Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Macon, GA
Year Listed: 2004
Statue and gardens in downtown Macon, Georgia.
Credit: Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Rising above the Ocmulgee River where Georgia's rolling piedmont plateau meets the coastal plain, Macon has known the impact of diverse cultures spanning 12,000 years of history, a fact which helps explain why this friendly city boasts 5,500 National Register structures and 11 historic districts - more than any other community in the state.
Known as "The Song and Soul of the South" for its valuable contributions to music and "The City in a Park" for its landscaped boulevards and green oases, Macon is home to attractions ranging from the ancient Indian mounds at Ocmulgee National Monument to the "Top 40" musical hits of Little Richard at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. History buffs will enjoy the lavish Italianate mansion known as the Hay House, the 1853 Cannonball House, and the Tubman African-American Museum, while children shouldn't miss a visit to the interactive Museum of Arts and Sciences or a stop at Nu-Way Wieners, the oldest hot dog stand in America. Other highlights include the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Ocmulgee Heritage Greenway river walk. Annual events include the Georgia State Fair and the Cherry Blossom Festival, a spring celebration showcasing Macon's thousands of Yoshino cherry trees in bloom.
