Coming to school at Ohio University, there are plenty of things to do around Athens that will make this place home. Over the years, I have had plenty of experiences exploring Athens and all it has to offer. Here are my top 5 favorite things to do, and brag about, in Athens
- Hammocking
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One of my favorite things to do during the warmer months is hammocking. There are spaces on just about every green of campus to hammock between two trees. This can be a fun social activity to do with friends or can provide fun alone time watching a show on Netflix or spending time working on homework.
- The Ridges
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I absolutely love exploring the former Athens Lunatic Asylum, the Ridges. Seeing the Kennedy Museum that went into the main building is so cool to see, as well as the new exhibits that are on display all the time. The property is also interesting to explore as it is full of history pertaining to the old buildings and architecture, the multiple cemeteries, and nature trails. I highly recommend doing research about what happened at the Asylum either before or after exploring the Ridges to see all the good and especially the bad that patients experienced.
- Going Uptown (especially during the holiday season)
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Being able to simply walk uptown and explore is another favorite of mine. The wide variety of restaurants, stores, and things to see makes uptown so fun. It is especially beautiful when the street is decorated during the holiday season. My favorite places include Union Street Diner, the multiple coffee shops, Whit’s Frozen Custard, and seeing College Green change throughout the seasons.
- Shopping Local
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It’s not everywhere that you can shop local to benefit yourself and the community. Athen’s is full of places to shop local uptown and around town. My favorite places to shop local include Cross Court Cards & Gifts to find fun and unique presents without having to buy online and pay for shipping, the Athens Ohio Antique Mall for gifts for my family members who love antique items, as well as finding cool Athens specific antiques without having to run to eBay, Cool Digs rock shop for all of my crystal needs (great prices too!), and White’s Mill that offers local artists work and all things nature and garden that you would ever need.
- Festivals, Art Shows, and Off-Campus Adventures
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Something unique about Athens is the surrounding activities that we have the opportunity to attend. One of my favorites is the Pawpaw Festival that takes place every year in September where you’ll find all things Pawpaw, Ohio’s Native fruit. Another favorite is the art shows at the Dairy Barn Arts Center, the old dairy barn that supplied milk to the Athens Lunatic Asylum. Many of my family members love homemade, craft items, so I love to attend the Holiday Bazaar featuring a ton of local artists. This year, the 2019 Holiday Bazaar features 40 artists and runs from Friday, December 6 through Saturday, December 7. More information can be found here.