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Athens, Georgia, home of the University of Georgia, has been named one of the “25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S.” by Travel + Leisure.
The publication highlights the town’s unique blend of campus energy, creative culture, and strong community spirit.
“While you’re taking it all in, keep an eye out for the iconic bulldog statues scattered around town, which are painted in a variety of styles and sure to reinforce a sense of school pride,” Travel + Leisure wrote.
What is Athens known for?
Known for launching legendary bands like R.E.M. and the B-52s, Athens has long been a cultural powerhouse in the Southeast.
The city continues to thrive with its arts scene, a wide range of live music venues, and galleries that showcase both local and national talent.
Athens shines in the fall, when the trees explode with color and game day excitement fills the air. Saturdays in Athens are marked by tailgating, school traditions, and a sea of red and black as fans rally around the Georgia Bulldogs.
This college town has also shaped the early lives of many now-famous faces. See which celebrities once walked these campus streets.
Celebrities that attended UGA
Here’s a list of 16 celebrities who once roamed the campus in Athens. Some graduated, others didn’t, but all made their mark.
- Megan Moroney: Graduating from UGA in 2020, Megan Moroney went from Athens to Nashville, making waves in country music with hits like “Tennessee Orange.”
- Ryan Seacrest: The American television producer and presenter studied journalism at UGA but left at 19 to chase his Hollywood dreams.
- Kim Basinger: Born in Athens, Basinger, an actress, singer, and former fashion model attended UGA.
- Titus Burgess: The “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” fan favorite earned a B.A. in music from UGA and grew up in Athens, attending Cedar Shoals High School.
- Kyle Chandler: Before starring in “Friday Night Lights,” Chandler was a drama major at UGA. He left just seven credits short to pursue acting full-time.
- Bubba Watson: Not only did the two-time Masters winner attend UGA, he helped lead UGA’s golf team to an SEC title in 2000.
- Dominique Wilkins: A basketball legend and UGA’s greatest hoops player, Wilkins dominated college ball from 1979–1981 before heading to the NBA.
- Alton Brown: The “Good Eats” creator left UGA just one credit short in 1985. He finally earned his drama degree in 2004 after curriculum changes removed the missing requirement.
- John Isner: Known for playing the longest match in tennis history, Isner was a standout for the UGA Bulldogs and graduated with a degree in speech communications.
- Wayne Knight: This actor and comedian left UGA with one credit short, but he eventually earned his degree in 2008. years after becoming a sitcom legend for playing Newman on Seinfeld.
- Josh Holloway: Holloway, American actor and producer, briefly attended UGA but left after one quarter due to financial constraints.
- Todd Gurley: From breaking tackles at Sanford Stadium to starring in the NFL, Gurley played at UGA from 2012–2014 before being drafted 10th overall by the Rams.
- Forrest Griffin: Before stepping into the UFC, Griffin studied political science at UGA and served as a patrol officer with the university’s police department.
- Terrell Davis: Davis, former professional athlete, transferred from Long Beach State to UGA, where he played running back for the Bulldogs from 1992-1994 before becoming a Denver Broncos legend.
- R.E.M.: This rock band was formed in 1980 by UGA students: Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe.
- Quavo: According to Vibe Magazine, this rapper expressed plans to enroll to UGA in 2023.
25 best college towns in the US
- Boston, Massachusettes
- Oxford, Mississippi
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Boulder, Colorado
- Austin, Texas
- Lynchburg, Virginia
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Columbia, Missouri
- Tempe, Arizona
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Gainesville, Florida
- Athens, Georgia
- Lawrence, Kansas
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Tallahassee, Florida
- Berkeley, California
- Provo, Utah
- Eugene, Oregon
- Syracuse, New York
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- Burlington, Vermont
- Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Ithaca, New York
For more information, visit travelandleisure.com/best-college-towns-and-cities-6560620.
Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
