As I have barely survived my first few weeks of college, I realized that my laziness has hit its limit. Enough is enough. Before I came to the University of Georgia, people couldn't tell me enough about how much they loved the town of Athens. They would list off endless amounts of restaurants, bars, music venues, coffee shops, and hiking spots. Those were the kind of things I was looking forward to in college. So, here is my first attempt at exploring some of the hidden gems in Athens...

1. Redneck Beach

Located about 10 minutes away from the heart of downtown Athens, Redneck Beach is home to a sweet waterfall, swimming hole and rope swing. I heard about Redneck Beach through one of my really good friends, who takes his puppy there to swim regularly. Being from Atlanta, where the Chattahoochee River runs, I am used to secret swimming spots hidden around, so Redneck Beach makes me feel right at home. We are in prime Redneck Beach months, so I better get a move on it and head over.

2. Bear Hollow Zoo

Attempting to stay outside as much as I can during the beautiful fall months, another spot I would like to visit is the zoo. Many of my friends have gone and said they were so surprised by the variety of animals. Among their residents are not only bears, but also bobcats, deer, otters, owls, a bald eagle and 120 other species of animals. I can’t wait to check it out!

3. 40 Watt Club

I have wanted to see a show at the 40 Watt Club, a music venue in downtown Athens, for quit some time now. A friend of mine that graduated from UGA a few years ago, wrote an in-depth article about the history of the 40 Watt Club and its impact on music in Athens. Ever since I read that Widespread Panic and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers performed on that stage, I have been itching to go. Hopefully, I will wander in at some point over the next few weeks.

4. Ben Burton Park

Similar to Redneck Beach, my same friend also told me about Ben Burton Park, which is a local park with a river and is a great place to run with your dog. As you may be able to tell, I love the outdoors and I am always game for any park or hiking opportunity you throw my way. Hopefully next time I update my bucket list, there will be some prime camping spots on there too!

5. The Iron Horse

The Iron Horse is an abstract horse sculpture that was made for UGA’s campus in 1954. However, it was moved to a remote field in Oconee County when the people of Athens thought it looked satanic in the ‘50s. I, personally, have always loved scary movies and ghost stories, so this is right up my alley. Apparently, its really great to go around sunset because the sun sets right behind the Iron Horse, setting up a #Instaready photo op.