Welcome to Macon! Hundreds of accepted students will get to know our undergraduate campus and city during the Admissions Office’s Make It Mercer! event on April 22, and many more will visit throughout the summer before they officially move in.
To our newest Bears: Mercer will be your home for at least the next four years, so make sure to enjoy the community around you. Macon is full of rich history and is the perfect place to make many memories!
Here are 10 activities that will help you make the most of your new home. Mark a few off your list now or save them for later, but try to experience them all before you graduate.
1. Slide into fun with the best view in town
Head to Coleman Hill by Mercer Law School and glide down the legendary slide. You can see all of downtown from this hill, creating a picture-perfect moment. Pro tip: Bring cardboard to sit on while you slide down.
2. Dine with the locals
Eating downtown is always delicious. Whether you are looking for seafood, burgers, sushi or tacos, you name it, and you will find it downtown. With 58 different restaurants, there is something for everyone within walking distance.
3. Visit Macon’s national park
Did you know Macon is home to a National Historical Park? Head to the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park any day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This beautiful park, located adjacent to downtown Macon, is filled with thousands of years of history and some of the best views in Macon.
4. Work out and have fun with Macon Rocks
Macon Rocks is Middle Georgia’s best climbing gym. As a college student, you can climb all day for just $15, or you can get unlimited access for $60 a month. If you are new to the rock climbing world, don’t stress. Macon Rocks offers classes, and the staff members are very helpful. With three floors of climbing, you cannot miss this!
5. Enjoy live music
Music plays a vital role in Macon. Take time to enjoy music downtown during your college years. Some great music venues include The Grand Opera House, Douglass Theatre, JBA, Hargray Capitol Theatre and Grant’s Lounge. These venues post their schedules online, so you’ll know who is playing where ahead of time.
6. Learn more about Georgia’s African American history
The Tubman Museum in downtown Macon is Georgia’s largest collection of African American history, art and culture. The museum is stunning!
7. Kayak down the Ocmulgee River
Amerson River Park is a nationally recognized park, complete with miles of walking and biking trails. It is amazing, but the biggest draw is the beautiful river the park runs along. You can rent kayaks for free through Mercer or head to Walmart and pick up a tube to float.
8. Head to the theater
Theatre Macon brings drama to our city. The theater season starts in August, with shows monthly. The 2022-23 season is “Classically American” themed and will feature many theater classics. Up on Forsyth Road, Macon Little Theatre offers a number of performances as well. And, if you love Broadway, The Grand Opera House is the only presenter of professional, nationally touring Broadway shows in Central Georgia.
9. Chill at the Big House
Did you know that the legendary rock group the Allman Brothers Band is from Macon? Head to the Big House Museum to learn more about these rock stars and see where they lived. Then, pop on down to Mercer Music at Capricorn to see the studio where they recorded and tour the museum. Pro-tip: Dine at H&H for brunch before the museum to get the full Allman Brothers experience!
10. Stay up to date with everything happening in downtown Macon
Fun events happen weekly in Macon. Make sure you are following downtown Macon on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to be the first to know what is happening in Macon!
