College Football time is here.  We are all going to be traveling to College Town, USA at some point this season, where we will fall back into our old school days of college bars and tailgate parties.  What if you want to make a long weekend out of it?  What if you are at the point in your life where the wife is not going to let you go on “Frat Boy Weekend” without the family in tow?

No worries, we are here with things to do Beyond the Tailgate.  Every week we’ll pick a big game and go through the hosting town with a fine-tooth comb to find out what else there is to do after the game is gone and the college bros have gone home. 

We will take a couple of assumptions into play here.  1. You may or may not be a fan of the home team, so football-related activities (unless totally and completely awesome) are out. i.e no tours of the college, college bars to pregame at, where the cheapest case of Natty Light is located.  2. You are there for more than a day as some of these towns literally shut down on game day and these attractions may or not be open at that point (shouldn’t you be at the game anyway?).

This week we’re going to the heart of the SEC with Clemson visiting Georgia in Athens, GA.  Weather will still be beautiful for the beginning of the football season, so don’t worry too much about bundling up yet.  Rain certainly rears its ugly head plenty enough however, so be prepared. 

The State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Although technically part of the University of Georgia, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia is representative of more than just the area with a “number of specialized (theme) gardens and collections, over five miles of nature trails, and four major facilities including a tropical conservatory.”

The nature trails were created with all levels of hiking in mind and share river frontage as well as great views. They even have a QR code program with codes scattered throughout the gardens which can be scanned so that you can take information home about your favorite plants.  They are sorted into three groups: Growing Tips, Usage Tips and Learn More Tips.

Terrapin Beer Co.

You didn’t think I was going to miss this one, did you?  Terrapin Beer Co. has been brewing up craft beer since 2002 in Athens and is well worth the trip. They offer brewery tours and (more importantly) tastings from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday – Saturday with family and pet friendly activities and live music.  They allow you to bring your own food and seats in; my recommendation is there is no better place for a picnic! 

They have recently come out with their first West Coast IPA – Hi-5 IPA and it is fantastic.  In most of the places near me, they can’t even keep this one in stock.  Super Session-able, clean finish and be really careful, these go down so easy, at 5.9 percent ABV, these will knock you down as easily as you knock them back.

Mama’s Boy      

Now I know that I promised not to recommend anything football-based, and I swear that just because this is a diner, does not mean that I am mentioning it because it is a hangover remedy (although it is).  They have continually been voted the best breakfast and brunch in Athens and they ain’t just whistling Dixie. 

The biscuits are made in-house and were voted by Southern Living as one of the best of the south.  They have all your traditional standbys for brunch and even some unique plates like salmon cakes benedict and tofu stir-fry.  And like any good Southern restaurant, they serve up fried green tomatoes, biscuits and gravy, and a grilled pimento cheese sandwich.

Wuxtry Records

Yeah, baby.  In the town that plays home to the B-52s, REM and Widespread Panic you have to include the obligatory vintage vinyl shop.  Wuxtry has been buying and selling records since 1976.  They trade, buy and sell vinyl and have all the music that’s fit to press.  Part music store, part museum, this is a must-see place of entertainment.  If you are reading this and don’t know what Stax of Wax are, get your butt to Wuxtry, like now, dude.

Athens is the place to be, whether or not the big game is going on up there.  What I don’t have the room to tell you about here is the fantastic music venues, the great James Beard Award-winning chefs’ restaurants and the totally great vibe the folks have.  Get there are get back to me on it.  You won’t regret this trip.  Hard for me to say this as a Vols fan, but go Dawgs.