Cheap Vacations–Athens, GA
Just over an hour from Monticello is a town rich with culture, entertainment and of course, the Georgia Bulldogs. Take Georgia Hwy. 11 north to Highway 316 or Hwy. 83 north to Hwy. 441, and soon you will reach Athens, a town named for the ancient city of Athens, Greece where civilization became civil.
Besides being home to the Georgia Bulldogs and the largest university in Georgia, the city also boasts the Georgia Museum of Art and the State Botanical Gardens, both of which are free. The museum is open every day except Monday. Every Thursday at 2 p.m., knowledgeable docents lead visitors on the “Highlights of the Permanent Collection” tour. Part of this collection includes the Samuel H. Kress Collection of 12 Italian Renaissance paintings dating back to the 14th century. Their collections also include famous paintings by artists Homer, Gardner and Whistler and a large collection of precious Belleek porcelains.
For information on hours and to find out about upcoming exhibits go to its website, www.georgiamuseum.org.
The State Botanical Gardens are open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The gardens and parking are free. A tropical conservatory, shade and natural flora gardens, international garden, heritage garden, cut flower garden and a vast greenhouse will inspire any visitor. For information call 706-542-1244 or go to the website: botgarden.uga.edu.
Free activities also include Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail Memorial Park, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families will enjoy seeing black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and owls in their free-living animal habitat. The exhibit hall where children can see and touch some animals is open on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown Athens is full of bulldogs, 36 quirky bulldog statues entertain visitors, also see the world’s only double barreled cannon.
If you have a taste for a Varsity walking dog, the Junior Varsity is located near downtown.
Athens has almost any chain restaurant known to exist along with many local eateries.
The University of Georgia conducts tours of its grounds led by students. For hours and information go to visit.ga.edu.
For any information about Athens go its official website, www.visitathensga.com.
