Travel Packages
Georgia’s Heartland of the Confederacy
Leaders Life Legacy
2 day Travel Package
Package Includes:
One Night stay in Grand Oaks Manor Bed and Breakfast
2 Complimentary Tickets for the Classic City Tour
1 Double-Barreled Cannon Pin with history of Cannon
Total Cost: $199 for 2 Adults
DAY 1 ~Downtown Athens and the University of Georgia
Arrive in Athens Georgia. Home to the nation’s first state chartered university. Walk through the historic downtown district and see the world’s only double-barreled cannon. Step through the 1858 University of Georgia Arch, which was used on Georgia Confederate soldiers uniforms and belt buckles. Wander through the Old North Campus of the University of Georgia where you’ll see the grounds that served as headquarters for Federal troops after the War and make a stop at the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, which houses one of the nation’s best collections of rare Confederate documents, including the Howell Cobb collection and the Constitution of the Confederate States of America.
Take time to relax in a restaurant or pub downtown and be sure to visit The Athens Welcome Center, housed in the oldest surviving residence in Athens, for walking tour brochures of the campus, downtown, and three historic neighborhoods in Athens, along with maps and other Athens and Georgia travel information.
After a long day of walking, learning, and sightseeing, find your way to the Grand Oaks Manor Bed and Breakfast, which is housed on 34 pristine acres only 5 miles form the heart of downtown Athens. The Manor was originally built in 1820 as The Gum Springs Inn serving farmers transporting goods on the 1805 Federal Road. It later served as a stagecoach stop, as is still evidenced by the large, flat stones set at the head of the verandah. Natural springs and remnants of that road exist today directly in front of the inn. Complimentary sherry is the final intimate touch before a good night's rest for your next day of Civil War traversing. A full and healthy breakfast is elegantly served on fine china and cut glass crystal that features fresh fruit, breads, yogurt, and gourmet hot entrees such as caramel apple French toast and egg-cheese casserole.
DAY 2 ~ Around Athens
Now that you have seen downtown and the Old North Campus, it is time to see the rest of Athens and the Civil War sites around the town. Begin with the 1850 Ware-Lyndon House Museum where you will see artifacts, documents, and furniture from the Civil War period in Athens. Then drive down Prince Avenue to Hill Street where the T.R.R. Cobb House stands in all its pink glory. The Federal style House was converted to the Greek Revival style in 1852 and was home to Thomas R.R. Cobb who was the principal author of the Confederate Constitution. Originally the House sat on Prince Avenue closer to town, but was moved to the Stone Mountain History Village in the 1980s, but returned to Athens in 2004. Next, drive down Prince Avenue a spell to the grand, recently rennovated 1840 Taylor-Grady House, which was home to Robert Taylor, Georgia state troop General, and Captain W.S. Grady, whose son Henry, became a leading voice in reunifying the nation after the War with speeches on the “New South.”
After leaving the Taylor-Grady House, drive down Milledge Avenue, which is home to a number of antebellum homes and stop in Five Points for lunch at one of the many restuarants or coffe shops. With a full stomach and a new burst of energy, drive down Milledge Avenue to East Campus Road. Oconee Hill Cemetery will be on your right, just past Sanford Stadium. The Cemetery was deisgned by James Camak in 1855 and is the final resting place for four Confederate Civil War Generals. Classic City Tours offers a historic tour of Athens at 2:00 from the Athens Welcome Center, which will give you even more history of the area. After the tour take time to drive by Cook and Brother Armory on East Broad Street, which manufactured Enfield-style rifles and carbines for the Confederate Army.
Heartland of the Confederacy Trail [www.civilwaringerorgia.com]
Visitor information for Athens [www.visitathensga.com]
The University of Georgia [www.uga.edu]
Grand Oaks Manor Bed and Breakfast [www.grandoaksmanor.com]
