We enjoyed a leisurely start to the day, taking full advantage of the slower pace before heading out for brunch at Mama’s Boy — a local favourite with the tagline “Southern Fun Dining.” And it lived up to the hype!
The kids went classic with stacks of French toast and pancakes, Mark tackled the hearty breakfast burrito, and I decided to embrace something a little more local with the Fried Green Tomatoes Eggs Benedict served on biscuits. It was a flavour-packed Southern twist on a brunch classic — and absolutely delicious. The service was warm and friendly and the staff were clearly intrigued by our accents (we’re still not sure why!). They all seemed to take turns stopping by for a chat or check on us — not in an overbearing way, more like charming curiosity with that signature Southern charm.
With full stomachs, we headed into downtown Athens for a wander. The area is charming, with an artsy, collegiate vibe. The University of Georgia dominates the centre of town — Apparently, it’s also prime season for campus tours, as we saw loads of tour groups, and nearly everyone we spoke to assumed we were in town to check out the university.
We strolled through the historic quad, which was beautifully green and filled with stately old buildings. One of the main attractions there is the iconic UGA Arch. Steeped in both tradition and superstition, legend has it that walking under the arch before you graduate can curse you with bad luck — or worse, doom you to never graduate at all. Needless to say, we gave it a wide berth… no point tempting fate, degree or no degree.
After a quick coffee pit stop, we hit the road again for a short drive to Covington — affectionately known as the “Hollywood of the South.” This small town has starred in more productions than you’d expect, including The Vampire Diaries (which seems to be its biggest claim to fame at the moment, judging by the number of locals who asked if that’s why we were there), In the Heat of the Night, The Dukes of Hazzard, and, the real reason we came — Sweet Magnolias.
We explored the picturesque “Serenity Town Square,” which features the iconic clock tower and courthouse square that appear in the opening credits of the show. Then we tracked down “Sullivan’s Restaurant” (which is actually Mystic Grill in real life) and the Corner Spa (filmed at a law firm). A light drizzle chased us indoors, so we ducked into a café for drinks and browsed a few little shops around the square.
Once we’d checked the final filming locations off the list, we opted for the scenic route back to Athens — because, why not? A quick detour through Walmart for some good old-fashioned American retail therapy gave us a few laughs, and then we wrapped up the day with dinner from Raising Cane’s — a fast-food chicken joint the kids had been desperate to try. Verdict? Crispy, saucy, and well worth the hype.
Back to the Airbnb for some downtime and possibly a few more rounds in the games room and some baseball watching. A perfect blend of Southern charm, pop culture, and fried food — and honestly, what more could you want from a day in Georgia?