Discover USA: Athens, Georgia
Join Budget Travel as we continue our new series Discover USA. Discover USA explores states, counties, cities, and everything in between. Each week we will explore a new US destination to help you find things to do, itinerary ideas, and plan where to go next.
This week, we invite you to Discover what Athens, Georgia has to offer. Athens is known for its eclectic mix of Southern traditions, modern attractions, and a vibrant arts scene, which includes incredible live music. The vibe and energy that gave birth to R.E.M., the B-52s and Widespread Panic is alive and well today through a variety of events and attractions.
Culinary
Athens Beer Trail

The Athens Beer Trail is the newest beer getaway and adventure in the south. Visit all six local breweries to discover their individual approach to craft beer. Along the way, we guarantee you'll find new flavors, new friends, and enjoy the Athens creative vibe. It's not every day you get prizes for drinking beer. But luckily for you, that’s how the Athens Beer Trail rolls. Athens Beer Trail launched in October 2021 as a collaboration between Visit Athens GA and all local breweries.
Condor Chocolates
Condor Chocolate, birthed by Athens natives and brothers Nick and Peter Dale, is a bean-to-bar chocolate shop that starts every creation with cacao from Ecuador, their mother's native country. After thriving in Athens’ Five Points neighborhood, a second location opened in Downtown Athens on November 24, 2021. The new shop and café features large windows allowing guests to watch small batch chocolate production in action. It also introduces Condor's own coffee, called Peña. The coffee is named after the Choco Toucan, which lives in Ecuador’s coffee-growing regions and is named after the Chocó forest, not after chocolate. Coffee connoisseurs will appreciate the state-of-the-art Decent Espresso machines which will be the first of this kind in Athens.
Cafe Racer Coffee + Donuts

Cafe Racer Coffee + Donuts is located on Highway 78— located 10 minutes east of Athens, Georgia. This drive thru only, is known for not only their coffee but their amazing potato donuts and big ole biscuits. Try the Sugar Daddie a classic potato donut stuffed with classic creme patissiere + topped & torched classic crème brûlée style offered only on Saturday and Sunday. Or if big ole biscuits are your thing see if you can handle the BB King a double stacked mustard fried sausage patties with sharp cheddar cheese + spicy pickle chips + drenched in Racer Sauce ™️ or the TaterBoi , Jalapeño cream cheese, fried hash brown patty, racer sauce, scrambled egg, cheddar cheese. Add some hot sauce if you've got the courage. If 10 minutes is too far for you dont despair Cafe Racer will be opening a Cafe Racer 2 right in Athens on West Broad Street in Spring/Summer 2022.
Arts and Culture
Athens Music Walk of Fame

Athens may be best known on the world stage as the birthplace of some of America’s best-loved bands, including R.E.M., the B-52s, Widespread Panic and Drive-by Truckers. The Athens Music Walk of Fame debuted in 2020 and passes by several renowned music venues like the Georgia Theatre, 40 Watt Club, and Morton Theatre. Inductees will be added each year. A free app uses proximity beacons to share sights and sounds. The Walk of Fame is a must-see attraction for all music fans and is a perfect daytime activity before heading to listen to live music in the evening.
Porcelain & Decorative Arts Museum
The newest part of the state’s official 313-acre garden, the Porcelain & Decorative Arts Museum features eight different gallery spaces that blend conservation, botanicals, art, beauty and curiosity. The Museum is a must-see for all art, history, garden and nature enthusiasts. Free, timed tours of the museum can be scheduled. Adjacent to the building is the Garden of Discovery and Inspiration where visitors can connect to the living botanical collection that is represented on so much of the porcelain pieces in the museum. After a soft opening during Covid, the dedication of the museum and surrounding Center for Art and Nature will be in April 2022.
Bulldog Statues Around Athens

Dozens of larger-than-life bulldog statues stand guard throughout Athens, a public art display that is fun for all ages. Whether you are a fan of public art, a die-hard UGA Bulldog, a kid or a kid at heart, you'll enjoy seeking out these statues while you are there. These bulldog statues are the original Selfie Spots in Athens!
Athens' Mural Alley
Sandy Creek Park surrounds Lake Chapman and features a variety of activities and facilities.
Athens Mural Alley is a public art project to beautify the alleyway that connects Clayton Street (by Classic City Cycling) and Washington St. The project is a collaboration among the Athens Area Arts Council, Athens Cultural Affairs Commission, Athens Downtown Development Authority and Lyndon House Arts Center. To find additional murals throughout Athens checkout this list of 29 murals.
Explore the Outdoors
Sandy Creek Park
Sandy Creek Park surrounds Lake Chapman and features a variety of activities and facilities. Swim at the only beach in Athens-Clarke County. More than 28.000 square feet of sand and more than a half-acre of water. Hikers, walk or even horeseback ride on over 16 miles of trails that are over easy to moderate terrain. There are also playgrounds, fishing, dog parks, a disc golf course, sports areas, and rental pavillion facilities.
Sandy Creek Nature Center
Five minutes down the road from Sandy Creek Park is 225 acres of woodlands and wetlands at the Sandy Creek Nature Center. Here is your gateway to outdoor exploration. Twelve trails, an Education and Visitor Center that includes live reptiles, amphibians, marine and freshwater aquariums and interactive natural history exhibits, a 1815 Log House and several wildlife observation areas. You can also explore their small planetarium and newly-expanded exhibit hall with interactive learning centers that feature the wetlands, coastal, woodlands, agricultural and urban environments of Northeast Georgia.
Alice H. Richards Children's Garden

The Alice H. Richards Children's Garden is an exploration and a journey, not something you just walk through. Everything is designed with attention to detail and an interactive, educational component. The 2.5-acre garden contains a variety of fun, immersive locations, including a chestnut tree house, fossil wall, giant water-misting mushrooms, vegetable garden, a replica of a North Georgia cave, and more — all designed to be learned from, crawled through and touched. Children can water plants, dig for dinosaur bones, see underneath the soil for how plants grow, and frolic in a forest treehouse. There are gigantic ladybugs to crawl over, water features, fun sculptures, and much, much more.
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