Fun, Family-Friendly Things to Do in Athens, Texas

Athens, Texas, is about 75 miles southeast of Dallas, Texas, and is home to Lake Athens, Athens Scuba Park, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries and the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society. You'll find family friendly entertainment options for the whole family. Athens is a great town to choose for a weekend getaway with the kids.

Lake Athens spans 1,500 acres and is a fishermen's dream. Anglers come from all around to try their hand at catching largemouth bass, catfish, redear sunfish, and crappie. The lake also has a public marina with lake access and plenty of camping spots, and the marina is open all year around. To get to the marina, just hop on Texas 31 in Athens, take FM 2495 across from Super Wal-Mart. Go east 1 mile. The ramp and restaurant/store are on the right at the far end of the bridge. There is no entrance fee for the park, and no fee for lake access. If fishing isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of places to swim, go canoeing, hiking, or just do a little bird watching.

The Athens Scuba Park was built by divers, so they know exactly what divers want in an underwater exploration experience. They offer over 30 wrecks to explore and an average visibility of 35' that can peak at 70'. You can explore the first Greyhound bus that country singer Ray Price toured in, a Lockheed C-140 Jet Star plane, various motorcycles, a VW beetle, and other unique underwater attractions. Don't forget to bring your camera to capture the wide variety of unusual backdrops! The park is open Wed. - Sun. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. in the spring and summer season and Wed. - Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the fall and winter season. The park is located at 500 N. Murchison St. in Athens Texas. Their phone number is 903-675-5762.

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries is home to almost every species of fish found in Texas. Visitors can explore the fish hatchery via narrated tram tours, fish in the stocked casting pond, or watch one of the daily dive shows. The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located about four miles east of Athens and 75 miles southeast of Dallas. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday. They are closed on Mondays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Easter Sunday. Regular admission is $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors 65 and older, and $3.50 for children ages 4 through 12. Their phone number is 903-676-2277.

The East Texas Arboretum spreads over one hundred acres and is a living refuge to all the botanical beauty of East Texas. They hold educational forums throughout the year where you can learn about such things as herbs, flowers, and greenery. They have a children's play garden with butterfly gardens, water features, two play houses, and a sandy play area. The Arboretum is a great place to relax and enjoy nature. There are also several restaurants near by and places to shop. The East Texas Arboretum is located at 1601 Patterson Road in Athens, Texas and their phone number is 903-675-5630. Hours of operation in Spring and Summer are 7:30 am till 7:30 pm; Fall and Winter hours are 8 am till 6 pm. Admission is a membership or suggested $2.00 donation per person over 12 years of age.

Source:
www.traveltexas.com