Water Activities & Cool Spots in Augusta

This summer, Augusta’s forecast calls for heat. Thankfully, the Feel Good City offers a wealth of winsome ways to stay cool. Whether you opt for the air-conditioned environs of an absorbing art museum or the speed and splash of a jet ski rental, you’ll have no trouble beating the heat on those scorching summer days. Read on to discover our top picks for water activities, indoor attractions, and shaded outdoor spots in Augusta!

Best Water Activities To Stay Cool In Augusta

It’s science: one of the best ways to stay cool is to simply get in the water. Augusta’s River Region is filled with scores of scenic waterways and even more ways to enjoy them!

WATER SPORTS

Feed your need for speed with a guided jet ski tour of the Savannah River with Reserve and Ride Watersports. Rent a pontoon boat from Keg Creek Water Sports and cruise nearby Clarks Hill Lake, or learn to windsurf with Whitecap Watersports. Looking for kayaking in Augusta, GA? Rent a kayak or paddle board from Outdoor Augusta and savor the serene, shaded waters at Betty’s Branch. 

FISHING

If you like to keep it reel, head to Clarks Hill Lake. With over 400 miles of sublimely shaded shoreline, this world-class fishing destination is teeming with everything from largemouth bass to catfish. Or treat yourself to the opportunity to fish at other scenic spots around Augusta, including Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve and the piers at Riverview Park downtown. Need to gear up? Buy or rent at Palmetto Pines Outfitters.

SPLASH PADS

Whether you’re seven or seventy, you’ll love Augusta’s variety of pools, splash pads, and aquatic centers. From Fort Eisenhower’s scintillating Spray Park to the impressive indoor waterpark at The Kroc Center, you’ll have zero trouble staying cool. Augusta even boasts a free splash pad at the Riverwalk Fountain, where kids of all ages are allowed. (And so are adults —  don’t let your offspring have all the fun.)

Top Indoor Attractions For A Refreshing Break

Sometimes, it takes staying inside in some good old-fashioned air conditioning to show Georgia’s heat who’s boss. Fortunately, Augusta is replete with climate-controlled attractions and destinations, both educational and entertaining, that are as cool as they are, well, cool.

MUSEUMS

Explore the Feel Good City’s rich heritage at the Augusta Museum of History. Admire thousands of pieces by Southern artists at the Morris Museum of Art. Learn about Black history and culture at the Lucy Craft Laney Museum. Visit the boyhood home of a former president, Woodrow Wilson. Or prepare to be amazed at the eccentric exhibits of Pexcho’s American Dime Museum.

ACTIVITIES

Make gravity a thing of the past at Defy Extreme Air Sports. Rely on your wits to free yourself at Mastermind Escape Rooms. Flex your mini golf skills, or lack thereof, at Putt-Putt Fun Center. Or jump and climb in climate-controlled comfort at Urban Air Adventure Park. Feeling bold? Channel your inner lumberjack at Broad Axe Throwing or smash your stress away at Dahman’s Revenge Rage Room. 

ENTERTAINMENT

Catch a live performance at the historic Miller Theater. Guzzle a thirst-quenching craft beer at Savannah River Brewing Company. Or shop and dine sweat-free at the Augusta Mall.

Shaded Outdoor Spots & Scenic Escapes

There’s nothing shady about staying out of the sun. Augusta offers a host of shaded outdoor spots and scenic locales, perfect for enjoying summer weather while avoiding those unbecoming UVB rays. 

PARKS

Find some shade at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion, a 33-acre park that overlooks Reed Creek Falls and offers numerous covered areas that are perfect for a picturesque picnic. Or enjoy the gorgeous shaded grounds of New Savannah Bluff Lock & Dam Park.

ACTIVITIES

Looking for things to do outside today in Augusta that aren’t heatstroke-inducing? We (and the trees) have you covered. Play a round of disc golf on the shaded greens of Lake Olmstead Park. Cool down in a spring-fed waterfall after a short hike in Rae’s Creek Aqueduct Park. Or bike the balmy boardwalks and shaded paths of Phinizy Swamp Nature Park.

Don’t sweat it. There’s no shortage of indoor attractions and outdoor activities in Augusta, GA, to help you beat the heat. Cheers to the coolest Augusta summer yet!