Gwinnett County, in northern Georgia, holds sixteen distinct cities forming part of the metro Atlanta area, including Duluth, Buford, Norcross, and Lilburn. Gwinnett, second in size to Fulton County with Atlanta as its county seat, has a population approaching one million. Fulton’s population is nearly 1.1 million. The traffic isn’t as bad in Gwinnett, but that is more likely due to the abundance of state highways and back roads and, perhaps, wishful thinking.

Gwinnett County has a variety of things to do that will delight travelers looking for parks and hiking trails or live music and craft cocktails. Explore the walkable areas and cute shops in these outlying cities that make traveling fun. Part of the week was spent participating in a travel media marketplace, with some group tours and lots of free time to explore everything Gwinnett County had to offer.

Places to Eat (and Drink) in Gwinnett County

Visiting Gwinnett during March Meatness (Gwinnett Burger Week) is a special treat. Twenty-three participating locally-owned restaurants put a $10 chef’s specialty burger on the menu. The ones we tried were fabulous: juicy, saucy, and filled with surprising ingredients (like candied chipotle maple bacon, bratwurst, even balsamic onion jam.) Adding to the fun was the ability to collect points and cash them in for a statement tee shirt with the “I Like Big Buns” logo.

B&W Burgers, Buns, and Brews (Norcross)

This year, B&W Burgers, Buns, and Brews took the cake, I mean burger, with their Smokehouse Smash Burger. B&W’s wood-fired grilled burger was topped with cheese, bacon, bratwurst, and onion straws, then drizzled with BBQ sauce. You can fit it into your mouth, but it ain’t easy. B&W opened its doors just two and a half years ago in downtown Norcross and has now won this People’s Choice award for two consecutive years.

B&W has a large bar with friendly servers, an impressive wine and beer list, and a tasty Rosé Slushie. Live music keeps patrons returning, and the rooftop offers birds-eye views of Norcross. Fire tables knock the chill off early spring evenings, and stretched canvas keeps raindrops and sunburn at bay.

Local on North (Duluth)

In Duluth’s shopping square, Local on North takes a corner spot. The Goat Cheese Croquette appetizer was scrumptious. It was so delectable that my travel buddy got down on one knee and proposed to Chef Carlos on the spot.

Their Burger Week entry was a masterful creation dubbed The Blue Blaze, a burger covered with secret sauce, candied chipotle maple bacon, blue cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Paired with drool-worthy Truffle Fries and cocktails (a Ginger Lady for me and a Smoked Old Fashioned for Audrey), we declared it the perfect lunch.

We returned to Local on North for one last dinner in Duluth before leaving town. Two Goat Cheese Croquettes this time (no sharing that night), a bowl of Made Right Onion Soup (Caramelized onions cooked in beef stock, brandy, cream, gruyere, and chive oil served with a crostini), and a platter of Pulled Pork Tacos that arrived covered in Carrot Jicama Slaw and Queso Fresco, and slathered with Peach Bourbon BBQ Sauce (did I mention we were in Georgia?)

Good Word Brewing & Public House (Duluth)

The history of a public house dates back more than two thousand years to Roman pubs called tabernae. Good Word Brewing & Public House continues the tradition of serving food and drink. Lunch was a delicious burger in honor of burger week. We ordered The GW Feature Burger, a grass-fed patty topped with horseradish cheddar, house-cured bacon bits, crispy jalapenos, sweet onion slices, and boiled peanut mayo on a local Alon Bakery’s bun.

We also divided an appetizer of Fried Chicken Livers served with GW’s boiled peanut mayo. It was, as the saying goes, Smack Yo Mama good! There was dessert, called Annie’s Apple Cake, topped with whipped cream and swimming in a creme anglaise.

On another night, a large group of us met at Good Word for a buffet dinner. We tried one of everything, and it was all good. But the first thing I’d order on a return trip (besides the chicken livers) would be those Crispy Brussels and Onions that arrive drizzled with Apple Cider Gastrique.

You will not go thirsty in Gwinnett County, either. According to the Gwinnett Tap Map, you have 11 breweries to pick from, including Good Word. Explore Gwinnett sponsors seven annual beer events between March and October. The breweries are spread throughout the county, with a couple in Norcross and a couple in Duluth, Suwanee, Buford, and Lawrenceville.

Good Word pours tastes, flights, or mugs full of their delicious brews and makes craft cocktails, like Riches to Rags drink. I called that “my” drink because it sure describes my life! The seasonal cocktail blended dark rum, spiced pear liqueur, maple, lemon, and allspice.

We also tried several Good Word Brewing’s beers. The brews have memorable names, like Riding Bikes in Munich and Bones & All, and the style of brews amazed us. It was an enjoyable afternoon of tasting and learning. We ended the tasting with what became my favorite: a thick, dark concoction of Barrel-aged Black Barleywine called A Comfortable Death. (You knew I’d find wine somehow.) They describe it as barley wines blended with imperial stouts, yielding a decadent dark beer with vanilla and cinnamon. 

Maple Street Biscuit Company (Duluth)

Skipping breakfast was not an option when we heard about Maple Street Biscuit Company. Huge Southern biscuits holding anything you can think of or smothered in gravy, waffles, grits bowls, breakfast tacos, and Berry Fields Mimosas—who could ask for more?

I quickly devoured the chocolate chip waffles topped with strawberries, whipped cream, and maple syrup. Audrey ordered the biscuits and spicy sausage gravy. I took my bite, and that sausage was oh! so hot!

The biscuits with housemade jam were melt-in-your-mouth good. The blueberry-strawberry-blackberry jam is the same scoop of sweetness stirred into the Berry Fields Mimosa.

Stäge Kitchen & Bar (Peachtree Corners/Norcross)

From the moment we arrived at Stäge Kitchen & Bar, Alex, server extraordinaire, took great care of us. He shared descriptions of dishes and made recommendations when we asked his opinion.

First, he presented our lamb lollipops shining with balsamic peach glaze, followed by Pork Shank Osso Bucco on cheddar stone-ground grits with roasted vegetables, red cabbage, and hot yeast rolls. We had room for bread pudding that arrived topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with salted caramel sauce.

Pêche Modern Coastal (Peachtree Corners/Norcross)

On a night when the conference provided heavy hors d’oeuvres, they allowed us time to explore an area filled with food spots. We ended up in Peachtree Corner, where aromas enticed us to eat again. But four of us resisted the numerous meal options and ordered desserts.

Pêche Modern Coastal had a roaring fire welcoming us to the patio. The menu filled with classic French dishes and seafood was tempting, but we stuck with the plan of eating dessert.

Everyone picked a different taste temptation, and we all shared samples. We tried Key Lime Pie (which included white chocolate and raspberries), Espresso Chocolate Cake (topped with mascarpone mousse and hazelnut crunch), and Carrot Toffee Pudding. They were all delicious. But, my toffee pudding with candied carrots and walnuts appeared topped with vanilla ice cream and more sea salt toffee sauce than anyone should be allowed. All I can say about that is *aahhh*.

Dahlia’s Porch (inside Hilton Atlanta Northeast-Norcross)

Dahlia’s Porch turns out good food all day, literally from the crack of dawn (6:30 a.m.) until 11 each night. It has got to be a challenge to feed crowds of people who seem to arrive at the same time in a conference hotel. Everyone is on a similar schedule, trying to eat and rush off to meetings or converging after meetings, ready for cocktail hour at the end of a long day. Or make a late afternoon plan for a proper tea party.

Cocktail hour foods ranged from cheese selections to lamb chops, fried spring rolls, chicken wings, and flatbreads.

Gwinnett County has 15 Korean restaurants (yes, you read that right) and five cafes and bakeries. There is a group that does a Korean Food Tour that I am signing up for on my next visit. There are an equal number of Asian restaurants in this county, which seems like an embarrassment of riches to a foodie.

Explore Gwinnett County Attractions

Shop for unique clothing items, home goods, jewelry, shoes, and garden items. I found the cutest bunny garden flag to surprise my aunt.

Visitors will spot art on every corner. Take a drive or a walk to discover Gwinnett’s public art displays, including murals, sculptures, and small local galleries.

Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center

Situated on 233 wooded acres in Buford, the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center offers educational experiences, life-size displays, and interactive exhibits about the local environment. There are more than five miles of trails to walk and soak in the local flora and fauna. There are live animal showcases, and the aquariums were especially riveting. The center is a perfect place for hands-on learning for children.

A special feature is the Braille Trail, designed to allow braille readers to enjoy and learn about the local nature.

Bitzel’s Chocolate

Bitzel’s Chocolate in Suwanee offers behind-the-scenes tours, tastings, and wine and chocolate pairings. Owner Ray is a modern-day Willie Wonka. The factory is more glass than anything else, providing visitors with a clear view of the fantastic production of chocolates. He grew up helping his Mother with her side business of creating wedding cakes, attended the Naval Academy for a mechanical engineering degree, opened a candy factory, worked in Europe’s corporate world, and returned filled with ideas and determination to open a chocolate factory.

Bitzel’s makes everything from salted caramel turtles to truffles to chocolate bark, and they have developed an award-winning Georgia Peach Truffle. The shop has the only continuously slow-churned gelato in the United States. The menu constantly changes, but today, you can choose from eight flavors, have a choice from five crumbles and sauces folded in, and select one of five toppings and syrups.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple in Lilburn, on the southern edge of Gwinnett County. As you curve into the driveway, the stunning temple takes your breath. The entrance to the Mandir was lined with cherry trees in full bloom, which just added to the beauty. The Mandir is open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The Mandir is composed of over 34,000 intricately carved pieces of Turkish limestone, Italian marble, and Indian pink sandstone. The pieces were hand-carved in India, shipped to the United States, and assembled onsite in just 17 months—like a 3-D jigsaw puzzle. It was built in 2007 using 1.3 million hours of volunteer labor.

Gwinnett’s Mandir History

A look back at history helps with perspective. In the latter part of the 1800s, the floodgates to America were open. Ellis Island opened to process immigrants to the United States as people moved freely around the globe. Just 15 years later, BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) was established to provide spiritual and social progress for Hindus among increasingly diverse communities. BAPS’s task was to offer programs emphasizing spiritual and cultural heritage, youth development, and family unity.

We toured this magnificent Mandir and stayed for lunch. We enjoyed Indian food while learning about Indian culture and Hindu beliefs. The Shayona Café provides all-vegetarian Indian cuisine daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Mandir hosts festivals throughout the year, attended by members throughout the Southeast as well as visitors. Visitors are encouraged to participate in the daily rituals of Arti and Abhishek. More information on these events and their times throughout the day is in the informational pamphlet provided at check-in. You can arrange a guided tour for groups of ten or more before your visit. Visitors can rent audio tours in the Gift & Book Shop.

There are codes of conduct and dress when you visit, so check the website for more information before visiting. Tip: The shoulders and knees must be covered (or a wrap must be borrowed at the Mandir). Before visitors enter the Mandir, shoes must be removed and left in cubicles at the entrance to the Mandir, so have some socks to slip on, maybe even the type with rubbery grippers.

Things I Didn’t Do In the Gwinnett Area—But Will On My Next Trip

The Southeast Railway Museum in Duluth has history, locomotives, vintage trains, and railway artifacts. It is the perfect place for kids of all ages who love trains and transportation history. Guided tours and frequent special events (like train rides) are available.

The Gwinnett Performing Arts Center produces a variety of concerts and theatrical performances, showcasing local and national artists.

Lake Lanier’s 700 miles of shoreline provides the perfect destination for those who love boating, fishing, and swimming. Vendors rent boats, jet skis, and paddleboards so visitors can experience the lake at their own pace. Lakeside parks offer playgrounds, walking and biking trails, and picnic areas.

And then there is the issue of my empty wine glass. I can’t have that! This trip needed much more wine but didn’t fit into the schedule or between the GPS points. But next time, I have my eye on several wineries in Gwinnett County.

Cloudland Vineyards & Winery in Buford grows grapes on an Eastern Continental Divide ridge. They claim that this unique spot lets them create some of the best wines in Georgia. I can’t wait to test that claim. The winery partners with local artisans to fill your day with tasty foods. They have a variety of red and white wines and a Wildflower wine (with my name on it.)

Places to Stay in Gwinnett County

Crowne Plaza Atlanta NE (Norcross)

The Crowne Plaza Atlanta was comfy, removed from the bustle and noise of Atlanta. Miss Violet at the front desk welcomed us with a beautiful smile! A canteen is filled with local snacks and drinks, making your morning or afternoon more pleasant. The lobby was bright and, in the morning, filled with guests preparing for their day, and breakfast was available (but not included). Evenings found people gathering for a drink before or after dinner. The hotel provides free wifi, a seasonal outdoor pool, a fitness center, and a sauna. There is a large parking lot, with access provided from two different roads, making it a very convenient place to stay.

Hilton Atlanta Northeast (Norcross)

Situated a short drive from historic Norcross as well as the attractions of Atlanta, the Hilton Atlanta NE is far enough away to be peaceful.

The Hilton stretches across a hilltop, offering a lovely afternoon view from the patio, where guests can enjoy afternoon tea or a cocktail as they unwind after a busy day. The gourmet restaurant on the property means you don’t have to go out in rush hour traffic, or the hotel’s free shuttle can whisk you off to the MARTA rapid-transit station.

Planning Your Next Southern Road Trip

For more exciting trips, take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway (most of it is open, and they need our support!) Try these locations! Stop in the Roanoke Valley, then continue through the neighboring mountain towns of moonshine fame. Follow the beautiful Parkway to the Rocky Knob AVA, and continue down the Parkway into North Carolina to visit beautiful Yadkin Valley Wineries.