Women walking in Downtown Athens.

5 Ways to Make Alumni Weekend the Perfect Girls Getaway

Alumni Weekend is a great opportunity to return to Athens and enjoy a weekend back on your old stomping grounds. It’s also the perfect opportunity to bring a few friends with you, ladies! So text your girlfriends and encourage them to join you for a weekend back in Athens … it’s time to feel like a student again!

Here are a few tips to ensure y’all get the most out of your trip:

1—Curate a schedule that rounds out the weekend.
Alumni Weekend begins on Thursday evening and concludes with brunch on Saturday. This schedule was developed to allow alumni to curate portions of the weekend to hit their interests and passions. Think about what you and your friends enjoyed as students and what you like to do today – there’s usually a way to bring those interests to life during your trip.

2—Pick a convenient place to stay.
There are room blocks available at a few hotels for Alumni Weekend guests, but you certainly aren’t required to stay in them. Feel free to reserve accommodations that will allow you to most easily travel to and from activities during the weekend. Not sure which fits your tastes best? The UGA Alumni Association staff can help direct you – give us a call!

3—Use your time wisely.
There are a few hours on Friday and plenty of time on Saturday to add personalized activities to your itinerary. Might we suggest a little local shopping in downtown Athens on Clayton and Hull Streets? Or a cup of joe at a coffee shop that is favored by staff and students. And then there’s also walking at the State Botanical Garden, taking a self-guided tour of campus, stopping by an old professor’s office to say hello or sweating it out at Ramsey Student Center.

4—Book meal or tour reservations.
If you and your friends are interested in any optional activities, be sure to purchase tickets or book reservations in advance.

5—Bring your camera!
What’s a visit to campus with your gal pals if you forget to snap pictures to remember the weekend? So charge your phone and be sure to take advantage of UGA’s best locations for photo opps as you enjoy the weekend. You can check out the “Selfie Spot” recommendations from the UGA Visitors Center or this Red and Black article on “Places around Athens to pose for the perfect photograph.”