CITY SPOTLIGHT:

YOUR GUIDE TO MACON, GEOGIA

park in Macon, GA

Know Before You Go: About Macon

Discover scenic natural beauty, small-town charm and activities for all seasons in Macon.

Savvy travelers have called Macon one of the coolest cities in the nation. And it’s not just because of music legends like Little Richard and Otis Redding either—this Georgia peach is a positively gorgeous sight to see, any time of the year. You’ll feel right at home among the relaxed, innovation-friendly vibe of the city—what are you waiting for?

Seasonal Fun

Inhale the perfume of 300,000 blooming cherry trees—in early spring, when Macon's International Cherry Blossom Festival draws admirers from around the globe. Escape the summer heat at the Sandy Beach Water Park with its slides, pools and Lazy River attraction. In fall or winter, lose yourself in Macon's past, beginning with the Ocmulgee Indian Mounds that date back to 900 A.D. For music lovers, pay a visit to the statue of famed singer Otis Redding in Ocmulgee Heritage Trail's Gateway Park, and then head over to the Big House, the early 1970s home and museum dedicated to the Allman Brothers Band.

Sunshine and Fun

Macon pairs abundant sunshine with enough rain to keep things green all year long. Early spring's average lows and highs—mid-40s to about 70 degrees—call for sweaters in the daytime and light jackets after dark. From May through September, dress for the high 80s to 90s and watch for afternoon or evening thundershowers. October is the driest month, and November through March is cool and rainy. Macon rarely experiences hard freezes—winter days stay in the 50s to low 60s, and nights occasionally drop into the low 30s. Tip: Keep track of weather forecasts during your vacation. Dating back to the 1920s, the Macon area has had its share of tornadoes—some of them deadly.

Flying or Driving

Fly into Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Then, board one of the Macon-bound shuttles or rent a car and drive into the city along Interstate 75, the north-south corridor. Interstate 16—traveling west from Savannah—intersects Interstate 75 at Macon and Interstate 64 heading east from Saint Louis connects to Interstate 75 at Lexington, Kentucky. Tip: Get your bearings downtown on a public-transit MITSI trolley tour, with stops at the Hay House, Tubman Museum and Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, among others. Simply ring the bell and hop off at the attraction you'd like to see.

Macon Makin' Bacon

Macon's major employers include two health care facilities—the Medical Center of Central Georgia and the Coliseum Health Care System, with more than 7,500 employees. Another 5,200 skilled professionals work at GEICO's largest regional office and call center. Mercer University and Wesleyan College have combined faculties and staffs of about 2,200, and the Bibb County Board of Education accounts for 3,700 educational jobs.

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Things to Do in Macon

Macon is a hub for Civil War monuments, museums, culture and diverse restaurant options.