How to Spend a Weekend in Woodstock, GA

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Last Updated on June 17, 2023 by Grant

With all the travel we do, it is easy to forget how much we love our hometown, Woodstock, GA. We live here, we work here and we have a lot of fun here. So, we decided it was time to share our tips for how to spend a weekend in our hometown.

This is not the end all, be all list of things to do, but rather our favorites and recommendations for enjoying yourself in our hometown.

(Disclaimer: When we link to places where you can buy our stuff or places we stayed, we are using special codes that earn us commissions on the sales at no additional cost to you. Please see our Review Policy  for more information.)

How to get to Woodstock, GA

Woodstock is located northwest of Atlanta off Interstate 575. I would love to be able to tell you that you can take mass transit to get here, but that’s not possible. Thus, you will need a car to get here and get around.

Shops in downtown Woodstock
Shops in downtown Woodstock

Get off at Exit 8 (Towne Lake Parkway) and head east. Towne Lake Parkway will intersect with Main Street right in the heart of downtown. Finding a place to park can be challenging but downtown is worth it. There is so much to see and do in an easy walking distance of anywhere you park.

Friday Night

The first stop is our favorite brewery, Reformation Brewery.

Reformation Brewery in Woodstock, GA
Reformation Brewery

Reformation recently opened up a great new location in downtown with plenty of room, both indoors and out, for games and relaxation. Plus, they have their experimental brewery on the premises for some tasty stuff you can’t necessarily get in the stores.

I am a big fan of Cadence, their Belgian-style ale, and Nolan the Wanderer, their rotating IPA. Bonnie really likes Haddy, their Belgian-style white ale.

Bonnie enjoying a tasty beer at Reformation Brewery.
Bonnie enjoying a tasty beer at Reformation Brewery.

Grab a beer, take a load off and enjoy this great space. It’s perfect for a Friday afternoon beer (or any afternoon, for that matter).

When you are ready, head on over to Century House Tavern. This is probably our favorite restaurant in downtown. It has just the right mix of tasty sandwiches and high-end entrees to keep any foodie happy.

Century House Tavern
Century House Tavern

We are big fans of the Ahi Tuna Burger, the Prime Rib Dip and the Jack and Coke-glazed Pork Belly. Seriously, the grits which come with the pork belly are some of the best we have ever had. I hate to say it but these are better than my grandmother’s grits.

After dinner, take some time to grab some gelato at Dulce Artisan Gelato and walk around in downtown. If live music is your thing, you will often, especially in the warmer months, find several bars with live music to enjoy.

Bonnie just can't resist good gelato.
Bonnie just can’t resist good gelato.

Other great spots for a casual dinner in Woodstock we love:

Truck & Tap – Basically, this is a bar with great craft beer and space in the back for a food truck. The food trucks rotate but there are some really great trucks, like Dominic’s NY Pizza.

Freight Kitchen and Tap – The drinks here are fantastic and the pimento cheese dip is to die for. The food is mostly nouveau Southern.

Saturday Morning

Your first stop is the Woodstock Farm Fresh Market, held every Saturday morning April to December on Market Street right next to Reformation. Here, you will find fresh fruits and veggies, along with plenty of places to get something to munch on for breakfast. Alternatively, you could head up to Copper Coin Coffee Shop for coffee and a light breakfast.

Woodstock Farmer's Market
Woodstock Farmer’s Market

Right next to the Farmer’s Market is the Noonday Creek Trail. This paved walking path leads down to the creek and provides a great way to burn off a few of the calories from the gelato last night.

Getting out on the trail is one of our favorite things to do on a Saturday morning and you will often find us exercising there. When you get to the bridge, you can keep going out to Highway 92 or head past the dog park (Woofstock Park) towards Woodstock High School. The former is a bit shorter and flatter and the latter is a bit more wooded. If you need to use the bathroom or get water, there are restroom facilities at the dog park.

Woodstock walking trails
Woodstock walking trails

For lunch, head down Towne Lake Parkway to our favorite BBQ joint, J. Miller’s Smokehouse. This is not located in downtown proper but is a relatively easy walk from downtown.

Before our first visit, we heard about this place from one of our coworkers, Susan, who knows the owner. We had been meaning to try it but just hadn’t made the effort.  One day we were driving home, stopped in traffic right at the shopping center, with the window open.  Bonnie said, “Wow, that smells good.” I immediately turned in, without any hesitation. The thing is, Bonnie enjoys barbecue but rarely will choose it; I wasn’t going to miss this opportunity.

It may not look like much, but J. Miller's has the best BBQ in town.
It may not look like much, but J. Miller’s has the best BBQ in town.

The BBQ tastes just as good as it smells! We are particularly fond of the Smokehouse Cuban Sandwich, which is made with pulled pork and bolo ham, and the Black and Blue Brisket Sandwich. Also, the sour cream and bacon potato salad is to die for!

Pro tip: Order the Cuban without mustard, then douse it with the house-made Low Country Mustard BBQ sauce. Perfection!

The Low Country Mustard sauce is perfect for the Cuban.
The Low Country Mustard sauce is perfect for the Cuban.

Another great option for lunch is Canyons Fresh Grill. I am a big fan of the Red Smoke Burger. If burgers aren’t your thing, they offer chicken and salads as well.

Saturday Afternoon

There are tons of ways to spend your afternoon in Woodstock. If shopping is your thing, look no further. Not only are there great shops in downtown, but there is also an outlet mall just up Rope Mill Road. You can even take the trolley there.

If shopping isn’t your thing and you want to see more in the way of nature, there is a ton to enjoy with just a short drive.

Shops in downtown Woodstock
Shops in downtown Woodstock

Just west of Woodstock is Lake Allatoona and Red Top Mountain State Park, both of which offer a lot in terms of outdoor recreation. There are several day use areas, hiking trails and boating opportunities to be had all around the lake.

Looking for a bit of history? Head south to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, our nearest unit of the National Park Service. Kennesaw Mountain NBP offers both a glimpse into the history of the Civil War in Georgia and some great views of the surrounding country.

Red Top Mountain and Lake Allatoona are just west of Woodstock.
Red Top Mountain and Lake Allatoona are just west of Woodstock.

Saturday Night

Need a moment off your feet? We love the rooftop bar at Rootstock and Vine for a tasty cocktail in the afternoon or before dinner.

This place specializes in wine and bourbon, with a great selection of small plates/tapas. I highly recommend one the mules and be sure to check out their seasonal specials in terms of cocktails.

Rootstock and Vine rooftop bar
Rootstock and Vine rooftop bar

If the weather is hot, you might want to save drinks and the rooftop bar for after dinner to enjoy the cool of the evening.

For dinner, we recommend Vingenzo’s, a Neapolitan Italian restaurant owned by James Beard Chef Michael Bologna. You can get a wood-fired pizza or amazing pasta but be sure to pay attention to the specials.

Enjoying Antipasto Rustico at Vingenzo's
Enjoying Antipasto Rustico at Vingenzo’s

We always enjoy the antipasti as a hearty appetizer. During our last visit, we had an amazing sea bass and pasta dish as well as the Bucatini All’ Amatriciana. But that is just a few of the great dishes we have had there.

Some other great dinner and drinks options in Woodstock we love:

Reel Seafood – I love their classic Dark n’ Stormy. The seafood here is great. I’m a big fan of the Seafood Gumbo.

Salt Factory – This gastropub offers a lot of tasty dishes along with a great beer and bourbon selection.

Cool Things to Do On Saturday Night

For Saturday night, we recommend checking the schedule for the Woodstock Summer Concert Series. Woodstock recently built a fantastic outdoor amphitheater and offers free concerts throughout the summer. Some of the acts which have played free shows in Woodstock include Drivin’ n’ Cryin,” Charlie Daniels Band, .38 Special and Everclear.

Everclear playing in downtown Woodstock.
Everclear playing in downtown Woodstock.

I got to go backstage for the Everclear concert. Yeah, I fangirled a bit. It was fantastic.

Another unique offering in Woodstock is Dixie Speedway, which offers dirt track racing at it’s finest. We can’t tell you how much fun we have watching the races at Dixie.

The races start fairly late, but there are plenty of warm-up and trial runs earlier, making for an action-packed time at the races.

Dixie Speedway
Dixie Speedway

Pro Tip: Make sure you stop by Wal Mart for some hearing protection and either bring or buy some cheap lawn chairs for the races. Also, this is a dirt track, so you and your clothes will get dirt on them.

If those aren’t available, be sure to check the schedule at MadLife Studios, which has a nice concert venue in downtown. Additionally, Elm Street Cultural Art Village offers live theatre most weekends.

Sunday Morning

For a nice breakfast on Sunday which will last you well into the day, we always head to J. Christopher’s. An Atlanta chain, this joint offers one heckuva tasty breakfast.

Bonnie about to dig in on a breakfast feast.
Bonnie about to dig in on a breakfast feast.

I like scrambles and skillets. Bonnie typically gets bacon and eggs. We both love their grits and their signature blueberry crunch cakes (pancakes with granola added) are amazing.

Pro Tip: Get here early on Sundays. The wait can be a bit long.

The other great option for breakfast, especially if you have never eaten at one before, is the Waffle House and there are two in Woodstock. Waffle House is probably the last bastion of true short-order cooks and the pecan waffles are just amazing.

Where to Stay

When we have a need to stay in a hotel (like when the AC goes out or when Grant got COVID and needed the condo to quarantine), we have stayed at the Hampton Inn. It is nothing fancy, but it works.

Book the Hotel | Read TripAdvisor Reviews

Grant perusing the menu at Century House Tavern.
Grant perusing the menu at Century House Tavern.

The newest hotel, located about five minutes from downtown, is a Holiday Inn Express and it is located right next to the outlet mall.

Read TripAdvisor reviews and book it.

If you are looking to camp, there are several Corps of Engineers campgrounds around Lake Allatoona, as well as a campground at Red Top Mountain State Park.

Final Thoughts

It is kinda hard for us to believe our little downtown has grown to the point of being a weekend destination. I have lived here for more than 12 years and it has changed a lot in that time. 

Cheers from downtown Woodstock.
Cheers from downtown Woodstock.

We hope you come to visit our little corner of the world. It’s a lot of fun and there is a ton to do and enjoy here. For more information on visiting Woodstock, be sure to check out VisitWoodstockGA.com.

Plus, who knows, you might run into us out on the trail or sipping on a beer at Reformation.


Travel Resources
What do you use to find a flight?

We use Skyscanner to find deals on flights. Skyscanner has a great interface and compares tons of airlines for the best pricing and routing. That said, it does not always have every airline and some airlines will have better deals on their website. Still, Skyscanner is a great place to start.
Click here to search for a flight.

What do you use to find a hotel?

We typically stay at Hilton properties, so we use the Hilton website. You can find good Hilton Honors discounts or AAA discounts for a hotel there. We make great use of our free night certificates from our Hilton Honors American Express.
Click here to book a Hilton property.

If there are no Hilton properties available, we use TripAdvisor to read reviews and book the hotel. We find we can get the best price that way.
Click here to search for a hotel.

We recently partnered with Stay22 to add interactive maps to each of our destination posts. This will allow you to see a plethora of hotels and vacation rentals all in one responsive map of the area.

What if I need more space than I can get at a hotel?

We use Vrbo for the times when we have rented a cabin for a weekend getaway, like this cabin in Townsend, TN, or needed to rent a house for a large family vacation. We had a great experience with them in terms of refunding deposits when COVID hit and will continue to use them.
Click here to search for a vacation rental.

Who do you use for rental cars?

As a general rule, we book with Hertz for rental cars. We have had nothing but good experiences with them. Plus, we really like unlimited mileage and not worrying about crossing state lines. We have even rented from Hertz overseas in both Slovenia and Croatia.
Click here to book a rental car.

How about booking a cruise?

We have found some amazing prices for booking a cruise through Cruise Direct. We have saved a lot of money on our cruises compared to what we found elsewhere, making a last-minute Bahamas cruise even cheaper.
Click here to book a cruise.

What if I want to rent an RV?

We highly recommend Outdoorsy for RV rentals. We rented a camper van for a week to visit Rocky Mountain National Park for the elk rut and Custer State Park for the Buffalo Round-Up and had a blast. The program was easy to use and we really enjoyed the freedom of having a camper van for that trip.
Click here to rent an RV.

What do you use for booking tours?

We don’t often book tours. Typically, we like to do stuff on our own. That said, there are some experiences you can’t have any other way. So, when we do want to book a tour, we always check Viator first.
Click here to book a tour.

Do you use anything to get discounts on the road?

We make extensive use of both Good Sam and AAA on the road. Good Sam is normally regarded as a discount card for RVers at campgrounds and Camping World but anyone can use the 5 cents off a gallon at the pump at both Pilot and Flying J.
Click here to get a Good Sam membership.
We have had AAA as long as we have been married and it has more than paid for itself in discounts at hotels, aside from the peace of mind of having roadside assistance. Add in paper maps and the ability to get an international driver’s license and it is more than worth it for any traveler out there.
Click here to get a AAA membership.

From excellent places to eat and drink to plenty of things to do, Woodstock, GA, our hometown, is a great place to spend the weekend.
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