Location: Athens
Top Things to do in Athens
The 10 Best Things to do Good for Kids 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. 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!!!
2. Sanford Stadium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 375 reviews
Reviewed By Dian793 - Atlanta, United States
I have had UGA season tickets for over 40 years and attended most of the home games in Sanford Stadium during that time and also as a student at UGA. I have watched this stadium improve and expand over many years to the very best in the SEC. It is beautiful, well designed and comfortable even with a full house of 94,000 fans.
3. We Let the Dawgs Out Public Art Exhibit
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
4. 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!
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Rush Athens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
Rush is a Trampoline Park that brings extreme sports and fun for all ages to Athens, GA. Our attractions include a Trampoline Court, Virtual Reality Arena, Foam Pit, Ninja Obstacle Course, High Dive, Battle Beam, Dodgeball Court and more! Book your next birthday party or group event with us!
9. Iron Horse
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By donaldd909 - Athens, United States
We were traveling home on Greensboro Highway when we saw this statue. It is an awesome work of art that is a must see. However, when you visit, show respect and please do not write Graffiti on the statue (which some people have done).
10. Tree That Owns Itself
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 120 reviews
Reviewed By Q8105RDdan - Panama City Beach, United States
Had heard about this local landmark and wanted to see it for myself. It sits at the top of a hill at the intersection of South Finley and Dearing streets in a quiet residential area. The tree's lot has a chain barrier surrounding it, a retaining wall and is separated from the larger portion of the adjacent property by a private driveway. The portion of Finley street leading to the tree is the last cobblestone street that exists in Athens. Just getting to experience driving on it made the trip worth it for us. The original tree is thought to have been around through the late 18th century. In 1942 it fell at which point it was replaced by a new tree grown from one of its acorns, and planted in the same location. As a result, the current tree is sometimes referred to as the “Son Of The Tree That Owns Itself”. Both trees have appeared in numerous national publications including “Ripley’s Believe it Or Not”. How did it come to own itself?? The short version is that according to legend this Oak tree has legal ownership of itself and all land within eight feet of its base. Legend has it that the tree was located on the property of Colonel William Henry Jackson who was the son of James Jackson (a soldier in the American Revolution) as well as a congressman, U.S. senator, and governor of Georgia. Jackson supposedly cherished childhood memories of the tree, and, desiring to protect it, deeded to it the ownership of itself and its surrounding land. Legend has it that this took place between 1820 and 1832 however there are no legal records to back any of this up. The tree is however one of the most recognized and well-loved symbols in Athens making it a “ must see” if you visit the area.
TAGS
