A Weekend Getaway in Thomson, GA Itinerary

If you’re looking for a weekend getaway full of music, history, and local farm-fresh food, then you’ll love Thomson, GA! Spend a weekend in Thomson with this itinerary.

I visited Thomson for their annual Blind Willie McTell Music Festival and found a town full of surprises! There are local farms with everything from lavender to Highland Cows, a downtown full of art and history, and plenty of delicious restaurants.

Thomson is just a short drive from Atlanta or Augusta, making it the perfect place to spend a few days. Plan your weekend getaway in Thomson with my itinerary.

A special thanks to Visit Thomson, GA for hosting me for a weekend! As always, all opinions are my own.

Thomson Weekend Itinerary

Day 1 in Thomson

I drove to Thomson because it’s only about a 2 hour drive from Atlanta. It was super easy and straight down I-20.

Since it was such a quick drive, I had some time to explore on my first day in Thomson.

Check-in at Crawford’s Double O Farm

For my weekend in Thomson, I stayed at Crawford’s Double O Farm in the cute little RV that’s right by the Highland Cow pastures.

This small, family-owned farm has 32 acres with adorable Scottish Highland Cows, alpacas, and Valais Sheep.

This unique accommodation gets you away from it all in your rustic escape, surrounded by woods and Highland Cows. But really, it’s only 20 minutes from Downtown Thomson, so it’s still super convenient!

Visit the McDuffie Museum

The McDuffie Museum is a free history museum in Downtown Thomson that tells you all about Thomson and McDuffie County. It’s the perfect place for an introduction to Thomson!

The museum has exhibits on the county’s Native American tribes, its Quaker colony of Wrightsboro, its famous musicians and artists, Thomson’s railroad history, Blind Willie McTell’s rise to fame, and so much more.

Dinner at Fernanda’s Grill & Pizzeria

Fernanda’s Grill & Pizzeria is an Italian restaurant just a few steps away from the McDuffie Museum.

They serve Italian favorites like pizza, pasta plates, hot and cold subs, calzones, and strombolis. I recommend the Baked Spaghetti.

Day 2 in Thomson

My second day in Thomson was full of history and local goods!

Breakfast at Emma’s Breakfast Cafe

Emma’s Breakfast Cafe is just what it says it is — a delicious breakfast spot in Downtown Thomson. It’s one of the best restaurants in Thomson!

They serve classic breakfasts like eggs and bacon, omelets, French toast, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and breakfast sandwiches. I recommend the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich on Toast.

See Blind Willie McTell’s Grave

On the way to the next stop (White Hill Farms), you’ll pass by the turn for Blind Wille McTell’s grave site. So this is the perfect time to take a little detour!

Blind Willie’s grave is located at Jones Grove Baptist Church. It’s easy to find: it’s the big one with a guitar on it just a couple rows back from the church.

Blind Will McTell was a blues musician and composer who was known for playing the 12-string guitar. He was born and raised in this area of Thomson, known as Happy Valley. You’ll learn a lot more about Blind Willie as you explore Thomson.

This isn’t the original headstone for Blind Willie — that’s actually at the McDuffie Museum! So be sure to stop into the museum if you missed it the first time.

Visit White Hills Farm

White Hills Farm is a small boutique lavender and herb farm with a shop that sells one-of-a-kind products. They cultivate 14 varieties of lavender, as well as rosemary, thyme, basil, and calamint.

During lavender season (June-July), you can see the farm awash in beautiful purple blooms and even pick some lavender yourself. The farm shop is open on the weekends where you can buy lavender bath products, teas, essential oils, and more.

When it’s non-growing season, you can still visit the farm for a farm tour, shop the store, take a baking class, make your own spa-grade beauty products, and attend yoga retreats.

I recommend picking up some Lavender Calamint Rooibos Tea and some Culinary Lavender, along with their recipe cards and ideas for using culinary lavender.

Take a Downtown Walking Tour

The Downtown Thomson Walking Tour is a self-guided tour that gives you a look at the historic buildings, architecture, and important people who shaped Thomson.

It’s about a 1.35 mile walk that begins and ends at the Thomson Depot. You’ll see important sites like the Thomson Depot, the Historic McDuffie County Courthouse, Thomson Memorial Cemetery, the Tom Watson Birth Cabin, and the Bank of Thomson Building.

You can pick up a brochure of the walking tour at the Visitor Center, or you can get it online here.

Visit the Thomson Memorial Cemetery

The Thomson Memorial Cemetery is a stop on the Downtown Walking Tour, but it’s also worth going into the cemetery and exploring further.

This cemetery was established in 1854, and the earliest marked grave is that of Mary Sutton who died on June 5, 1855.

Thomson Memorial Cemetery was part of the 19th century Rural Cemetery Movement that advocated moving cemeteries away from churchyards and into more park-like settings. Before, urban cemeteries were overcrowded and hazardous to health, especially after many yellow fever epidemics, and the idea was to move cemeteries away from heavily populated areas. Today, Thomson Memorial Cemetery sits on the edge of Downtown.

There are many notable graves to see within the cemetery, like Thomas Edward Watson, the founder of Georgia’s People’s Party; John Lewis King Holtzendorf, the first Mayor of Thomson in 1889; and Clara Elizabeth Stovall, co-author of the book History of McDuffie County, which was responsible for the preservation of much of the county’s history.

You can find a self-guided tour brochure at the audiobox inside the cemetery, or you can find an online version here.

Do the 12 String Strut

There’s plenty of overlap between the Downtown Walking Tour and the 12 String Strut, a public art project made up of more than a dozen 7-foot-tall hand-painted Stella guitar replicas designed by local artists.

The project honors the legacy of Blind Willie McTell, who was famous for his blues music played on a 12-string guitar.

The trail also includes several murals depicting Blind Willie and Thomson history.

Be sure to check out each guitar and mural on the 12 String Strut as you take your Downtown Walking Tour.

You can pick up a brochure of the trail at the Visitor Center, or you can get it online here.

Shop around Downtown

While you’re exploring downtown on the Walking Tour and the 12 String Strut, you’ll pass by a lot of great Downtown Thomson shops.

If you’re in need of a little retail therapy, here are a few of my favorite stores:

• Aunt Tique & Uncle Junk’s — antiques, curated regularly
• Southern Magnolia Farmhouse Boutique — clothes and decor
• White Oak Market — house plants and gifts
• MariBeth’s Books — new and used bookstore

Lunch at Tuff Luck Cafe

Tuff Luck Cafe is a to-go lunch spot for wings, chicken strips, and Tuff-Luck Taters (loaded potatoes).

It’s an unassuming little spot, but it just might have the best wings in town. I recommend the Garlic Parmesan Wings.

Get your lunch to-go and take it back to the RV at Crawford’s Double O Farms, or find a nice park to have a picnic.

Visit the Wrightsboro Church

The Wrightsboro Church and Historic District are McDuffie County’s roots. Wrightsboro was the southernmost point of Quaker migration in North America, settled in 1768.

Colonial Governor James Wright promised the Quakers 12,000 acres of land here, hence the community’s name. They built homes, gristmills, and meetinghouses.

Wrightsboro Church is the focal point of what’s left of the settlement of Whightsboro. It was built in 1810 as a house of worship for all Christian denominations. In 1877, the church was deeded to the Methodist Church because they asserted that they had used the church most often.

Surrounding the church is an old graveyard where many ancestors of prominent Georgia families are buried, including the Massengale family and the Candler family.

Dinner at Hogie Joe’s Sports Grill

Hogie Joe’s Sports Grill is a sports bar in Downtown Thomson with a menu of burgers, wraps, salads, sandwiches, baskets, and steaks.

They’ve been voted McDuffie’s Best Burger since 2010. I recommend getting the Cheeseburger.

Day 3 in Thomson

My third day in Thomson was reserved for the iconic Blind Willie McTell Music Festival!

Breakfast at Camellia City Cafe

Camellia City Cafe is a breakfast and brunch spot that feels like visiting your Southern Grandma’s dining room. You get a homecooked breakfast in a casual, friendly dining room. The sisters who run the cafe will greet you when you walk in and treat you like family.

They have a short and sweet menu, plus the occasional buffet, consisting of a breakfast sandwich, an egg and meat plate, a breakfast casserole, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles, or French toast. I recommend the French Toast.

Attend the Blind Willie McTell Music Festival

The Blind Willie McTell Music Festival celebrates blues and roots music and the legacy of Blind Willie McTell.

Blind Willie McTell was a country blues musician who was known for playing the 12-string guitar. His song “Statesboro Blues” was popularized by musicians like the Allman Brothers Band, and Bob Dylan recorded a tribute song called “Blind Willie McTell“.

The festival is held annually in September. It’s a one-day event, with a bonus kick-off concert in Downtown that’s free to attend. The festival is full of music, food trucks, and local vendors. Bring a blanket, lawn chair, and tent for seating and shade.

The festival hosts artists across all genres like blues, ragtime, Dixieland, Cajun, Zydeco, swamp rock, jazz, soul, funk, big band swing, and roots-rock.

Where to Stay for a Weekend in Thomson

Crawford’s Double O Farm

For my weekend in Thomson, I stayed at Crawford’s Double O Farm.

This family-owned Highland Cow farm has a luxury RV you can stay in that’s right in the middle of the cow pastures. You get to wake up, walk outside, and be greeted by fluffy Highland Cows. It’s the cutest thing ever!

The RV is small and cozy. There’s a full kitchen, seating at the kitchen table, a living room area with seating that pulls out into a bed, a small bathroom with a shower, and a bedroom with a queen-sized bed.

It’s nice and secluded in the country, but it’s still only about 20 minutes away from Downtown, so you’re not far from all the fun things to do in Thomson. I really enjoyed my stay here!

Thomson Weekend Itinerary Map

Ready for a weekend getaway in Thomson, Georgia? Use the map below to plan out your trip!

I hope you have an amazing time exploring all Thomson has to offer!

More Georgia Itineraries

Looking for more weekend getaways in Georgia? Check out these fantastic destinations:

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• Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Girls’ Weekend in Savannah
• Your Perfect Weekend Getaway Guide to Helen
• A Weekend Getaway Guide to Dahlonega
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• Fort Mountain State Park Cottages: Cabin Weekend Review
• A Weekend in Macon: 2 Day Itinerary
• A Romantic Mystery Weekend in Dahlonega
• A Weekend in Atlanta with the Atlanta CityPASS: Itinerary
• 10 Charming Small Towns in Georgia You Need to Visit

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Ready to visit Thomson, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.

• Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
• Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Thomson using Booking.com.
• Start Packing: Check out my packing list resources so you’re prepared for your trip.

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Cheers!

Paige

When are you planning a weekend in Thomson, Georgia? Let me know in the comments!