Athens, Georgia - A Road-Trip Escape for Black Travelers

Why Black Travelers will Love Athens

See a show at the Morton Theatre, one of the first vaudeville theatres built, owned, and operated by an African American. Eat soul food at a spot named an "America's Classic" by the James Beard foundation. Follow the African American Heritage Pathway as part of your self-guided tour, or book a group tour through the Historic Athens Welcome Center. Support local entrepreneurs as you stop into Black-owned businesses around town. 

Athens is a nearby, convenient road trip for travelers from all over the southeast. One of the most exciting college towns in the US is just:

• 60 miles northeast of Atlanta
• 90 miles north of Macon
• 95 miles southwest of Greenville, SC
• 170 miles from Chattanooga
• 200 miles from Charlotte, NC
• 220 miles from Birmingham, AL
• 225 miles northwest of Savannah

Explore Black Heritage in Athens

Black heritage runs deep in Athens, Georgia. Did you know that Athens is home to one of the oldest surviving vaudeville theatres built, owned, and operated by an African American? The fully-restored Morton Theatre stands tall at Hot Corner, an early center of black commerce in Athens. The theatre hosted such notables as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Bessie Smith, and Louis Armstrong. The Morton is available to tour, in addition to hosting a full schedule of performances.

Many of Athens’ black doctors, dentists, and pharmacists practiced in the Morton Building. Among these were Dr. Ida Mae Johnson Hiram, the first Black woman to be licensed in Georgia, and Dr. William H. Harris, one of the founders of the Georgia State Medical Association of Colored Physicians, Dentists, and Druggists and one of the most prominent Black physicians in Athens.

Hot Corner has been immortalized in the "Hot Corner Legacy" mural, installed in 2019. Miami-based artist Elio Mercado, along with local artist Broderick Flanigan, worked on the mural together.

Follow the African American Heritage Pathway in Athens

Hot Corner is among several sites in Downtown Athens that make up the African American Heritage Pathway. These self-guided stops include notable landmarks and authentic stories that will spark conversations about inequality from the past and hopes for the future here in Athens.  

Take a Self-Guided Tour of African American History

The Historic Athens Welcome Center has created this self-guided driving tour, which includes 23 stops and begins on UGA North Campus, travels through downtown Athens, and ends at the historic one-room Chestnut Grove School on Epps Bridge Road.

Guided tours may also be reserved for groups; learn more here.

48 Hours in Athens:
An Itinerary for Black Travelers

From legendary music to soulful food and rich African American heritage, this itinerary celebrates culture, creativity, and community.

Whether you’re planning a friends’ trip, family reunion, fraternal organization gathering, or solo escape, this 48-hour itinerary highlights the Best of Black Athens — where history, flavor, and live music come together.

Day 1: Soulful Beginnings

Welcome to Athens!

Check in and get settled into your choice of accommodations. Athens has a great variety of hotels, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfast inns.

• Downtown Athens hotels give you the full benefit of Athens' walkability to attractions, restaurants, and entertainment!
• Spread out in a local vacation rental; Athens has hundreds to choose from!
• Choose a Black-owned bed & breakfast, Lavender Hill.

Walk Through History: Hot Corner & the Morton Theatre

• Begin your visit at Hot Corner, once the center of Athens’ Black business community. Here, you’ll find the Morton Theatre, built in 1910 by Monroe “Pink” Morton — one of the first African American–built, owned, and operated vaudeville theatres in the U.S. Schedule a tour, or check out the performance schedule to see who's playing during your visit!
   
• Just outside the Morton Theatre you'll notice Athens Music Walk of Fame plaques, celebrating Athens' rich musical heritage. Learn more about renowned performers across decades and genres, from Hall Johnson who conducted a spiritual chorale to blues musician Neal Pattman to hip hop and rappers like Ishues and Broadway's Tituss Burgess.
   
• Look up from the sidewalk plaques to the mural that overlooks the area. "Hot Corner: An Athens Legacy" pays tribute to the area’s rich history as a locus of African-American entrepreneurship. The mural was installed by Dominican-born muralist Elio Mercado and local Athens artist Broderick Flanigan. The mural pays tribute to the area's rich history that makes Hot Corner a focus of African-American entrepreneurship.

Dinner: 

• Downtown Athens is packed full of restaurants, so you will have tons of options for dinner within just a few blocks. Check out Dawg Gone Good BBQ, another Black-Owned restaurant, or choose from other nearby spots to suit your mood!

Live Music and Nightlife:

As night falls, experience the sounds that made Athens famous. Check out:

• The Foundry for live soul and jazz
• Georgia Theatre Rooftop for a lively mix of genres and skyline views
• Morton Theatre performances when available
• Musical and Comedic headliners at The Classic Center Theatre and Akins Ford Arena
• World sounds at the UGA Performing Arts Center

Athens’ music scene is intimate, walkable, and always alive with creative energy.

Day 2: Culture, Creativity & Community

Breakfast

• Start your morning Southern-style with biscuits, grits, and fried green tomatoes at Mama’s Boy, a local favorite just off the Oconee River.

Explore Athens’ African American Heritage

Spend the morning uncovering more of Athens’ Black history:

• Visit the Historic Athens Welcome Center to get guidance and brochures for the rest of your visit, including a self-guided African-American Heritage tour and the African-American Heritage Pathways brochure. Groups may arrange for a guided tour in advance.
   
• The historic Ware-Lyndon House Museum tells the stories of two doctors and their families: Dr. Edward Ware and Dr. Edward Lyndon. In 2019, a research project began to create a more holistic and truthful story of the home's inhabitants, including stories of the enslaved plantation and domestic workers. A new interpretive display reflects that research. The permanent exhibit includes a short film, featuring two musicians with family ties to the enslaved, David Wilborn Jr., whose father was born enslaved on the Ware- Lyndon House campus, and Hall Johnson, whose enslaved great grandparents lived and were forced to labor here.  The film provides insight into enslaved families and their descendants, charting a musical journey that suits the rich musical history of Athens.

Lunch:

• Enjoy Caribbean-Southern fusion at Rashe’s Cuisine, a Black-owned favorite serving jerk chicken, oxtails, and fried plantains with plenty of flavor and heart.
• Or, check out Weaver D’s, an Athens institution known for “Automatic for the People” soul food that has been named an "America's Classic" by the esteemed James Beard foundation. Enjoy fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread while chatting with owner Dexter Weaver, a local legend.

Afternoon:

• Continue visiting sites along the African-American Heritage tour
• Browse downtown’s boutiques, markets, and vintage shops for handmade goods and local art.

Dinner:

• For dinner, savor authentic Ethiopian dishes at Mannaweenta, a hidden gem known for warm hospitality and incredible injera platters. Perfect for sharing with friends or family.
• Or, head to Kelly's for authentic Jamaican food.

Evening Vibes:

End your night at World Famous, with vintage elegance at South Kitchen + Bar inside The Georgian Hotel, or enjoy live DJ sets at Flicker Theatre & Bar.

Day 3: Faith & Farewell

Sunday Worship or Brunch

• Begin your morning with a local worship experience at Hill First Baptist Church, the oldest Black church in Athens. Started in 1866 by emancipated enslaved persons, Hill First Baptist is in Downtown's Reese Street Historic District.
• Prefer a relaxed start? Enjoy Sunday brunch at The Place or Paloma Park downtown.

Farewell Stroll

• Take one last walk along the Oconee River Greenway, Firefly Trail, or UGA's Historic North Campus,
  or
• Grab coffee from Sips Espresso Café before heading home — refreshed, inspired, and connected to Athens’ soulful side.

Calendar of Events

There's always something happening in Athens! Check out everything from family days, to comedy and improv nights, to renowned headliners, to the live music that's made Athens famous.

You may even be inspired to plan your visit around one of our fantastic Annual Events, such as AthFest, Hot Corner Festival, and the Athens Hip Hop Awards, all of which feature Black artists and bands.

We Know You'll Love:

More Athens Events:

Soulful Dining and Black-Owned Restaurants in Athens

Set out on a culinary journey of discovery at these black-owned Athens restaurants. From soul food named an "America's Classic" by the James Beard Foundation and immortalized by R.E.M., to favorite flavors in barbecue, Caribbean, and Ethiopian cuisine, you'll find just the right bites to try while in Athens.

Celebrate Black-Owned Businesses in Athens

Athens is known for its creative spirit, and Black entrepreneurs are no exception. Visitors to Athens can explore authentic flavors throughout their visit at these Black-owned businesses.

Make Your Reservations Today!

Athens has a great variety of hotels, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfast inns.

• Downtown Athens hotels give you the full benefit of Athens' walkability to attractions, restaurants, and entertainment!
• Spread out in a local vacation rental; Athens has hundreds to choose from!
• Choose a Black-owned bed & breakfast, Lavender Hill.