Made in Athens

Day One

Morning:  Become intimately acquainted with Athens' greatest export - music!  The Athens Music History Tour affords you an accompanied jaunt round the town with commentary about all the famous figures and features of the local scene.  Eclectic Downtown Athens is the hub of history and is scattered with shops, galleries, and African-American heritage sites.  Cross Broad St. and pass through the famed Arch onto UGA's historic North Campus, site of the first state-chartered university in the country (1785).

Afternoon: Lunch at The Grit or The Last Resort Grill lets you marvel at the art on the walls as well as the food on your plate. Then browse in the shops or search for that rare recording you've been looking for at Athens' renowned downtown local music stores.  If you fancy a jaunt out of town, head to one of these popular nurseries and choose from a variety of options: Thyme after Thyme - An award-winning retail plant nursery with multiple browsing gardens and a unique gift shop or Pinebush Farm and Nursery - A nursery of landscape plants, gardening library and gift shop.

Evening: A progressive dinner is the best way to experience Athens fare at its finest - hop from one restaurant to the next sampling the best of all worlds one course at a time.  Athens is "Live Music Central!"  Pick up a Flagpole Magazine or check out flagpole.com to select your evening entertainment.  You might catch a national touring act or a large regional draw at the 40-Watt Club or the Georgia Theatre or a local singer-songwriter or underground upstart band at smaller clubs like DT's Down Under or the Caledonia.  Or allow us to entertain you with a private performance by a local theatre group for another helping of Athens' homegrown arts. 

Day Two

Morning: After a late night, nothing could be finer than freshly roasted and brewed coffee.  Ask Charlie at Jittery Joe's Coffee Roasting Facility downtown to show you the ins and outs of coffee production and roasting.  Break away from downtown for a visit to the Georgia Museum of Art or perhaps a private viewing at one of Athens' many galleries.  Local artists abound and welcome you to their atelier.

Afternoon: Enjoy a delicious lunch at the café overlooking the International Garden at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia.  The 313-acre preserve features a stunning three-story tropical conservatory and gardens showcasing both native and international flora.  Pick peaches at Thomas Peach Orchard, take a hayride at Washington Farms or tour the largest specialty hellebore nursery in the country, Piccadilly Farms.

Contact Amy Clark at the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau to make itinerary and accommodation arrangements, 706.357.4430, toll free 800.653.0603.