This local attraction is a curiosity in that some professor deeded the land surrounding to the tree…read moreitself as a sort of thought experiment. This is kind of silly, but it hearkens back to the purpose of having colleges and college towns in the first place, which is doing thought experiments. It's on a residential street in a cramped, historic neighborhood. All the surrounding houses are private properties, so there's not much to see here. You can just walk by and ponder whether trees can actually have property rights.

It's a tree that was planted with love and desire. A must…read moresee if you are in Athens. The Tree That Owns Itself is a white oak tree that, according to legend, has legal ownership of itself and of all land within eight feet of its base. Also known as the Jackson Oak, the tree is at the corner of South Finley and Dearing Streets in Athens, Georgia, US. The earliest-known telling of the tree's story comes from "Deeded to Itself", a front-page article in the Athens Weekly Banner on August 12, 1890. The article explains that the tree had been located on the property of Colonel William Henry Jackson.[1] William Jackson was the son of James Jackson, a soldier in the American Revolution as well as a Congressman, US Senator, and Governor of Georgia, and the father of another James Jackson, a Congressman and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. He was the brother of Jabez Young Jackson, also a Congressman. William Jackson was reportedly a professor at the University of Georgia and is sometimes mentioned with the title of Doctor. The nature of his military service and the source of the title Colonel are unknown.] Jackson supposedly cherished childhood memories of the tree, and, desiring to protect it, deeded to it the ownership of itself and its surrounding land. By various accounts, this transaction took place between 1820 and 1832. **THE TREE IS NEXT TO A PRIVATE HOME AND PRIVATE DRIVE PLEASE DO NOT PARK**

Today I was driving through Athens, Georgia when I can across a strange but beautiful sight. It was…read morean old wooden railroad trestle that seemed to suddenly and abruptly stop in a field along Poplar Street. Being the curious soul that I am, I stopped to take a few pictures and marked my location on my GPS so I could use it to create a yelp page later if I found the trestle to be of any historic significance. My hunch was right, it is indeed significant. I discovered this trestle was once part of the CSX railroad system that connected Athens to Atlanta and the world. CSX offered the old decaying rail system to the city, but city officials declined and in the year 2000, CSX began demolition of the old trestle. However, the mayor underestimated just how important this piece of history was not only to Athens, but the music world as well. You see, the 1980's band R.E.M. used this particular trestle as the cover photo for their 1983 album titled Murmur. It was Rolling Stones "Album of the Year". The band was from Athens, GA and the album cover as well as the trestle itself had become iconic to the bands fans around the world. Protests over the demolition of the trestle broke out and forced the city to negotiate with CSX to halt demolition of the structure. Unfortunately much of the trestle had already been destroyed, but thankfully a major portion of it was saved. I hear the city has plans to use it as a tourist attraction, but in the meantime it stands untouched since demolition halted. Still, it is a gorgeous site that presents unique and rustic photo opportunities. You can still see the concrete base for the trestle that once went over Poplar Street. Use the entrance to the North Oconee River Greenway Trail just behind Mama's Boy restaurant (on the corner of Oak and Poplar) to view the remaining concrete pillars where the railroad continued across the Oconee River. R.E.M album cover (front) - http://sleevage.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/5561106c734c1008ba3262ce25a4d915.jpg R.E.M album cover (rear) - http://www.caratulas.com/caratulas/R/rem/rem-murmur-Trasera.jpg R.E.M full album - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8FbkyyuqG0 FINAL THOUGHTS I had a good feeling this structure had to be of some significance and I'm so glad I stopped to investigate. If you are fond of old bridges like I am, Athens has a treasure trove of 1800's covered bridges within a 30 minute drive of this location. It would make a great lazy Sunday afternoon drive! Be sure to bring your camera :-) Covered Bridges within 1/2 hour to 45 minute drive: Elder's Mill Watson Mill Bridge Cromer's Mill Covered Bridge Howard's Covered Bridge Enjoy!

Richard's excellent review covers all everything and I have little to add. This beautiful bridge is…read morestill in excellent condition, six years later and I had no problem accessing it from either side. It appears that some care has been taken to clear brush since his visit. The bridge has been added to the National Register of Historic Places and the application form gives a little bit of information. "Construction is of the Town Lattice design and the wood is rough sawn heart pine. The diagonals are made of 3 x 10 inch timbers and each is numbered indicating its - place in the truss. This was a common practice to ease assembly. There are two pins at each intersection. There are two lower chords and one upper chord, each made of 3 x 10 inch timbers, doubled. The floor sills are 4 x 12 inches in size and placed about six-feet apart. The floor joists are made of 3 x 6 inch planks with a longitudinal runner of the same size boards to provide a smooth surface for traffic and to minimize wear on the floor." It continues, "There are no visible ruins of the Comer's Mill complex within 800 yards of the Bridge. A 1910 map of Franklin County does indicate the presence of a mill near the Bridge. The area of the historic site will include the mill site as shown by the 1910 map. " The posted historical marker reads, "The Cromers settled on Nails Creek in Franklin County in 1845. Prior to the Civil War, the family operated a woolen mill near this site. Subsequently, the area maintained a cotton gin, flour mill and saw mill, though all operations had ceased by 1943. In 1907, the county contracted with James M. Hunt to build the present 110-foot bridge. Constructed in the Town lattice design, the bridge's web of planks crisscrossing at 45-to 60-degree angles are fastened with wooden pegs, or trunnels, at each intersection. Will Cromer, a descendant of the original family, built the stone abutments." It is, of course, closed to vehicular traffic but pedestrians are welcome. There are no facilities or even a picnic table here. [Review 13638 overall, 957 of 2020, number 329 in Georgia.]

Built in 1906 with the Town lattice truss design, the gravel road to this relic is near the…read moreintersection of Cromers Bridge Road and Hwy 106 (Allou Rd). Once you are on Cromers Bridge Road, Baker's Street (which looks like a driveway) will be on your immediate right. I searched but could not find much information about this bridge other than it's builder was J. M. 'Pink' Hunt. Hunt most likely employed the skills of Washington King to help him complete the project. Washington is the eldest son of former slave and bridge builder Horace King. Horace Kings story is one you don't really see in the history books, but worth getting to know. I have links to stories about his life in my Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge review. This bridge no longer allows traffic to cross it's aged planks, but still seems very sturdy. The gravel road is starting to grow in, so it probably won't be very many more years before it is inaccessible. The bridge itself is 110 feet long. Add-in the approaches on both ends and the official length is 132 feet. The Historical Society Marker reads as follows: "The Cromers settled on Nails Creek in Franklin County in 1845. Prior to the Civil War, the family operated a woolen mill near this site. Subsequently, the area maintained a cotton gin, flour mill, and saw mill, though all operations has ceased by 1943. In 1907, the county contracted James M. Hunt to build the present 110-foot bridge. Constructed in the Town lattice design, the bridge's web of planks crisscrossing at 45 to 60-degree angles are fastened with wooden pegs, or trunnels, at each intersection. Will Cromer, a descendant of the original family, built the stone abutments." FINAL THOUGHTS I love history and I love covered bridges. Something about them hints at the secrets of a bygone era. It leaves my mind to wonder what kinds of things this bridge has seen and what would it say if it could tell a story. Please, if you decide to pay this landmark a visit, be respectful. There is a sign on the opposite side that reads: "This property is owned by the Farmer Family. Please show your respect by not littering, damaging or destroying their property." Enjoy!

Definitely a unique experience! The Stumphaus Tunnel is an unfinished tunnel in Walhalla, SC, ,…read morecut through a portion of Stumphaus Mountain. It was started in 1853 and Irish miners dug using hand drills; however it was never finished due in part to the Civil War. All ages can easily walk the tunnel. There was even a dog in the group ahead of us. It is completely black inside so I suggest visiting with a group and bringing a flashlight. There was nothing scary......just total darkness! It's not super long......walking all the way to the end and back took less than 30 minutes. Admission to the park was $5 for a car of 5 of us and there was free parking right near the entrance. We also walked to the viewing area of Issaqueena Falls which is just a short trek away. Very cool experience overall!

The tunnel is cool, but very short. The trails make up for it and the waterfalls are a great sight…read more No wait time, no reservations recommended, price to entry $1-5. But make sure you have a flashlight with you to go into the tunnels and the waterfalls is so pretty. I recommend this to anyone who want to adventure.

The Taylor-Grady House is a beautifully constructed colonial home in Athens and a perfect venue for…read morea ceremony or wedding. I attended the House for a wedding which was hosted outside on the lawn just by the gardens. Following the ceremony, we were able to go inside the house and on the porch for a cocktail hour and proceeded to our tables under tents in the back. There is a nice brick area that serves as a dance floor and plenty of space for tables and food.

Taylor-Grady house is one of the 4 house museums in Athens. If you're new to town or just visiting…read moreit's a wonderful stop on your way to Sanford Stadium.

I love that this bridge is open to traffic! It is rated for enough weight that my Sprinter van…read morecould cross and the bridge has enough clearance that I could fit in. The Elder Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1897 by Nathaniel Richardson. It is a Town lattice design with the planks connected with wooden pegs. It is one of the few covered bridges in Georgia continuing to carry traffic without underlying steel beams. It is possible to get to the side of the bridge and get some great pictures. I love this bridge! (Note that some of the approach road is only hard packed dirt. I was okay with it but your vehicle may have issues.) [Review 18057 overall - 532 in Georgia - 1578 of 2022.]

I happened to be dining at a restaurant in Watkinsville and noticed they were selling a magnet with…read morea picture of a covered bridge. When I inquired about it, I was surprised to learn that the Elder Mill Covered Bridge was nearby and still functioning as a working bridge. I was delighted to find more information about it on Yelp and decided to take a spontaneous outing to see this historic structure. The bridge is on a back country road. The road narrows as you approach the one-lane bridge. There is no where to pull off the road on this side of the bridge. Slow down to read the signs. There is a five ton weight limit. Your vehicle needs to be able to clear the metal structure before you drive through. It will prevent you from damaging the bridge (and your vehicle). You are supposedly on video surveillance, so don't block the private driveway and don't trespass the private land surrounding the bridge. Once you drive through to the other side, you can pull off on the paved strip on the side of the road. Feel free to get out of your vehicle to read the historic marker and take a few pictures. You can even walk across the bridge if you want to see the internal support beam structure. It is remarkable that this bridge is still in working order considering it was built in 1897. The wooden beams have obviously been updated and maintained to keep the bridge in working order, but there are no steel support beams and it is fastened with wooden pegs also called trunnels (or treenails). It is a work of art and definitely worth the 10 minute visit if you happen to be in the area.

Beautiful example of a southern plantation house. The house and grounds have a rich history. Our…read moretour guide was very knowledgeable and gave interesting details as we went through each room. Pictures are not allowed inside the house. Some families that once lived here donated furniture that was in the house at the time. The pieces of furniture and accents are gorgeous! The design of some of the tables and even some door hinges was ingenious. This is well worth the stop if you're nearby!

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.

We drove to the Mule Day Festival at Calloway Plantation on a whim and we had a great time. The…read morehome was open for tours and there were lots of craftspeople demonstrating lost arts from years gone by. This suburban girl really enjoyed seeing the mules too!!

While driving Hwy 78 from Athens, GA to Augusta, Ga I was looking for a tourist stop. My GPS found…read moreme the Callaway Plantation. Has 56 Acres of History. Modest cost of $4.00 with a docent to talk about the history of the plantation. Has picnic grounds available so take your time.

CHIEF WHITE PATH'S CABIN FIASCO!…read more The was to be the icing on the cake, the site that I was most interested to see while in Gainsville, but thanks to Brenau University, my experience was ruined. First let me give you a bit of history regarding this cabin: This cabin (built in 1780 near Ellijay), belonged to Cherokee Indian Chief White Path. He fought, (unsuccessfully) to prevent the takeover of land from the Cherokee and was a leader on the "Trail of Tears". In the land lottery of 1832 the cabin and the land it was on was awarded to the Pinson family who were white settlers. In 1995 under the direction of Counte Cooley, a descendent of White Path, the cabin was moved to it's current location, which is on the edge of a parking lot and flanked by a brick monstrosity of a museum. What were they thinking??? This is a hot mess and if I used expletives, I would insert one here because it would so reflect how I feel. This historical cabin deserves to be in a natural setting, for goodness sakes! IT'S A CABIN!!!! As it stands, the cabin is attached to the Northeast Georgia History Center which is a part of Brenau University. You can't access the cabin without going through the history center. When I realized this, I wanted to scream. I should have realized that something was amiss when I noticed the address: 403 Brenau. MMMMHMM! This cabin in not at all what I expected and since it was hidden behind a fence and trees, I was not confident that it would provide the historical experience I expected. Therefore, my husband and I chose not to take the tour.

We had a wonderful time at Chief White Path's Cabin! It's was so educational! Our Children loved it…read moreand learned so much. I would definitely recommend anyone to make this a must see attraction when visiting Gainesville!