Yes, it’s true. Athens has four mild seasons. More often than not Athens has great weather. A couple months in the spring and fall we don’t need Heat or A/C, those are special times. Our grills are used 10-12 months of the year and you can garden year round if you pick the right crops. We have big city entertainment with a small town, kid friendly atmosphere. UGA keeps the sports enthusiast busy as well as a wide array of music venues for those that need more culture. Athens has always been a music magnet. The art community is well supported throughout Northeast Georgia. UGA has even added a Music Business Certificate Program to enhance the local music business.

Are you searching for a community that offers plenty of activities for you and your family? You have found it here in Athens, GA. Besides taking advantage of the abundance of UGA owned facilities; we have excellent recreation properties throughout Athens and the surrounding communities. Our neighbor to the Southwest, Oconee County has a wonderful 200+ acre park, which includes indoor and outdoor facilities. Most of the newer subdivisions are including green space for trails and a pool and/or tennis courts to keep the whole family active. In Athens bike lanes are available all around the town to support the growing biking population.

You can experience rock climbing, backpacking and hiking in the Northeast Georgia Mountains, all within two hours of Athens. Kayak and white water rafting are other weekend activities that are close to home. Although we are 4-6 hours from big sandy beaches, we have plenty of fresh water lakes to keep the water enthusiast happy.

If you have never been to a SEC College Football Game, put it on your bucket list! There is nothing quite like it and UGA has arguably the nicest venue to experience, with close to 100,000 other fans. Year round, covering every sport from the Gym Dogs to the Equestrian Team you will always find avid fans and family friendly events to attend.

You can take your dog for a walk at the trails by the intramural fields, watch a Rugby match or cheer on the Lady Dogs at the top notch Fast Pitch Soft Ball Stadium. For those that have achieved the “senior citizen” status, you have the ability to take college courses, most for free, expand your knowledge and interact with the youth of America, the future leaders of our great nation. The resources available at the University of Georgia are vast and can be overwhelming at first, but you will find southern hospitality at every turn.

In the downtown area we have some of the finest local restaurants and music venues in the southeast. The Classic Center continually brings in excellent shows and exhibitions for everyone to enjoy. For a truly unique experience and great food, stop by “The Grill” on College Ave. at 3-4 in the morning. Now that is entertainment! Another classic dining spot that has endured the test of time is “The Gyro Wrap”, excellent food and a great selection of your favorite beverages. There is a place for everyone no matter what your taste buds are yearning for.

After my UGA experience in the late 70’s and early 80’s I moved around the country, living in Tulsa, Denver and Bergen County, New Jersey. When it was time to settle down and raise a family it was an easy decision to move back to Athens, GA. My wife and I moved back in 1988 just before our son was born. Our daughter came along in 1990. We enjoyed raising our children here in the Athens area and have fond memories from the past 20+ years. Living near UGA has been a great experience for the whole family and we don’t regret our decision to move back one bit!