EAT
www.depalmasitaliancafe.com
If Athens has blessed me with anything, it is great food. There's literally a spot in Athens for every craving, but I'll only mention a few favorites. For Mexican/Latin American cuisine, go for Cali 'n' Titos, Taqueria del Sol, or the holy grail of Mexican food- Agua Linda. If you're wanting Italian, Depalma's is the only way to go. And if you're balling on a budget and need some great Japanese food fast, check out Inoko Express (just ignore the health rating).
Bear Hollow Zoo
www.athensclarkecounty.com
This is one of my personal favorites. This "zoo" is conveniently located right off of Milledge Avenue just past Five Points. It's very small, and many of the animals are not as exotic as those in typical zoos. It houses several different animals who have physical ailments that won't allow them to survive on their own in the wild. They have black bears, deer, an otter, a bobcat, a bald eagle, and a few other species. Stop by and show them some love!
Downtown Athens
www.downtownathensga.org
It would be a tragedy to write an article about Athens without mentioning downtown. Great restaurants downtown include Trappeze, Last Resort and Taqueria Tsunami. Some cool places to shop downtown are Cheeky Peach, Fringe, and Dress Up. Let's be real though- most college students are there for the bars. Bar South, Centro, Boar's Head and 9D's are all great! Make sure to stop by the hot dog stand on College Avenue on your way home ($2 chili dogs never tasted better than at 2 am).
Sporting Events
www.georgiadogs.com
Have you barked lately? Do you sometimes feel the need to call the dawgs at inappropriate times? Do you often find yourself wearing red and black? A University of Georgia sporting event is the place for you. While football games are most popular (and for good reason), there are tons of other sports to check out. Catch a baseball game at Foley Field, watch a track meet, or cheer on the swim team.
Music
www.visitathensga.com
The music scene in Athens is AWESOME. You can pretty much find music somewhere any night of the week, but the most popular venues are the Georgia Theatre, 40 Watt Club, and The Foundry. Famous bands like R.E.M. and the B-52's originated in Athens, and artists from other cities have played here when they were just starting out (anyone heard of Luke Combs?). Make sure to check out AthFest during the summer for a whole weekend of live music!
Take a stroll through campus
www.visitathensga.com
This is one of the most underrated yet most enjoyable activities to do in Athens! While sometimes strenuous, walks with friends through campus have been some of my favorite memories at UGA. Start at North Campus (but don't walk under the arch!), trek all the way down Sanford Drive and swing by the bookstore and Sanford Stadium, and if you really feel like hiking, check out Ag Hill or Stegeman!