12 Fun Things to Do in Macon, Georgia
Macon is an exciting city in central Georgia full of history and culture. Find out all the best things to do in Macon, Georgia in this post.
From historic homes and museums to outdoor trails and even a macabre walking tour, there are plenty of fun things to do in Macon.
I love Macon for its easy, small-town charm and beautiful architecture. After plenty of trips to Macon, these are my favorite activities.
Best Things to Do in Macon
1. Hay House
The Hay House is one of the most beautiful houses in Macon. This 18,000-square-foot historic home was built in the 1850s in the Italian Renaissance Revival style.
Taking a tour of the Johnston-Felton-Hay House is one of the best things to do in Macon! Guided tours take you through the home, from the basement to the main floor and the second floor.
I recommend taking the additional Top of the House Tour, which takes you up to the top floors and the cupola for incredible views of Macon.
2. Cannonball House
The Cannonball House is a 1850s Greek Revival-style house that earned its nickname after being struck by a cannonball in 1864 during the Civil War.
Take a tour of the house, furnished in the period from 1853 to 1870, a great glimpse into antebellum life and the Reconstruction Era in Macon.
The home also houses the founders’ furniture for Adelphean (Alpha Delta Pi) and Philomathean (Phi Mu), the two oldest sororities in the world, which were created at nearby Wesleyan College.
If you only have one day in Macon, I recommend checking out the Cannonball House and Hay House, which are just down the street from one another.
3. Tubman Museum
The Tubman Museum is the largest museum in the Southeast dedicated to the art, history, and culture, of African Americans.
The museum focuses on Macon’s rich African American history, local artists, and Macon’s music history.
Their permanent collection includes Mural, from Africa to America featuring a mural from a local artist that illustrates the feats of African Americans from past to present; From the Minds of African Americans featuring African American inventions; and Untold Stories featuring the people and places that have had a significant impact on the African American community in Macon.
4. The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House
The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House displays the largest collection of The Allman Brothers Band memorabilia in the world.
The Allman Brothers Band and their families lived here in The Big House on Vineville Avenue from 1970 to 1973.
The museum displays their instruments, clothing, tour posters, and art. They’ve also recreated Duane Allman and Brittany Oakley’s bedrooms.
5. Museum of Arts and Sciences
The Museum of Arts and Sciences is a fun museum with an art gallery, a planetarium, a mini zoo, hands-on exhibits, and outdoor spaces.
Exhibitions change frequently, so there’s always something fun and new going on. Subjects cover fine arts, science, and the humanities.
A lot of school groups will come through here in the morning, so if you want to avoid that crowd, I recommend visiting in the afternoon.
6. Rock Candy Tours
Rock Candy Tours offers guided tours focusing on the history of Macon. They have a music history tour, an African American heritage tour, a brewery tour, and a macabre tour.
I recommend their Macon Macabre Walking Tour, which happens each Friday during the month of October. This 1.5 hour walking tour through Downtown Macon tells the history of the city through its darkest stories of murder and mayhem. The tour explores the downtown Macon commercial and nightlife district.
The Macon Macabre Walking Tour isn’t really a ghost tour; there are some haunted sites, but mostly the stories are about murder, crime, and Macon’s darker history without any ghost stories. They don’t recommend this tour for children due to its gruesome nature.
If you’re spending the weekend in Macon, I recommend checking out Rock Candy Tours’ weekend offerings.
7. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church is a Romanesque Neo-Gothic church that was built between 1889 and 1892. It’s twin spires tower 200 feet high.
The interior is filled with stained glass windows, a white Carrara marbled alter and pulpit, and an organ with 1,000 pipes.
8. Spring Street Landing
Spring Street Landing on the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail is a park located right off of Spring Street Bridge that has a playground, public art installations, a boat ramp, and is a great spot for fishing.
If you want to walk the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, it goes from Amerson River Park in the north to the Ocmulgee National Monument and Central city Park in the south. The trail follows along the Ocmulgee River.
9. Mercer University
Mercer University was founded in 1833, and it’s the oldest private university in Georgia. It was also the first college in Georgia to fully desegregate in 1963.
The main campus in Macon is home to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business, the Tift College of Education, the Townsend School of Music, the School of Engineering, and the School of Medicine.
The campus is full of beautiful red-brick historic buildings with many, like the R. Kirby Godsey Administration Building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
10. Bear of Terror
The Bear of Terror statue is located on the Mercer University campus. You’ll find it near the main gate of Mercer’s Five Star Stadium.
Mercer University’s mascot is a Grizzly Bear, and this ferocious statue is perfect for instilling fear into rival sports teams.
11. Historic Riverside Cemetery
Riverside Cemetery is a historic cemetery established in 1887. It covers 125 acres along the Ocmulgee River and is the final resting place for over 19,000 people, including many notable Macon residents.
A Civil War redoubt remains intact on the bluff above the river. The old gatehouse was built in 1897 in a rare example of Old English half-timbered construction.
12. Macon Restaurants
Eat your way around Macon at the city’s many delicious restaurants. Here are a few of my favorites:
- The Rookery — best place for burgers in town
- Ocmulgee Brewpub — craft beer and gourmet burgers and sandwiches
- H&H Soul Food Restaurant — soul food and home-cooked breakfast from friends of the Allman Brothers
Find more places to eat in Macon here.
Macon Things to Do Map
Ready to explore all the fun things to do in Macon? Find each location mentioned in this post on the map below.
I hope you have an incredible time in Macon, Georgia!
Where to Stay in Macon
Find the perfect place to rest your head on your visit to Macon, from the top rated accommodations to unique stays you can’t get anywhere else.
- Where I Stayed: Hilton Garden Inn Macon / Mercer University
- Top Hotel: Homewood Suites by Hilton Macon-North
- Great Value: Best Western Inn & Suites of Macon
- Unique Stay: 1842 Inn
More Things to Do in Macon
Find more fun things to do on your trip to Macon, Georgia with these itineraries:
- A Fun Weekend Getaway in Macon, GA Itinerary
- 1 Day in Macon, GA: Your Perfect Itinerary
- High Falls State Park: Tips for Your Perfect Visit
- 5 Delicious Restaurants in Macon, GA
Ready to visit Macon, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book your flight to Macon: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Macon using Hotels.com.
- Start Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.
Cheers!
Paige
Which of these top things to do in Macon, Georgia is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
