One Tank Trip Summer Getaway: Athens, GA

With the arrival of summer comes the desire to trade in high-paced city life in exchange for a relaxing getaway.  Luckily, located just 70 miles northeast of Atlanta, Athens, Georgia awaits.  Whether you want to get your fill of nature, heritage, music, food, beer, or just fuel your creative juices, Athens' summer schedule provides an amazing value for your entertainment dollar and makes the short drive well worth your time!

Get outside and take advantage of sunny Georgia summers at the State Botanical Garden! Within its 313 acres, there are five miles of walking trails, various themed gardens, a conservatory full of tropical and subtropical plants, and a café and gift shop, making the garden an ideal destination for any summer day.  The grounds are the perfect place to pack a picnic and spend an afternoon laying in the shade or to get some exercise among gorgeous scenery.  Full Moon Hikes and cooking in the garden workshops are favorite special events for all ages this summer.  

Also, don't miss the Sunflower Music Series at the State Botanical Garden!  The luscious garden environment may be the most enjoyable setting imaginable for a concert.  The schedule is as follows:

• June 4- Shonna Tucker and Eye Candy (musicians from the Drive by Truckers; Alternative Country)
• July 9- Caroline Aiken (Folk/Blues/Rock)
• August 20- Grogus (Latin Jazz)
• September 17- Arvin Scott Quartet (World Beat/Jazz)

For just $15 per adult/$5 for kids, light snacks, beer and wine (for those of age) are included-  that's a steal!   Tickets for all of the shows are currently available for purchase online.  Grab your friends and family, pack a picnic blanket, and come ready to enjoy good music!

For some educational fun, Classic City Tours offers a variety of themed tours that celebrate Athens' heritage and are sure to teach you a few things.  We recommend including the Athens Heritage Tour on the top of your to-do list; it's offered daily at 2 p.m.  Featured on the tour are the world's only remaining Double Barreled Cannon, Athens' oldest house, and the only National Historic Landmark in the area, the Taylor-Grady house.  Other tours to consider are the African-American Heritage Tour and the Museum Mile Tour of Athens' four historic house museums.  If you're feeling more independent, self-guided and audio tours are available as well!  Reservations may be booked via phone at 706-208-8687.

As Hunter S. Thompson said, "Good people drink good beer."  We're sure that his Athens getaway would include touring Terrapin Brewery free of charge.  A $10 souvenir glass comes with eight tickets that may be redeemed for half-pours of their award-winning beer. Every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening from 5:30-7:30 p.m., come taste and learn about award-winning beer while enjoying live outdoor music.  Tell your pets that they're invited to join the fun as well, so long as they agree to stay on their leash!  For more information on the performers, events, and Terrapin beer, see the Terrapin website.

Perhaps good beer's biggest rival is good food, and Athens keeps the competition alive with its growing culinary status and multiple Top Chef and James Beard winners.  With all of the delicious dining options in Athens, choosing just a few restaurants to experience during your visit can be challenging.  Fortunately, Athens Food Tours not only eliminates the decision, but the tours make an event of sampling locally sourced foods and beverages from five to seven local eateries and shops.  You'll join a guide on an easy-paced walk through a designated area of town.  In addition to the scrumptious locally-grown, sustainable food and drinks included in the ticket price, ranging from $28-$44, hearing from local chefs and business owners along the way offers a unique and entertaining touch. 

Athens' annual summer festival, AthFest, is scheduled for June 19th-23rd, and we cannot wait!  Taking over gorgeous downtown Athens,  AthFest is a music, art, kids, and film-focused event.  More than 150 bands and artists will perform during the five-day celebration- and it's free!  Among other AthFest activities are an artists' market, a club crawl, film screenings, and KidsFest, which is an area especially for children and features kid-focused performances and interactive activities.  AthFest wristbands are only $20, and they provide unlimited access to participating club crawl venues and discounts for other affiliated events. Show schedules can be viewed and wristbands may be purchased on the AthFest website.  AthFest packages at Hotel Indigo Athens, Holiday Inn Express, and Foundry Park Inn & Spa start at a reasonable $105 per couple and make planning your one tank summer getaway a cinch!  The packages include everything you need for the weekend: your hotel room, wristbands, AthFest CDs, and t-shirts.  Find out more and purchase your AthFest package here. 

For a constant update of live music events, be sure to keep up with the calendars of favorite Athens venues, including 40 Watt Club, Caledonia Lounge, The Melting Point, and The Green Room.  Seeing a show at the iconic Georgia Theatre is an absolute must for lovers of music and Athens.  Their rooftop bar is a great place to kick back and relax and is now serving food from their neighbor, The Branded Butcher, from 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. Mondays-Saturdays.  The Flagpole music calendar is another great tool to keep up with Athens' music scene.

Decompress with some artistic therapy at Good Dirt Studio, Artini's, and Pints and Paints- all located in the heart of downtown Athens.  Good Dirt Studio offers an assortment of clay classes, including "Try Clay" clay sessions on the wheel from 7-9 p.m. every Friday (ages 8+) and "Try Clay" hand-building classes for all ages every Sunday from 2-4 p.m.  If you're more of the painting type, fuel your inner Monet and check out Artini's and Pints and Paints for a fun guided art lesson.  The $20-$35 fee covers the supplies and guidance, and you'll surely to be impressed with your masterpiece!

For more ideas to satisfy your Georgia road trip cravings, visit the Athens Visitors & Convention Bureau website or call 706-357-4430.  The possibilities in Athens, Georgia are endless this summer, so mark your calendars and plan your summer getaway as soon as possible!   

Mother's Day and Graduation Weekend in Athens

Families from all over will be celebrating UGA Graduation and Mother's Day this weekend, and we have some suggestions to help families spend quality time together with great attractions, dining, and of course live music, right here in Athens GA.

Keep Mom Out of the Kitchen:

What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than to surprise her with a delicious meal? Forget slaving over a breakfast in bed for one and allow the talented cooks of Athens to treat the whole family. 

The Mother's Day meal at Foundry Park Inn & Spa is offering a buffet of cold and hot dishes, salads, herb crusted prime rib at the carving station, and desserts.  Foundry Park is charging $26.50 per adult, half off children ages 4-12, and children under 4 eat for free! Check out the menu and call 706-549-7020 to book your reservation between 11am and 3pm.  If you're feeling up to some additional pampering, the Foundry Park Inn Spa offers body, massage, skin, waxing, and nail services.

The Savannah Room Restaurant at the Georgia Center has also compiled a mouth-watering menu for Sunday.  From 11am-2:30pm, adults eat for $24.95 and children under 12 eat for $9.95.  With menu items like Mediterranean Tortellini Salad, Creamy Scalloped Potatoes, and Triple Chocolate Cake, this meal might keep you full all day!


Spend Time Together in Creative Ways

Enjoy getting creative and making a memorable piece of art at Good Dirt Studio or Artini's.

Good Dirt's Glass for Mom class from 2-4pm will demonstrate the basics of colored glass cutting and fusing in the kiln. $50 includes all materials and firing.  Book your spot now!

Artini's is offering two Mother's Day Sessions on Sunday from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m.  Kate Cook will guide you to paint a scene of beautiful yellow daffodils.  Materials are provided and each session costs $25 per person.

Exhibits at the Georgia Museum of Art  What a great opportunity to stroll through the expansive galleries at the Georgia Museum of Art! Exhibits include ancient and contemporary sculptures as well as a variety of other mediums from both the permanent and visiting exhibitions. The gallery is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.



Boogie Down

Bring everyone out and Boogie Down together to songs you all know the words to!  Join The Highballs on Friday for an evening of LIVE retro hits from the '80s at The Melting Point. Great food and totally awesome music for the perfect post-graduation celebration!

Long-time Athens favorite Randall Bramblett is performing Friday, May 10 at the Georgia Theatre, just in time for Graduation and Mothers Day weekend. A jewel of Southern music, Randall Bramblett shines on his latest release, The Bright Spots, due out May 14 on New West Records. Fresh off the inclusion of one of his songs on Bonnie Raitt's Grammy-winning album Slipstream, he has put together a masterful recording soaked with the soulful feel that has defined his music and that of his Southern contemporaries like Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes.

Or, take the family to hear  David Prince at Buffalo's Cafe Athens. Featuring a full menu and bar service as well as delicious Mother's Day specials, this is the perfect way to show your mom just how much you care. The show will be held Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m.

 

As always, be sure to check Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau's calendar of events for more ways to celebrate Mother's Day, Graduation, or any time of year.  We hope you enjoy this special weekend with your loved ones!

How to Be a Painter for a Day - Art Experiences in Athens for the Non-Artist

I will be the first one to tell you that I am no artist. In fact, the last art class I had was in elementary school, where I remember making a crooked clay pot constructed with uneven coils (I gave it to my mother, and it now proudly stands hidden in our basement). But this doesn't mean I don't appreciate art and those who create it. In fact, something I love about Athens is its great art scene -- there are so many exhibits to see and so many local artists that are showcased in different Athens businesses.

So maybe you will understand my excitement when I heard about the opening of Artini's this past summer. If you haven't heard of them, they basically have a set calendar each month of different paintings; you choose which painting you like, register for the class, and show up that night ready to stir your creative juices!

They will teach you step-by-step how to paint the chosen piece of artwork, so if you're a beginner like me, you will have no problem creating a masterpiece. Even experienced painters and artists are welcome, however; if you want to add your own flair, use different colors, or change certain aspects of the design, you are totally welcome to do so. You are provided with all the necessary tools to make your painting: an apron, easel, canvas, paints, brushes, etc.

I was very excited the week before going in to paint my "Sitting Pretty" piece. The night of, I arrived at Artini's at around 6:30 (they recommend getting there 30 minutes early in order to get a parking space in the limited lot they share with Gigi's Cupcakes and Sweet Peppers Deli), and used my extra time to look at some of the great art being displayed in the space as well as get myself situated. I talked to a few of the people sitting around me; many of them also were first-timers sharing the same excitement and nervousness I felt about how the painting would turn out. As our instructor began the class, we set to work on our canvases, equipped with our brushes and aprons.

As we got further into the session, we all started

really having fun with our paintings! Looking around, I saw a variety in designs and colors, and even the instructor was giving suggestions on how to alter the paintings to one's own taste. She gave us plenty of time for each step to make sure that everyone was happy with their work, and even though I sometimes worried about small imperfections and details (those thin branches gave me a very difficult time), I was very content with the final outcome.

What made Artini's a great experience besides the fact that I came out of it with something nice to put in my room? First of all, the people at Artini's create a really fun and relaxing atmosphere; they are very personable and like to get the classes pumped by playing music and serving beverages. This brings me to my second point: they offer refreshments while you paint, so if you are of age, you can order a bottle of wine with your friends. This would make a great place to have a private party for birthdays or any other special events.

Now, I do know there are other places in Athens that offer similar types of experiences, such as Pints & Paints and Sips n Strokes. Unfortunately, I personally have not had the opportunity to visit these places; however, I have heard great things from people who have gone. I would like to eventually go, since each place offers such distinct options, and honestly, my room is a little bare.

Have any of you gone to any of these places recently? I'd love to hear about your experiences!

- Debbie