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Serene spots in Athens

Escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown at one of these serene spots in Athens. Whether you need a weekend to relax or just a quick break to breathe, these gardens, parks, and outdoor spaces will help you stay calm, cool, and collected all while taking in some of Athens' most unique attractions.

Founders Memorial Garden

In 1891, America's first garden club was born right here in Athens, GA. The Founders Memorial Garden on the University of Georgia's campus was created in the mid-1930s to commemorate this organization. This small, but enchanting garden features hidden walkways with luscious greenery making it seem as though you have stepped out of Athens and into a fairy tale land. Take a seat beside the flowing fountain and colorful flowers and relish in the beauty of the garden.

North Oconee River Greenway

Break out your bike or throw on your walking shoes and spend an afternoon outdoors at the North Oconee River Greenway. Take a leisurely stroll through the paved walkways with tall trees hanging overhead. If you have kids who keep you on your toes, this is the perfect place to unwind while still letting them play, or at least for them to get out some energy so you have more time to relax later. They will love riding their bikes down the off-road trail just as much as you will. If the Greenway sounds like your ideal way to decompress, check out more parks and outdoor spaces to visit in Athens.

State Botanical Garden of Georgia

Wander through any of the 313 - acres of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia for a guaranteed relaxing way to spend your day. With five gardens, a trail, and a greenhouse, it's easy to see why the botanical garden makes you feel as though you've been transported a world away from work and all other stressors in your life. Bring the kids along to check out the new Alice H. Richards Children's Garden, a two and a half acre outdoor space featuring themed gardens and play areas.

UGA's North Campus

Need a second away from the noise of downtown Athens? Just walk across Broad St. to UGA's North Campus! Historic buildings dating as early as 1805 surround the large amount of green space, making it a peaceful escape from the quick-pace of the world around it. No matter the time of year you find yourself in Athens, the lawn of North Campus is a dreamy area to unwind and take in the sites and sounds of UGA. North Campus is also the home of UGA's original football and baseball field, Herty Field. This field and its accompanying fountain are popular on-campus spots to sit out in the sun or to snap an Instagram-worthy photo.

Oconee Forest Park

Did you know the largest scarlet oak tree in Georgia is located in Athens? That's right, this record-holding tree can be found in the Oconee Forest Park. See if you can spot it as you venture through the walking trail, part of the 60-acre natural area that the park offers. If you'd rather sit still and take in the scenery, grab a book from one of Athens' bookshops and find a seat near the 15-acre lake, Lake Herrick. This peaceful park can be accessed through the UGA Intramural Fields.

UGA Trial Gardens

In the middle of all the action on the University of Georgia's campus sits the UGA Trial Gardens, where greenery has been growing since 1982. See what plants make the cut to be labeled "Athens Select" and sold in garden centers around the country. Purchase some plants to bring home at their annual Plantapalooza Plant Sale in April. The Trial Gardens are open to the public year-round at no admission charge. Be sure to stop by in June for their family-friendly annual open house. When relaxing at any of these serene spots, be sure to tag your photos with #VisitAthensGA and #AthensGA for a chance to be featured on our social media.

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Check Out These 13 Big Events Coming Up Near Athens

The Drifters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters & The Platters, Georgia Bulldogs vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish and more are headed to a venue near you.

ATHENS, GA — New and exciting events are coming to the Athens area all the time. Whether you're looking to attend a concert or sporting event, theater performance or magic show, Patch's partnership with TicketNetwork has you covered. Here's your weekly roundup of the top big-name events coming up near you.

Want to check out more great events in your area? Click here to find local tickets. (Pro tip: Enter the promo code "PatchTickets10" at checkout to get 10 percent off!)

CONCERTS | 50s / 60s ERA

The Drifters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters & The Platters

When: Thursday, Jun 20, 2019 | 7:30 pm

Where: Classic Center Theatre, Athens, GA

Price: $63 and up

108 tickets remaining

SPORTS | FOOTBALL

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

When: Saturday, Sep 21, 2019 | 3:30 am

Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA

Price: $379 and up

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Athens entrepreneurs get business help at state chamber event

Small business owners and Athens area entrepreneurs received some instruction Thursday from successful executives eager to share their insight.

The New Georgia Economy Series hosted by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and held at the University of Georgia Tate Student Center included panels on cyber security, social media marketing, finding funding and other topics to contribute to the success of small businesses. The program was inspired by a survey the Georgia Chamber conducted among its members.

“Everything changes so quickly now in the business world,” said Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber. “Human knowledge doubles every 12 months. Soon, that’ll be twice a day. How does a small business keep up? So we thought, ‘Let’s bring in the experts to help people better understand how to do this.’”

Approximately 120 people attended the event that also will take place in five other Georgia cities.

Panels featured success stories from local startups, including Fire and Flavor, Lil’ Ice Cream Dude and Athensmade.

The panelists agreed that relationships were a key factor in their success, whether it be relationships with schools that will produce quality employees, mentorships or connecting with customers and employees.

Beau Shell is the 14-year-old founder of Lil’ Ice Cream Dude. He started the business in 2012.

Soon he’ll open Lil’s ice Cream Dude’s first brick-and-mortar location.

Shell attributes his success to his parents and his many business, finance and spiritual mentors. He said his parents supported him since day one; his mom is a marketing teacher and his dad shares things he learns from attending business workshops.

“My dad always brings really big ‘gold nuggets’ to me, even if I don’t listen to him the first time,” said Shell.

Davis Knox and his wife started Fire and Flavor in 2003 hoping to simplify grilling. Since then, they have released two cookbooks and been listed on Inc. Magazine’s Top 50 Fastest Growing Businesses.

Davis says that valuing relationships with his retailers has contributed to Fire and Flavor’s success. He tries to be the first to tell his retailers if a product is not selling well enough, so that they can take it off their shelves.

“We’ve learned that relationships with retailers are really built around transparency,” said Davis.

Tiffany Rainey is the executive director of Athensmade, a local organization that helps new businesses find the resources they need to prosper. Rainey believes that the three biggest hurdles that new businesses face are finding startup capital, reaching customers and finding suppliers.

“The one thing I find interesting about all three of those is that one person is usually not an expert at all three of those at the same time,” said Rainey. “It’s about five different people you need to help you. The other thing is that all three are about people.