I am lucky enough to have been given a 6 weeks scholarship to travel around Greece and its islands to visit museums and archaeological sites.... I plan on staying an extra week (first week of August) to have my wife and possibly parents come and stay for that week. As I believe in being prepared, any ideas what we can do in that week? I think I will be in Athens... and by the end of the 6 weeks, I am sure I will know what to do, but I would like a little help in planning ahead. Thanks!

Joel

August is the height of High Season ... but Athens residents posting on other travel forums tell us that actually Athens is a fine place to be in August!! The weather is less hot than July, there is a nice breeze... and August is more relaxed, because ALL THE ATHENIANS are off crowding up the islands!!

ATHENS TREATS --- There is a wonderful August phenomenon -- on the night of the full moon (which i think is either 5, 6, or 7 Aug (here's a moon phase chart)
http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon/in....css&Submit=Go
On that night, Many ancient sites stay Open til 1am and are FREE -- concerts & dance performances atop Acropolis, at Roman Agora, Herodius atticus theatre etc. too...
http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/g...ew-146677.html

If your family likes traditional dances, the Dora Stratou theatre has performances in August.

BEACH --Since it's August, your visitors may want to go to a beach one of the days.... you can go quickly & easily via Suburban tram line out of Syntagma Metro station (map link)
http://www.athensinfoguide.com/image...trammapbig.gif
my Athens resources say that there are excellent beaches that charge an entrance fee, provide changing rooms, have cafes etc. Here are some suggestions and quotes from them:

ASTERIA BEACH at Glyfada.. Take the Voula tram from Syntagma .. after about 50 minutes you exit at Kolimvitirio tram stop...from there an 8 minute walk,cross Poseidonos avenue enter the Asteria beach complex...there is a lovely cafe there called Balux cafe...it is exactly on the beach...you can relax on a sofa on the beach and also have a table to enjoy a meal...
The cost of the beach is 12 euros Saturdays...and 5-8 E at the rest of the days....

BLUE SKY is the closest at Asteria beach..(12 minutes walk).. there is an entrance fee to the beach...if you want to swim...

BOULA BEACH, 5 euros entrance -- located at the final tram stop called Voula(Boula) of the tram line Syntagma to Voula.... Entrance fee includes sun umbrella and sunloungers.
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ISLAND DAY TRIP -- Just for the Ferry experience you may want to take them to a Saronic Bay Island. You'll find many people plugging Hydra but I don't agree. So, it's a no-cars island. Big whoop! It's mainly a harborside scene .... and it's a longer trip than Aegina, which I recommend. Take a "regular" ferry, not a hydrofoil...because the difference in time is insignificant, and the regular ferries have the outside decks to sit out & enjoy! Aegina has a so-so port but a delightful small ruin & tiny museum at far left of harborside. AND with the 4 of you... rent a car el cheapo (or a taxi) and go inland to the BEST-PRESERVED temple in Greece, Temple of Aphaia on a hilltop with a 360° view of Bay (alas 2 awful brits stripped it of art & sold it to Berlin Museum in 1880s-feh!). It's STUNNING nonethless. There are a couple of beaches on far end of island... and you can find a cafe for a drink, then enjoy the sunset coming back on the ferry (45 mins).

you plan to stay in athens when the others arrive or you would like to visit an island or more?
a good idea would be to rent a sailing boat with a skipper and visti some islands... for one week in august it would be nice to go around the cycklades... mainly syros naxos paros snatorini ios.
if you stay in athens you can choose a day or two trip to aigina agistri, or to hydra, or spetses. (small saronik island 3 hours away from athens - not very crowded in august but if you plan to stay you should reserve early enough

Joel, By any chance are you doing the ASCSA program?

lol.. yes I am... Have you participated in it before? or are you this year?

My husband is going! He'll actually be in session 2, and I'm on these boards doing research on our own vacation after the program end.

Athens has some beautiful museums that worth a visit, here is a nice website which migh be helpful for you.
http://www.athens-greece.us/athens-museums/

You should stay in the center of Athens close to Syntagma square because there is a metro station and all the major sites are close. Plaka is a very nice choice for accommodation and you should also visit Monastiraki, Thissio and of course the Acropolis.

Here is a link with hotels in Plaka:
http://www.athens-greece.us/plaka-hotels/

I am sure you will have a great tme in Greece!