"A College Town's Favorite Brewery While Atlanta has its fair share of craft breweries, Terrapin Brewing Company is unique to Athens, a college town an hour or so outside of the capital. Home to the University of Georgia and music legends like the B-52s and R.E.M., Terrapin has made a place for itself in the community, hosting live music and local events. As with most breweries, you can tour the facilities and sample the beers on offer. The beer has cult status and always has hilarious names, like Hopsecutioner and Tree Hugger. If your visit coincides with the release of seasonal beers, don't pass them up, particularly the Pumpkinfest, which is like fall in a glass. The bartenders are volunteers who love what they do, so be sure to show your appreciation in the form of a tip. Aside from the brewery, there is a large field adjacent to the building with its own outdoor bar, volleyball court, stage, Frisbee golf course and picnic tables. Terrapin is open for tours from Wednesdays to Saturdays from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Souvenir glasses, which come with 8 samples, will set you back $10 or $12 if you want a specialty glass."

"Railroad Trestle from R.E.M.'s 'Murmur' Album R.E.M. was one of the top musical acts to make it out of the small town of Athens, Georgia, and arguably out of the whole state. The band made the area famous, especially when they chose a specific photo for the back cover of their 1983 album "Murmur." This railroad trestle was built as a part of the Georgia Railroad line and has been threatened to be torn down numerous times. But you'll find students and urban explorers out here any day of the week checking it out and even climbing on it, which I don't recommend. The trestle is located in the North Oconee River Greenway behind Mama's Boy restaurant, so after a big brunch, explore the trestle and surrounding parklands."

"Good Beer Matters at Trappeze Pub Trappeze Pub, named after the Trappist monks who make the most delicious beer, is not your average college town bar. It's no secret that the beer menu is twice as long as the food menu. On any night of the week, you'll find selections from all over the world, as well as small batches of specialty brews from nearby Terrapin Brewing Company. While they put an emphasis on the hard-to-find draft and bottle selections, the food is not what you might expect. You won't find jalepeño poppers or potato skins here, but rather high-quality gourmet dishes. Cheese plates, Asian pork tacos and pecan crusted trout all make appearances. Whatever you order, make sure to try the Belgian fries with roasted garlic aioli, which tastes just like what you might find on the streets of Brussels ."

"Breakfast Just Like Mama Made When you're a broke college student in the town of Athens, Georgia, there are few occasions when you can rationalize eating outside the dining hall. Splurges are reserved for special occasions, visits from family and days when you just want something delicious. Mama's Boy Restaurant is ideal for all three. It's a madhouse on weekends for brunch, so if you can I recommend going during the week. You may still have to wait for a table, but once you get your food you won't even remember life before Mama's Boy. If your belly is up for the task, order the Georgia Peach French Toast, pictured above, and an order of biscuits and gravy. Sure, the restaurant has lighter options, like a tofu stir fry and low calorie breakfast, but I say "go big or go home" or else it's back to the dining hall for you. Mama's Boy serves coffee from local roaster Jittery Joe's to keep you moving throughout the day. The diner backs up onto the North Oconee River Greenway, so you can walk off your carbs."

"Crave Curiosity at Creature Comforts Brewery No longer content with the dive bars and fraternity hangouts, Creature Comforts Brewery was opened in 2014 in a refurbished tire warehouse. The brewery has become a popular spot with students and townies alike for their unique brews, including the sour Athena and strong Tropicalia. It's also the best place to try their seasonal and special batches, like Koko Buni. Creature Comforts hosts weekly farmers markets in their parking lot, as well as local events. The tasting room and tours are open Tuesday to Friday from 5 to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 1 to 4 pm. Grab a table and some friends and spend the afternoon people watching on West Hancock."

"Breathing in Wellbeing at Urban Sanctuary Spa As soon as I entered the rustic little spa, I was offered tea and water and a hot neck pillow while I waited (five minutes, even though I got there 15 minutes early). I'd had several swedish massages before (at other places), so I wanted to try something new. I went for a peppermint and rosemary salt scrub and a lavender rosemary face and scalp massage. My masseuse, Elizabeth, placed a warm eye pillow over my face and told me to take a deep breath. I was transported to heaven by the perfect combination of soothing lavender and exhilarating rosemary. She then started my massage. A massage has never hurt less or been more relaxing. Even though she was only working my neck, shoulders, scalp, and face, I felt the waves of wellbeing flow through my entire body. I felt like if I just stayed there being massaged, I would never need anything else in life. After that, she scrubbed down my whole body with the salt, rubbed off some of the mixture with a warm towel, and gave me a quick massage over each body part. It's incredibly difficult for me to turn off my brain and this was the first time I did it during a massage. I remember having my hair flowing out from my head when I lay down and somehow at the end it was tucked neatly under my head. I have no idea when or how it happened. I wasn't even stressed when I arrived, and yet by the time I left, I felt completely renewed."

"Authentic Bagels in Rural Georgia If you're looking for a New York-style breakfast in the college town of Athens, look no further than Ideal Bagel Co., set inside a former toy store. On any given morning, you'll see students and townies lingering over their morning bagel and cup of strong Counter Culture coffee. Choose your variety of bagel with all the fixings like shmear, lox and capers or pick one of the signature bagels with toppings like pastrami, eggs and cheese. For lunch, grab one of their deli sandwiches on bread from their own bakery. Ideal Bagel is open from 7 am to 3 pm Monday to Friday, 8 am to 3 pm on Saturday and closed on Sunday."

"High Tea in a Quaint Town In downtown Madison, a historic town in Georgia, you'll find tons of antique shops, a number of coffee shops and restaurants, and—best of all—the Madison Tea Room. My boyfriend knows how much I love tea and we had sometimes tried to get reservations there before, but it never panned out. Finally, two weekends ago he surprised with a reservation. When we first arrived, she escorted us to the back room, where I got to try on tons of beautiful vintage hats. When we sat down, we were brought black currant tea and a tiered stand. Some of the best treats were the mini quiche, a Wellington beef and horseradish sandwich, the scones served with lemon curd and strawberry jam, the brownies, and—my favorites—the profiteroles. The owner, Kathi Russell, talked with all the guests, making everyone feel at home. Her beautiful assortment of different teacups and dishes is elegant and makes for hours of admiration."

"University Art Museum Featuring Regional Artists Attached to the University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art, the Georgia Museum of Art was founded in 1948. It became the state's official art museum in 1982 and has been a pillar in the local arts community ever since. The permanent collection features works of American, European and Asian art. There's a gallery of just Italian Renaissance and another of folk artists like Georgian Howard Finster. They often feature student works as well. Best of all, it's free to visit."

"The Classic City's Intimate Music Venue Named for its history as an iron foundry, The Foundry is a part of The Graduate Hotel. The small music venue has a balcony section, making for a unique experience with great acoustics. During its tenure as a performing space, The Foundry has hosted acts like Nappy Roots and Blind Boys of Alabama. The range of musical acts and genres as well as the reasonably priced cover charges make it a favorite among students and townies. The full bar and restaurant is another feature that has made The Foundry a Classic City staple. Their menu includes shared plates and full entrees, craft beer, wine and cocktails."

"Neighborhood Grocery Turned Neighborhood Favorite Prior to a glowing write-up in a major travel publication, you might drive past the white building with peeling paint. But what you'd miss is White Tiger Gourmet, a 100-year old neighborhood grocery store turned casual eatery. An area native and Culinary Institute of America graduate opened White Tiger in 2007. Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, the menu features barbecue sandwiches smoked on site, organic salads, vegetarian sandwiches and Southern style biscuits. Seating is a simple affair, either inside in one of the few tables or outside at a wooden picnic table. There aren't waiters to speak of but your food is brought out and when you're done you leave the basket and compost or recycle the rest."

"Athens' Largest Green Space Located on the outskirts of town, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a nice place to spend the afternoon wandering among the greenery and taking time to reflect. Take advantage of the miles of nature trails, whether that be going for a run or leisurely walking your way around. It's a good place to spot wildlife, specifically hummingbirds. The garden is free to visit and accessible by the university bus route. They offer tours of the garden and also have a cafe and gift shop."