Gooo Dawgs! is part of a chant you will hear if you visit downtown Athens, Georgia. This college town is home to the University of Georgia (UGA), whose mascot is a white English bulldog, aptly named Uga.
Athens is an eclectic town about 70 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The city is known for its great music, vibrant art community, craft beer scene, and college football.
Athens has plenty of things to do. Our Senior Contributor, Lili Kinsey, a recent graduate of UGA, shares a list of favorites in her alma mater's city. Take a trip to Athens you will want to check them out.
Athens City Guide
Must Do's
The Iron Horse
A must-do experience is visiting the Iron Horse statue on the outskirts of Athens. It’s a huge metal sculpture of a horse just randomly placed in a field of wheat. It makes for some great photos.
Located off Highway 15 between Watkinsville and Greensboro, just before the Oconee River Bridge.
UGA Chapel Bell
Another unique experience is ringing the chapel bell on UGA’s North Campus. The belltower itself is behind the university’s massive chapel hall. UGA students, football fans, and Athens locals ring the bell in celebration of any and everything. After a big win in Sanford Stadium, you can hear students ringing the bell for hours on end and well into the night. The same goes for graduation!
Georgia Theatre
A landmark in Athens is the Georgia Theatre. Almost every night (pre-pandemic), you could find local, regional, and even nationally recognized musicians playing inside. It’s been over a year since the theater has hosted a concert, but if you can catch one in the future, do it!
Located at 215 N Lumpkin St. between Washington St. and Clayton St. in the heart of downtown Athens, GA. They have a great line-up coming up in August and September.
Where to Eat?
For a yummy dinner that doesn’t break the bank, I suggest Trapeze or Clocked. The fries at Trapeze are a must-have, especially with the raspberry ketchup dipping sauce.
A good place for quick lunches is Ahi, a hole-in-the-wall poke restaurant, or Starland, which has great pizzas.
If your parents are visiting Athens and you know they’ll pick up the check, treat yourself (and them of course) to Last Resort Grill and its famous cheesecake or Chuck’s for an upscale sushi/seafood menu.
Wanting to grab drinks with your meal? Pauley's makes fantastic cocktails and serves amazing crepes, day and night. Another option is Clarke's which has great deals on their drink menu and quick bites to eat to go with them.
If you’re looking for a late-night snack, The Grill is an American-style diner open 24/7 and has Athen’s famous feta fries on its menu, or you can try the only Cane’s location in the state of Georgia.
The city of Athens in itself is really a great place to go to college. There are tons of local restaurants to choose from, small boutiques and thrift shops to shop at, and a robust nightlife will definitely keep you entertained. It has everything you need while still maintaining that small-town feel.
If you have a favorite place to visit in Athens, Georgia, please share it in the comments below.
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