I was talking to someone who had a friend visiting from out of town. The person was visiting from a bigger city and it made me realize that while Macon, Georgia is growing as a city, we are NOT trying to compete with Chicago or New York. We can’t offer giant museums, although our museums are great. We can’t offer a million places to eat, though what we have to offer is delicious. What we can offer is good food, a laid back environment where you can sit out, enjoy your drinks, and unwind, and a lot of history.
What To Do When Visiting Macon: Part 1
1. Rose Hill Cemetery - Set up on the Victorian idea of cemeteries being a place to gather, picnic, and enjoy, Rose Hill is a great spot for a run, to paint, for contemplation, or in homage.
2. The Grand Opera House - Nearly every week there is something going on at the Grand. Whether it is a Broadway Show, a ballet, or The Symphony, you’ll find some really great events!
3. Mercer University’s Townsend Hall and the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings - Great classical music happening much more often than you think. Visit mercer.edu to find out what’s going on.
4. The Golden Bough Bookstore - This requires a visit just because of the interesting collection of books about Macon or from Macon writers. Also, Eric Wakefield, the proprietor, knows a ton about books.
5. 2nd Street Record Store - Two words - Real Vinyl!
6. The Clubs of Macon - There are clubs for every musical taste, from country to jazz. You should visit at least one!
7. Tubman African American Museum - The largest museum in the southeast dedicated to African American art, history and culture. You should visit to see current art from the African American community and artistic portrayals of African American heritage and history.
8. Eateries - There are a great many places to eat in Macon. From American cuisine to Caribbean to Pho, we have many restaurants that will satisfy your most basic need to feed yourself or satisfy your need for high quality multicultural foods.
9. Mulberry Street Market - While this requires your visit to include a Wednesday, this is a great little market to visit. The vendors become friends, helping you find the best quality foods. They remember you and will save foods for you if they know you’re coming. While it is a small market, it is worth seeing and worth the reminder of how far we’ve come as a city.
10. Coleman Hill - While you might not be doing the sunrise yoga (though it’s a great way to greet the morning), Coleman Hill offers a great vantage point for viewing the city. Sometimes they are movies, or jazz, or just a free spot for picnicking. But definitely go for the view.
More photos and places to visit to come. If you’ve been to Macon, Georgia, do you have pictures of places out-of-towners should definitely visit? Add to our collection!
