Tamara’s guidebook to the Athens area
Food scene
Great place to grab a beer and lunch or dinner. Great people! Has an outdoor patio with Jenga, cornhole, and occ music. Try their ABC wrap and sweet potato fries, or if you are feeling brave the Lava Fries! Trivia night is Thursday at 6:30
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Athens Brewing Co
101 E Tyler StGreat place to grab a beer and lunch or dinner. Great people! Has an outdoor patio with Jenga, cornhole, and occ music. Try their ABC wrap and sweet potato fries, or if you are feeling brave the Lava Fries! Trivia night is Thursday at 6:30
Great winery run by beautiful couple! They serve mostly appetizers, but sometimes have a BYO meat night, or chili night. They have a very nice outdoor space overlooking the vineyards.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
3 P's in a Vine
955 Douglas RdGreat winery run by beautiful couple! They serve mostly appetizers, but sometimes have a BYO meat night, or chili night. They have a very nice outdoor space overlooking the vineyards.
This is a little tucked away operation that is organic, and sells to central market. The blueberries are wonderful and you can pick as much as you want and pay per pound. Very affordable!! Late May-July. Suggest going early morning, eat those beautiful berries as you pick and come home and make a blueberry pie! Not a fancy place, but great deal.
Blueberry Basket Farm
12462 FM 2588This is a little tucked away operation that is organic, and sells to central market. The blueberries are wonderful and you can pick as much as you want and pay per pound. Very affordable!! Late May-July. Suggest going early morning, eat those beautiful berries as you pick and come home and make a blueberry pie! Not a fancy place, but great deal.
Great cake, great sandwiches, fun little spot near Trinity Valley Com College!
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cherry Laurel Bakery, Cafe & Catering
305 S Prairieville StGreat cake, great sandwiches, fun little spot near Trinity Valley Com College!
Just heard that on First Monday weekends this place is packed with Dallasites ordering their famous burgers. Or any coffee request you can think of!
Callaway's Coffee & Bistro
613 S Prairieville StJust heard that on First Monday weekends this place is packed with Dallasites ordering their famous burgers. Or any coffee request you can think of!
Used to be a food truck, now a restaurant. The food truck was great fried seafood, haven't been to the restaurant yet.
WaWa's Seafood Shack
1408 East Tyler StreetUsed to be a food truck, now a restaurant. The food truck was great fried seafood, haven't been to the restaurant yet.
One of 3 Grocery stores (save-a-lot is smaller but has a butcher)
39 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Brookshire's
210 S Seven Points BlvdOne of 3 Grocery stores (save-a-lot is smaller but has a butcher)
One of 3 grocery stores all within 10-15 min away. Also has worms for the fishermen
11 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Walmart Supercenter
603 TX-243One of 3 grocery stores all within 10-15 min away. Also has worms for the fishermen
Voted one of the best restaurants by locals. Great place to eat and watch boats come in and out!
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Boathouse Bar and Grill
5401 Marina DrVoted one of the best restaurants by locals. Great place to eat and watch boats come in and out!
Twisted Root Burger Co.
Love their burgers and the pickle bar!
Sightseeing
So sorry to say it's closing for renovations August 28, 2023-spring 2025? Great place to fish (they will provide poles and bait), see the sharelunkers, an alligator, and a fabulous underwater show with narration of local fish (on hold now with covid). They also have trout fishing in spring and at the right time there's no limit.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center
5550 FM2495So sorry to say it's closing for renovations August 28, 2023-spring 2025? Great place to fish (they will provide poles and bait), see the sharelunkers, an alligator, and a fabulous underwater show with narration of local fish (on hold now with covid). They also have trout fishing in spring and at the right time there's no limit.
Nice area for jogs or walks. They have several old colonial homes that you can peer into. They also frequently have classes, exhibitions with master gardeners and or local beekeepers.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
East Texas Arboretum
1601 Patterson RdNice area for jogs or walks. They have several old colonial homes that you can peer into. They also frequently have classes, exhibitions with master gardeners and or local beekeepers.
Want to learn to scuba dive? Many folks come from DFW just to dive. They have buses, airplanes, 35 sunken wrecks, 11 diving docks, and a cool shop. It's an old clay pit so it's quite clear and we hear amazing!
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Athens Scuba Park
500 N Murchison StWant to learn to scuba dive? Many folks come from DFW just to dive. They have buses, airplanes, 35 sunken wrecks, 11 diving docks, and a cool shop. It's an old clay pit so it's quite clear and we hear amazing!
Such a nice 1800 acre lake near the Fishery. Known for it's fishing (5th in Tx for large mouth bass), but we take our boat and tubers out and have a great time. It's not a very crowded lake which is great if you want to ski, wakeboard or tube. They also have the Boathouse restaurant and bar which is very good with a nice view of the lake and cornhole.
7 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lake Athens
Such a nice 1800 acre lake near the Fishery. Known for it's fishing (5th in Tx for large mouth bass), but we take our boat and tubers out and have a great time. It's not a very crowded lake which is great if you want to ski, wakeboard or tube. They also have the Boathouse restaurant and bar which is very good with a nice view of the lake and cornhole.
It actually occurs the weekend before the first Monday of the month with Friday and Saturday being the best (closing Sunday and not open on Monday). You can spend 3 days and not see everything in these parks! Some areas are sheltered in pavilions, some are open air. The open are areas tend to be resale/antique/garage sale stuff and the pavilions are some really nice, occ leftovers from Dallas Market Hall, items and sooooo much food! Many ladies have groups that come and some vendors come from all over the US. One park has mostly animals, and the other 2 are shopping and eating.
164 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Primer Lunes Días de Comercio
800 1st Monday LnIt actually occurs the weekend before the first Monday of the month with Friday and Saturday being the best (closing Sunday and not open on Monday). You can spend 3 days and not see everything in these parks! Some areas are sheltered in pavilions, some are open air. The open are areas tend to be resale/antique/garage sale stuff and the pavilions are some really nice, occ leftovers from Dallas Market Hall, items and sooooo much food! Many ladies have groups that come and some vendors come from all over the US. One park has mostly animals, and the other 2 are shopping and eating.
Beautiful views! Nice outdoor space, and they offer dinner.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tara Vineyard & Winery
8603 Co Rd 3914Beautiful views! Nice outdoor space, and they offer dinner.
New spot that sounds really cool! 24 species of critters.
14 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rocky Ridge Drive-Thru Safari
3350 FM1256New spot that sounds really cool! 24 species of critters.
Great facility with an indoor pool, racquetball court, gym and hours to play pickle ball, all kinds of work out equipment, yoga classes, tennis court, disc golf course, lots of walking trails, and great place to fly a kite. Nonresident is about $7/day.
Cain Center Inc
915 S Palestine StGreat facility with an indoor pool, racquetball court, gym and hours to play pickle ball, all kinds of work out equipment, yoga classes, tennis court, disc golf course, lots of walking trails, and great place to fly a kite. Nonresident is about $7/day.
UT Health Athens
2000 S Palestine StThe hospital is only 10 min away in case of any emergencies.
85 Acre park with animals from all over the world!
60 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Caldwell Zoo
2203 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd85 Acre park with animals from all over the world!
About 30 min away you can zip 40 feet up from tree to tree on 6 or 9 zip tours!
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
New York, Texas ZipLine Adventures
7290 Co Rd 4328About 30 min away you can zip 40 feet up from tree to tree on 6 or 9 zip tours!
About 30 minutes away and they have the Polar Express November 19-December!
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Depósito de ferrocarril de Texas State en Palestine
789 Park Rd 70About 30 minutes away and they have the Polar Express November 19-December!
About 30 min away in Jacksonville you can drive through to see and feed zebras, emu, camels and all kinds of critters!
22 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cherokee Trace Drive-Thru Safari
1200 Co Rd 4405About 30 min away in Jacksonville you can drive through to see and feed zebras, emu, camels and all kinds of critters!
City/town information
Fun, funky little town about 35 min from Athens. They have a Hog Festival (the parade is hilarious and no telling who the "hog Queen" will be) you be the judge of the barBQ. Moore's Store and the Forge with live music and good food. Quirky little shops....cool place!
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ben Wheeler
Fun, funky little town about 35 min from Athens. They have a Hog Festival (the parade is hilarious and no telling who the "hog Queen" will be) you be the judge of the barBQ. Moore's Store and the Forge with live music and good food. Quirky little shops....cool place!
Sister city to Ben Wheeler, and full of hand made shops. Don't miss the store with birdhouses, it's near this sign. Quirkiest, coolest items ever! Great pottery store, and a wonderful restaurant "the Shed" known to have a line waiting since it's soooo good! Great Art Festivals here, usually spring and fall (one is juried) with local singers.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Edom
Sister city to Ben Wheeler, and full of hand made shops. Don't miss the store with birdhouses, it's near this sign. Quirkiest, coolest items ever! Great pottery store, and a wonderful restaurant "the Shed" known to have a line waiting since it's soooo good! Great Art Festivals here, usually spring and fall (one is juried) with local singers.
Tyler is only 40 minutes away with Caldwell Zoo which is an 85 acre accredited zoo with animals from all over the world. Rose Gardens are quite well known and beautiful. More shopping and restaurants located here also.
28 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tyler
Tyler is only 40 minutes away with Caldwell Zoo which is an 85 acre accredited zoo with animals from all over the world. Rose Gardens are quite well known and beautiful. More shopping and restaurants located here also.
entertainment
About 30 minutes away near Gun Barrel City is a small, but fun park to take go if it's a rainy day or need to do some rock climbing, laser tag, bumper cars, and go carts.
41 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Whatz-Up Family Fun Park
700 E Cedar Creek PkwyAbout 30 minutes away near Gun Barrel City is a small, but fun park to take go if it's a rainy day or need to do some rock climbing, laser tag, bumper cars, and go carts.
New dirt bike racing and park to practice in. I've heard the Texas riders are hard ones to beat!
Athens Mx Park
New dirt bike racing and park to practice in. I've heard the Texas riders are hard ones to beat!
local training
We have a great place to stay if you are thinking about taking a few courses at this well known acacdemy!
National RV Training Academy
We have a great place to stay if you are thinking about taking a few courses at this well known acacdemy!
New school for aviation training is only 10 minutes away. Come stay with us while you learn to soar!
SkySchool of East Texas
New school for aviation training is only 10 minutes away. Come stay with us while you learn to soar!
Consejos para la ciudad
No te pierdas
Local events in Athens
April-TVCC Rodeo is April 21-22
May-Old Fiddlers contest is May 25-27 on the square
July-Black-eyed Pea Jamboree July 22-23
Sept-Uncle Fletch Hamburger Festival is in sept or oct
Oct- East TX Arboretum Fall Festival and Dog Show
Dec- Christmas Parade and Holiday Market on the Square