Just an hour outside of Atlanta lies a city that feels a whole world away, Athens.  Best known as the home of the University of Georgia Bull Dawgs, but as I was about to quickly find out Athens is not just about Saturday football games.  Athens is a community, a tightly knit one at that.  Athens is a community filled with local proprietors that have been open for generations, food that rivals that of any metro market, emerging artists in every shape and form, and families where parents do the daily commute to Atlanta just to raise their children in a place they feel is home.  This I all knew from hearing friends speak passionately about the town, but I was excited to experience it for myself and see the things to do in Athens, Georgia. 

First stop (per everyone’s suggestions on Instagram),  Last Resort.  A restaurant that has been serving locals for decades.  The food was fantastic and better yet cheap.  I noshed on a southwestern salad and the best grilled okra I’d had since being down south, Kathryn the grilled vegetable pasta a staple from her days as a Dawg.  We washed it all down with some rose of course and cake which was worth the hype.  A quick walk up the street we met Cheri and friends at Heery’s Closet to do a little shopping and attend the Empire State Finery trunk show.  From Tibi (a local Athens girl herself) to Tory, Joie and Theodosia I quickly understood why Heery’s was your best bet when it came to shopping local.  I snagged another ESF piece for my collection and even though the temperatures were in the 90’s I couldn’t resist this perfect Vince cashmere for fall.

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It’s pretty amazing how some places remain the same, year after year.  Each time you return, their sounds, smells and details immediately bring you back to previous days. Places like these hold sentimental value to you, with all of their comforts and even their quirks. 

We recently started thinking about the places we hold dear after our dear friend and creative partner Kathryn McCrary shared photos with us from the same small town in Florida that she’s been visiting for the past 20 years.  Boca Grande, on the island of Gasparilla off the west coast of Florida, has seen Kathryn and her family through many cherished memories over the years.

From Kathryn: “Everyone drives around the island in golf carts and as life slows down, you get to take in the beauty of the quiet beaches and old Banyon trees.  Boca Grande holds many dear memories for me from learning how to parallel park a golf cart before I got my permit, to celebrating my bachelorette party with my bridesmaids.  I love going back every year to find that nothing has changed except for me, and it allows me to reflect on the past, present, and future.”

Do you have places that you hold dear, places that have stayed the same throughout the years?  What makes them special to you?  Cheers, Kat