Athens

In the 1780s, when the Georgia legislature decided to create an institution of higher learning—the first state-chartered university of its kind—the first priority was finding an ideal location. Its committee found 633 acres of hillside wilderness near the Oconee River, purchased the land for a mere $4,000, and named the place Athens. Located about sixty miles northeast of Atlanta, there is so much culture in this Classic City, soaking it all in may take you an extra semester (or two).

Many students live on a steady diet of frozen pizza, but when it’s time for a nice meal (or your parents are in town), there are a number of fine-dining choices within walking distance of the dorms. A longtime favorite of critics, Five & Ten (1653 South Lumpkin Street, 706-546-7300, fiveandten.com) was The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Restaurant of the Year in 2007. James Beard–award nominated chef Hugh Acheson makes weekly changes to the seasonal menu, and the Sunday brunch is a local legend. Located downtown, Last Resort Grill (184 West Clayton Street, 706-549-0810, lastresortgrill.com) is a former music club now better known for its fried green tomato sandwiches and red velvet cake, but if you’re looking for no-frills Southern dining, walk up to Broad Street to visit The Mayflower Restaurant (171 East Broad Street, 706-548-1692). In Athens since 1948, the Mayflower is a favorite with university administrators who hit the eatery every Tuesday for lunch. Says owner Ricky Vaughn, “We’ve been here for so long, we’re feeding students whose grandparents ate at the Mayflower.”

Although there is a Starbucks just steps from North Campus, Jittery Joe’s (Five Points, 1210 South Milledge Avenue, 706-208-1979, jitteryjoes.com) is Athens’s caffeine king. The local chain roasts its coffee beans in a small building just outside downtown and its infamous powerhouse Crackaccinos (four shots of espresso) have fueled many late-night procrastinators.

There are enough boutiques and specialty shops downtown to forget that Athens has a mall. Just one block down from the Arch is Heery’s Clothes Closet (195 College Avenue, 706-543-0702), which carries high-end lines such as Tory Burch, Nicole Miller, and Cole Haan. If brands like Patagonia and North Face are more your style, Masada Leather and Outdoor (238 East Clayton Street, 706-546-5014, masadaleather.com) has been supplying Athens’s outdoor enthusiasts since 1975. The store is also known for making custom leather pieces like one-of-a-kind belts and handcrafted wallets. More eclectic shopping needs can be met at Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother (458 East Clayton Street, 706-543-4454), the sibling store to Atlanta’s Little Five Points location. Open since 1986, the store is older than most undergraduates. General manager April McDowell thinks Athens is pretty fantastic. “It’s a mixture of traditions like Georgia football with the creative music and art scenes,” she says. “It’s a unique blend.”

John Mayer fans might recognize the Georgia Theatre (215 North Lumpkin Street, 706-549-9918, georgiatheatre.com) from his “No Such Thing” video, but the venue is better known for great local music and a constant schedule of tribute bands. On Saturdays in the fall, Bulldog fans get their football fix on the theater’s big screen. If you want to bask in the presence of musical greatness, head to a show at 40 Watt Club (285 West Washington Street, 706-549-7871, 40watt.com). The roster of legendary past performances is so awe-inspiring (think Nirvana, Radiohead, and R.E.M.), you’ll feel honored just walking inside.