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City in Georgia, United States
Photo: Bloodofox, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Athens is a vibrant college town of 127,000 people (2020) in the Classic Heartland region of Georgia. Athens is most popular in the late summer and fall when students, families of students or college football fans visit the University of Georgia.
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Corner of College and Hancock (outside City Hall). What better way to defeat the Yanks than to give it to them with both barrels! This cannon was designed to shoot twin cannonballs connected by a chain. The designers didn't take into account the impossibility of synchronization, and the cannon was never used.
Corner of Dearing and Finley. Colonel W.H. Jackson willed a tree on this spot to itself many years ago. The original tree fell over in 1942; this is its son.
On the University of Georgia's south campus, the Georgia Museum of Art offers a small, permanent collection focused on American painting, Wednesday night film screenings and other traveling exhibits.
Local landmark of Athens, the band R.E.M. used it on the back and inner cover of their first studio album, Murmur. If you would like, you could also listen to the album while viewing.
R.E.M. First Show Church
Now just a steeple due to a fire, this church is the location of the first ever R.E.M. concert. ("Here's the church, here's the steeple." R.E.M. - Bad Day).
University of Georgia sports, fielding teams in 21 NCAA Division I sports (9 men's, 12 women's) in the Southeastern Conference. By far the biggest sport on campus is football, with over 90,000 fans packing Sanford Stadium to cheer on their "Dawgs". Georgia also boasts nationally competitive teams in a wide variety of sports—everything from basketball, baseball, and softball to women's gymnastics, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and more.
Ciné is a two-screen, many-suspicious-stains, independent and non-profit art house movie theater which opened in downtown Athens in 2007.
Conceived of as an 'alternative art space,' the Athens Institute for Contemporary Art is dedicated to exhibiting challenging, provocative and innovative contemporary art in a non-commercial setting, solely for the cultural enrichment of the Northeast Georgia community.
W-Sa 5:30PM-7:30PM, live music and tours are free. Or for $10 get a Terrapin pint glass and 8 tickets to try sample pours of what's on draft.
This 313-acre preserve features 5 miles of trails that wind to the garden’s farthest boundaries, a stunning 3-story tropical conservatory, and themed gardens showcasing native and international flora. Special events and programs are held year-round. The Garden has been named an Important Birding Area by the Georgia Audobon Society. Also on the grounds: the lovely Day Chapel and the headquarters of the Garden Club of Georgia. Gift shop, gallery, and Café Trumps at the Garden.
In the historic Church-Waddel-Brumby House, and considered the oldest surviving residence in Athens, this Federal-Style house museum and welcome center underwent a restoration that features authentic period decor and furnishings. Pick up brochures, maps, expert advice; plus guided, self-guided, or audio tours of Athens.
Has an interpretive center, more than 4 miles of trails, including some handicap accessible trails.
A lake, and a trail around that, and other fun things to do.
This 1-mile trail is found on Gran Ellen between S Milledge and Lumpkin St, near Memorial Park. It includes a granite shoal creek, plenty of trees, and an Athens landmark stone wall.
Dinner: Su-Th 5:30-10PM, F Sa 5:30PM-11PM; brunch: Su 10:30AM-2:30PM. One of the finest southeastern restaurants is in the Five Points neighborhood of Athens. There are not too many places in Georgia that serve sweetbreads in the first place, but Hugh Acheson shows his respect for place by serving them atop a grits custard.
For a twist on Southern diner food, check out Mama's Boy. The crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast is served with a creamy bacon gravy. It is so good that you will sop it up with one of their dense, rich biscuits.
The Georgia Theatre is a premier music venue. The theatre is on the Athens Music History Walking Tour which is sponsored by the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau. 18+ only/ID required. The theatre burned down in 2009 and reopened in 2011 with a rooftop bar.
Athens. This dive is a place for grad students and professors to hang out at. Their drinks are generally fairly cheap and the conversation and decor fairly trendy. The decorations look like they all came from random buys at a thrift store, and several pictures of MLK and JKF hang on the wall as a tribute to the liberal leanings of the proprietors. Try the signature drink which is Maker's Mark and Blenheim's spicy ginger ale. Also, they provide free popcorn in the corner.
Trappeze has over 30 beers on tap and well over 200 on their bottle menu. Trappeze doesn't sell any low-end domestic beers, such as Budweiser but does maintain an otherwise full bar and an extensive wine list. The food list is no less impressive with an interesting and delicious twist on typical pub-fare.
4-story atrium, heated indoor pool and whirlpool, fitness center, daily deluxe complimentary breakfast. All rooms are suites with 32" flat screen TV, microwave, refrigerator, iron/ironing board, hairdryer, coffee maker, and pull-out sofa bed.
The Georgia Center for Continuing Education is a residential conference center and hotel on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens.
Visit Georgia's largest flea market for a taste of the bazaar.
Try the many exotic blends of Athens' own local coffee roasters.
Athena Anime
Specialty games store dealing with board games, card games and roleplaying games. Also anime rentals and anime/manga related items.
Southern handmade beauty. Beautiful, handmade dinnerware inspired by the southern seasons is known nationally and made in Athens at Rebecca Woods' studio.
By bus
By car
To get to Athens from Atlanta, most people usually take University Parkway (GA-316) from I-85 at Lawrenceville or US 78 from I-285, which are both built to near-freeway standards (although you may…
By limousine
By bus
The UGA Bus lines offer very frequent service between campus, downtown, and Milledge Ave.
On foot
The downtown area and UGA campus are very pedestrian-friendly, while the rest of the city is not at all pedestrian-friendly.
By bike
Most major roads in Athens, especially near and on UGA campus, have dedicated unprotected bike lanes.
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Atlanta · Regional · PDK
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