We were happy to find this historic site in the Oconee National Forrest, along the Oconee River…read more There are about seven ruin sites from a 1700s village. The sites are not marked however, and it is a little hard to tell which one is which. I highly recommend taking a picture of the map when you first arrive. Oconee River is beautiful and you can walk down to the large rocks.

I loved visiting Athens and all the experiences that came with it. I am a Georgia Bulldogs fan so I…read moreloved seeing the college town and all it had to offer. I really enjoyed how they had little bulldogs all over the place and different designs on the bulldogs. This is a fun nice college town. I will be very excited to return.

THE GOOD AND THE BAD!…read more The first time I visited Athens, (UGA and surrounding area only), I was shocked because I had expected something different. What I had imagined would be closer to Ithaca, NY and Cornell University, (cute, quaint, clean). I have since learned that UGA it is the oldest state chartered university in the country and now I understand. Let's just say, there is not a lot of modernization and growth in this area. We decided to return to explore the downtown area (during the Christmas holiday), as I had heard about great restaurants and architecture. Parking downtown was very easy and it was interesting to see so many people downtown on such a dreary Sunday. This appears to be a popular destination for eating but the Irish restaurant we most wanted to visit was actually closed today. Booo! We were disappointed but understood that many businesses were still observing the holiday break. Be mindful of this: There are a number of homeless people hanging out in the area, but they are harmless. They will not approach you and usually are sitting quietly holding signs. Unfortunately, when walking through some areas the unmistakable smell of urine permeates the air. Downtown is truly a tale of two cities, you have wonderful stores that are beautifully designed, adequately staffed and masters at customer service and you have stores that make you want to scrub and shower once you leave. There is literally something for every personality and that is what makes this a really cool destination. The coolest aspect of being downtown is just visiting the old buildings that have been lovingly restored but still retain much of their character. People are very nice and you get a real sense of southern hospitality. We are actually planning on returning to Athens because we are interested in seeing a live performance at the local theater, visiting shops that were closed during this visit and finally having that Irish meal. We are also interested in exploring the outlying areas that are now starting to expand and offer some unique shopping opportunities. Interested to see what we might encounter during our next visit.

As a firearms afficionado, I was excited to stop and see the only Double Barrel Cannon in…read moreexistence. A clever idea by a Confederate engineer but it turned out to be a complete failure. The problem, of course, is the imprecise detonation of the explosives which causes the two cannonballs to fire in different directions. According to witnesses, "[The chain shot] had a kind of circular motion, plowed up an acre of ground, tore up a cornfield, and mowed down saplings. The chain broke, the two balls going in opposite directions; one of the balls killed a cow in a distant field, while the other knocked down the chimney from a log cabin." The cannon was presented as a gift to the City of Athens and legend has it that it remains pointed to the North as a warning to the Union. There is street parking nearby. [Review 223 of 2025 - 793 in Georgia - 23787 overall]

Just off Main Street near the heart of downtown Madison, this historical marker quietly…read morecommemorates the nearby residence of a patriot who once called this area home. Though the marker still stands, it has clearly weathered the years--its surface mottled with moss and in need of some restorative care. The road here is often bustling with traffic, but visitors can find convenient parking in the lot adjacent to the Cultural Center, making it easier to stop and reflect on the legacy preserved in this modest sign It reads, "Joshua Hill, noted Georgian of the Civil War and Reconstruction, was born in 1812 in the Abbeville District, S.C. He studied law and come to Ga. to practice, settling in Madison after living in Monticello for a time. Having strong Whig and Unionist principles, he was drawn into the American or Know-Nothing party when the Whig party in Ga. collapsed and was elected to Congress in 1856, defeating Linton Stephens. An outspoken opponent of secession, Hill resigned his seat in 1861 rather than withdraw with the other members of the Ga. delegation. In 1863 he made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship. "After the war, Hill participated actively in the work of Reconstruction as a member of the constitutional convention of 1865 and as a U.S. Senator. Elected to the Senate in 1868, he qualified in 1871 and served until 1873. Although he entered Republic party and supported Radical Reconstruction, he never lost the respect and admiration of the people of Ga. "When his term ended in 1873, Hill retired from politics, coming out of retirement only to take part in the constitutional convention of 1877. He died in 1891 and is buried in Madison" This is officially designated as marker number 104-1, and it was placed here in 1963 by the Georgia Historical Commission to honor Hill's contributions and preserve his story for future generations. [Review 1299 of 2025 - 847 in Georgia - 24851 overall]

This marker is along US-29 (Business) that parallels the railroad between Athens and Atlanta. The…read moremarker is on the south side of the road and while there isn't parking, there is room to pull over and leave your car for a moment to read the marker and admire the home. The home is private property so please respect that. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "The Russell House was built in 1912 by Richard Brevard Russell, Sr., (B. 1861 - D. 1938), and his wife, Ina Dillard, (B. 1868 - D. 1953), who were married June 24, 1891. Fifteen children were born of this marriage. Judge Russell was elected Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Georgia in 1922, and served in this capacity until his death. Mrs. Russell was Georgia's Mother of the year in 1950. In 1954, the late Senator Richard B. Russell, Jr., the oldest son, became the owner of the house and made it his home until his death in 1971. Russell Memorial Park and Cemetery is located to the South of the house." The marker was erected in 1977 by the Winder Lions Club & Auxiliary. [Review 230 of 2025 - 799 in Georgia - 23794 overall]

This bridge is a hot mess!…read more It has been poorly maintained, which just breaks my heart. I could hear it creaking under the stress of my weight as I walked through, being careful not to step on missing or decayed floor boards. Some so decayed I could see the ground below them. I certainly hope the County of Oglethorpe has plans to renovate this amazing 1840's structure. It was repaired in 1998 according to some sources, but needs a massive overhaul in my opinion. If this bridge were human, it would be in need of life support. Loosing this piece of history would be a real shame. Howard's Bridge (aka Big Clouds Creek Bridge) has the privilege of being part of the legacy that was and is Horace King. If you've read my other covered bridge reviews you have been introduced to Horace by now. But if not, just know he was a slave of African American and Indian descent whom won his freedom due to his excellent engineering skills. A skill he passed onto his sons, to which the eldest (Washington King) took a lead part in building this bridge. According to reports, this bridge has the longest main span of any of the current surviving bridges in Georgia @ 252.5 feet. Sometime in the past few decades the bridge was fitted with a central support pier, thus giving Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge the title for longest unsupported span. FINAL THOUGHT I have a list of all the bridges in Georgia that once existed on record. So far I have visited two empty sights where these covered bridges once stood. They were victims of vandals and neglect. All that remains of them are toppled stone foundations and abandoned creek shores once active with passer's by. Please Oglethorpe County; don't let this important piece of history fall by the wayside. We have less than 18 remaining and they need and deserve protection and restoration for this generation and the ones to come.

We went to sign up for Medicare. I had heard so many horror stories about what an ordeal it was to…read morego to any social security office. It opened at 9:00 am and we were in a line of maybe 8 people and other folks trickled in as we waited. When you go into the office there is a kiosk for you to sign in and to indicate why you are there. You can make an appt prior to your visit for many things but not enrolling in Medicare. You are issued a number that pops out of the kiosk and you wait to be called. Apparently your number correlates with the type of service you require. We probably waited 15-18 minutes and then were called up to a booth. The young man assisting us was very professional and polite. It all went very smoothly . I would recommend this location.

I am applying of SS benefit's this year and I could not find the answer to two important questions…read morethat I had anywhere on the website. I called the Winder SS office and after a short wait I was connected with fantastic agent named Alexa who was able to provide me with the answers that I needed. What a great experience!!

There is a dress code in order to eat here (orange or blue jumpsuit) however a white jumpsuit is…read morepreffered. The food was awful (especially the breakfast shank), the staff were a**holes and the people at our table kept trying to steal my wife's food. Also the waiter serving our trays kept staring at me while licking his lips and a guy seated next to our table was stabbed to death. I left a honeybun as a tip, but all in all it was a bad experience.

Echoing the previous review, the food wasn't stellar, but the ambience is bold and a refreshing…read moretake on fine dining. In fact, some have begun to call it "crime dining". These chefs are breaking all the rules and redefining the convict-ional dining experience. I expect this place to break-out and become a well-known institution in the Athens food scene.