Memorial Park and Bear Hollow

  • Where: 293 Gran Ellen Dr., Athens, GA 30606
  • What: Bear Hollow Zoo and Memorial Park are facilities of the ACC Leisure Services Department. Memorial Park is open from 8:00 a.m. to sunset on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to sunset on weekends and holidays. Bear Hollow Zoo is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

Bear Hollow Zoo is a popular place for families to come and see Georgia.s native wildlife. Every Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the exhibit hall is open to the public, featuring projects for younger visitors and live animals to see and touch.

Sandy Creek Nature Center

  • Where: 205 Old Commerce Rd., Athens, GA 30607
  • What: Featuring 225 acres of woodlands and wetlands, the Sandy Creek Nature Center is a gateway to outdoor exploration. More than 4 miles of trails and an ADA interpretive trail are available with connections to the North Oconee River Greenway and Cook's Trail.

The SPLOST-funded ENSAT Interpretive Center includes live reptiles, amphibians, marine and freshwater aquariums, interactive natural history exhibits, and an incredible resource library all housed in an eco-friendly building. There is also a circa 1815 Log House and several wildlife observation areas on site.

Sandy Creek Park

  • Where: 400 Bob Holman Rd., Athens, GA 30607
  • What: There is a $2 park entry fee per person for ages 4-64. 3 and under, and 65 and older are free. Disc golf is an extra $1 per person. Enjoy outdoor recreation in a beautiful setting. This 782-acre park surrounds 260-acre Lake Chapman and offers a variety of activities throughout the year.

State Botanical Garden

  • Where: 2450 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia
  • What: The Garden grounds are open daily 8:00 am to 6:00 pm October-March, and 8:00 am to 8:00 pm April-September, except University of Georgia holidays. The State Botanical Garden of Georgia is 313 acres in size. The majority of that land is in a natural state, with only a small, central portion being developed into display gardens and facilities. The Garden currently maintains approximately 5 miles of hiking trails. These trails, though maintained, still have an element of ruggedness.

World of Wonder Community Playground

  • Where: 4440 Lexington Rd., Athens, Georgia
  • What: This unique playground, located on the Whit Davis entrance to Southeast Clarke Park, was constructed in 2004 by 1,500 volunteers. It is the largest volunteer built playground in the state of Georgia.The area includes elevated walkways and climbing structures providing children a view of the park from above. The Tot Lot especially for children ages 2 to 5, includes swings. Castle Towers flank either side of the entrance to the World of Wonder Playground. The playground is open Monday-Friday at 8:00 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday at 9:00 a.m.

Athens YMCA

  • Where: 915 Hawthorne Ave., Athens, Georgia
  • What: The YMCA is a community organization with bases all around the U.S. The facility in Athens offers members three gymnasiums, two pools, racquetball courts, child watch, aerobics room, and much more. It also offers a variety of programs directed towards youth and families.

Big Dogs on the River

  • Where: 2525 Atlanta Highway, Athens, Georgia
  • What: Big Dogs offers one of the only in-town kayak tours of the Oconee River. A bus shuttle will take you and your friends and family for a 15-minute ride upstream where you will be dropped up with a kayak and paddles provided for you. From here you are free to paddle back at your own pace and enjoy the river and challenge yourself on the shoals.

Founders Memorial Garden

  • Where: Located on UGA.s north campus
  • What: The Founders Garden is a museum of landscape design located on UGA.s North Campus. It is maintained by UGA.s garden club and encompasses two acres of courtyards, boxwood, a retrace, perennial garden and an arbor.

North Oconee Greenway

  • Where: There are multiple access points to the Greenway throughout Athens.
  • What: The Greenway is a linear park system that provides wildlife corridors, open spaces and a family friendly multi use path for the public's enjoyment. Currently, the North Oconee River Greenway provides 3.75 miles of concrete path that is designated for non-motorized use. Open sunrise to sunset.

Oconee Forest Park

  • Where: Located at the Intramural Fields on UGA.s Campus
  • What: Oconee Forest Park has over 1.5 miles of hiking trails. The trails guide the hiker through the 100-year-old oak-hickory forest, along the Lake Herrick shore, and into open areas of landscaped lawn. There are off-leash dog areas, bike paths, and a sparkling lake to picnic at.