Gretchen's Guidebook
Sightseeing
Athens is an eclectic college town with breweries, restaurants, a robust nightlife, and is conveniently located next to Stroud’s Run State Park and Bailey’s Trail System. Watch an OU football game at Peden Stadium or mountain bike on the Thunderbunny Trail by day and enjoy the food and nightlife afterwards.
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Athens
Athens is an eclectic college town with breweries, restaurants, a robust nightlife, and is conveniently located next to Stroud’s Run State Park and Bailey’s Trail System. Watch an OU football game at Peden Stadium or mountain bike on the Thunderbunny Trail by day and enjoy the food and nightlife afterwards.
Ohio University is the heart of the city, and we love football games and events.
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Ohio University
Ohio University is the heart of the city, and we love football games and events.
We love the hiking trails at Strouds. The trail system is so robust that it connects to Sells Park in Athens and the bike path that runs along State Street. It isn’t crowded, so you can enjoy the fall colors and take in nature’s splendor and escape from everyday living. Enjoy the beach area, or rent a canoe, kayak, or pontoon boat from the boathouse. There’s a second more remote beach area on the east side of the lake that’s only accessible by hiking or boating. Take the kids to the playground at the Stroud’s Run Campground on State Park Road.
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Parco Statale di Strouds Run
11661 State Park RdWe love the hiking trails at Strouds. The trail system is so robust that it connects to Sells Park in Athens and the bike path that runs along State Street. It isn’t crowded, so you can enjoy the fall colors and take in nature’s splendor and escape from everyday living. Enjoy the beach area, or rent a canoe, kayak, or pontoon boat from the boathouse. There’s a second more remote beach area on the east side of the lake that’s only accessible by hiking or boating. Take the kids to the playground at the Stroud’s Run Campground on State Park Road.
This scenic bike path runs along the Hocking River and State Street, through Ohio University’s campus, to Eclipse and Nelsonville. Our favorite places to connect are by the soccer fields accessible from the Walmart parking lot, the Athens Community Centrr, and Peden Stadium. https://www.traillink.com/trail/hockhocking-adena-bikeway/
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Hockhocking Adena Bikeway
Hockhocking Adena BikewayThis scenic bike path runs along the Hocking River and State Street, through Ohio University’s campus, to Eclipse and Nelsonville. Our favorite places to connect are by the soccer fields accessible from the Walmart parking lot, the Athens Community Centrr, and Peden Stadium. https://www.traillink.com/trail/hockhocking-adena-bikeway/
This is a new trail system that was developed with mountain bikes in mind. Several trails enable everyone from beginners to advanced levels to be challenged. More info: https://baileystrailsystem.org/
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Baileys Trail System
8389 W Bailey RdThis is a new trail system that was developed with mountain bikes in mind. Several trails enable everyone from beginners to advanced levels to be challenged. More info: https://baileystrailsystem.org/
It’s a half hour drive to Logan and the Hocking Hills are just beyond. Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave are favorites for first-time visitors. The Ash Cave lower trail is accessible and great for strollers and wheelchairs.
Parco Statale di Hocking Hills
It’s a half hour drive to Logan and the Hocking Hills are just beyond. Old Man’s Cave and Ash Cave are favorites for first-time visitors. The Ash Cave lower trail is accessible and great for strollers and wheelchairs.
Food scene
The largest farmer’s market in Ohio meets every Saturday and Wednesday from 9 to noon, and is a must see. A couple times a year the market also features an artist’s market. Find vegetables and eggs, jams and honey, pies, cheese, meat and more from nearby farms that are chemical free or certified organic.
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Athens Farmers Market
701 E State StThe largest farmer’s market in Ohio meets every Saturday and Wednesday from 9 to noon, and is a must see. A couple times a year the market also features an artist’s market. Find vegetables and eggs, jams and honey, pies, cheese, meat and more from nearby farms that are chemical free or certified organic.
Jackie O’s is a local favorite, and attracts brewers from all over the country for its annual brew sales. The restaurant on Union offers local food options, and our favorite things on the menu are the Athens’ Own burgers and salads featuring lettuce from Shade River Farm. I like the Raspberry Wheat and the husband likes Mystic Mama. Place an order or make a reservation online: https://jackieos.com/location/public-house-restaurant/
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Jackie O's Public House & Brewpub
22 W Union StJackie O’s is a local favorite, and attracts brewers from all over the country for its annual brew sales. The restaurant on Union offers local food options, and our favorite things on the menu are the Athens’ Own burgers and salads featuring lettuce from Shade River Farm. I like the Raspberry Wheat and the husband likes Mystic Mama. Place an order or make a reservation online: https://jackieos.com/location/public-house-restaurant/
Hands down one of our favorite places for breakfast and lunch. Your trip to Athens isn’t complete without a visit here. It’s a worker-owned cooperative that’s been around since the 80s, and their food is locally sourced and delicious. Check their website for the menu, hours and availability: https://casanueva.com/
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Casa Nueva
4 W State StHands down one of our favorite places for breakfast and lunch. Your trip to Athens isn’t complete without a visit here. It’s a worker-owned cooperative that’s been around since the 80s, and their food is locally sourced and delicious. Check their website for the menu, hours and availability: https://casanueva.com/
This is our favorite local pizza place. They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Check out their menu: https://avalanchepizza.net/
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Avalanche Pizza
329 E State StThis is our favorite local pizza place. They use fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Check out their menu: https://avalanchepizza.net/
This is the best coffee in town. You can order online and pickup at a specified time, or you can visit in-person. They also have live music and free wifi. https://donkeycoffee.com/?order
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Donkey Coffee
17 W Washington StThis is the best coffee in town. You can order online and pickup at a specified time, or you can visit in-person. They also have live music and free wifi. https://donkeycoffee.com/?order
We enjoy their sushi, but everything here is good. Be sure to get the ginger dressing if you order a salad. It’s phenomenal. They offer Japanese and Chinese menus: http://www.chinapandaoh.com/
China Panda
965 East State StreetWe enjoy their sushi, but everything here is good. Be sure to get the ginger dressing if you order a salad. It’s phenomenal. They offer Japanese and Chinese menus: http://www.chinapandaoh.com/
Great place to hear live music while dining on the outside patio area. It’s on the bike path too, so you can make a pit stop for lunch or dinner. Highly recommend their pig candy, burgers and salads. They also have the largest selection of beers on tap, and specialty whiskey drinks. They are located in Eclipse, a historic company town. The building itself was once the general store for the town. Menu: https://www.eclipsecompanystore.com/
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Eclipse Company Store
11309 Jackson DrGreat place to hear live music while dining on the outside patio area. It’s on the bike path too, so you can make a pit stop for lunch or dinner. Highly recommend their pig candy, burgers and salads. They also have the largest selection of beers on tap, and specialty whiskey drinks. They are located in Eclipse, a historic company town. The building itself was once the general store for the town. Menu: https://www.eclipsecompanystore.com/
This is a great place to buy everything local, including wine and other hard-to-find items made throughout the region.
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Kindred Market
284 E State StThis is a great place to buy everything local, including wine and other hard-to-find items made throughout the region.
We are fans of clicklist from Kroger. Conveniently located along State Street. They sell local stuff, like Crumb’s Bakery baked goods, Silverbridge Coffee, and Jackie Os in cans.
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Kroger station
We are fans of clicklist from Kroger. Conveniently located along State Street. They sell local stuff, like Crumb’s Bakery baked goods, Silverbridge Coffee, and Jackie Os in cans.
Family-owned bakery featuring gluten-free options and locally-sourced ingredients. Go for the delicious food and great atmosphere.
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Fluff Bakery
8 N Court StFamily-owned bakery featuring gluten-free options and locally-sourced ingredients. Go for the delicious food and great atmosphere.
College kids call it a townie bar, but it’s a low-key place where the locals hang out. Your visit isn’t complete without its famous Hot Nut drink.
Tony's Tavern
7 W State StCollege kids call it a townie bar, but it’s a low-key place where the locals hang out. Your visit isn’t complete without its famous Hot Nut drink.
The Pub
39 N Court StThey have really good burgers!
Dirty Girl is the absolute best coffee around. Worth the 20 minute drive through the hills.
Dirty Girl Coffee LLC
Dirty Girl is the absolute best coffee around. Worth the 20 minute drive through the hills.
Now New Leaf Marketplace: Support an organization and help people in recovery by purchasing coffee at its supported-employment workforce development site.
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Nelsonville Emporium
31 Public SquareNow New Leaf Marketplace: Support an organization and help people in recovery by purchasing coffee at its supported-employment workforce development site.
Gym/City Pool
This is the local gym that connects to the bike path. A day pass is $5 per person, and includes the indoor track. There’s a nice playground, new city pool with a splash pad, and sometimes events on the weekends. There’s also pickelball courts and a giant skatepark. Call ahead for hours.
Athens Community Center
This is the local gym that connects to the bike path. A day pass is $5 per person, and includes the indoor track. There’s a nice playground, new city pool with a splash pad, and sometimes events on the weekends. There’s also pickelball courts and a giant skatepark. Call ahead for hours.
Athens City Pool