Come Along With Me As I Day Trip Through My Own Town Of Commerce, Georgia

Georgia has so many charming small towns to discover; it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. Since most of us live around big cities, the simplest approach can be to find some small towns within a reasonable driving distance and set off on an adventure. One of my favorite small towns in Georgia is Commerce. With a population that hovers just under 10,000 residents, it’s the perfect size to spend a day exploring. Now, I’m slightly biased since I live here, but I truly do think it might be one of the best small towns in Georgia. 

Commerce is conveniently located about an hour away from Atlanta and only 30 minutes from Athens, making it easy to schedule a day trip from either town. There are plenty of things to do in Commerce to keep you entertained all day long, and I’d love to share with you some of my favorite things to do in Commerce. 

The downtown Commerce area is small, at just a few blocks, but there are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy here, and it's a wonderful place for a day trip in North Georgia. We will circle back to the downtown adventures in a moment, but first I want to highlight one of my favorite things to do in Commerce: a drive-thru safari.

I started my morning with a visit to the Atlanta Safari Park, about 15 minutes away from downtown Commerce. This unique drive-thru safari has bison, zebras, camels, giraffes, and more that you can get up close and personal with as you drive through the spacious grounds.

I recommend purchasing at least one bucket of feed for each passenger in your car - all the critters are quite hungry! There are a few different attractions at the Atlanta safari park, including the drive-thru safari, a giraffe feeding where you can hand-feed these gentle giants, a parakeet aviary where you can walk in and surround yourself with more than 200 of these colorful critters, and a petting area with goats, pigs, and sheep who are all waiting for cuddles.

After playing with all the animals at the safari park (and vacuuming out my car), I returned to downtown Commerce to visit Back in the Dayz Antiques and Collectibles.

The shop is much larger than it looks from the outside, and you'll find everything from musical instruments to artwork to clothing. Make sure to check out the cool historical pictures of Commerce that are displayed at the register.

For more information, check out the Back in the Dayz Antiques Facebook page.

I was absolutely thrilled when Diesel Donuts recently opened up a new location in Commerce. I am a regular visitor of the Diesel Donuts in Jefferson, and it's one of my favorite spots for coffee or donuts.

You'll find all the same flavors and goodies at the Commerce location, and there's actually a new branch in Sandersville, too!

My next stop for the day was a visit to Nerd U, which is right next door to the recently-opened Two Beans Coffee, an adorable little shop that also has some tasty joe. I would have stopped in for another cup if I wasn't already buzzing from my Diesel Donuts drink, but I wanted to give Two Beans a shout out, as it certainly deserves a visit as well.

Nerd U is located in an old bank building, which is pretty cool because you can still see the old vault doors and other remnants of its previous life.

Inside, you'll find tons of comics, trading cards, Funko Pop figures, and more. It's a really fun spot that regularly hosts comic book signings, D&D games, and other fun activities.

For more information, check out the Nerd U Facebook page.

I next visited Commerce Drugs, an old-school pharmacy right on the city's main street.

My destination was the lunch counter, which serves old-fashioned milkshakes, Coke floats, and sandwiches.

I wasn't feeling too hungry after filling up on donuts, so I just opted for a spud.

I hadn't had a baked potato in ages, and I've got to say, this one was delicious! I have no idea what they did to it to make a basic baked potato such a fluffy, delicious consistency, but I've been craving another one ever since I left. I can't wait to visit again for a second one (next time paired with a Coke float).

While I didn't visit it on the day I was enjoying for this article, I've got to give a shout-out to the wonderful Italy's Pizza and Pasta. This little Italian joint has a Buford location as well, and serves up delicious pastas, pizzas, and calzones. I've never had a bad meal there!

Visiting Commerce is ideal for anyone who loves exploring Georgia's small towns. And since it's so close (70 miles) to Atlanta, it's the perfect day trip.

If you're looking to come up to the area for a weekend, I highly recommend checking out Athens while you're in the region. I moved to North Georgia to attend UGA over a decade ago and fell so much in love with the Classic City that I never left! Hotel prices can get a little steep in Athens, especially in the fall, but it's not too far of a drive to reach Commerce, so why not stay at the Spark by Hilton in Commerce, GA? It's been recently renovated and is just off I-85 for easy access to the highway.