6 Outdoor Activities to do in Athens this Summer

Athens offers numerous popular indoor attractions, from exploring the Georgia Museum of Art to seeing concerts in the Georgia Theatre or shopping in downtown Athens. 

Despite these great options, summer is coming up and many people are eager for outdoor activities to take advantage of during the warmest parts of the year. 

Luckily, Athens provides plenty of great options that any local resident or visitor can do! 

Here is a list of great outdoor attractions Athens has to offer so you can spend less time researching and spend more time outside in nature. 

State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Address: 2450 S. Milledge Avenue, Athens, GA 30605

With over 312,500 visitors during the past year, the University of Georgia’s State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a great place to explore nature. 

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia offers nine different gardens and collections you can choose to check out.

For those with children, the Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden is a great place for kids to play.

The Alice H. Richards Children’s Garden is 2.5 acres, containing everything a kid dreams of. Children can play on the playgrounds, climb inside a treehouse, and learn about nature through the many educational activities. 

For those looking for a more relaxing adventure, there are various gardens to choose from, including the Flower Garden, Heritage Garden, International Garden, and more. 

Looking to buy some plants to enhance your garden? The Horticulture Greenhouse offers a selection of plants that you can schedule to pick up through their online store. 

Special events are also hosted here, such as night bike tours during a full moon or beginner beekeeping classes. 

Open from 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. daily, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia is a great place to spend a nice day outdoors and appreciate the beauty of nature. 

Bear Hollow Zoo

Address: 293 Gran Ellen Dr. Athens, GA 30606

Calling all animal lovers! This place is for you. Bear Hollow Zoo, located inside Memorial park, has bears, otters, alligators, owls, and more for you to see. 

If that isn’t enough of a selling point, you can see all of these animals for free since there is no admission fee!

The zoo goes above and beyond to educate visitors about the wildlife they have. They even host various educational field trips for surrounding schools. 

This is a great place to walk through and experience wildlife that you don’t see every day, learning more about them on the way. 

Bear Hollow Zoo is open daily from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. 

Big Dogs on the River

Address: 2525 Atlanta Hwy, Athens, GA 30606

There is nothing better than enjoying a hot summer day on the river!

Big Dog’s on the River is the only company that offers river trips in Athens. For only $30, you can paddle 3.5 miles down a stretch of the Middle Oconee River on a kayak. 

According to their website, the trips tend to take around two to three hours to complete. 

If you are up for this exciting adventure, all you have to do is call and book a reservation! Big Dogs on the River is open Monday through Saturday from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. 

Though I have never been kayaking on the river, I have been to Big Dogs on the River multiple times and it is a great place to hang out outdoors! 

Skate Park of Athens

Address: 4440 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605

This is for those who are fans of skateboarding or BMX. 

The Skate Park of Athens, located inside Southeast Clarke Park, offers a 14,000 square foot facility filled with a series of bowls and ramps for those looking for a thrill!

The park was funded by Athens-Clarke Country’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), and more interestingly, the Tony Hawk Foundation’s $10,000 donation. 

For those under the age of 12, a parent or guardian must be present. 

Though I do not know how to skate, it is also fun to stand and watch others do impressive tricks! 

The Skate Park of Athens is open from 8 A.M. to sunset, with weather circumstances being the only exception if the ground is too slippery. 

Sandy Creek Nature Center and Park

Address: 205 Old Commerce Rd., Athens, GA 30607

The Sandy Creek Nature Center and Park have 225 acres of woodlands and wetlands for visitors to explore. 

There are over four miles of trails throughout the park and it connects to the North Oconee River Greenway. 

For those who love exploring old buildings, the park also has a log house that was built around 1815 that you can check out. 

If you need a quick escape from the extreme Georgia heat, go inside the Sandy Creek Nature Center to learn about natural history.

According to the nature center’s website, it contains live reptiles, amphibians, marine and freshwater aquariums, interactive exhibits, and a resource library. 

This is a great place for people of all ages to visit if you are interested in learning about nature or if you enjoy walking through beautiful landscapes. 

The Sandy Creek Nature Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. and the trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset. There is no fee for admission. 

Firefly Trail

Currently, the Firefly trail is a paved trail that is 2.8 miles long and is open to pedestrians and cyclists. The trail starts near downtown Athens on East Broad Street, concluding at Hancock Road. 

The trail goes along Athens’s historic rail line, providing rustic and industrial views throughout your journey. 

Though the current trail is already nice, the city has big plans for expanding the Firefly Trail. 

The construction plan is already underway, with the ultimate goal being a 39-mile paved trail from Athens to Union Point that will connect three counties.

One of the major highlights of this expansion is the Firefly Trail TSPLOST Project which will transform an old wooden railroad bridge framework into a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. 

Athens-Clarke County’s leisure services have highlighted all of the expansion plans on its website in great detail. 

Once construction is complete, this will become a big attraction for Athens and the six other towns it goes through.