History buffs who take a special interest in the Civil War will want to make plans to visit the Andersonville National Historic Site. This is the prison camp that became the deathbed for 13,000 Union soldiers who were prisoners of war and suffered extreme neglect that lead to their deaths. The National Prisoner of War museum is also located here. This historic and dramatic attraction is only one mile north of the city of Andersonville, which itself is in close proximity to Macon.
Some of Georgia's most scenic and challenging recreation trails can be found at Hard Labor Creek State Park in nearby Rutledge. The elevation and difficulty is relatively steady, as the trail features minimal elevation gain. This hiking trail stretches out for 2.2 total miles and derives its minor level of difficulty from a few winds and turns along the way.
Echoes of the Civil War still resound in Macon at the historically-rich Cannonball House and Museum. See where an actual cannonball plummeted through the exterior of a white-columned Greek Revival-styled home that eventually stood as a symbol of the nation's struggle against itself. The house is directly adjacent to the Macon Confederate Museum that features actual weapons used in the Civil War, photos, artifacts, uniforms, and crystal and china pieces from the period.