Athens, Ohio

Athens, Ohio is a college town in the SE corner of Ohio, nestled against the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. No one knows the population of the permanent residents, but there are over 20 000 students who join them each school year to attend Ohio University. A college town is different from other places of comparable size.

My daughter is a professor at Ohio University so I have had the opportunity to visit this area a couple of times so far. The culture of a college town is quite new to me as a Canadian. I felt like I was visiting a different country. Not all American locations are so different from home.

Homecoming

Our first weekend in Athens happened to be Homecoming. Several special events were planned for the alumni who came to town. We started the day at a catered breakfast hosted by the business school. Cakes, croissants, hot apple cider, mimosas, and Bloody Mary’s were available. Faculty, students, alumni, and their families mingled on the lawn outside the Business School. Everyone had layers of Ohio University and Bobcats gear to keep them warm on an unusually cold October day in Ohio.

Homecoming Parade

Everyone gathered along the sidewalk to watch the Homecoming Parade. The Marching 110 band led the parade. The ROTC marched close behind, although a few straggled behind to hand out candy to the children along the route. The sororities marched with banners and cheering members. Local groups in town advertised their events and activities. The “Men Who Sing” group added more music to the event.

My favourite group of performers was the Marching 110 Alumni Band. They are former members of the marching band who gather for the Homecoming Parade. They carried their instruments wearing their Ohio University jackets and marched along the route. The drums played. They demonstrated some of their marching band moves, although it was difficult for some of the class of ’69 to get down and back up again.

Tailgating

My football experience is primarily Canadian, small-town high school. Tailgating before a college game was a new opportunity. We were lucky enough to have acquaintances with a parking pass for the football stadium. Tents set up along our walk provided places for alumni to gather as well as to sell beer as fundraisers for some college groups.

Our hosts provided snacks, drinks, and good conversation. Some people came and went while others stayed until the game began. Police were monitoring this event and one suggested that he didn’t want to notice an actual beer can. Drinks in cups were not his concern. I quickly emptied my fundraiser beer into a cup.

Bobcats Football

Ohio University is a Division I school. Their team played the Northern Illinois Huskies from DeKalb, Illinois. Fans were all adorned in their team gear. We had faculty tickets that were opposite the free student seats. Attendance for the game was 18019.

It was fun to watch. The commercial time outs provided an opportunity for the university to recognize different groups and alumnus. The Bobcat mascot and cheering squad kept the crowd entertained, especially after each point scored the team when they would drop down in the end zone and do the number of pushups that represented the total score for the team. The band was sitting in the stands opposite our seats and played during pauses in the game.

Halftime

Halftime was my favourite. The marching band took to the field and did several songs and interesting maneuvers. Some songs had the band making formations of OHIO. Other times they played and did dance moves on the spot. The musicianship and overall performance were impressive.

The final number included the Alumni band on the field with the current marching band. They performed Best of Both Worlds by Van Halen. The 2 bands numbered over 200 and were very entertaining.

We were cold after sitting on the shady side of the stadium and left at halftime. Unfortunately, the Bobcats lost 39-36.

Athens, Ohio Activities

Golf

Our golf course closed due to snow at the beginning of October. It was wonderful to get to play in the sun and changing leaves in Mid-October in the midwestern USA. Ohio University has a 9 hole course on campus, along the Hocking River. If you booked certain times on-line, you could golf for $10 per person with a cart. The holes had lots of variety. There was some water, sand, and challenging greens, although the course was not as well maintained as our course at home. That did not surprise us for it being late in the year. We played there a few times during our stay.

Athens also has a 9 hole course at the Athens Country Club. It is a private club and you must play with a member.

Other Activities

A bike/running trail runs along the Hocking River. The trail allows you to visit several Craft Breweries in the area. Little Fish Brewing Company is one of these. I drove there on a Sunday morning for a yoga class. Classes are offered on a donation basis and held outside or inside the brewery when the weather dictates. You can stay for brunch or a beer afterward.

Athens, Ohio is in an agricultural area and there is a large variety of local food products and produce available at the Farmer’s Market held Saturday morning and Wednesday evening on State St. We bought a delicious raspberry Salsa where you could taste each recipe to find the one you liked best.

Restaurants and Bars

The advantage of having a large number of temporary residents is the number of bars, coffee shops, and restaurants. There are several chains like Texas Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings and Applebee’s.

There were also many local restaurants. Casa Nuevo is very popular for Mexican food. We ate there on a Monday night and could only get into the bar as the restaurant was full. Jackie O’s has a taproom with a food truck as well as a restaurant.

Little Fish Brewing Company has a family-friendly outdoor space for food and drink. I loved their Beet Repeat beer with a splash of homemade ginger ale. Their cheese platter was not only beautiful but delicious.

The West End Cider House had a nice atmosphere. Their staff were knowledgeable about the different ciders and cocktails. They make their own ciders from Ohio apples. We tasted a flight where the samples were all different, but delicious. Cocktails are a specialty and their homemade ginger drink was non-alcoholic and really good. This location had a nice little patio that felt European and cozy.

Several of these local gathering places provide live music as well. There are many places that cater to students with smaller budgets where the ambiance and service are not as important. Court Street has lots of these.

Outside of Athens, Ohio

We visited a couple of State Parks within 30 minutes of Athens. The countryside consists of rolling hills covered in forests.

Stroud Run State Park

This park is about 15 minutes from downtown Athens. There is a man-made lake where you can paddle a rented kayak. Many walking and hiking trails can be found in the park. Camping space is also available.

We were there late afternoon in October. It was almost empty. The water was still and the leaves on the trees were beginning to turn colour. It was such a quiet and serene place to getaway. I’m sure a hot summer day would be different, but it is a nice natural area.

Hocking Hills State Park

This park is about 50 minutes from Athens, Ohio. We drove there on the freeway but returned on the backroad, #56, which was very scenic and not too busy.

The area around Old Man’s Cave so impressed me. A deep gorge is the main feature, with naturally formed caves within the cliffs. Only In Your State says, “Hocking State Forest surrounds the state park and nature preserves. Its large boulders, giant tree roots, and abundance of greenery make you feel like you’re traveling to Middle Earth. “

Old Man’s Cave Visitor’s Center has some interesting displays of the history and geography of the area. Washrooms were available as well as maps and information.

We discovered a Sunday afternoon in late October to be extremely busy. The parking lot was full of drivers waiting for others to leave. The trail to the main caves was full of families, singles and couples all enjoying the views, unusual geological formations, and waterfalls. There are other places to visit in the area, but there was a lot to see packed into this small area. I would like to visit again on a weekday when there was more water flowing.

What to do in a college town?

I have visited Athens, Ohio twice, once in the summer before the students arrived, and once in October. We found lots to do there. I know there are family events and activities as well as several music, art, and beer festivals planned throughout the year. Hallowe’en is a big event in this town.

In conclusion, Athens is in a beautiful part of Ohio. It is a regular small town except for the services that provide for 20 000 extra citizens each school year. There are many ways to stay active, natural areas to visit and places to eat/drink. Add the sporting events, the arts and academic opportunities at Ohio University and you will always find lots to do in this college town.