The Best Things To Do In Athens, Georgia, That Go Beyond Football

I like to pass the time on drives back to my college town by devising an itinerary based entirely on where I plan to eat and what I plan to do. No matter the purpose behind the trip to Athens, Georgia, whether a football-rival meeting between the hedges or a visit to a former professor's class, my focus is always the things that make it the most unique college town in the South, many of which are apart from school and football.

I start out by visualizing a map of the city. Punctuated by intersections I once crossed often, the streets easily link together in my mind to form a packed itinerary for a short trip. Here are the best things to do in Athens, Georgia, for the perfect weekend in one of the South's best college towns.

Day 1: What To Do

Stock Up on Artisanal Chocolate

After taking the University of Georgia's exit, I'm led to the familiar intersection of Lumpkin Street, Milledge Avenue, and Milledge Circle. This crossroads is the heart of the historic Five Points area, and that means the first stop is Condor Chocolates for a homemade pick-me-up. Influenced by their mother's Ecuadorean roots, brothers Nick and Peter Dale launched their first location on Lumpkin Street to make their chocolate confections. Their selection of artisanal truffles, bars, and other delights is vast, but their sipping chocolate and affogato are my go-to indulgences.

Go Shopping Downtown

With well over 100 bars, restaurants, and shops hugging the small and walkable city-style blocks, Athens' historic downtown is more alive on an average Monday than many towns are on a Saturday night. Daylight hours see UGA college students filing in and out of various cafes, as locals pop into shops like Archer Paper Goods (a stationery lover's heaven).

Step inside Wuxtry Records for instant nostalgia. It's the oldest still-operating record store in Georgia, and the small store on East Clayton Street downtown is still packed with crates of vinyl records. Lead guitarist Peter Buck of Athen's most famous band R.E.M. even worked there for a short time. 

Grab Dinner in Five Points

Depending on my hotel check-in time, I may scoot a few doors down to one of the newer kids on the Five Points block. The Expat, situated in a quaint 1930s cottage, features a menu of Italian favorites, and the cleverly crafted cocktail list and friendly neighborhood service keep me coming back. The Royal Peasant, a British-style pub, is a great spot to catch a game or relax on the patio with their Bits and Bobs, like baba ghanoush or house-made chips and garlic oil.

Entertain Yourself with Downtown's Unique Activities

Once the sun goes down, innocent errands turn into late-night shenanigans. Spontaneous souls could end up dancing at the pop-up silent disco wearing big glowing headphones next to dozens of strangers; watching an indie film at Ciné, a nonprofit art house opened in an old tire-recap building; or sipping at the bar of Manhattan Cafe next to someone reading a Cormac McCarthy novel while others sway in the back corner next to the tattered jukebox with handwritten track cards.

Grab a Drink in the "Cool" Part of Town

Located adjacent to downtown Athens, Normaltown is where you'll find the townies. The old-school strip of storefronts is now frequented by the impossibly cool. Bars here—The Old Pal, Hi-Lo Lounge, and Normal Bar—are the grown-up, hipper version of those downtown.

Day 2: What To Do

Embark on a Local Food Tour

The next day, I love taking an early outing to Independent Baking Company for a croissant or cinnamony Morning Roll. Right next to the famous five-point intersection, locals line up for fresh loaves, coffee, and pastries to go. I'll head toward campus via Lumpkin Street for lunch on the patio at Cali-N-Tito's. The beloved BYOB, Latin-Caribbean-inspired cafe is in a prime spot within walking distance of South Campus and tailgates alike.

If I'm lucky, I'll pass by an event that has called in the Lil' Ice Cream Dude to serve frozen treats from his Cool World mobile stand. Kid entrepreneur Beau Shell has been scooping since age 8 and has created an impressive ice-cream empire. I pass the corner of Sanford Stadium and swear I can hear the tune of "Glory, Glory to Old Georgia!" being played by the lone trumpeter inside. Just like that, my school spirit is reignited.

On game weekends, I try to avoid the busy corridor of Milledge Avenue from Five Points to Broad Street, as it's the main thoroughfare of Greek life here. Past the historic houses lining Milledge Avenue, I turn onto Baxter Street and make my way to Home.Made, a supper club turned hot spot known for Southern cuisine with a modern spin. Even if I can't stay long, I pop in to grab cheese straws and pepper-jelly pecans for the road.

Grab a Drink at the Hometown Brewery

At the end of the day, I venture back downtown to West Hancock Avenue for a bite at The National. Although the globally inspired menu changes to reflect the seasonal bounty of northeast Georgia farmers, I've never had a meal here that didn't make me feel right at home. Across the street is Creature Comforts Brewing Co., featuring the famed Tropicália IPA.

The beer in question is a citrusy little number with hoppy notes. Due to production constraints, it garnered a cult following—borderline mania—when it was first released in 2014 and was even featured in box-office success Avengers: Endgame. And it still remains the most popular brew in town.

Enjoy the Bustling Farmers' Market

On off-season Saturdays, the Athens Farmers Market at Bishop Park is bustling. I might snag a sip of Juju from The Plate Sale. Splitting time between Athens and Atlanta, Shyretha and Michael Sheats have made a name for themselves in the food and farming industries of North Georgia. If you can make it to a Plate Sale pop-up dinner, you won't regret it.

Catch Plenty of Live Music

Since Athens is home to many famous bands, including R.E.M, The B-52's, the Indigo Girls, Widespread Panic, and Drive-By Truckers, you'll find many historic music haunts like the 40 Watt Club and the Georgia Theatre, and you're bound to be able to catch a concert going on in those venues, as well as many others, throughout the weekend. You can also visit the rooftop of the Georgia Theatre for cocktails, snacks, great views of downtown, and occasionally late-night DJ sets.

Don't Miss These Snack Spots

Afterward, I head to the Boulevard District, home to Maepole and White Tiger Gourmet, two off-the-beaten-path lunch places. Maepole, known for its plant-forward and gluten-free menu, lets you choose a base (like mashed sweet potatoes or quinoa), a protein, two sides, and a sauce. It approaches Southern food in a healthy, wholesome way. White Tiger is my pick for barbecue and burgers, but the vegetarian offerings are impressive too. It's housed in a 100-year-old building that once served as a grocery store, so the charm goes far beyond the smoked meats. I finish out the night at Seabear Oyster Bar, where a dozen bivalves on the half shell are best accompanied by seasoned oyster crackers.

Day 3: What To Do

Enjoy a Slow Morning (with Fried Chicken)

A final sleep at the Graduate Athens hotel wraps up my weekend, but not without a trip to Avid Bookshop to browse the shelves. If it's Sunday, I'll mosey over to Food for the Soul for lunch. This eatery makes some of the best fried chicken and slow-cooked vegetables outside of Atlanta. For more fried chicken, head to iconic Athens spot Weaver D's. The owner's tagline "Automatic for the People!" later became the album title for one of R.E.M.'s most famed records.

With both my belly and my mind full from memories of a weekend well spent, I hunker down for my journey home. But if "Old Lady Luck" is on my side, it won't be long until I return, because there's one thing all Dawgs know: All roads lead to Athens.