Only in Macon

Here are a few things you can do during the daytime before the wedding:

• Kids' Play Date at Amerson Water Works Park (see the post with all of the details below). Thanks to our friend Russ for organizing!
• Ocmulgee Expeditions: 478.757.8226, ocmulgeeexpeditions.com. This is the kayak and canoe rental company run by dear friends of ours, the Brothers Adams. They won't get you lost because they've also got to be at the Capitol by 8 p.m.! Your boat is launched from Amerson Water Works Park, the same place as the kids' play date. This is one of our favorite things to do in Macon - and it's easy for all levels. You can even rent a canoe big enough to do it family style. Check out the pics on the site and see the bride and groom taking the river by storm!
• Georgia Children's Museum: 383 Cherry Street, 478.755.9539, georgiachildrensmuseum.com. A great place to take the kids and get all creative in downtown Macon.
• Georgia Music Hall of Fame: 200 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, 478.751.3334, georgiamusic.org. If you want to be shocked by Georgia's contributions to music, the GMHF is the place to be. It holds a lot of Jessica's family's history within its walls with her father Alan and uncle Phil are both featured as inductees. The future of the GMHF is in question, so we encourage and appreciate your support of the museum and its great Music Store. You may never have a chance to do so again. Also open on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
• Georgia Sports Hall of Fame: 301 Cherry Street, 478.752.1585, gshf.org. Fun interactive exhibits that challenge the athlete in all of us. Maybe one day Jamie's dad Jimmy Weatherford will be among the inductees since his football career is certainly deserving.
• Tubman African American Museum: 340 Walnut Street, 478.743.8544, tubmanmuseum.com. Another cherished downtown attraction in the "museum district." It's also one of the best art galleries and history museums. You seriously come in curious and leave colorblind.
• Big House Allman Brothers Museum: 2321 Vineville Avenue, 478.741.5551, thebighousemuseum.com. If you like the Allman Brothers, this museum is a must see. It contains some amazing artifacts and truly takes you back in time with the rooms replicated to how it looked when the band called it home. There is even a Gov't Mule section. Also open Sunday from 11 a.m-5 p.m.
• Ocmulgee National Monument: 478.752.8257, nps.gov/ocmu. Home of the Muscogee Indians, this is a spiritual place. A tip from Jamie: if you are staying at the Macon Marriott City Center and are interested in taking a walk amongst ancient mounds, follow these directions: exit the Marriott hotel, hang a right toward Coliseum Drive (the road you came in on). Cross Coliseum Drive to Main Street and immediately on the right you will see Clinton Street. Take Clinton Street (maybe looks a little shady but it's safe) until it dead ends into a gate. Open the gate (unlocked traditional museum hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and you have just entered the back of the Ocmulgee National Monument. Follow the paved path until you come to a "T." If you go left, you will head to the Welcome Center. If you go right, you will head toward the three mounds. Feel free to walk, hike, jog or just chill. The park is open on Sunday, too.
• Ocmulgee Heritage Trail: ocmulgeeheritagetrail.com. Another excellent place to bike, walk, jog, stroll or chill. The paved trail runs along the Ocmulgee River for miles. Very convenient to the Macon Marriott City Center.

Other useful resources are the City of Macon's site cityofmacon.net and the Macon-Bibb Convention and Visitors Bureau's Welcome Center at 450 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (visit their site maconga.org). The Welcome Center is like a museum unto itself and has a great video featuring many of our wedding guests. The city of Macon provides an amazing glimpse into the past. Our city boasts more homes on the National Historic Registration than Savannah, including the Hay House, the home of the Confederate Treasury during the Civil War, and the Cannonball House, the only Macon home "hit" during the Civil War. Macon's cemeteries are some of the most breathtaking places in the city. Rose Hill is final resting place of Duane Allman, Berry Oakley and Phil Walden, just to name a few. Riverside Cemetery holds both Jessica and Jamie's grandparents. It is also one of our favorite places to enjoy as a park.

There is no shortage of stuff to do in the town we love. Make a day of it and see you later at the Cox Capitol Theatre!