My Bulldawg Bucket List

Things that I believe all UGA students should do during their time in Athens, Georgia.

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23.) The Railroad Bridge

This railroad bridge is actually in Watkinsville but I’m still going to classify it as Athens. This bridge is not the REM train trestle, if you are looking to find that trestle it is behind Mama’s Boy. I’m not sure of the history of this bridge. This bridge is over the Middle Oconee River and offers a cool place to just hang out with friends. 

Disclaimer: This is an active train track so watch out for trains and please, please be safe if you decide to go here!

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22.) See a show at the Georgia Theatre

The Georgia Theatre was built in Athens in 1889. It has a very rich history and has been used as a movie theatre, a hotel, a temple, as well as a furniture store. It wasn’t until 1977 that it was turned into a concert venue. In 2009 a fire gutted most of the theatre and it underwent renovations until it was reopened in 2011. Many famous musicians have played here as well as small and local artist. These pictures were taken at a Family and Friends show I went to back in August 2014. The venue holds 1000 people but still has an intimate feel. This is definitely one of the best venues to see a show in Athens!

For information on shows click here: http://www.georgiatheatre.com/index.html

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And make sure to follow us here on Tumblr. We’re going to be posting some great info about helping out your local community, discounts around Athens, and tips and tricks for everyone (especially students!) moving into the area or still settling in.

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This is a great opportunity to help out local charities while also saving yourself some money :)

Check it out everyone!

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21.) The Tree Room

Located in the Chase Park Warehouses, the Tree Room is an open air building with two tall trees inside of it. In addition to the trees, there are also a couple koi ponds to make the environment inside even more relaxing. This room can be rented out for various types of events, there has even been a few weddings held in the venue. The Chase Park Warehouses are home to many other interesting shops, apartments, and even a trapeze and aerial dance studio. Make sure to take a look around when you visit the Tree Room.

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20.) The Classic City Roller Girls

The Classic City Roller Girls are made up of talented ladies who know their way around the roller rink. Each of them has their own creatively picked name and number. The rules of roller derby are pretty simple and they are explained to the crowd before the bout begins. The bout I went to was only a scrimmage, but it was exciting nonetheless. I can only imagine how intense an actual match would be. The Classic City Roller Girls' season runs from January to October with an average of two bouts a month. They have home bouts at the Classic Center as well as away bouts, so check their schedule to see when they will be in Athens!

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19.) Little Free Libraries

These Little Free Libraries slowly started popping up around Athens back in early 2013 and now they are everywhere! From downtown to far outside the loop, these little libraries are each full of books begging to be read. This project was originally started out of Wisconsin and now it has spread nationwide. Each Little Free Library is unique in design, some being more intricate than others. See if you can find all of them around Athens!

More info: http://littlefreelibrary.org

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18.) The Melting Point

The Melting Point is a great place to go if you want to be up close and personal to artists. Tickets are generally inexpensive and the venue is not outrageously sized so concerts feel very intimate. Most artists stay after their shows to hang out with their audience. The Melting Point also has a full bar as well as things to eat. For more information on the upcoming acts coming to The Melting Point click on the link below!

http://www.meltingpointathens.com 

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17.) The dam off of Macon Highway (Redneck Beach)

This dam was originally used to power the abandoned cotton mill that neighbors it. The dam is small but it's very picturesque and perfect for a dip on a hot summer day. The movie, The Spectacular Now was filmed in Athens and has this dam in it. There's even a rope swing beyond the dam if you're brave enough to swing on it! If you want to find the dam, it's easiest to get to if you go through the hole in the fence at the old Pure gas station. From there, you go straight until you see the overpass bridge on your right and there should be a kind of trail that you can follow. I'm not sure if this is legal or not but that's what adventure is all about right?

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16.) Ike and Jane

Located in Normaltown just off of Prince Avenue, is Ike and Jane Cafe and Bakery. They are famous for their vast variety of unique donuts. One of their donuts has bacon and bananas on it! I went for the simpler red velvet donut with chocolate frosting and it was extremely delicious. In addition to their donuts, Ike and Jane also has breakfast sandwiches and lunch items. If that's not enough to persuasion, Ike and Jane also offers an opportunity to save 10% every day by doing a silly task. When I went, I had to start a successful wave with another customer. Most people are more than happy to join in! Thanks to makethewrld for the suggestion!

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15.) The UGA Ghost Tour

Every year around Halloween, the Student Alumni Association puts on a ghost tour that features stories of buildings on North Campus. My roommate and I have made it a tradition to go each year. Perhaps my favorite story that is told on the tour is the story about Joseph E. Brown Hall and the staircase to nowhere within it. This tour isn't necessarily scary, but it is entertaining and interesting none the less. This tour is a great way to get into the spirit of Halloween and the best part is that it's free! So get into the Halloween spirit and go on the UGA ghost tour!

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14.) Athens Farmers Market

The Athens Farmers Market consists of local vendors selling their fruits, vegetables, flowers, foods, and crafts. It runs on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at Bishop Park and on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Creature Comforts. Even though it was a rainy Saturday, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment I spent at the Farmers Market. I bought carrots, a cucumber, a bagel, and a baguette, all delicious! The Athens Farmers Market is a great place to buy local and it's also very inexpensive. I would highly recommend it!

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UGA Alum here. It's a bit out of the way, but if you can get to Ike and Jane's for a doughnut I would highly recommend it!!

I was actually looking at their online menu earlier today! It looks delicious, I'll definitely have to go there soon!

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Don't forget the Athens Christmas parade. Even though it is absolutely freezing it is so nice to see the crowd, especially the kids, enjoy themselves. Plus you get to see some pretty cool floats and bands.

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely keep it in mind :)

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13.) Mama's Boy

Rumor has it that Mama's Boy is one of the best breakfast places in Athens. They have raving reviews and there's almost always a wait. My friend and I decided to try Mama's Boy on a Friday after class. We had to wait to be seated but the food was well worth the it. Everything from the strawberry lemonade served in a Mason jar to the salmon cakes and poached eggs was made to perfection. If you are searching for a divine breakfast or lunch place that won't break the bank, definitely go to Mama's Boy.

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12.) Little Italy

Little Italy is a pretty well known place among UGA students. The pizza slices are enormous and they're pretty inexpensive. Not only is the pizza cheap, but it is delicious as well. This is the perfect spot to get a pizza and split it with friends. So if you're looking for a place to eat pizza that's cheap, close by, and not Your Pie, Little Italy is always a good option.

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11.) The Swing

I had heard about this swing before and I wanted to find it. I knew the general area of where it was but I wasn't sure of its exact location. One day after Friday classes I set out to find it. This swing is literally a little piece of heaven in Athens. It's so relaxing to swing back and forth and forget the burdens of exams and projects. I have spent many days here with my friends laughing, swinging, and having good talks about life. To find this little gem all you have to do to find it is follow the tracks!

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10.) The Founders Garden

The Founders Garden is located on North Campus directly behind the Terry College of Business. It’s one of my favorite spots on campus. The two and a half acres it sits on are split into various sections. This is my favorite place on the University of Georgia Campus. The house in the courtyard was built in 1857 and has been used for many things including the sociology and biology departments, the Garden Club of Georgia, the chapter house for the Phi Mu sorority, and much more. It is fun to just explore on the small path behind the house and the terrace area. Come here to relax before a big exam or in between classes!