Spring Break
Plenty of little-known places to visit in Athens
RACHEL WEBSTER
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For a small town, Athens has a lot of secrets.
Athens' best-kept secrets include restaurants, coffee shops and attractions that not everyone knows about.
This list contains a sampling of at least semi-unknown spaces waiting to be explored.
Memorial Park And Bear
Hollow Wildlife Trail,
293 Gran Ellen Dr.
Typically referred to as the "Athens Zoo" by students, Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail combines wildlife, the great outdoors, and running and biking trails into one attraction.
The wildlife trail houses animals such as otters, a bobcat, hawks, deer, a groundhog and a 300-pound black bear.
"I like it because it's like an escape," said senior Carly Heyman of Marietta. "When are you going to see a bear in Athens? You don't see that every day."
Heyman said she enjoys biking on the covered walkways around the wildlife trail, then walking among the animal pens during her cool-down.
"It's always open," she said, "so you can just walk in whenever you want."
Foundry Park Inn and Spa,
295 E. Dougherty St.
At the Foundry Park Inn and Spa, even students strapped for cash can indulge, thanks to the spa's specials nearly every day of the week.
For example, Manicure Monday features two manicures for the price of one.
Two-for-One Tuesday offers the same deal with half-hour massages.
On Fridays, the spa offers a 10 percent discount on facials.
Every Sunday, the same discount applies to hot stone massages.
Besides all these specials, students always receive a 10 percent discount on spa services at Foundry Park Inn and Spa, no matter what day of the week they need pampering.
Jot 'Em Down BBQ,
150 E. Whitehall Rd.
Students seeking some southern barbecue at a reasonable price should follow the suggestion of student Mark Chilla and visit Jot 'Em Down BBQ.
"In terms of the barbecue in Athens, it is by far the best," said the senior from Alpharetta. "The Brunswick stew is second to none."
Chilla described the decor of the restaurant as "very homey" and said the restaurant's patrons can get a good barbecue meal for "well under $10."
Skate-A-Round USA,
3030 Cherokee Rd.
The roller-skating rink at Skate-A-Round USA could probably cause students to have flashbacks to childhood - the lights, the snack bar and the never-ending circles of skaters of yesteryear are all in place.
Alex Gibbs, a junior from Snellville, found the rink appealing as a fun and unique date idea.
"It's a good chance to just roll around talking to someone," he said.
However, "the music sucked," he added.
Maybe the rink still plays the music of the roller-skating heyday, as well.
Cups Coffee Cafe,
1911 Barnett Shoals Rd.
Many students mentioned Cups Coffee Cafe as a haven away from the hectic lines frequently seen in other coffee shops around Athens.
"I like going there because it's not as crowded as the downtown places, but it's still really cool and has a good atmosphere," said Whitney Snell, a sophomore from Dunwoody.
