Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park
Mississippian temple mounds that you can climb, and a reconstructed 1,000-year-old earth lodge.
Macon
Home of the Allman Brothers, Otis Redding and Little Richard, with 1,000-year-old mounds and a famous spring of cherry blossoms.
At Ocmulgee Mounds, the boardwalk on the River Trail is closed until further notice.Checked November 2, 2026 · Latest
Few small cities mean as much to American music. Little Richard and Otis Redding came from here, and Capricorn Records and the Allman Brothers Band made it the capital of Southern rock. The revived downtown has good live music again.
Just across the river, Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park protects great earthen mounds built about a thousand years ago. In March, hundreds of thousands of Yoshino cherry trees bloom for the Cherry Blossom Festival.
- Best Time
- March for blossoms, or April–May and September–October
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Year-round
- Getting There
- About 90 minutes by car south of Atlanta.
What to See
1 of 5 are freeThe Big House
The Allman Brothers' 1970s home, now a museum packed with guitars, posters and memories.
Otis Redding Sites and Capricorn Studios
A small Otis Redding museum, his riverside statue, and the restored studio where Southern rock began.
Hay House
An 1850s Italian Renaissance villa of astonishing size and invention, called the Palace of the South.
International Cherry Blossom Festival
Ten days of pink streets and parades, usually in the second half of March.
Know Before You Go
- Museum hours are limited, often Thursday to Sunday. Call before you go.
Where to Stay
Stay downtown.
Where to Eat
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Go Next
If You're NearbyAtlanta
Georgia
Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthplace and church, the Georgia Aquarium and World of Coca-Cola.
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Worth a Detour
If You're NearbyAndersonville National Historic Site
Georgia
The Civil War's most notorious prison camp, now home to the National Prisoner of War Museum.
Full Guide
Last checked 2026-11-01. Part of the Southeast list.