Athens-Limestone County is a wonderful place to explore history, festivals, trails and much more. Have you explored your city or county? Some residents have lived here all their life yet haven’t enjoyed what tourists enjoy when they visit here. It’s a place where you can take your children for a day of fun and history. My mother always said, "Try it. You might like it." Pack a picnic lunch, put the kids in the car and let’s go!

History: Visit our museums - Alabama Veterans Museum, Houston Memorial Library and Museum, College Inn/Newby Service Station, and Athens State University. Make sure you also visit downtown Athens, Mooresville, Ardmore, and Elkmont.

Festivals & Events: Attend some or all of these events: Athens on the Square Car Show, Best Buckin’ BBQ Cook-off, ABS Homespun, Sheriff’s Rodeo, Ardmore Dog Gone Festival, Delmore Days Music Festival, Fire Cracker Festival, Ardmore Tractor Pull, CASA Mud Volleyball Tournament, Tanner Tractor Pull, Ardmore Rodeo, Piney Chapel Antique Engine Show, Ardmore Crape Myrtle Festival, Art on the Square, Fiddlin’ on the Square, Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention, Athens Storytelling Festival and more.

Trails: Enjoy the history walks held each Saturday in June, as well as other trails including the Civil War Trail, Hallelujah "Glory Road" Trail, Canoe/Kayak Trail, Rails to Trails, Step Back in Time Beaty Historic District, Athens State College Historic District, Noah Bike and Vintage Car Trail and the Antebellum Trail of Athens, Belle Mina, and Mooresville.

Walking tracks: If you’re looking for a great place to walk, Athens has walking tracks at the 5th Avenue Park, The Wellness Park and Swan Creek Park.

The Athens High School track goes from the Athens Recreation Center around Athens High School (1½ miles). One Greenway track connects from the Sportsplex to Athens High School track (.6 miles). Another Greenway track connects from Athens High School track at the Athens Community Archery Park and goes to Hwy 72 (1.2 miles). Drive to Elkmont and enjoy a walk on Rails to Trails. Ardmore has two walking trails at each park. All of these trails offer beautiful dogwoods in the summer and gorgeous leaves in the fall.

For more information, visit www.tourathens.com or call 256-232-5411. Brochures on any of the above are available at the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce office located at 101 S. Beaty Street. So you won’t miss any of the fun, stop by and pick up a refrigerator magnet that shows the dates for annual festivals and events. After all, we put the fun into weekends!