In Athens, Ohio, a different microphone beckons every day of the week, encouraging the bold and the talented to perform. This is the story of open stages.

For belly dancer Ellie Olin, Athens is a place to express herself through Middle Eastern dance. Olin is one of two belly dancers who take turns entertaining the Saturday-night dinner crowd at Restaurant Salaam in Athens.

Each week, couples from different backgrounds and cultural traditions forgo the pomp and circumstance of a traditional wedding ceremony. They exchange vows on the second floor of the Athens County Courthouse, a two-story red-brick building built in 1880.

The Hockhocking Adena Bikeway stretches from Athens to Nelsonville, providing a means of exploration and alternative transportation. Learn about points of interest by traveling along this interactive map.