The 15 Best Things to Do in Auburn, Alabama

Get a lemonade at Toomer’s Drugs

Your first stop in Auburn should be the city’s most famous corner: Toomer’s. The intersection of College Street and Magnolia Avenue seems to be the epicenter of Auburn. Two landmarks, Toomer’s Oak and Toomer’s Drugs, sit diagonally across from each other. If you visit on game weekend and Auburn is winning, you’ll see the tree covered in a tangle of white toilet paper, as tradition dictates that the tree be rolled up to celebrate a win. Whenever you visit, a stop at Toomer’s Drugs (built in 1896) for their legendary fresh-squeezed lemonade is a must. People love it so much that we’ve developed a sheet cake recipe based on the extremely citrusy flavors.

toomers.com; 100 N. College Street, Auburn AL 36830; 334-887-3488

Discover downtown Opelika

Auburn has one great neighbor in Opelika, a historic railroad town with about 50,000 fewer residents than Auburn but just as much to see and do. Situated along still-working railroad tracks, downtown Opelika is a great place to spend an afternoon or a whole day. There are tons of places to shop for everything from women’s clothing to antiques to housewares, and plenty of locally owned restaurants that range from cozy gastropubs to hip cafes. With two breweries, a distillery, and a secluded speakeasy, this is also a great place to visit for nightlife that goes beyond the crowded bachelor bars and rowdy gameday revelers.

opelikamainstreet.org

Hiking in Chewacla State Park

Take advantage of Auburn’s beautiful natural surroundings with a visit to nearby Chewacla State Park. The 1,600-acre site is set around a 65-acre lake that’s a popular spot for bream, bass, crappie, and catfish. In the summer months, people like to cool off on the sandy beach. Canoes are available for rent on the weekends. Take one of the many multi-use trails to see Chewacla Falls, and if you want to stay a little longer and explore more the next day, there are cabins, campsites, and luxury safari-style glamping sites available for rent.

alapark.com/parks/chewacla-state-park; 124 Shell Toomer Parkway Auburn, AL 36830; 334-887-5621

Eating at Acre

Much of Auburn’s dining identity can be attributed in large part to chef David Bancroft, owner of Acre, one of the city’s first farm-to-table restaurants and an Auburn icon. A perennial James Beard Award semifinalist, Bancroft’s take on seasonal Southern cooking is not to be missed. The menu features mouthwatering appetizers like cornbread glazed with honey hot sauce butter and fried green tomatoes with marinated Gulf blue crab, pimento cheese and Creole remoulade. Did we mention the restaurant cures its own meats for an artisanal, house-made charcuterie board overflowing with Southern-made cheeses, plus house-made pickles, relish and preserves?

acreauburn.com; 210 E Glenn Ave., Auburn, AL 36830; 334-246-3763

Walk around campus

Much of life in Auburn revolves around Auburn University, so it’s nearly impossible to ignore the university’s sprawling campus. And why would you? The beautiful grounds simply beg for an afternoon stroll. If there’s one place you can’t miss, it’s Samford Hall, the picturesque school administration building first built in the 1880s and renovated in 1971. The lawn in front of the building, the walkway leading to the building, and the brick Auburn University sign on S College Street are all popular photo spots.

Visit the Jule Collins Smith Museum Of Fine Art

This free art museum was added to the Auburn University campus in 2003 and has since become a beacon for the region’s arts community. The full-time collection focuses on 19th-century Audubon prints; ceramics and pottery; European and American art from the 18th to the 21st centuries; and work by Alabama and Southern artists. The rotating exhibits change every January and July, meaning there’s always something new to explore. Please note: The museum is closed July 7 through August 5 for annual exhibit rotation.

jcsm.auburn.edu; 901 South College Street, Auburn, AL 36849; 334-844-1484

Taste Asian cuisine at Irritable Bao

After building a fanatical following for their super-fluffy and always-inventive bao via their former food truck Dumps Like A Truck, the couple behind the craze set up shop in the heart of downtown. Irritable Bao is open Tuesday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch. If you see a line wrapping from the front door to the curb, don’t fret. The bao, along with traditional and fusion street food specials like shrimp rolls, Chinese chicken skewers, and spinach artichoke dip spring rolls, are more than worth the wait.

instagram.com/dumpslikeatruck_irritablebao; 127 E. Magnolia Avenue, Auburn, AL 36832

Discover the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center

This multifaceted complex transformed not just the university, but the entire city of Auburn when it opened in August 2022. As the new home of Auburn’s esteemed Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management, the center encompasses so many things in one central location. Yes, there are classrooms and test kitchens for students studying culinary sciences. But there’s also a microbrewery, coffee roastery, fine dining restaurant, food hall, and hotel—all of which are open to the public to enjoy and explore. A tasting dinner with one of the many rotating chefs in residence at 1856—Culinary Residence restaurant is a real treat. A trip to the center’s rooftop garden and bar is another delightful way to spend an evening.

ranecenter.auburn.edu; 205 S. College St., Auburn, AL 36849

Stay in a first class hotel

One of the Rane Center’s most delightful additions is the Laurel Hotel & Spa, the state’s first and only AAA Five Diamond Hotel. This boutique hotel offers a true luxury experience, where the service (for budding hospitality students) is unparalleled and the accommodations exceed anything imaginable. Most notably, The Library, the hotel’s dining/living room, offers four completely complimentary food presentations per day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dessert. For a little R&R, indulge in a treatment at the spa or spend time in the salt or eucalyptus steam room.

laurelhotelandspa.com; 130 E Thach Ave., Auburn, AL 36830; 334-249-4250

Brunch at Lucy’s

This modern American eatery is a favorite for date night, girls’ night out, and parties thanks to its excellent food, great bar program, and enchanting ambiance. It’s busy every night of the week, but things get even busier for weekend brunch service, where you can start your day off right with creations like Housemade Coconut & Banana Toast with fig butter and caramelized bananas and Shrimp & Green Chili Grits with chorizo, avocado mole verde, pickled onions, and a poached ranch egg.

lucysauburn.com; 2300 Moores Mill Road, Auburn, AL 36830; 334-521-0391

Shopping in the city center

Auburn’s walkable downtown is packed with places to shop. From bookstores to clothing boutiques to cute gift shops, there’s something for every type of shopper, even those who claim to hate the activity. Those looking for fashionable “fits” can find all sorts of apparel at places like Behind the Glass, Charming Oaks, and fab’rik. A visit to J&M Bookstore, located right in the middle of Toomer’s Corner and the famous War Eagle mural, is a must for stocking up on Tiger apparel.

downtownauburnonline.com

Stroll through the Donald E. Davis Arboretum

This 14-acre garden and green space on Auburn’s campus is open to the public year-round. It’s a great place to take a breather in the company of native Alabama plants ranging from oaks to azaleas to carnivorous pitcher plants. There are more than two miles of trails to explore, and four-legged friends (as long as they’re on a leash) are always welcome.

auburn.edu/cosam/arboretum; 181 Garden Dr, Auburn, AL 36849; 334-844-5770

Stop for a cup of coffee at Well Red

There may not be a cozier spot in all of Auburn than Well Red, a coffee shop and bookstore just outside of downtown. The teal Craftsman home, with its bright red door and charming front porch, is so inviting from the outside that stepping inside feels like a warm hug. Grab a cup of coffee or tea at the counter, then browse the bookshelves for your new favorite read. Regular book club meetings and wine tastings help fulfill the store’s mission to be a true part of the community.

wellredau.com; 223 Opelika Rd., Auburn, AL 36830; 334-246-3021

Listen to Jazz at Piccolo 241

You don’t have to travel to New Orleans or New York to hear great jazz. Piccolo 241, located in The Hotel at Auburn University, is a true jazz lounge, featuring live jazz, blues, and soul music Thursday through Saturday nights. Stop by for a specialty cocktail or glass of wine paired with the evening’s entertainment. For a night out, head to the adjacent restaurant, Ariccia Cucina, for house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, and a porchetta so good it made the list of 100 foods to eat in Alabama.

aricciacucina.com/piccolo-241-jazz-and-cocktails; 241 S College Street, Auburn, AL 36830; 334-844-5140

Hike around the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center

Another example of Auburn University giving back to its hometown is the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, an outreach program of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. In addition to offering environmental education programs for children and partnering with area schools to serve as an outdoor classroom, it’s also a great place for families and people of all ages to explore on any given day. With six miles of hiking trails, a pond, butterfly garden, giant playground, and a waterfall, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors here.

kpnc.auburn.edu; 2222 North College Street, Auburn, AL 36830; 334-844-8091