Buford brings together lakeside scenery, city history and live performances. To find your bearings, it helps to distinguish the offerings by type: Buford Dam Park offers beach access, while the Laurel Ridge Hiking Trail is a loop with views of two bodies of water; the museum, historic homes and performance venues reveal other sides of the destination. This lets you shape your stay around a specific interest—nature, history or performances—instead of squeezing different themes into a rigid itinerary.
Loop Trail, Lake and Beach
Buford Dam Park is north of Buford Dam on Lake Sidney Lanier and provides access to a designated swimming beach. The Laurel Ridge Hiking Trail is a 3.5-mile loop with views of the lake and the Chattahoochee River. The offerings have different focuses: the trail combines walking with scenic views, while the beach provides a separate swimming area. Trail conditions and beach access can change; check both before your visit.
Discover Buford’s History
The Buford Museum is located on the ground floor of the Buford Community Center. Its collection includes artifacts, photographs and antiques dating back to the region’s earliest known inhabitants, Indigenous peoples. It also features historic objects from the founding of the city of Buford in 1872. The collection thus brings together the region’s early history and Buford’s own development.
Buford’s Historic Homes can be explored on a self-guided tour; you can pick up a free guide at the Museum of Buford. The Tannery Row Artist Colony offers a different perspective on history. It is housed in one of Buford’s historic tannery buildings, where shoes were made in the early 20th century. Artists from Buford open their studios to the public there; visitors can meet the artists and see original works in progress. You can therefore choose between a tour of historic homes and a visit focused on artists and the work they are creating.
Theater and Events
There are two different offerings for the performing arts. The Sylvia Beard Theatre has 282 seats and a traditional proscenium stage suited to a wide range of performances. The Town Park Amphitheatre serves as a venue for concerts, shows and festivals. The Sylvia Beard Theatre can be described by its stage type and seating capacity; the Town Park Amphitheatre is defined by the types of events it hosts. Check the event schedule for your travel dates, as the program may change.
The historic Bona Allen Mansion in Buford serves as a venue for private events and weddings. If you plan to visit in connection with such an event, confirm access in advance.
Discover more destinations: Lawrenceville, Suwanee, Norcross, Snellville.
Return to the regional travel overview: Gwinnett.
