​Recently moved to McDonough or Locust Grove, GA? You’re probably wondering what folks get up to around here for entertainment. If so, you’ve come to the right place!
 
At J Wood Insurance, we don’t just provide home, auto, life, and business insurance policies to Georgia residents. Since we’re headquartered in McDonough in Henry County, just fifteen minutes from Locust Grove, we also know the best places in both towns to hang out, play, and relax.
 
Without further ado, here are the top 6 things to do in Locust Grove, GA and McDonough, GA.  

​  Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary 

If you have kids, or you just love animals, then you’ll want to make it out to Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in Locust Grove. Here, across 250 acres of land, you’ll see farm animals like cows, horses, and sheep, but also exotic mammals such as lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!).
 
Wait a minute, you say. Georgia isn’t a jungle! Well, you’re right, but some people across the United States still manage to get a hold of wild animals from overseas and bring them home. Some of these critters end up being abused by their new owners, which is how they end up in the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary.
 
The sanctuary is a non-profit organization that doubles as an animal rehabilitation center. Their job is to see to it that these incredible creatures have the best life possible. At the same time, they make it their mission to educate children and adults on the wonders of the animal kingdom. It’s one of the best attractions that Henry County has to offer.
​https://noahs-ark.org/

  Escape The Museum 
Do you love history and escape rooms? Even if you prefer one over the other, you’ll still find Escape the Museum in McDonough a pure delight.
Officially, this attraction is a real life museum. Known as the Camera Museum, it displays antique cameras and takes visitors through the history of this all-important device.
 
But the best part about it is it also doubles as an escape room. If you want, you can rent out the whole building to hold a private party for a birthday or a work field trip. The museum will even cater your event, if you wish, with craft beer and wine as beverages. Now those are things you won’t want to escape from!
https://www.camera-museum.org/​

 Southern Belle Farm 
Who doesn’t love going out into the fresh Georgia air and enjoying the pastoral farmland and orchards that the state is so well known for? Fortunately for residents of McDonough and Locust Grove, Southern Belle Farm is located just minutes away from each town.
 
On your visit to Southern Belle Farm, you’ll find all sorts of things to do to entertain you and your family. During the autumn, you can pick out fat, round pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and find your way out of a winding corn maze. In the summer, you can harvest your own Georgia peaches, along with other choice fruits.
 
And of course, no matter what time of year you decide to visit, you can always shop in the Country Market, where you’ll find homemade preserves, seasonal produce, gifts, baked goods, and other delights. It’s the most authentic way to experience Georgia’s natural bounty.
​https://www.southernbellefarm.com/

  The Honeycomb Cottage 
Looking for a place to unwind and have a little “you” time? If so, the Honeycomb Cottage is your number one destination in Locust Grove.
 
The Honeycomb Cottage is a day spa with just about every form of pampering you could desire. Experience a soothing massage, seaweed wraps, facials, aroma therapy, and so much more.
 
In addition to the spa, the Honeycomb Cottage also offers salon services like hair waxing and teeth whitening. Go in feeling stressed and rundown, and come out rejuvenated, radiant, and vital.
​https://thehoneycombcottage.com/

  The Selfie Xperience 
Selfies are all the rage these days, especially among kids and young adults. If this is you and your family and friends, then you should visit the Selfie Xperience.
 
The Selfie Xperience is the first interactive photo studio of its kind in Henry County. With 3700 square feet of space and countless selfie backgrounds and props to choose from, you’ll never have a better time snapping Instagram-worthy pictures than you will in this venue.
 
That’s right, the Selfie Xperience is a venue. You can rent it out for birthday parties, work parties, a girls’ night out, or any type of event you can think of! It’s an unforgettable place that will make your time spent with family, friends, or coworkers that much more special (don’t forget to say, “Cheese!”). 
​https://www.theselfiex.com/

 Heritage Park Veterans Museum 
For history buffs, McDonough has one of the most fascinating attractions in the state: the Heritage Park Veterans Museum.
 
This museum was first opened on Veterans Day in 2010. It features several different collections, including photos, dog tags, uniforms, and medals of US soldiers who hailed from Georgia. It even has a few military vehicles on display. The wars covered range from World War I all the way to present day - over a century of brave sacrifices made in the name of liberty, truth, and justice for our country. 
​https://www.heritageparkveteransmuseum.org/

​As you can see, there is a wide variety of fun things to do in McDonough, GA and Locust Grove, GA. We may not be as big as our big sister Atlanta, but there’s plenty of local charm, entertainment, and history to go around.
 
While you’re checking out this region, be sure to check into home, auto, life, and business insurance with J Wood Insurance! We serve all counties in Georgia, not just Henry County. Contact us here to get a quote on your new policy.

If you made it here, I hope this helps you on your insurance journey. Some of this may not age well in this new world of high inflation but most will help you become a better and more judicious consumer. Cheers!

​Sure, comprehensive and collision coverage is important for your vehicle, but a lot of people want to only buy the liability coverage that is mandated by the state. The difference between minimum coverage and 50/100 is often only 5 to 10 dollars per month more and gives double the coverage.
Imagine your vehicle is involved in a serious accident and the driver of your vehicle was at fault. If the person in the other car was seriously injured and had to go to the hospital, the medical bills often would far exceed the 25,000 dollars in coverage that a minimum coverage policy would pay out. You could be left on the hook for the remainder of that person’s medical bills.
 
My Recommendation: 50/100/50 liability protection should be as low as you go. You should explore higher coverages whenever you renew and if you are shopping make sure the agent doesn’t dumb down the coverage to make the sale.  

​We recently spoke with a customer who used to buy his insurance directly from the carrier. He didn’t understand the importance of uninsured/underinsured motorist, but he loved how cheap the policy was. After he was hit by another driver who was uninsured, he was left with a totaled vehicle and no payout from the insurance company. Uninsured/underinsured motorist covers you in case someone who does not have insurance should get in an accident with you or in a hit and run accident.  
 
My recommendation: Don’t cut corners on your auto policy. Always ask for uninsured/underinsured motorist and be wary of any agent or company that tries to sell you a policy with out this coverage. 

​Roadside and towing coverage is a great add on to your policy but be careful how often you use it. Every time you use this service it can be considered a comp claim and can hurt your insurance score and cause your insurance premiums to be high.  
My Recommendation: If you use this coverage a lot because you have multiple cars then go ahead and get AAA. If you rarely need a tow then this can be an extremely cheap coverage for you.
 

​It does not matter whether you buy your insurance directly or buy it from an agent, it will cost pretty much the same. So why wouldn’t you go with an agent? They are experts on what is in a policy and more importantly (if they are a good one), experts on the company they are representing. They can help you find the most value in a policy and warn you if something important is missing. Would you go to court without a lawyer? So why would you go around an agent when they are literally a free resource to you. A good agent can advise you on how to handle claims, help you with payments, get on the phone with the insurance carrier on your behalf if you have a problem, inform you whether something is covered with your policy and help you adjust your coverages so that they fit you and your needs. If you buy direct you are a number on a screen with no one to look out for you.  
 

​A captive agent can only sell you one company. They represent some of the most well-known insurance companies out there (State Farm, Farmers, etc.) but they can only offer you one policy for one price. If you do not fit perfectly into their little box then you are out of luck, your agent can only offer higher deductibles or less coverage if your premiums are too high. There are some great captive agents out there, but why build a relationship and trust an agent who can only offer one product?
 
Alternatively, an independent agent contracts with many different insurance companies. They know what each company’s “appetite” is, which is insurance jargon for the type of customer that they prefer. They can work with you over the years and move you between companies as your life changes (get married, have kids, buy that new boat you always wanted, etc..) to keep your insurance rates down.