Where to Play, Eat, and Stay in LaGrange, GA, on a Family Getaway

Things to do in LaGrange for families

Legacy Museum on Main

LaGrange’s Legacy Museum on Main chronicles Troup County’s history from early settlement and advancements, through the Civil War and World War II, to life today. It serves as an important archive for the county’s rich Black heritage. At the time of publication, the current exhibition, titled “Black and White in Black and White,” includes the works of photographer John Johnson, who cataloged many Black families during the early 20th century.

Legacy Museum on Main: 136 Main St, LaGrange, GA 30240

Southbend Park

Southbend Park is a nice place to play outdoors in downtown LaGrange. It includes multiple playgrounds for kids of different ages, a dedicated dog park, and a skatepark. Come for a stroll, grab some food in town for a picnic, or make use of the park’s amenities.

Southbend Park: 309 Pierce St, LaGrange, GA 30240

Pretty Good Books

In downtown LaGrange, Pretty Good Books sells both new and used books for the whole family, including a children’s corner upstairs with a playroom and curated selections for young readers. The store also hosts a scavenger hunt (with a top-secret prize) for anyone who dares to take on the challenge of finding a list of stuffed animals that are hidden around the store. Before you visit, be sure to check the website for information on upcoming author talks and in-store events like the “blind book date” where you get a mystery read based on the genre of your choosing.

Pretty Good Books: 118 Church St, LaGrange, GA 30240

Emberglow

Located in charming Lafayette Square, Emberglow is the place to be if you love handmade crafts, ranging from local art to jewelry, home goods, artisanal edibles, and more. Owner Nikki Franklin, who also owns the nearby Copper Carrot Bakery, is passionate about supporting artisan crafters and believes that the perfect gift is made with love.

Emberglow: 2 E Lafayette Square, LaGrange, GA 30240

Where to eat in LaGrange with kids

Charlie Joseph’s

Famous for its loaded hot dogs, Charlie Joseph’s is a diner-style restaurant that’s been serving hungry customers since 1920. It’s a great choice for quick bites like burgers, fries, and Brunswick stew served with a side of history — practically every inch of the interior is lined with Coca-Cola memorabilia, and you can’t miss the giant Coca-Cola mural outside.

Charlie Joseph’s: 128 Bull St. LaGrange, Georgia 30240

John’s Caribbean Soul Food

John’s Caribbean Soul Food, located just outside of downtown LaGrange, serves soul food with Caribbean flair, from curry goat, brown stew chicken, and jerk patties to rice and beans and macaroni and cheese. Particularly impressive is the extensive chicken wing menu — choose between 10 and 100 pieces of whatever flavor is calling your name: bbq or honey bbq, hot, mild, lemon pepper, teriyaki, or honey mustard.

John’s Caribbean Soul Food: 801 Whitesville Rd, LaGrange, GA 30240

Trios Cantina

Perfect for an on-the-go lunch, Trios Cantina is a Mexican restaurant with kid-friendly menus and generous, open indoor and outdoor seating. The restaurant’s build-your-own-meal model is great for picky eaters: all you have to do is choose what type of food you want (tacos, a bowl, nachos, a burrito, or a quesadilla), pick your protein (beef, chicken, pork, fish, steak, plant-based chorizo, or none), add on any extra toppings (like guacamole or queso) and sides (like chips and salsa), and specify the style in which you want it served (street, supreme, spicy, or super). Kids ages 12 and under can also order a single taco or quesadilla.

Trios Cantina: 133 Bull St, LaGrange, GA 30240

Splendid Events

Splendid Events and Catering specializes in home-cooked soul food that’ll make you feel like you’re in your grandmother’s kitchen. Ms. Janice, the owner who wears multiple hats, opened the restaurant after being heavily complimented on her spread of Southern staples that she often whipped up for family reunions and local events. Outside the restaurant is a bench dedicated to a late city board member, Legree Deminigo McCamey, who frequented Splendid Events for regular meals prepared by Ms. Janice.

Splendid Events: 116 Bull St, LaGrange, GA 30240

Scoops

Downtown LaGrange has no shortage of its own sweet treats. Take Scoops, a small-batch-crafted ice cream shop that uses only the best ingredients to make classic flavors like mint chip and cake batter alongside creative choices like pineapple sherbert, banana pudding, and snick-a-ripple (peanut butter ice cream with a caramel, chocolate, and chopped peanuts). Scoops is also an old-school-style candy store with tons of novelty sweets.

Scoops: 104 Main St, LaGrange, GA 30240

Crave Cookie Company

Owner Tami Weissert started Crave Cookie Company during the pandemic and today sells gourmet, made-from-scratch, New York-style cookies right on Main Street. You never know quite what you’re going to get as the menu changes weekly — past flavors have included pumpkin s’moreo, Butterfinger cheesecake, and Carmelita (oatmeal cookie with caramel and semi-sweet chocolate). Flourless, diary-free, and vegan options are available, as well.

Crave Cookie Company: 112 Main St, LaGrange, GA 30240

The Copper Carrot Bakery

The Copper Carrot Bakery specializes in Southern baked goods and fresh desserts that are made with local ingredients and love. It has an extensive menu, offering custom cakes and top-tier cheesecake cups. If you’re celebrating a birthday at the lodge and looking for a local baker, consider placing an order here for something extra special.

The Copper Carrot Bakery: 120 Bull St, LaGrange, GA 30240

Where to stay (and play) in LaGrange

When it comes to finding a place to stay in LaGrange that’s fun for the whole family, the Great Wolf Lodge water park resort is an obvious choice.

There’s never a dull moment at a Great Wolf Lodge. It’s apparent from the moment you set foot in the Grand Lobby — where you might see costumed characters like Wiley Wolf and Sammy Squirrel posing for photos with guests, or families stretching together during a Yoga Tails class — and pick up your pack’s complimentary wolf ears at the Buckhorn Exchange gift shop.

But the action-packed lobby is just the beginning. Recreation at the Great Wolf Lodge is separated into two main categories: on-land activities — including live-action games, miniature and virtual golf, a ropes course, rock climbing, bowling, and an arcade — and water park amusement. The year-round indoor waterpark has slides for all ages, cabana rentals, a wave pool, and a lazy river.

While many of those activities scream summer fun, fall and winter are great times to sneak away to the Great Wolf Lodge. There’s less foot traffic during the week because kids are back in school, and the resort offers a variety of deals for the colder seasons. Best of all, while check out at is 11 AM, guests are welcome to use the facilities and participate in campus activities until 8 PM on their departure date.

Dining options at the Great Wolf Lodge include the Campfire Kitchen, which has an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet; Buckets, a go-to for “incredible craveables” like cheeseburgers and nachos; and Barnwood, a more refined dinner spot where parents can sneak away for date night while the little ones play at the Camp H.O.W.L Kids Club. Other options include Timerbs Tacos, Dunkin Donuts, FreshWoods Market, Wood’s End Creamery, and The Outpost and The Watering Hole for specialty drinks. All dining venues are happy to accommodate allergies and dietary needs as needed.

When it comes time to settle in for the night, the Great Wolf Lodge has rooms that sleep up to 13 people. Depending on the size of your group, be sure to look into packages and add-ons to make your visit as seamless as possible with perks like a parking pass, access passes, wristbands, and food bundles.

Great Wolf Lodge: 150 Tom Hall Pkwy, LaGrange, GA 30240

Getting to LaGrange

If you’re planning a family road trip, LaGrange is within driving distance of several big and mid-sized cities, including Atlanta and Columbus in Georgia (approximately one hour or less for both) and Montgomery and Birmingham in Alabama (approximately 1.5 and 2.5 hours, respectively). If you’re visiting from farther afield, LaGrange is located a little over an hour south of the well-connected Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) via the I-85 N.

In town, you’ll find plenty of street parking two municipal parking lots near the LaGrange visitor center. Keep in mind that many local businesses are closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Some businesses are open more regularly, but the downtown area really comes to life Wednesday through Saturday, so those are the best days to visit.