CiTy GuidEs Athens Athens may be a cool college town, the birthplace of public higher education and a venue for top university sports, but it also has vibrant arts, music and nightlife scenes, a craft-beer trail, affordable destination dining and serene moments along the Oconee River Greenway . Each neighborhood around the Classic City offers a distinctive vibe while still celebrating its traditional Southern character. Walk the restored Victorian-era downtown , retro yet trendy Normaltown and sophisticated Five Points . Stroll through the manicured acres of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia , appreciating the largest porcelain and decorative-art collection in the state. Find even more creative inspiration on the University of Georgia campus at the Georgia Museum of Art . Two of their standout collections include American paintings by Winslow Homer, James McNeill Whistler, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andrew Wyeth and Alice Neel, as well as the Thompson Collection of African American Art, which features paintings, prints and sculpture from emerging and regional artists. Iconic music venues hold performances year-round in the town that gave birth to R.E.M., The B-52s and Widespread Panic. The Athens Music Walk of Fame passes by several of those spots, including the Morton Theatre , 40 Watt Club and the Georgia Theatre . Visit during summer to attend AthFest Music and Arts Festival , one of the town’s most popular cultural events. Later in the year, The Georgia Music Hall of Fame will open its museum experience in the Classic Center Arena , displaying memorabilia from the state’s greats and diving into the roots of bluegrass, gospel, soul and rock ’n roll. Meet artists, shop for locally made products and organic produce, and catch live bands and kids’ activities at the weekly Athens Farmers Market . Gastropubs, breweries and coffee shops dot nearly every corner of the city, and delicious food isn’t hard to come by with the town’s wide selection of independently owned restaurants. Indulge in English-style afternoon tea at The Café on Lumpkin , enjoy Southern staples at Home.made and splurge on dinner at celebrity-chef-driven Five & Ten . EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG 123
Official State Travel Guide 2023 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 123
