Locate It: Watkinsville

Oconee County offers a wide variety of parks that offer many opportunities for outside play for children and adults. Harris Shoals Park features picnic areas, walking trails, shoals that are kid and dog friendly, and the new ESP Miracle Field. Heritage Park is 364 acres of attractive park setting with woods, creeks, and the Appalachee River. The park is a quiet place to take a relaxing walk on the 2.5 miles of walking trails, a challenging bike excursion on the 9.5 miles of bike trails, a scenic ride on the 4.5 miles of equestrian trails, and a family picnic or just a place to breathe in fresh country air.

The 197-acre Veterans Park includes baseball/softball fields, bike trails, hiking trails, a pavilion, picnic areas, soccer fields, tennis courts, and a dog park. A memorial honoring Armed Forces veterans of Oconee County is also on the property. Inside the community center you can find a relic from the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

A walking tour is a fun and active way to get to know an area. Watkinsville has walking tours featuring our downtown history, haunted history, and the Antique Trail. Or take a drive out to the Elder Mill Covered Bridge, built in 1897, one of 13 functioning covered bridges in Georgia, and the only covered bridge along Georgia’s Trail of Legacy and Lore. Travel across the wooden trusses of the bridge that sits above Rose Creek.

While you’re out driving in the countryside, stop at some of our local family farms and markets to pick berries, choose fresh-from-the-field produce, and explore agrarian life. Washington Farms offers u-pick strawberries in spring, pumpkins in fall, and more than 30 fun farm activities. DGD Farms is a family run, pick-your-own blueberry farm on 24 acres in the heart of Watkinsville. They have 2,600 rabbit-eye blueberry bushes of three different varieties. Or choose from eight varieties of irrigated blueberries, two varieties of irrigated blackberries, and u-pick strawberries at certified bee-friendly Miller Blueberry Farm, available late spring to late summer. Shop for locally grown meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and more at the Oconee Farmers Market every Saturday from May to November from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Harris Shoals Park.

Not hungry? Then seek out a feast for the eyes. Come be surprised, delighted, and enchanted as you walk through rows of flowers at Twin Run Flower Farm. Allow yourself to be connected to the universe, rooted to the earth, sun-drenched and wild. Pick the flowers you want to grace your space or pick some to take to a friend.