Location: Athens
Top Things to do in Athens
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Athens, Georgia (GA)
In the sweltering Georgia heat, no place is as cool as Athens. This hip college town is home to the University of Georgia, Pulitzer Prize winning authors and famous rock musicians. Explore the downtown area, where Victorian buildings are filled with an eclectic combination of independent coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques. Named "Live Music Central," Athens' busy music venues are known around the world. Check out The 40 Watt Club, where The B-52s and R.E.M got their start.
Restaurants in Athens
1. LumberJaxe
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31 reviews
Lumberjaxe is Athens’ ultimate axe throwing experience & gaming destination.
Reviewed By Gantt524080 - Athens, United States
Best date night in a long time. Good selection of beer and great help from the staff on how to throw the axes. Definitely recommend!
2. State Botanical Garden of Georgia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 649 reviews
This 313-acre preserve is used by the University of Georgia as a horticulture laboratory and is open to the public.
Reviewed By Sailing68 - Fairview Heights, United States
Enjoyed the variety of plants and trees and the natural layout of the Botanical Gardens. Well worth visiting to enjoy the outdoors and natural beauty of the area!!!
3. Georgia Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 145 reviews
The Georgia Museum of Art is the official state museum of art, is located on the University of Georgia campus, and our new ticketed admission is free (at https://georgiamuseum.org/visit/). The museum presents works from the permanent collection as well as frequent temporary exhibitions from other institutions or generated in-house. Educational programming is now all virtual and includes tours, a monthly family day, teen studios, Yoga in the Galleries and guided mindfulness. Hours: Thursday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1–5 p.m. The museum is closed on major US holidays. Mission statement: The Georgia Museum of Art shares the mission of the University of Georgia to support and to promote teaching, research, and service. Specifically, as a repository and educational instrument of the visual arts, the museum exists to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret significant works of art.
Reviewed By brooket985 - Sand Springs, United States
The museum changes fairly frequently since they have entire areas dedicated to traveling exhibits. I was shown around by a friend who goes to the college and I thoroughly enjoyed most of the art available. My only complaint is there was one employee that was particularly rude to my friend. My friend had a completely sealed container of water and the employee was trying to make us walk all the way downstairs and get a locker for it. We ended up just putting it on a table outside of the exhibit room.
4. Terrapin Beer Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
We are visitors centre based at beautiful Spey Bay. Dolphins are regularly seen feeding at the mouth of the river Spey,along with ospreys, seals, a huge variety of birdlife and the occasional otter.Join us for land based dolphin watching, tours of the UK's largest icehouse, wildlife walks, latest sightings, interactive exhibition, free binocular hire, all for free. With shop and cafe. The Centre is run by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, come and help support our charity work and have a fun day out!
5. Lyndon House Arts Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By KatCanDo
We recently had our son and future daughter in law's rehearsal /dinner here. We met with Shannon 8 mos. before and toured the entire facility. We ended up reserving the community room for our dinner. It couldn't have been more perfect! We could hang lighting (they provided a tall ladder) and they have a computer & very large screen perfect for having a video. There's a commercial kitchen for caterers. The wedding party and guests were able to tour the house and galleries before dinner. We all agreed it was the perfect place for the rehearsal and dinner. Shannon was so helpful. We highly recommend!
6. Cine BarCafe
7. Historic Athens Welcome Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 54 reviews
The Historic Athens Welcome Center has been described by visitors as "an oasis in the heart of historic downtown Athens.” Our friendly staff and tour guides help visitors make the most of Athens, inside a gracious southern home – The Church-Waddel-Brumby House. Meet with our information specialists to plot out your personal sight-seeing journey through Athens. Pick up local gifts and souvenirs for yourself and your loved ones. Explore our House Museum depicting Athens life 1819-1829. We also carry a full range of brochures and maps for Athens and the entire State of Georgia. The Historic Athens Welcome Center is operated by Historic Athens.
Reviewed By carolynn762 - Avon, United States
The Athens Welcome Center is a wonderful place to start your exploration of Athens. It is housed in a lovely old home (with a great back porch and rocking chairs), the Church-Waddel-Brumby house circa 1820. We toured the home and learned of its history as well as that of the University and Athens before boarding the bus for the Heritage Tour of the community. The guide was excellent, but I think I need to go again the next time I am in Athens because she imparted so much information in one afternoon that I cannot remember all of it!
8. Bear Hollow Zoo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 256 reviews
Reviewed By elizabhar
Bear Hollow is an outstanding little local spot. All the animals are local (southeast) rescues who wouldn't survive in the wild. If you're looking for expensive giraffes or something, you'll be disappointed, but if you need a great place to let kids run up and down the paths to find the bears, get amazingly close to an alligator, or talk back to a turkey, this is your spot! It's connected to Memorial Park, so bring a picnic and wander on down to the lake, feed the geese, watch the turtles, and enjoy the multiple little playgrounds.
9. Sandy Creek Nature Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
The nature center is a facility of the Athens-Clarke County Department of Leisure Services and partners with Sandy Creek Nature Center Inc., a non-profit support group. This 225- acre wildlife sanctuary includes over 4 miles of nature trails, providing access to a variety of habitats typical of the Georgia piedmont: river floodplains, wetlands, upland pine and hardwood forests, fields, ponds, and streams. In 2012, Sandy Creek Nature Center completed a major expansion funded by SPLOST and community partnership dollars. Over 4,000 square feet were added to the Education & Visitor Center, including new exhibits and a planetarium. Sandy Creek Nature Center is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Property and trails are open sunrise to sunset daily.
Reviewed By ShaFlorida
The hiking paths are well-marked. We enjoyed getting to hike to the old log cabin & pond. My kids loved getting to see a variety of birds & insects. We were sad the visitor's center is still requiring masks, so we didn't go inside there.
10. Sandy Creek Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By Sinbad06 - Tampa, United States
We stopped here on the way up to Blairsville, GA and had a picnic. There is a fee to get in. Lots of places to sit in or out of the sun. Bathrooms are open. Nice Beach. The trails are paved but steep in places.
