Athens, the "Classic City," is the quintessential college town. Downtown offers amazing nightlife, with numerous clubs, bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops on every corner. Music is a cornerstone of downtown Athens, with plenty of opportunities for students to see local and nationally recognized bands. Every night, there are at least six concerts playing at various venues around town, whether they be indie rock at the 40 Watt, jam music at the Georgia Theatre, or metal at Caledonia Lounge. Athens also has a famed history of hosting super secret shows at underground music venues and house shows. A friend once said you couldn’t toss a stone in Athens without hitting a musician, and this is true—if you are looking to start a band, definitely come here. R.E.M., the B-52s, Widespread Panic, Of Montreal, MGMT, and Neutral Milk Hotel all got their start in Athens. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a town with a stronger music scene.
Students agree that bars are the place to be. They’re always packed from Thursday night to the wee hours of Sunday morning. Unlike some towns, Athens actually has enough bars to accommodate the number of partygoers living here. There are freshman bars that are a little less selective as far as fake IDs go, as well as sports bars, outdoor bars, and sophisticated, ritzy bars. Downtown is located within walking distance from the dorms, so walking to and from parties is not a problem, and no one has to drive. Taxis and student-sponsored organizations also provide transportation to and from various hotspots. Plus, if you get tired of being in a smaller town, Atlanta is about an hour away. Anything Athens doesn’t have, Atlanta definitely does.