Choose Your Draft Pick: Macon Georgia Edition
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A Playbook for a Winning Macon Trip
Some buddies and I are fans of a podcast called “All Fantasy Everything” in which comedians conduct a fantasy draft of “anything and everything from the world of pop culture” each week, making five selections over the course of 90 minutes. The podcast has drafted a wide range of topics, for example, a dive bar, Samuel L. Jackson movies, Taco Bell’s menu, and words that make you sound dumb!
As a fun tribute to the podcast, my buddies and I conduct a similar draft via text almost every Friday. A recent Friday, we drafted “Macon Highlights.” These could be places and things we each see as highlights, hidden gems, or places as locals that we like to show visitors. The people included in this activity are the following: Charles Davis, co-host of Creekside Mornings on 100.9 The Creek; Chris Floore, Chief Communications Officer for Macon-Bibb County; Spencer Hawkins, Director of Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency; and myself (Aaron Buzza.)
How It Works
We determined the draft order randomly each week, and a member of the Visit Macon marketing team selected our order for this particular week. The draft order is important because we conduct the draft in a serpentine fashion. What is that? Imagine the game Chutes and Ladders. You start at the bottom of the board, and work your way right until you get to one side. Then you go up a row and move back to the left. You keep doing that until you get to the top left of the board. Or, it means that if you pick fourth in the first round, you pick first in the second. The draft order for us this particular week was Spencer, Chris, Aaron, and Charles.
Rules for Picks
I’ve included a bit of information that each person said with their pick following the location. And one note: We purposely focused on activities that can be (mostly) family-friendly and we tried to shift away from specific events/festivals, as we wanted to create as much planning flexibility as possible as we put this draft together. Other than a couple of picks, most of these are available throughout the year as you visit, welcome guests, and explore your own community. We hope this provides a starting point as you plan a visit or plan your weekend.
Click each icon that says the round category to see the pull-down view with information on each participant's pick for the draft and why you should check them out!
Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park | “For both what it is now and what it will be very shortly. It is a great place to take the whole family. And the community has done great work to partner with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. What it will become in the next five years is going to be mind-blowing.” Spencer |
Lake Tobesofkee | “Spend the weekend, rent a boat, sit on the beach, kids playing on the playgrounds, hiking, grilling, sitting at Fish ‘N Pig at sunset.” - Chris |
Society Garden | “It has evolved beautifully. It brings families, people of all backgrounds and interests, features awesome music and special events. It is outside or inside. They’re willing to make changes and take risks, which has led to a growing and expanding menu of food, beverages and events. And the staff is fantastic!” - Aaron |
Macon Bacon at Luther Williams Field | “The team has revitalized a spot that has been so good to Macon for such a long time. The games are great, affordable and the team has become a big part of the community.” - Charles |
Tubman Museum | “As a museum and as an event space, the facility is amazing and feels like it belongs in a larger area. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, inside and out. The content is staggering.” - Charles |
Hay House | “The history and beauty are second-to-none. The amount of restoration and preservation that has been done over the last 50 years is phenomenal. If someone only has a short amount of time in Macon, that is a place they absolutely must go.” - Aaron |
Amerson River Park | “There is nothing more beautiful than walking the park with your family. The fact that we have more than 160 acres of green space in the city limits is amazing. And it only continues to grow!” - Chris |
Public Art | “In the last five or six years, we’ve seen sculptures in downtown, a Mural Festival, murals on businesses, partnerships with Bike Walk Macon to paint intersections to help with beautification and pedestrian safety. It is all really cool.” - Spencer |
Capitol Theatre | “I love live music and have been to a lot of venues. The Capitol is such a great place to see a band really do their thing on stage while simultaneously feel like you’re in a smaller, more intimate setting. The layout and setup is pretty simple and that’s what works so well.” - Spencer |
Downtown Macon | “Over the past 19 years since I’ve lived here, Downtown has moved from a place where there were a handful of places to get a drink, there wasn’t much music and there wasn’t much pedestrian traffic. Now it is full of places to eat, drink, listen to music, and experience other events. You can get a hotel room and just enjoy all a beautiful weekend holds.” - Chris |
Douglass Theatre | “The variety of shows, the community-oriented presentations, the beautiful history of the building make this such a special place. I see it as a love letter that Mr. Douglass wrote to the community.” - Aaron |
Grant's Lounge | “Since I’m there every week (Charles is the lead singer of the band that presents the Macon Music Revue every Wednesday) it seems like the right pick. There is so much music history in the walls.” - Charles |
Theatre Macon | “Another personal pick for me (Charles has been in numerous shows). It feels like my second home and is home to one of the most professional community theatres in the state and region.” |
Fresh Produce Records | “The way it has grown, the music they play introducing new and different artists, the help they provide to customers to find the right records, and the overall vibe. Whether you’re a casual music fan or a hardcore fan of a particular artist, you can find what you’re looking for… or they’ll get it for you.”- Aaron |
Mercer Football | “The amazing level of energy you’ll feel at games, for a relatively new team to the area is an all-around great experience for a family. The additional concerts and tailgate experience extend the fun and excitement beyond just the game, too.” - Chris |
Ocmulgee Outfitters | “Having a place right in Downtown Macon that stocks an impressive amount of high-quality product. They have a great selection and offer great information for how and where to use it, as well.” - Spencer |
Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen | Spencer – Piedmont Brewery and Kitchen “Just for the smoked brisket and beer alone. It is such a cool place and I’ve never had a bad meal or bad beer there.” - Spencer |
Concerts on Coleman Hill | “You can bring a picnic, hang out with people you both know and don’t know, stretch out and listen to great music while looking at the beautiful view of Downtown Macon.” - Chris |
Ingleside Villiage Pizza | “I love the atmosphere. The pizza kicks butt. They have an amazing beer selection if you stay and eat. Much of the staff has been there for quite some time, so it is fun to watch them work together like a well-oiled machine. They’re all rock stars!” -- Aaron |
The Bohemian Den | “A great store, and a calm, inviting space. Scott has curated a wonderful selection of products and the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. Such a unique space for the community!” - Charles |
