BeST TrIpS 3. GIRLS TRIP TO ATHENS Grab your besties and gear up for a getaway that’s all about catching up on old memories and making a few new ones. You can take an action-packed escape to Athens with people who really get you. Once you’ve settled into the chic and centrally located Hotel Indigo , make your way to the happiest of vacation hours at one of the city’s renowned craft breweries. Share some laughs as the sun sets over Creature Comforts ’ expansive patio and you sip their tangy, mimosa-esque Athena Paradiso sour, or head to Terrapin Beer Co. ’s backyard for live music and a friendly cornhole competition accompanied by a pint of their crisp Los Bravos Mexican-style lager. Both are stops on the Athens Beer Trail , made up of seven local breweries where you can collect stamps. Visit them all to receive a keepsake at the Historic Athens Welcome Center . Now that you’ve sufficiently shifted into getaway mode, pull up a chair at one of the restaurants credited with putting Athens on the foodie map. At James Beard winner and “Top Chef Masters” alum Hugh Acheson’s Five and Ten , savor sophisticated Southern dishes like cast-iron cornbread and half-roast chicken. Walk that goodness off along the 5 miles of garden trails at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia where you can really get the heart pumping or pick a more leisurely route—luckily, for those who might be distracted while catching up on old times, there’s plenty of signage to point you back the way you came. Pop into a few of the independent shops downtown, including home-goods stores, artists’ studios and vintage-clothing hotspots. Agora Vintage , Cheeky Peach , Heery’s Clothes Closet , Fringe Boutique and Epiphany are a handful of stylish options you’ll have to make room in the suitcase for. For something a little different, there’s Lumberjaxe , where you can see which of you will surprise the others with the most accurate axe-throwing skills, and the Bear Hug Honey Company , whose infused honeys, body butters and candles make sweet souvenirs of your weekend. After freshening up at your hotel, set out for Last Resort Grill , an eclectic former music venue, to savor items like cornbread-crusted trout and maple-smoked tofu before you really hit the town. Start by dancing to the electrifying energy of live music at the historic 40 Watt Club , where high-profile acts like John Mayer, Snoop Dogg, R.E.M. and Pylon have graced the stage. Then walk over to a hub for established and emerging musicians, the Georgia Theatre , where a rooftop bar offers stellar live performances and views of Athens. If you’re not ready to call it a night, this college town offers plenty of lively places to have a cocktail and grab some late-night bites, including The Old Pal and The Root . LAST RESORT GRILL, ATHENS/JASON THRASHER EXPLOREGEORGIA.ORG 13
Official State Travel Guide 2024 Georgia Official State Travel Guide: Page 13
