10 Best and Fun Things To Do In Macon GA (Georgia)

Macon has a lot of things to do for a city with a population of only 150,000 people. Things To Do In Macon GA, this Central Georgia city, founded in 1823 on the west bank of the Ocmulgee River and nicknamed “Brick City” for its abundant use of locally made building materials, offers visitors everything from art galleries and museums to ancient burial grounds and perfectly preserved Victorian-era mansions.

Macon is a fun city to walk around in, with a revitalized downtown core that features wide, tree-lined avenues and easy pedestrian access to some of the city’s top attractions. Some of Georgia’s best public parks can also be found here, providing opportunities for people of all abilities to get out and enjoy the scenery.

The 200-mile-long Ocmulgee River Water Trail connects the city to the rest of the state for serious hikers so it is in middle georgia. Add to that the numerous fun events and festivals held here each year, such as the well-known International Cherry Blossom Festival, and there are plenty of reasons to spend your time outside at Macon county.

Macon’s revitalization has also provided an excellent opportunity for residents to celebrate the city’s cultural diversity. In addition to historical sites commemorating the Civil Rights Movement, you should make time to visit the Tubman Museum, which exhibits art by both local and national African American or Native American artists.

Read through our list of the top things to do in Macon, GA to learn more about the best places to visit in this exciting Central Georgia city.

List of 10 Things To Do In Macon GA Today

1. Walking Tour of Downtown Macon

Macon is a very walkable city. This is especially true in Downtown Macon. This relatively large district includes the city’s newer financial center, many of its top tourist attractions, and the old downtown core with its well-preserved historic architecture urban air.

Indeed, the abundance of historic buildings in Downtown Macon has resulted in its inclusion on the National Register of Historic Sites, ensuring its preservation for future generations. While many of the most interesting buildings date from the nineteenth century and reflect the South’s adoption of Victorian and Greek Revival architectural styles, structures from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, such as former department stores, have found new life as restaurants, hip cafés, and chic fashion boutiques.

Many of the city’s most important events and celebrations take place in downtown Macron at cannonball house. Winter visitors can enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas parades, while spring and summer visitors can enjoy spring and summer blossoms and the city’s rich musical heritage.

Sundays are ideal for exploring the downtown area. Not only is it quiet, but you’ll see families dressed in their Sunday best walking to and from the area’s numerous churches. You’ll also notice them partaking in another popular weekend activity: Sunday brunch. Brunch with a Southern twist can be found at restaurants such as Parish on Cherry, Dovetail, and Lazy Susan, to name a few.

2. National Historic Park of the Ocmulgee Mounds

Although you’ll want to drive from Downtown Macon to Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, there will be plenty of opportunities to get out and walk once there. This beautiful park, which spans over 900 acres, has over eight miles of walking trails to explore.

It’s so large, in fact, that you might prefer to walk in one-mile sections, taking advantage of the ample parking near each of the park’s main attractions. Begin your tour at the Art Deco-style visitor center. Built in 1936, its fascinating exhibits tell the story of the park’s seven ancient burial mounds, as well as the Indigenous people who lived here for more than 17,000 years where ocmulgee national monument you can find.

Aside from artifacts discovered during the largest archaeological dig ever conducted in the United States, a short accompanying film sheds even more light on the site’s historical significance. While the visitor center has a reconstructed ceremonial earth lodge, the main cluster of mounds, including the massive Great Temple Mound, is a half-mile walk away at rock candy tour.

While the mounds can be seen from the ground, their true scale is best appreciated by climbing the wooden staircase to the top. You’ll also be rewarded with stunning views of Macon from here.

Take your time exploring the Ocmulgee Mounds, however you choose. It’s very peaceful, and numerous park benches have been strategically placed to help you extend your stay at Macon bibb county.

1207 Emery Highway, Macon, Georgia

3. Visit the Johnston-Felton-Hay House.

The Johnston-Felton-Hay House, one of Georgia’s most important period homes, is a short walk from downtown Macon. This 18,000-square-foot mansion, built in Renaissance Revival style by Italian craftsmen in 1859 and boasting 24 rooms, has been dubbed the “Palace of the South.”

It featured numerous innovations for the time, including an intercom system, hot and cold running water, central heating, an elevator, and ventilation, and was capped by a stunning three-story cupola. The home’s original stained-glass windows, original furniture, and a large collection of period porcelain and paintings are among the interior highlights is one of the fun things for your eyesight.

Wednesday through Sunday, hour-long guided tours are available, and an on-site gift shop sells related souvenirs. Explore the grounds as well, which include a number of original plants from the time the house was built.

After you’ve finished at Hay House, walk up the hill across the street to the Walter F. George School of Law. This impressive red-brick structure is well-known for being visited by Jefferson Davis after the Civil War. Take a seat across the street at Coleman Hill Park and take in the breathtaking views of Macon.

Macon, Georgia (934 Georgia Avenue)

4. The Big House’s Allman Brothers Band Museum

Macon can rightfully be proud of its rich musical heritage. The Allman Brothers Band was perhaps the most well-known of the many talented Macon residents who pursued their musical dreams. The Allman Brothers put Macon and Southern rock on the map after forming in 1969.

The Allman Brothers Band Museum, located at Big House on Vineville Avenue, honors the band’s legacy. From 1970 to 1973, the band encamped here with various family members, roadies, and friends, making it the base where they rehearsed and composed some of their best-known hit songs at macon city auditorium.

Today, the museum houses a variety of fascinating interactive exhibits about the band’s career, as well as memorabilia. A gift shop is on-site, and acts inspired by the band perform on the property’s stage on a regular basis.

Macon, Georgia, 2321 Vineville Avenue

5. Take a Stroll through Amerson River Park

Amerson River Park, located on 180 acres overlooking a dramatic bend in the Ocmulgee River, is another of Macron’s impressive array of green spaces that should be visited. The park is crisscrossed by a seven-mile-long network of paved pathways that wind through a mix of wetland, mature forests, and meadows, all framed by the river.

Elegant stone pavilions strategically placed throughout the park provide shade and shelter, with one designated as an overlook with breathtaking views of the river. Strollers and wheelchairs can easily access all of these areas. There is also a children’s playground where the kids can let off some steam.

It’s also a popular destination for thrill seekers. A kayak/canoe launch is available, and the river flows gently enough in the summer months that tubers can be seen floating downstream as they enjoy a truly authentic “lazy river” experience.

The park also serves as the starting point for the Ocmulgee River Water Trail, a scenic route that follows the river for 200 miles to Hazlehurst.

2551 Pierce Drive North, Macon, Georgia South Carolina

6. Visit the Tubman Museum to learn about African American culture.

The Tubman Museum, widely regarded as one of the most important repositories of African American cultural artifacts, artworks, and related information in the country, is a must-see while in Macon. The museum has educated and informed countless visitors about African American history and culture since it opened in 1985.

The museum depicts the African American experience through permanent and temporary exhibits, with a special emphasis on art and music, including soul and R&B. Little Richard, James Brown, and Otis Redding are among the performers with ties to Macon.

Expect to spend at least a couple of hours at the Tubman Museum exploring the exhibits.

Macon, Georgia (310 Cherry Street)

7. Pay a visit to Rose Hill Cemetery’s Garden of Graves.

Rose Hill Cemetery, also known as the “Garden of Graves” for its beautiful grounds, is a great place to walk around in Macon. This park-like cemetery, located on 50 acres near the Ocmulgee River, opened in 1840 and is the final resting place of many prominent Macon georgia citizens, including Gregg and Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band.

The cemetery, named after its horticulturist designer Simri Rose, is divided into sections based on the religion and background of those buried there. Take a stroll, and you’ll find the graves of 600 Confederate soldiers and an unknown number of slaves just steps away from the city’s once-prominent families’ more ornate burial plots.

It’s a fascinating place to explore, and despite the numerous inclines, the pathways are mostly paved. The cemetery website has information on self-guided walking tours, as well as dates and information on the twice-yearly Rose Hill Ramble, a fun 1.5-hour guided tour of the site.

Macon, Georgia (1071 Riverside Drive)

8. museum is the Museum of Arts and Sciences.

Macon’s Museum of Arts and Sciences (MAS) opened in 1956 and has four galleries that house temporary exhibits ranging from fine arts to technology and everything in between.

The Discovery House at the museum is a must-see for younger visitors. It includes a mini zoo with live animals, a nature trail, and a planetarium, among other interactive displays and exhibits. There are also workshops and age-appropriate learning programs available.

A souvenir and gift shop is on-site, and new additions to the grounds include an amphitheater, a bat cave, and walking trails.

Macon, Georgia (4182 Forsyth Road)

9. Attend a performance at the Grand Opera House.

Built in 1884 as the Academy of Music, the appropriately named Grand Opera House still has one of the largest stages in the American South. In fact, the stage is so large that live horses and chariots were used in a 1908 production of Ben Hur.

In the decades since, the stage has been graced by some of America’s biggest stars and performers, including Charlie Chaplin, Harry Houdini, Bob Hope, Ray Charles, and, of course, local heroes the Allman Brothers Band. The theater is best known these days for its annual Christmas performance of The Nutcracker and for being a regular stop for touring Broadway shows.

Macon, Georgia (651 Mulberry Street)

10. Get Your Game on at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

When in Macon, a visit to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the largest attraction of its kind in the United States, is time well spent. Despite its impressive 43,000 square feet of displays and exhibits, it’s easily navigable, with your preferred area easily accessible.

Do you want to learn more about car racing? Then proceed to the NASCAR simulators. Do you want to learn more about local athletes and their accomplishments? Make your way to the section Great Moments in Georgia Sports History.

Other highlights include high school and college sports sections, Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and baseball, basketball, and football. There are also guided tours available.

Macon, Georgia (301 Cherry Street)

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