One-Tank trip: Athens, Ga.

For a college town that’s now 207 years old, Athens has never acted its age. Too many 20-somethings in residence for that. Yet there’s far more to the Classic City than red-and-black rah-rah. Recently named one of 12 “Distinctive Destinations” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Athens is a culturally diverse small city of 110,000, where it’s easy to enjoy a cosmopolitan life with few urban hassles. The national recognition stemmed from Athens’ hearty blend of “traditional heritage and trend-setting Southern culture.”

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John W. English / AJC Special

Brumby House, the oldest surviving residence in Athens, serves as the city Welcome Center. Even if Athens weren’t home to University of Georgia, it would rank high as a tourist draw.

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John W. English / AJC Special

Many of Athens’ more than 600 bands can be seen at a new venue called the Melting Point, built in an old foundry on Dougherty Street near the Foundry Park Inn.

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John W. English / AJC Special

Four artist-designed bus shelters have been installed near the intersection of Alps Road and Atlanta Highway, and four more will be added.

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John W. English / AJC Special

The Lyndon House is a house museum with an arts center attached behind it. The museum has one room devoted to Athens oddments and memorabilia. The arts center offers exhibitions and classes.

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• Historic homes. The best place to start is the Athens Welcome Center (http://athenswelcomecenter.com), located in the 1820s Brumby House on Dougherty Street. Nearby is the Lyndon House Museum (www.accleisureservices.com/lyndon.shtml), which also has a one-room collection of local memorabilia. The antebellum mansions along Prince Avenue rival Natchez, Miss., in grandeur, beginning with the Lumpkin House, the T.R.R. Cobb House, the UGA President’s House, Taylor-Grady House and the Upson House. Visitors can gain access to four of them on the Museum Mile Tour, which can be booked at the Welcome Center.

• Quirky sights. A self-guided driving tour can meander through the historic districts along such city streets as Cobb, Hill, Dearing, Henderson, Cloverhurst, Milledge and Boulevard. A must-see list includes The Tree That Owns Itself at the corner of Dearing and Finley streets (the latter road is the city’s only remaining cobblestone street) and a true folly of the Civil War, the double-barreled cannon at City Hall downtown.

• Thriving downtown. When the mall was built on Atlanta Highway, downtown became an entertainment zone with the opening of some two dozen bars and restaurants. Boutique stores moved in, too. The coolest shops are along Clayton Street, from Toula’s and Agora near Pulaski Street to Junkman’s Daughter’s Brother near Thomas Street, with Aurum Jewelry, Helix and Native American Gallery in between. Bizarro Comics is a treasure trove for pop culture collectors.

• Lively music scene. Athens is home to some 600 bands, so the concentration and variety of music available seem endless. The three top venues are the Melting Point in Foundry Park, 40 Watt Club on Washington Street and Georgia Theatre on Lumpkin. Offbeat spots include Tasty World and Caledonia Lounge, but expect late hours with the innovative vibes. Check out www.flagpole.com or www.athensmusic.com for details.

• Vibrant art scene. Though the state museum, the Georgia Museum of Art, is closed for two years while a new wing is built, three new galleries are open in the new Lamar Dodd School of Art building on the South Campus arts complex. Athens’ lively alternative gallery is ATHICA (short for Athens Institute of Contemporary Art, www.athica.org) in the Tracy Street warehouse area. Check out the four artist-designed bus shelters installed in the Alps Road-Atlanta Highway area.

• Local festivals. There’s something to celebrate all year-round — Fluke Comics Fest, Athfest Music Weekend, Human Rights Festival, Twilight Criterium bicycle race and the Hot Corner Soul Festival.  

IF YOU GO

Where to stay

• Foundry Park Inn & Spa. 119 guest rooms in buildings that date back to the 1800s. Nightly rates start at about $115. 295 Dougherty St., 1-866-928-4362., www.foundryparkinn.com.

Where to eat

• Mayflower Café. Classic diner, great for breakfast. 171 E. Broad St., 706-548-1692.

• Five & Ten. Upscale contemporary cuisine. 1653 S. Lumpkin St., 706-546-7300, www.fiveandten.com.

For information

• Athens Convention and Visitor’s Bureau: www.visitathensga.com.