Going to Athens

#1
coffeevol

coffeevol

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#1
So the wife and I want to see all the SEC stadiums, we have Vandy, Ole Miss, and of course Knoxville under our belt. For our anniversary this year we are going to attempt Athens. Any advice? Hotels, fans, parking other sites to see.

Go Vocation, enlighten me.
 
#2
#2
Athens sucks - always hot there. And skip the Varsity unless you like dog food.
 
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#3
#3
If you're going with the wife it won't be that great. All the fun is checking out the girls there, it's the main attraction JMO
 
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#4
#4
coffeevol said:
So the wife and I want to see all the SEC stadiums, we have Vandy, Ole Miss, and of course Knoxville under our belt. For our anniversary this year we are going to attempt Athens. Any advice? Hotels, fans, parking other sites to see.

Go Vocation, enlighten me.
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Congrats...I'll be there with my wife as well. Good luck getting a room @ any price in Athens...and immediate surrounding area. We are staying in ATL.

But try here Holiday Inn Express & Suites : Commerce-Tanger Outlets...not too far away and sometimes has rooms.

See you there...I'll be in ORANGE
 
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#6
#6
coffeevol said:
So the wife and I want to see all the SEC stadiums, we have Vandy, Ole Miss, and of course Knoxville under our belt. For our anniversary this year we are going to attempt Athens. Any advice? Hotels, fans, parking other sites to see.

Go Vocation, enlighten me.
Click to expand...

Only advise I have is don't listen to Georgia's radio station on the way in. A freaking hour of "hobnail boot" and Hershal running over Bill game calls. And prepare yourself to see/hear lots of fat rednecks barking. Seeing their sad faces when we win and all the Georgia peaches will be worth it though.

Have a fun and safe trip.
 
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#8
#8
I'll be making my fourth trip there this year. I've never stayed in Athens, always Atlanta or just head all the way home afterwards. It's a fun trip, just be prepared to have grown men bark at you.
 
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#10
#10
coffeevol said:
So the wife and I want to see all the SEC stadiums, we have Vandy, Ole Miss, and of course Knoxville under our belt. For our anniversary this year we are going to attempt Athens. Any advice? Hotels, fans, parking other sites to see.

Go Vocation, enlighten me.
Click to expand...

It's a great town, and a good, not great tailgating venue. Second tier behind Baton Rouge, Knoxville, Oxford, and Madison, WI. Of the minor league tailgate spots, it has a nice collegiate feel and great proximity to the bars as long as you keep it on North Campus. You can also avoid fratty row on your walk to the game.

Additionally, even though it's pretty much Metro ATL, the prices are pretty reasonable even on game day.

Bar wise, I highly recommend the Nowhere Bar, but I'm a sleaze and enjoy neon, whiskey, and lively inapproprate conversation laced with sarcasm. I guess I'm that guy.

Restaurant wise I'd recommend Barberitos or Cali & Titos - that's not downtown so fast-ish service should be available on gameday. We also have about a thousand food trucks that get out there. Hit up The Atlanta Street Food Coalition to see if any are near you that day.

Downtown food will be hard to come by on game day, but Friday night I'd hit up the Last Resort for dinner, then early Saturday breakfast at the Mama's Boy. Depending on kickoff you might only need a hot dog the rest of the day after that.

The Humpers can get pretty butt hurt (no pun intended) after a loss, especially to a division rival, so I'd watch your 6 for a sucker punch after the game if you hit a fratty bar. Folks at Nowhere Bar tend to take that $!!t in stride, though. For the most part their responsible fan base has come to expect mediocrity and love the excuse for a party in spite of same.

All in all, just travel with a handle of Jack and $200 in cash. That's usually enough to smooth over any animus with largesse. I was there in 06 wearing orange pants pre-Dooley and had no issue. I actually had a random lady from Colquitt defend my honor in the stands.

Hotel wise, you might consider staying in Lawrenceville and rocking Uber.
 
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#12
#12
TAF said:
Congrats...I'll be there with my wife as well. Good luck getting a room @ any price in Athens...and immediate surrounding area. We are staying in ATL.

But try here Holiday Inn Express & Suites : Commerce-Tanger Outlets...not too far away and sometimes has rooms.

See you there...I'll be in ORANGE
Click to expand...

Commerce is also a good option, and about as far as Lawrenceville. You can head west to 411 from there or make your way home the long way up 129.
 
#13
#13
same here, Athens first timer. But definitely look forward to watching their fans cry like after last years game.
 
#14
#14
Always stay on the east side of Atlanta and then make the 45 min drive into Athens. There really is nothing there. I'm sure you'll be barked at by grown men as you trek to the stadium
 
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#15
#15
Expect to have weirdos randomly barking at you. We get it. You're the Bulldogs. They bark.
 
#17
#17
kcvols1 said:
Commerce is also a good option, and about as far as Lawrenceville. You can head west to 411 from there or make your way home the long way up 129.
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I don't know why more people don't stay up there. It's only about 20 miles north and it's got decent hotel, food and shopping options. And it's right on the interstate and 441, so you can get anywhere from there.
 
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#23
#23
This year will be my 12th SEC stadium at A&M, two more to go!

UGlAy is ok but far from the best. Te only thing that keeps it fun is the little bars in Athens, cool place. Other than that, they are probably the snobbiest fans there is... Zero hospitality.

So far I would say our order is...

1. UT (duh)
2. Ole Miss
3. Auburn
4. Florida
5. Alabama
6. Vandy(only because of Nashville)
7. Georgia
8. Miss St
9. S Carolina
10. Arkansas
11. Kentucky(absolutely no game day tradition and fans just say wait til bball season every 10 seconds)
 
#24
#24
brentwoodvol23 said:
It's better than Starkville.. Slightly..
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Starkville is an outpost. Just being an hour from metro Atlanta puts Athens way ahead.

The campus in Athens is nice. It's walking distance to downtown which has some neat bars and restaurants. There's a ton of stuff out Atlanta Hwy and going West toward the loop. Parking is definitely bad, but there's plenty to do in and around Athens.

There are places I'd rather go, but it's top half of the league, and way ahead of Starkvegas.
 
#25
#25
Athens has the worst parking and to/from stadium traffic in the SEC. Be ready to sit for at least 1.5 hours in traffic coming and going. By the way, Tennesee has one of the best in my opinion.

I've been to the following SEC venues: Gainesville, Knoxville, Athens, Columbia, Nashville, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Lexington, College Station and Oxford. Looking to go to Baton Rouge one of these days.

Best looking stadium from the outside: Tennessee

Beat looking stadium from the inside:
Alabama

Loudest stadium: Florida, Auburn is underrated here, that joint can get loud too. Haven't been to LSU yet.

Best parking: Auburn

Worst parking: Georgia

Coolest city: Vandy

Most unique: Tex A&M

Rudest fans: believe it or not, I've always had rough times with SC fans. Was never sure what their deal was, but they were nasty on a few occasions. Only trouble I ever had in Knoxville was with a few college-aged dudes who felt it appropriate to drop a few f-bombs in front of my kids. But on the whole, good experiences with fans in Knoxville.

Best looking women: the rumors are true, it's Ole Miss hands down! Absolutely stunning women, everywhere you look. Doesn't mean there aren't beautiful women on EVERY college campus, but Ole Miss was really a different level.
 
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