Macon Travel Guide, Georgia

Macon is an “orchard city”. This might sound like a different nickname, but that’s how I see it. Of course the reason for calling it this way is the large number of cherry trees (about 200,000). The sight and smell of the trees in bloom in late March is unequalled. A similar, but pale in sight are the Washington, D.C.'s cherry trees that are only 3,000 in number. They are nonetheless, celebrated by the famous Cherry Blossom Festival similar to the one held in Macon in the third week of March.

The Macon Cherry Festival is indeed a beautiful and unforgettable sight that everybody should see and the smell of the cherry flowers in bloom is overwhelming. What a delight to live in such a city! Its residents must be really proud.

If not for other attractions, for this one, visitors should definitely flock to Macon.

Today’s sight is partly thanks to those who originally planned the city with one idea in mind: so the city would look like a park. And thanks to the many generations that lived in the city the beautiful sight was preserved. The recent revitalization project also helped the original charm of Macon being restored.

Besides the plans for a city of trees, Macon was also thought of as a cotton port, the Ocmulgee River providing the perfect setting.

Historic sights are also plenty as are the cultural hubs of the city and educational institutions like Wesleyan College, Mercer University, and Macon College.

In visiting downtown you should start with: Macon Welcome Center where you will get different discounted combination tickets that will make it possible to visit the downtown attractions at a lower price. And you really have what to see as downtown prides itself with institutions such as Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Cannonball House, Hay House, Sidney Lanier Cottage, Historic Douglass Theatre, Tubman African American Museum etc. there are several tours of the city you just have to make up your mind to which to choose or if time permits go on all of them.

The Tubman African-American Museum exhibits a wonderful collection of African drums and textiles, intricate quilts, and amazing avant-garde work. You can also take the museum as your study site as there is a reading room with plenty of books on different topics.

The Museum of Arts and Sciences is well worth a stop for the charming interactive exhibits that are tailored for kids who will love to see the "natural habitat" from a tree house. From there they can observe animals such as antelope, leopards and deer.

Another much visited attraction is the Georgia Music Hall of Fame that celebrates the musical heritage of the city, including that of the remarkable Otis Redding (he even has a memorial called Otis Redding) Memorial Bridge. Here you can admire Redding's black sweater, B-52s' wigs, watch footage of Ray Charles, listen to seventy years' worth of jukebox recordings and much more. These place is both educational and fun.

If you are in for shopping the best choice would be the Macon Mall that is located outside downtown.

As for recreational opportunities you should head towards the Central City Park, a 250-acre area where you can ongoing events.

It doesn't really matter what you do or where you go in. Macon, the city the city itself jumps at you and delivers an exhilarating experience.