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Athens is a lively college town in northeast Georgia, set in the rolling Piedmont along the Oconee River about 70 miles east of Atlanta. It was founded in 1806 on land chosen for the new University of Georgia, the first state-chartered public university in the country, and named after the ancient Greek center of learning. Cotton mills and the railroad brought prosperity in the 1800s, leaving the city with a remarkable collection of Greek Revival mansions and historic districts.
Today Athens and its consolidated county have about 130,000 residents, and the University of Georgia's tens of thousands of students give the town a youthful energy. Athens is world famous for its music scene: R.E.M., the B-52's, Widespread Panic and the Drive-By Truckers all emerged from its clubs, and venues like the 40 Watt Club and the Georgia Theatre still host live music nearly every night. On fall Saturdays, more than 90,000 fans in red and black pack Sanford Stadium, with its famous hedges, to cheer on the Georgia Bulldogs.
Visitors can stroll North Campus with its historic Arch, Chapel and oak-shaded quads, explore the Georgia Museum of Art, the official state art museum, and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia's 300 acres of gardens and trails. Downtown is packed with restaurants, record stores and boutiques, the Athens Music History Walking Tour visits the sites of legendary bands, and the quirky Double-Barreled Cannon and Tree That Owns Itself add local character.
North Campus is the oldest part of the University of Georgia, chartered in 1785 as the first state-chartered university in the country. Walk through the iron Arch on Broad Street to see Old College, the Chapel and shaded quads. Tradition says students should not walk under the Arch until they graduate.
The Double-Barreled Cannon in front of Athens City Hall was cast in 1863 and designed to fire two linked cannonballs joined by a chain. The idea failed in testing, and the cannon became a local curiosity. It is a quick, free stop at the corner of College and Hancock avenues near downtown shops.
The Tree That Owns Itself is a white oak at Dearing and Finley streets that local legend says was deeded ownership of itself and the land around it. The original tree fell in 1942, and the current tree grew from one of its acorns. It sits in a quiet historic neighborhood, so visit briefly.
Downtown Athens sits right beside UGA's North Campus with blocks of locally owned shops, record stores, cafes, restaurants and bars along Clayton, Broad and College streets. It gets lively on game days and weekend nights. Parking decks fill quickly on football Saturdays, so arrive early.
The Georgia Museum of Art on UGA's East Campus is the official state museum of art and has free admission. Its collection covers American paintings, European works, prints, decorative arts and Southern art. Guided tours and family days are offered regularly, and parking is in the nearby deck.
The Lyndon House Arts Center combines a restored 1850s house with a modern community art center north of downtown. It hosts free gallery exhibitions of local and regional artists, studio classes and an annual juried show. Check the calendar for openings and family art activities.
Sanford Stadium is home to Georgia Bulldogs football and seats more than 90,000 fans, with famous privet hedges lining the field. On game days the whole town fills with tailgaters. Outside football season you can sometimes see the field from the Sanford Drive bridge on campus.
The Georgia Theatre is a historic downtown music venue in a 19th century building that was rebuilt after a fire in 2009. It hosts touring bands and local acts most nights. The rooftop bar has views over downtown Athens and is open even when you do not have a show ticket.
The 40 Watt Club has been a center of the Athens music scene since 1978, closely linked to bands such as R.E.M. and the B-52s. The current venue on West Washington Street hosts indie, rock and local shows. It is a standing room club, so arrive early for good spots at popular shows.
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia covers more than 300 acres along the Middle Oconee River with themed gardens, a tropical conservatory and miles of wooded trails. Admission is free, and there is a cafe in the visitor center. Spring and fall are the best times for flowers and walking.
Founders Memorial Garden on UGA's campus honors the Ladies' Garden Club of Athens, founded in 1891 as the first garden club in America. It has formal boxwood gardens, a courtyard, a perennial garden and an arboretum around a historic house. It is free to visit and a quiet break from campus.
Bear Hollow Zoo in Memorial Park is a small free zoo for native wildlife that cannot be released into the wild, such as black bears, river otters, owls and hawks. A wooden boardwalk leads past the habitats. It works well with young children and pairs with the park's playground and lake.
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