Athens, Georgia - A City with a Multiple Personali

If you're planning a vacation packed with wild night life, Athens is the place. Looking for culture and natural beauty? Athens is the place. Loking for a vibrant youthful city? Athens is the place. Looking for a rich historical legacy? Athens is the place. No matter what you want in a vacation, you will enjoy Athens.
If you want to eat, drink and be merry, Athens offers lots of choices. The bars almost outnumber the churches. There are 147 bars and 154 churches. The bars make up for their numerical deficency by their wide varity of styles.
The University of Georgia, charted in 1785, is the oldest state chartered university in the United States. Its main library houses the original Constitution of the Confederate States of America. The Founders Memorial garden on colorful North Campus commemorates honors the birthplace of the Athens Garden Club, the first garden club in America. Its Sanford Stadium is the most visited site in Athens.
The second most visited site is The State Botanical Garden is, a 313 acre expanse of soul refreshing greenery punctuated with eye dazzling blazes of color. Seven color designated trails wind through the varied gardens.

Quick Tips:

A great place to start is at the Athens Welcome Center. It is located in what is believed to be the oldest house in Athens, the Church-Waddel-Brumby House. They offer the Classic City Tours, which is a great way to get a glimpse of many of the neighborhoods as well as other historic attractions.

Best Way To Get Around:

While you are in Athens be sure to visit the Magnolia Terrace Guest House. It is a great place to stay but even if you aren't staying there, it is worth seeing. It was built in 1912 by James Rogers. He only lived in it for a few years then sold it to Chi Psi Fraternity. From the 1940s to 1977 it was the Magnolia Terrace Restaurant. Today it has been lovingly renovated into a seven room B and B. Each room has its own bath and many have fireplaces.

One of the most unique restaurants is Charlie Williams Pinecrest Lodge. It began in 1929, when Charlie's fishing buddies wanted him to cook barbecue for them.He gathered rocks from the surrounding area and built the Milam Room to serve about fifty to seventy five people.
Though the years, as his fame spread Charlie added more buildings, all built by hand. Charlie also added various rustic buildings and implements of Appalachian life. The most interesting being an old water wheel from a nearby grist mill. The wheel actually provided power for the complex in the early days before electricity could be connected.
The current owner, Mike Williams, Charlie's nephew, actually lived in the mill house as a child. He now uses it for an office. Although the restaurant is only open weekends, it has maintained the fine food that made it famous and the rustic ambience.

If you wish to stroll into Athens past, there are thirteen neighborhoods listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Many located near downtown lend themselves to walking tours. A great place to start is at the Athens Welcome Center. It is located in what is believed to be the oldest house in Athens, the Church-Waddel-Brumby House. They offer the Classic City Tours, which is a great way to get a glimpse of many of the neighborhoods as well as other historic attractions.
While you are in the Historic Cobbham District, be sure to visit the Magnolia Terrace Guest House.
The Morton Theater is another must see. It was built by Monroe Bowers 'Pink' Morton, a wealthy black entrepreneur, in 1910. This makes it one of the first vaudeville theaters owned and operated by African Americans. Along with the theater, the Morton Building housed doctors offices, a drug store, a pool hall, and miscellaneous businesses. It is located on Washington and Hull Streets, once called 'The Hot Corner' because it was the center of life for African Americans in Athens. The theater has been magnificently restored and once again presents dramatic and musical performances.
The Hamilton-Phinizy-Segrest House at 250 S. Millidge Ave. is now the home of Phi Mu Sorority. It is reputed to be haunted.
These are just the tip of the iceberg. Visit Athens and go exploring to find countless other historic treasures.

From The Velvet Elvis, that offers $1 beers surrounded by Elvis and Kiss paraphernalia, to the classy Winery, which stocks over 100 wines, Athens is a nightlife dream.
You'll find the conventional chains like Bennigans and Applebee's. You'll also find the unusual like Lunch Paper. The name is slang for counterfeit money and the bar is situated in an old bank. You can lounge in a black-lit vault and watch their rotating martini glass sign.Then there's Blind Pig Tavern where you find a wall of famous photos including Don Knotts and John Lee Hooker. The Georgia Theater shows movies and sporting events. It is actually an old time movie theater. Boneshakers features Athens only Drag Queen Revue.
For you dancers, there is everything from The Armadillo, featuring country, rock and pop, to the upscale Bailey's Spirits and Dancing. Sports bars abound. Almost all of the bars serve food.
Speaking of food, Athen's restaurants are hard to beat both in number and in excellent cuisine. They range from Harry Bissett's New Orleans Cafe and Oyster Bar to to Allan's Hamburgers, where the former governor used to work. Vegetarians will not feel left out here. There are three vegetarian spots: Bluebird Cafe, The Grit and Guaranteed. Many other places also serve some non-meat dishes.
Of course, ther is Charlie Williams' Pinecrest Lodge that is so unique it is covered in a seperate article.

The State Botanical Garden is a 313 acre expanse of soul refreshing greenery punctuated with eye dazzling blazes of color. Seven color designated trails wind through the varied gardens. One trail, The Orange Trail, is specially frequented by birders for its varied bird population. It's not unusual to come upon a raccoon, rabbit or fox as you ramble on any of the trails.
The Visitor Center provides a feast for the body and mine as well as the eyes. The three story glass conservatory flaunts exotic orchids, an Angel Trumpet plant with its delicate but deadly blooms, and myriads of other tropical plants. The Garden Room Cafe is a perfect setting for a light meal or cool drink as you feast your eyes on the living beauty surrounding it. The center also houses a classroom, which may be rented, and a theater showing an orientation film.
The Day Chapel soars heavenward from among a majestic stand of hardwoods. Its cypress and glass exterior are a perfect marriage of nature and light. However stunning the exterior is, the interior is heart stopping in its beauty. The doors leading from the vestibule to the sanctuary are an art masterpiece worthy of Monet. The softly patined mahogany form the trunk and branches of an intertwining dogwood tree. The dogwood flower and the Cherokee rose are vivid glass images set amongst the crystal. The vividly hued rug in the vestibule reflect the same motif as the doors and include the state bird, brown thrasher, and state butterfly, eastern yellow swallowtail. The chapel is a favorite spot for weddings and receptions.