Cherry Blossoms, Southern Rock Heritage, and Native American History Collide at this Charming Georgia City

Macon, Georgia

Macon hits different than your typical Georgia city. While Atlanta sprawls north, this music-rich river town keeps it real with Otis Redding’s legacy, Southern Gothic mansions, and the world’s largest cherry blossom festival outside Japan.

Not exactly what you’d expect in Middle Georgia, but certainly a wonderful surprise. Here are more of our favorite things about this charming city.

Macon has way more cherry trees than Washington DC

You’ll find 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees in Macon, which makes Washington DC’s 3,800 trees look tiny.

The Cherry Blossom Festival happens March 21-30, 2025, and brings in over 100,000 people each year. This 10-day ‘Pinkest Party on Earth’ makes about $3 million directly and up to $12 million total for the local economy.

You can drive or walk the Cherry Blossom Trail to see the prettiest blooms all over the city.

You can float down a river for just $10

At Amerson River Park, you can get a tube from River Tube for only $10. The park covers 115 acres of forests, meadows, and wetlands wrapped around a natural river bend.

As you float along, you’ll pass through different types of nature and get a nice break from Georgia’s heat. Just head to the south end of the park where River Tube sets up shop during the summer months.

You can walk on a floor that’s over 1,000 years old

At Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, you can step inside the only Earth Lodge in North America with its original clay floor from 1015 AD.

The 3,336-acre park shows signs of people living there for 12,000 years straight and holds over 3 million artifacts found during America’s biggest dig that gave jobs to more than 800 men.

If you climb to the top of the Great Temple Mound, you’ll get amazing views of downtown Macon and the land around it.

A real Civil War cannonball is still stuck in a house

You can see the actual cannonball that hit the Cannonball House on July 30, 1864, during the Battle of Dunlap Hill.

Judge Asa Holt’s Greek Revival home at 856 Mulberry Street took a direct hit when Union soldiers aimed at the Confederate Treasury in nearby Hay House.

The cannonball first hit the sand walkway, bounced up through a column, went through the parlor wall, and landed without exploding at the bottom of the stairs.

You can take tours of the house daily starting at 10:00 AM.

You can play sports announcer at the Hall of Fame

When you visit Georgia’s Sports Hall of Fame, you’ll be in the largest state sports museum in America at 14,000 square feet.

You can race in a wheelchair simulator, sit in the announcer’s chair to call famous games, and check out exhibits about Georgia’s sports heroes.

The museum shows off Olympic achievements, golf legends, and has an interactive play area. Instead of just looking at displays, you get to join in and feel what it’s like to be part of Georgia’s sports history.

The kitchen where ‘Ramblin’ Man’ was written is open to visitors

In the Allman Brothers Band Museum, you can stand right where Dickey Betts wrote ‘Ramblin’ Man’ in the kitchen and ‘Blue Sky’ in the living room.

The Tudor-style Big House at 2321 Vineville Avenue was home to band members from 1970-1973 and only cost $225 a month back then.

The 4,440-square-foot home now holds the world’s biggest collection of Allman Brothers stuff, including Duane’s guitars and Gregg’s Hammond B3 organ.

Little Richard’s fancy boots show off his wild style

You can see the colorful platform boots that Macon-born Little Richard wore on stage, now on display at the Tubman Museum. These eye-catching shoes stand 4 inches tall with bright patterns that match his groundbreaking flashy style.

Born in Macon on December 5, 1932, Little Richard helped create rock and roll right in this city. His boots are part of a bigger display that includes his performance outfits and personal items from his 70-year career.

You can tour Macon’s music landmarks for one price

Rock Candy Tours takes you on a 2-hour trip through Macon’s music history for one set price. You’ll visit 12 important places connected to Little Richard, Otis Redding, and the Allman Brothers.

Jessica Walden, whose uncle Phil helped start Capricorn Records, founded these tours with insider stories about Macon’s music pioneers. You can choose walking or driving tours that show you historic venues, recording studios, and where the musicians lived.

A cave-like grotto hides under a church

Under St. Joseph’s Catholic Church at 830 Poplar Street, you’ll find the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. Built in 1889, this underground limestone cave has a 15-foot ceiling with pointy rock formations and looks like the famous shrine in France.

The Macon Telegraph once called the church ‘frozen music’ because of its beautiful design. You can visit this hidden sanctuary during regular church hours by walking down stone steps into its cool, otherworldly space.

Downtown went from empty to bustling in just a few years

Macon’s downtown used to have ‘only tumbleweeds and wild rabbits’ according to locals, but now it’s full of life with more than 30 bars and music spots, 50 restaurants, and dozens of shops.

This amazing change got Macon listed in The New York Times’ ’52 Places to Go’ in 2023. Since 2018, over $25 million has been invested downtown, creating a lively hub centered around the city’s rich music history.

Visiting Macon

• Downtown Visitor Center: 450 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, open daily
• Best time to visit: March for Cherry Blossom Festival (March 21-30, 2025)
• Places to stay: Hotel Forty Five (downtown), Burke Mansion (historic B&B), Residence Inn (budget-friendly)
• Getting around: Bring clear bags for festival events; free shuttles to Central City Park during festivals
• Most museums charge admission; many festival events free