From campus camaraderie to a spirited downtown, Athens, Georgia, entices visitors with new-age amenities and Old-World charm.
From the red brick halls of higher learning at the University of Georgia to the city’s recent arrival on the modern food scene, the name “Athens” has come to represent so much more than the ancient pillar of learning and culture this college town was named after.
Whether or not you love the Bulldogs, the university and the community that grew up around it broke new ground in American education in 1785 when Georgia incorporated it as the country’s first state university. We think that’s worth celebrating across the South. Take a closer look at all its historical and modern charm.
Stroll the streets of this north Georgia city, and it becomes clear that this is no sleepy college town. Athens thrums to a tune all its own partly because of its musical heritage, which encompasses country, bluegrass, and rock. In fact, the town’s penchant for launching chart-topping bands like R.E.M. and the B-52s has earned it the nickname “Liverpool of the South.”
EAT
During the past decade or so, Athens has attracted a new legion of fans: foodies. Its pedestrian-friendly downtown is simmering with restaurants that have put it squarely on culinary maps. If wandering through downtown Athens has you hungry, stop by Five & Ten, the flagship restaurant of James Beard Award-winning chef Hugh Acheson. A sampling of the fare reveals Acheson’s reinvention of Southern flavors as he blends them with Italian and French influences.
Stop in at the Big City Bread Cafe, where organically grown food fills a menu that covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with plenty of tasty options. Visitors can even take tours that hit the hot spots among eateries downtown and in neighborhoods such as the Boulevard and Five Points.
SHOP & EXPLORE
Of course, the university is at the heart of this Southern town. While most fall weekends are reserved for cheering on the beloved Bulldogs “between the hedges” of Sanford Stadium, shopping options abound beyond the campus—from fashion to artisan crafts and upscale home décor.
If you love English and French antiques, then include Appointments at Five on your agenda, where the owners have two houses worth of wares for sale. Or stop in at Frontier, a treasure trove of unique goods, including work by local artists.
The striking pink T.R.R. Cobb House spent two decades at Stone Mountain. Now, the historical home of the man considered Athens’ “first citizen” stands two blocks from its original downtown location.
While venturing through the school’s east campus, stop by the Georgia Museum of Art. What began in UGA’s old library as a collection of 100 paintings, now boasts more than 8,000 objects housed in a fresh, modern building.
Text by Karen Callaway
Photos by John O’Hagan
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