Pine Needle Guide
Normaltown
Normaltown is a vibrant walkable community filled with good food, good times and good people. Steps away from your apartment you can explore the Saturday morning Athens Farmers Market, locally owed breakfast, lunch, and dinner venues, coffee shop & brewery, laundromat and multi-use parks that include tennis & pickle ball courts. City Bus and Free UGA bus are all located three blocks of our rental. If you’re visiting Athens, Normaltown is the place to stay. Why are we “Normal?” Normaltown gets its name from the original State Normal School, which trained future teachers, and later became a Naval Supply Corps School. The facility still exists and is now part of the UGA Health campus. Welcoming guest to walk/run and enjoy its campus seven days a week. Historically, Normaltown is one of the first Athens neighborhoods. Local musical venues hold the claim to have hosted numerous performances by two beloved local bands that went on to international fame: R.E.M. and the B-52s.
12 locals recommend
Normaltown
Normaltown is a vibrant walkable community filled with good food, good times and good people. Steps away from your apartment you can explore the Saturday morning Athens Farmers Market, locally owed breakfast, lunch, and dinner venues, coffee shop & brewery, laundromat and multi-use parks that include tennis & pickle ball courts. City Bus and Free UGA bus are all located three blocks of our rental. If you’re visiting Athens, Normaltown is the place to stay. Why are we “Normal?” Normaltown gets its name from the original State Normal School, which trained future teachers, and later became a Naval Supply Corps School. The facility still exists and is now part of the UGA Health campus. Welcoming guest to walk/run and enjoy its campus seven days a week. Historically, Normaltown is one of the first Athens neighborhoods. Local musical venues hold the claim to have hosted numerous performances by two beloved local bands that went on to international fame: R.E.M. and the B-52s.
Food scene
Automatic Pizza serves pizza by the slice and full pie, topped with premium toppings. Sub Sandwiches, salads, cannoli, beer/wine and gluten-free dining options are available.
59 locals recommend
Automatic Pizza
1397 Prince AveAutomatic Pizza serves pizza by the slice and full pie, topped with premium toppings. Sub Sandwiches, salads, cannoli, beer/wine and gluten-free dining options are available.
Sips Espresso Cafe
1390 Prince AveLocal coffee shop with indoor-outdoor seating
Locally owned cafe tucked away in a 86 year old house serving up delicious sandwiches, salads and nibbles with a southern twist.
21 locals recommend
Marti's At Midday
1280 Prince AveLocally owned cafe tucked away in a 86 year old house serving up delicious sandwiches, salads and nibbles with a southern twist.
The Hi-Lo Lounge is a bar and lounge that serves food located on Prince Avenue in Normaltown. Hi-Lo serves three-way chili served Cincinnati style and many varieties of hot dogs, as well as salchipapas and housemade caramel corm. Menu items include vegan and vegetarian options like meat-free hot dogs and Cincinnati chili.
81 locals recommend
Hi-Lo Lounge
1354 Prince AveThe Hi-Lo Lounge is a bar and lounge that serves food located on Prince Avenue in Normaltown. Hi-Lo serves three-way chili served Cincinnati style and many varieties of hot dogs, as well as salchipapas and housemade caramel corm. Menu items include vegan and vegetarian options like meat-free hot dogs and Cincinnati chili.
Athentic Brewing is one of Athens' many great breweries! The Restaurant offers a great variety of beer, seltzers, and slushies all brewed in house! Grab some dinner or bring some dinner with you then come enjoy a cold beer on the restaurant's patio! Feeling snacky? Athentic Brewing has a variety of local snacks to munch on as well! Athentic Brewing has live music and food trucks almost every weekend! Check out the restaurant's social media to stay in the know on all things Athentic!
17 locals recommend
Athentic Brewing Company
108 Park AveAthentic Brewing is one of Athens' many great breweries! The Restaurant offers a great variety of beer, seltzers, and slushies all brewed in house! Grab some dinner or bring some dinner with you then come enjoy a cold beer on the restaurant's patio! Feeling snacky? Athentic Brewing has a variety of local snacks to munch on as well! Athentic Brewing has live music and food trucks almost every weekend! Check out the restaurant's social media to stay in the know on all things Athentic!
Fans of the Atlanta locations of Flying Biscuit Cafe were thrilled to hear that the Breakfast All Day Cafe would be adding a new ... spirit and focused on their Southern-inspired menu of comfort food made with fresh ingredients. Flying Biscuit is famous for its grits ... throughout the day.
Flying Biscuit Cafe - Athens, GA
1180 Prince AvenueFans of the Atlanta locations of Flying Biscuit Cafe were thrilled to hear that the Breakfast All Day Cafe would be adding a new ... spirit and focused on their Southern-inspired menu of comfort food made with fresh ingredients. Flying Biscuit is famous for its grits ... throughout the day.
Located in historic Bottleworks, Tapped Athens offers the world of wine right in the heart of the Classic City. With 24 bottles ... on tap, this unique self-serve wine tasting experience puts you in control. You may choose to sip until you find the perfect bottle to take ... home, or pour a glass and savor with friends. First saturday on each month you can start off with sparkling Mimosas and Toddy’s fresh baked biscuits (you won’t be sorry). Served with local Bear Hug sourwood honey and scrumptious marmalade.
Tapped Athens
297 Prince AvenueLocated in historic Bottleworks, Tapped Athens offers the world of wine right in the heart of the Classic City. With 24 bottles ... on tap, this unique self-serve wine tasting experience puts you in control. You may choose to sip until you find the perfect bottle to take ... home, or pour a glass and savor with friends. First saturday on each month you can start off with sparkling Mimosas and Toddy’s fresh baked biscuits (you won’t be sorry). Served with local Bear Hug sourwood honey and scrumptious marmalade.
Farm Burger serves 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef burgers that are made without GMOs, hormones, and antibiotics. For added flavor and freshness, they source ingredients from local, organic farms so that they can ensure that what you eat not only tastes great, but also actively supports the local community. They value what goes in your food just as much as they value the guests they serve. Farm Burger is honored to work with local farms like Love Is Love, Comfort Farms, Hearts of Harvest Farm, and Collective Harvest to create deliciously fresh burgers in Athens. Veggie Burgers are also delicious.
6 locals recommend
Farm Burger Athens
100 Prince AvenueFarm Burger serves 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef burgers that are made without GMOs, hormones, and antibiotics. For added flavor and freshness, they source ingredients from local, organic farms so that they can ensure that what you eat not only tastes great, but also actively supports the local community. They value what goes in your food just as much as they value the guests they serve. Farm Burger is honored to work with local farms like Love Is Love, Comfort Farms, Hearts of Harvest Farm, and Collective Harvest to create deliciously fresh burgers in Athens. Veggie Burgers are also delicious.
Named one of "The South's Best Farmers' Markets" by Southern Living, Athens Farmers Market is a non-profit organization of local farmers, craftspeople and volunteers working to make local naturally grown food, crafts and works or art available for the good of all. Celebrate treasures that are uniquely Athens. Our food grown in our soil by our farmers. Our crafts made in our homes by our artists. Our music, our merriment, and our memories shared on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, March through mid-December.
18 locals recommend
Athens Farmers Market
705 Sunset DrNamed one of "The South's Best Farmers' Markets" by Southern Living, Athens Farmers Market is a non-profit organization of local farmers, craftspeople and volunteers working to make local naturally grown food, crafts and works or art available for the good of all. Celebrate treasures that are uniquely Athens. Our food grown in our soil by our farmers. Our crafts made in our homes by our artists. Our music, our merriment, and our memories shared on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, March through mid-December.
Locally owned and operated, Big City Bread Cafe offers daily breakfast, brunch, and lunch selections that make wonderful use of fresh-baked goods. Vegan and vegetarian options are available.
The expansive and shaded patio gives you a year-round dining choice.
73 locals recommend
Big City Bread Cafe
393 N Finley StLocally owned and operated, Big City Bread Cafe offers daily breakfast, brunch, and lunch selections that make wonderful use of fresh-baked goods. Vegan and vegetarian options are available.
The expansive and shaded patio gives you a year-round dining choice.
Located in one of the oldest houses in the Cobbham Historic District - a perfect spot to stop for breakfast or lunch. Donderos' specializes in international cuisine and provides a large variety of diverse dishes and flavors. With breakfast served daily, the options are endless for an outstanding start to your day. One of the many notable egg-dishes on their menu is the Breakfast Sandwich, served up with a scrambled or fried egg, spinach, and cheese, all inside a warm croissant. Don't forget a side of their house-made salsa!
17 locals recommend
Donderos' Kitchen
590 N Milledge AveLocated in one of the oldest houses in the Cobbham Historic District - a perfect spot to stop for breakfast or lunch. Donderos' specializes in international cuisine and provides a large variety of diverse dishes and flavors. With breakfast served daily, the options are endless for an outstanding start to your day. One of the many notable egg-dishes on their menu is the Breakfast Sandwich, served up with a scrambled or fried egg, spinach, and cheese, all inside a warm croissant. Don't forget a side of their house-made salsa!
Sightseeing
The newest addition to Athens’ bike paths is The Firefly Trail, a multi-use rails-to-trails project which will extend 39-miles from Athens to Union Point. The first 1-mile segment, includes a 500' bridge over the North Oconee River and a connection to the North Oconee River Greenway and Dudley Park.
9 locals recommend
Firefly Trail
Firefly TrailThe newest addition to Athens’ bike paths is The Firefly Trail, a multi-use rails-to-trails project which will extend 39-miles from Athens to Union Point. The first 1-mile segment, includes a 500' bridge over the North Oconee River and a connection to the North Oconee River Greenway and Dudley Park.
The Oconee Rivers Greenway is a linear park and trails system that provides wildlife corridors, a wetland hiking trail, and a family friendly multi-use path for the public's enjoyment. Currently, the Oconee Rivers Greenway System provides 3.1 miles of natural surface hiking only trails and 8 miles of concrete, multi-use trails that are designated for non-motorized use.
12 locals recommend
Athens - North Oconee River Greenway
Athens - North Oconee River GreenwayThe Oconee Rivers Greenway is a linear park and trails system that provides wildlife corridors, a wetland hiking trail, and a family friendly multi-use path for the public's enjoyment. Currently, the Oconee Rivers Greenway System provides 3.1 miles of natural surface hiking only trails and 8 miles of concrete, multi-use trails that are designated for non-motorized use.
Home of the Athens Farmers Market, this park offers a variety of activities and amenities. This 33-acre park features athletic fields, basketball courts, playground, swimming pool, tennis courts, walking trail, picnic area, and is the home of the area's premier gymnastics program, Athens Clarke Gymnastics Academy.
Tennis courts and outdoor basketball courts are first-come, first-served, unless reserved for organized activities and sports.
29 locals recommend
Bishop Park
705 Sunset DrHome of the Athens Farmers Market, this park offers a variety of activities and amenities. This 33-acre park features athletic fields, basketball courts, playground, swimming pool, tennis courts, walking trail, picnic area, and is the home of the area's premier gymnastics program, Athens Clarke Gymnastics Academy.
Tennis courts and outdoor basketball courts are first-come, first-served, unless reserved for organized activities and sports.
Athens is the proud home of Georgia’s official botanical garden, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. The Garden is one of Athens’ most-visited attractions and is a must-see on any trip. The 313-acre preserve has plenty of nature trails and has been designated an important birding area by the Georgia Audubon Society. There are many themed gardens that provide beauty, serenity and inspiration at any time of year. You’ll find art installations out in the gardens as well as inside the soaring, three-story tropical conservatory. Special events at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia include the Sunflower Music Series during the summer months, other live music performances, and nature rambles and workshops.
135 locals recommend
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 S Milledge AveAthens is the proud home of Georgia’s official botanical garden, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. The Garden is one of Athens’ most-visited attractions and is a must-see on any trip. The 313-acre preserve has plenty of nature trails and has been designated an important birding area by the Georgia Audubon Society. There are many themed gardens that provide beauty, serenity and inspiration at any time of year. You’ll find art installations out in the gardens as well as inside the soaring, three-story tropical conservatory. Special events at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia include the Sunflower Music Series during the summer months, other live music performances, and nature rambles and workshops.
Walking tour of UGA campus will flow from historical to contemporary state of the art landscape and architecture. Sanford Stadium is on the largest on-campus stadiums in the country seating 93,000 fans. The Georgia Bulldogs play "Between the Hedges that surround the field.
96 locals recommend
University of Georgia
Herty DriveWalking tour of UGA campus will flow from historical to contemporary state of the art landscape and architecture. Sanford Stadium is on the largest on-campus stadiums in the country seating 93,000 fans. The Georgia Bulldogs play "Between the Hedges that surround the field.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Fare Free Bus Rides
Athens Clark-County Transit & UGA Campus Transit offers fare-free comprehensive bus service from Normaltown to downtown, campus with on-demand rides Saturday and Sunday evenings through the Uber app. Bus times vary according to the route and day, so check current schedules before traveling. Trip planning is available through Google Maps and the myStop app, where you can check the real-time status and location of a bus, locate bus stops and routes.