the canal, please note that in the comment section when reserving your boats!

RENTAL HOURS: 

Every Day from 9am to 3pm; last shuttle at 5pm Walk up business accepted from 10am to 2:30pm                       if/when we have boats available!

Extended hours on Saturdays with our new Sunset Session! Reserve your boats anytime from 4:30pm to 5:30pm with shuttle pick ups on the hour at 7pm and 8pm!

RESERVATIONS NECESSARY SO THAT WE MAY PROPERLY STAFF EACH DAY WHICH IN TURN HELPS US PROVIDE BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR YOU AND PUTS LESS STRESS ON OUR EMPLOYEES!

OPEN YEAR ROUND Inclement weather and off season (September through March) – Please reserve 24 hours in advance

If you have a group renting 10 or more kayaks and are interested in coming outside of normal business hours, give us a call and we can try our best to accommodate your group! We have over 60 kayaks, both single and tandem kayaks, and can accommodate large groups such as family reunions, company outings, etc as long as we have proper notice!

FYI: Week Day pricing is cheaper because you get the full experience of kayaking, which sometimes means helping get your kayak to the water, the possibility of not having someone at the end point to assist you in getting out of your kayak, or even helping load your kayak onto the trailer! We’ll let you in on a little secret, though: the week days are not as busy and therefore much more peaceful and enjoyable. Don’t worry, you can thank us by helping 🙂

Never kayaked before? Please consider watching this instructional video from our manufacturer, perception, for some great tips on how to get started!   >>click here to watch perception kayaking basics video now<<

>>>> CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR BOATS NOW <<<<

PADDLE OPTIONS:

· Paddle the Historic Augusta Canal down to the Lake Olmstead boat ramp where we meet you. This route is our most common route, it is roughly 5 miles long and generally takes people about 2 hours. The nice, mellow current of the canal makes this route perfect for beginners with no rocks or rapids, just a nice easy float down to the turn into Lake Olmstead where you then paddle across the flat water of the lake to the boat ramp at the far end of the right hand side of the lake. We pick up our Kayaks free of charge; shuttle price is $5 and is per person. Shuttle is always free for military (both currently serving or former) as long as they show their military ID; shuttle is also free for kids 15&under. You can always avoid the shuttle price if you drop a car off at the Lake Olmstead boat ramp, the address is 2200 Broad St, Augusta, Ga, 30904 and there is a gravel lot right alongside the canal and a paved trail ; just a friendly reminder- don’t forget your keys to the vehicle you park at the endpoint! Another fun way to avoid the shuttle price is by biking! Bike up to our location from the endpoint if you have your own bike and we will bring it back down to you, or rent a bike from The Bicycle Peddler  located just up from us in the Savannah Rapids Park and we will have it waiting for you at the endpoint and you can ride it back up!

Stalling’s Island

· Paddle above the Locks up to the Steven’s Creek Dam and around Stalling’s Island to see the donkeys and goats! This route is ok for beginners, but if you’ve never kayaked before please let us know so we can have you paddle around for a minute or two before going above the locks. It is not dangerous, unless you DO NOT PADDLE AT ALL, and then there is a major risk of being pulled through the locks that move water into the canal through several big tunnel like things (aka locks) which is inherently dangerous. We don’t want that and trust me, neither do you! While it’s not as lazy as floating down the canal, the little work it takes to paddle against the current is worth every bit of it for the views, peacefulness, and of course, the donkeys! It’s also a totally awesome and unique way to see the river from above the spill way- from a safe distance of course! When you’re done exploring just come on back to the spot where you got in at, while keeping a safe distance away from the locks, cause, remember, inherent danger, stay away! Did we mention that before? On week days you may be responsible for getting your kayaks to and from the put in/ take out spot which is about a quarter mile up from where our business is set up but still inside the park- we do have a cart to make this process easier though! If you would like to paddle this route, please ensure everyone in your party has paddling experience and note “Stallings Island” in the comment section when making your reservation!

· More experienced paddlers may want to try the Savannah River down to the North Augusta Boat Landing (Depending on water level). Unfortunately due to the navigation needed to make it through some rather tight little rapids and over some rocky and shallow areas, we do NOT allow our Tandem Kayaks in the river. Since the river is a bit more dangerous than the canal, but totally fun, we like to use the buddy system in the case of an issue, so make sure you have your buddy, or buddies, before planning to kayak down the river! Your buddy is also gonna be handy while you’re getting Kayaks across the bridge, down the stairs and to the dock along the river! The optimal water level we like to see is between 6,000 cfs and 12,000 cfs. If the water level is running below 6,000 cubic feet per second(cfs), we will not allow our kayaks on the river cause it’s just a bit too low and they take on a lot of damage scraping and dragging over all the rocks; the river may also be dangerously high (over 12,000 cfs), in which we will not allow people to rent kayaks for the river because, while we appreciate some swift current and fun rapids, anything over 12,000 cfs is just dangerously high; it submerges practically all of the rocks and you’re more likely to get swept through trees that would otherwise be on land where they belong.  Feel free to check the water level yourself at  http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=02197000 if you’re interested in venturing down the river- this route typically takes people 2 and a half hours to 4 hours to complete! We do require groups wanting to do the river to have their own transportation for themselves and the kayaks back from the end point as we are often just a bit too busy to make it over to the North Augusta boat ramp- however if this is not a possibility we can make exceptions if you come between 12:15pm- 1:30pm on week days or almost anytime on weekends when we have 2 or 3 shuttles running! If you would like to paddle this route, please ensure everyone in your party has paddling experience and note “River Route if possible” in the comment section when making your reservation- then cross your fingers and hope that the water level is good the day you’d like to come 🤞!

We also have guided river tours as well as moonlight paddles once a month, as well as other events happening daily!   Click Here for special events calendar! 

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE EXHILARATING?? Rent a jet ski at our second location inside the Wildwood Park! Learn more at Kegcreekwatersports.com

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Want to play Augusta National? Here are 10 ways to get a tee time

Augusta National Golf Club's 12th hole. We hope you get there.

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If you’re watching the Masters this week, you may be thinking some variation of the following:

Hmm, that place looks cool.

Fun par-5s.

Green, green grass.

Big, fun trees.

Cool creeks!

I’m gonna book a tee time.

But that last bit may give you some trouble. After all, Augusta National is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the United States. It’s also arguably the most famous golf course in the world. That combination means it can be very difficult for you, a member of the general public, to play it, like, ever.

But not quite impossible. And I’m here to help.

So how can you access Augusta ? Here’s a semi-exhaustive list:

1. Befriend a member

Probably the most common way that people get to play golf at Augusta National is by invitation via one of the club’s members. While its membership roll is not public, Augusta has in the neighborhood of 300 members and most are allowed to bring guests on select days of the season to play. There’s a little flexibility with these invites, too: while members are required to be on property with their guests, they don’t actually have to accompany them throughout the round. So start sending those LinkedIn requests!

2. Befriend a Masters champ

In the leadup to the Masters, past champs come and play Augusta National to take advantage of their honorary memberships and prep for the tournament. Think Tiger Woods traveling to town with his righthand man Rob McNamara, his son Charlie and his buddy Justin Thomas. If you become best friends or family with a Masters champ then you, too, could make some simple trips like this one.

I’ll add that you could befriend someone who’s in the Masters field, too — you just probably have to be even better friends. Some first-timer is unlikely to bring a second-tier buddy to join him and a member in a pre-Masters practice round.

3. Become a member

Just don’t ask to become one; that allegedly dooms your chances. But I don’t love your chances as it is. There are only a few hundred of these people, after all. So if you’re a normal member of society rather than a head of a corporation or state, this might not be the right pathway for you.

4. Volunteer at the Masters

Even without a connection to a member, there are still other ways to play the course. Volunteers who work a full week at the Masters are invited to an “Appreciation Day” each May, where they are allowed to play a round of golf. The only problem? There’s a waiting list to even become a volunteer! This is a tightly-guarded honor that can get passed from one generation to the next without ever entering the open market.

5. Become a media member — and then get lucky

There are other perks to this gig, too, like access to unlimited chicken sandwiches in the palatial media center. But among the tensest moments of the week is when reporters and photographers rush to check the list of lottery winners on Friday afternoon. Roughly six foursomes-worth of media (that’s 24 people) win each year. Only downside: once you win, you can’t enter again for seven years. So this isn’t a recipe for regular play.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by GOLF.com // GOLF Magazine (@golf_com)

6. Join Augusta University’s golf team

Patrick Reed’s alma mater, the Augusta University Jaguars, play at nearby Forest Hills but get invited semi-regularly to the National for outings. Other Georgia golf teams reportedly also receive invites from time to time — Georgia Tech’s Christo Lamprecht talked about his team’s Augusta trips earlier this month. But age and skill could be limiting factors here…

7. Get a job at the club

Near the end of each season, club employees get the chance to tee it up before Augusta shuts down for the summer. (Augusta National is a winter club, which means it’s closed between roughly the months of May and October.)

8. Caddie at the club

After a season hauling sticks around the course, caddies get rewarded with a chance to put their learned knowledge to the test at the end of the season. Plenty of these guys work summers at prestigious clubs in the Northeast and plenty are nice players in their own right. We’re guessing they could beat most of the members…

9. Work for a big-time sponsor

In addition to media members, some select friends of Augusta National get to play the Monday after the Masters. We’re guessing that means a few folks from sponsors at AT&T, Delta, IBM, Mercedes-Benz, Rolex or UPS — but it’s tough to know for sure. The club doesn’t really like to talk about this sort of thing.

10. Qualify for the tournament

Making it into the Masters isn’t exactly a picnic. It requires winning a PGA Tour event, cracking the top 50 in the world rankings or taking down one of the world’s most prestigious amateur events. But once you do? Plenty of golf at Augusta awaits!

And if you’re a female amateur, the Augusta National Women’s Am is for you. Your course access will be limited — after two rounds at nearby Champions Retreat, just 30 players make it to the final round at Augusta — but every competitor at least gets to play the practice round on the Friday of the event.

There are other sneakier or more nefarious ways you could finagle a few swings at Augusta, but we can’t recommend those in good conscience; the security is too good around here.

And don’t wear your Jason Day sweater.

Latest In News

Rory's strategy, bryson's irons, tiger's walk: stray masters thoughts | monday finish, greg norman, rory mcilroy and scottie: 102 thoughts from masters week, this local masters caddie just earned a massive payday, inside scottie scheffler's dominant masters victory | seen and heard at augusta day 7, dylan dethier.

Dylan Dethier is a senior writer for GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com. The Williamstown, Mass. native joined GOLF in 2017 after two years scuffling on the mini-tours. Dethier is a graduate of Williams College, where he majored in English, and he’s the author of 18 in America , which details the year he spent as an 18-year-old living from his car and playing a round of golf in every state.

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