A Rose By Any Other Name

Looking for a quick getaway that will allow you to slow down and smell the roses (literally)? Then hop in your car and drive a half-hour northeast to quaint little Thomasville, Georgia. Nicknamed “The Rose City,” for the 1,500 rose bushes that scent its local rose garden, it draws 30,000 visitors each spring for its century-old rose show and festival. Once a Victorian-era hot spot for well-to-do Northerners looking to escape the cold winters and revel in pine-scented air and Southern hospitality, it has preserved and capitalized on its nineteenth-century charm to be consistently ranked one of the best places to live—and eat—in the United States.

“Thomasville is a romantic town, if you visit on the right night,” writes Thomasville author and bookstore owner Annie B. Jones in her new memoir, Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put. “The sunsets are spectacular; pink and orange and purple streak across the sky behind water towers and church steeples. The brick roads are empty, and the streetlights blink lazily, and you think: I could live here. I could call this quiet little place under the stars home.”

Here’s how to do just that, if only for a weekend.

Shopping

Caroline Weeks grew up in the Thomasville area, and she says the town has changed a lot, especially over the past five to 10 years.

“The city has grown a lot and expanded, and there’s definitely an entrepreneurial spirit here,” says Weeks, who is the marketing and events manager at The Bookshelf. “We really care about our local businesses and small-business owners. That’s something important to us and a source of pride for the town.”

But Weeks says the town has also been home to a lot of creative people who have been able to see beyond what was there, pushing boundaries to create something new and fresh.

“I think that spirit is what is making it a fun destination for a lot of people,” she says.

Courtesy of The Bookshelf

The Bookshelf
This independent bookstore, owned by Annie B. Jones, has been a beloved fixture with locals of all ages who are in search of a thoughtfully curated read. It has its own book-a-month club and a weekly podcast, From the Front Porch, about books, small business, and life in the South. And it hosts weekend-long reader retreats that include dinner parties, silent reading time, and other bookish programming. Why not stop by, pick up a staffer’s recommendations, and head over to one of the gazebos at the Thomasville Rose Garden and spend the afternoon reading?
(126 South Broad Street; bookshelfthomasville.com)

ForeveRetro
This shop’s owners travel the world in search of sleek retro furniture and accessories that speak to them. Venture inside their store, and you’ll find an ever-changing array of great pieces, from fire-engine-red Eames La Chaise replicas by Vitra, to highball glasses embellished with gold pineapples, and curved vintage sectionals reupholstered in rich velvet. The boutique’s legendary hidden gems are often snapped up by film crews, featured in trade publications, and added to stylish residences around the country, so come find your next conversation piece here. (117 East Jackson Street; foreveretro.com)

SouthLife Supply Co.
If you’re in search of heirloom-quality leather goods, be sure to check out this retailer, which makes its products by hand on-site. Inspired by Southern hunting heritage, it uses full-grain genuine leather and brass hardware to create everything from sturdy toiletry bags, to wine totes, wallets, clutches, and dog collars. The leather is tanned to change with use over time, which means each piece will become truly unique to its owner.
(130 South Broad Street; southlifesupplyco.com)

Toscoga Marketplace
This 18,000-square-foot venue is filled with Southern and global antiques, custom-upholstered furniture, and other special decor that changes daily. If you’re in search of a spot that can help you develop an interior style that is rustic yet refined, be sure to stop by and find out why regional interior designers consider this their favorite secret spot. (209 South Broad Street; toscoga.com)

Photo by Daniel Shippey Photography

Dining

Debra Smith retired after teaching in the Thomasville school system for 30 years but quickly found she needed something to do. During a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, she took a food tour and loved it, but she wasn’t sure whether the same thing would work in Thomasville. After a bit of research, Smith found a school in Chicago that taught people how to run food tours. She called them to see whether they thought her idea was sound.

“They asked me whether Thomasville has history, culture, architecture, and good food,” she recalls.

It sure did, Smith told them. So, she and her friend Debbie Godbehere founded the Taste of Thomasville Food Tour, which now offers four types of group tours throughout the town.

“We have amazing restaurants here,” Smith says. “There’s a little bit of everything, but no duplicates and no franchises. It’s all family-owned, and everyone has such a passion for what they’re making, so it works.” (tasteofthomasvillefoodtour.com)

Jonah’s Fish & Grits

A town favorite, Jonah’s is known for stellar seafood dishes, like its fried catfish, and Southern favorites such as fried green tomatoes and classic shrimp and grits. No matter how full you get, don’t miss out on a slice of the Florida key lime pie. (109 East Jackson Street, jonahsfish.com)

Liam’s  A cozy, English gastropub-style eatery with a connected cheese shop, Liam’s has a fresh, seasonally driven menu that includes cheese and charcuterie boards, aged rib eyes, handmade pastas, local quail, and plenty of vegetarian-friendly dishes sourced from nearby farms. (113 East Jackson Street; liamsthomasville.com)

George & Louie’s
A Thomasville institution since 1981, this family-friendly place is known for its Greek salad, fantastic fish sandwiches, and baklava cheesecake. Film producer and town native Allen Cheney says
it’s his go-to place when he meets his grandparents for lunch. (217 Remington Avenue;
georgeandlouies.com)

Hubs & Hops  Avid cyclists, families, and college football fans flock to this local brewery to sample its ales, ciders, sours, and lagers as they hear live music. Its menu includes build-your-own salads and an array of tasty sandwiches, bowls, and shareables. Every Saturday morning, it hosts a community bike ride that leaves from its back porch and returns just in time for breakfast—and a beer, of course. (209 West Remington Avenue; hubsandhops.com)

Photo by Daniel Shippey Photography

Art and Culture

Weeks has noted the strong entrepreneurial, local-first ethos in Thomasville, but she says there’s a lot of can’t-miss culture here, too.

A few spots of note:

Thomasville Center for the Arts – The town’s arts hub exhibits contemporary artists as well as a notable wildlife art collection and hosts performances by the South Georgia Ballet, among others. It also presents after-school enrichment programs in visual art, dance, music, drama, and design to local students in addition to hosting youth and adult art classes. The center is behind two large-scale arts festivals, including the Wildlife Arts Festival, as well as public art projects and arts and culture planning, infusing its hometown with creativity at every turn.(600 East Washington Street; thomasvillearts.org)

Thomasville Municipal Auditorium – The 1,000-seat theater has hosted prominent performing groups such as The Boston Pops, as well as dance recitals, school plays, and bluegrass concerts. To see who’s performing when you’re in town, check out the city’s online calendar. (thomasvillega.com/calendar)

Thomasville On Stage and Company – The nonprofit organization began by performing plays in local backyards. Now it puts on at least four shows a year at the 80-seat Storefront Theater, where past shows include Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, The Odd Couple, Steel Magnolias, and the work of local playwrights. (117 South Broad Street; tosac.com)

Courtesy of City of Thomasville

Outdoor and Fitness

Of course, there’s the green, leafy beauty of the town that provides plenty of places to curl up with a book, have a picnic, hunt, or hike.

Some favorites:

The Big Oak – The town’s oldest natural landmark, which dates to 1685, has a limb span of more than 165 feet and a trunk circumference of 26 feet. Call (229) 236-0053 from your smartphone to activate the Big Oak Cam so you can snap a souvenir photo to download and share. (124 E. Monroe Street)

Birdsong Nature Center – Twelve miles of trails allow visitors to explore wildflower meadows, forests, ponds, and swamps as they experience chirping birds and other wildlife that exist here. Throughout the year, the center offers guided walks and other nature events that highlight the beauty of this special part of South Georgia. (2106 Meridian Road; birdsongnaturecenter.org)

Quail Hunting – The Rose City is also known as America’s quail hunting capital, in large part because of the plantations and preserves in the area that provide guided hunts. Among the standouts: Millpond, which was established in 1905 (millpond.com); Southwind, which also offers fishing and sporting clays (huntsouthwind.com); and Rio Piedra, which is a three-time recipient of the Orvis Wingshooting Lodge of the Year Award (riopiedraplantation.com).

Country Oaks Golf Course – Four miles from downtown, the 18-hole course is surrounded by azaleas, dogwoods, oaks, and magnolias, making it a beautiful spot to tee off year-round, with amenities that include a driving range, putting green, pro shop, and snack bar. It’s thought to be one of the best bangs for your golfing buck among locals, especially if you book online. (6481 Georgia Highway 122, countryoaksgolfcourse.org)

Family Activities

Whatever you do, you can’t forget the kiddos on your trip.

Here are a couple of ways they can have fun, no matter the time of year:

Hunt the Lost Quail Scavenger Hunt – Sure, Thomasville is known for its quail hunting, but here’s a kid-friendly way to do it without gunfire: Search high and low for the 18 bronze quail statues that are placed throughout downtown. Stop by the Visitor’s Center to pick up a map and clues. When you find all 18 fowl, the bonus is that you’ll learn more about the town’s natural and historic offerings, too. (144 East Jackson Street)

Victorian Christmas – Get into the Christmas spirit by taking the kids to see the twinkling holiday lights and sing carols in Thomasville. Its annual Victorian Christmas celebration includes carriage rides, live nativity scenes, carolers, snow, and of course, the obligatory visit with Santa himself. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows or stocking up on locally made glass ornaments, it’s a magical and sentimental celebration that your family will never forget. (thomasvillega.com/things-to-do/annual-events)