Best things to do in McDonough, Georgia

McDonough, Georgia is widely known as a year-round city With a population of 22,084 as of the 2010 census, McDonough is approximately 30 minutes from the state capital, Atlanta.

McDonough has it all; In addition to security, the city has always been a tourist place to celebrate various events such as live music, the Geranium Festival, Ladies’ Night, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.

You’re probably wondering why McDonough, Georgia is absolutely worth hosting any type of event

McDonough not only guarantees fun and exciting entertainment, but it’s also a remnant of the area’s history. 

McDonough Historic District 

The McDonough Historic District spans more than 200 acres downtown and includes buildings dating back to the city’s founding 

Notable features include the Henry County Courthouse and historic jail on the north side of the town square. Built mainly of red brick, it has a white bell tower that rises above the square. It was built in 1897 in a neo-Romanesque architectural style. 

Other attractive and important buildings in the neighborhood include an art deco Standard Oil gas station, now a tourist information center, and the Grand Palace Theater, now known as the Clay Plaza Building. 

Heritage Park Veterans Museum 

Small but perhaps perfectly formed, the Heritage Park Veterans Museum is housed in a red iron barn. Inside is an impressive array of military artifacts.

The earliest dates back more than a hundred years, to US involvement in World War I, and exhibits range to the modern military of the present day. Large enough to hold several 1910’s vehicles as well as a variety of example uniforms, gear, and food boxes. Granite depicts famous scenes from past military clashes.

Ghost Tours

They look like ghosts and otherworldly ghosts like McDonough just like the living. You can learn all about the city’s spooky goings-on by taking one of the many guided ghost tours available in and around downtown McDonough. 

These lantern-led walking tours last approximately 90 minutes and take in a variety of locations including the town square, restaurants, and shops where ghost sightings have been reported. 

One of these locations functioned as a morgue after an event in known as the Camp Creek Train Wreck disaster, while another function as a haunted man who has appeared on several paranormal television shows and is well known in the United States.

Southern Belle Farm

While McDonough is only 30 minutes drive from Georgia’s largest city, Atlanta, it is even closer to rural communities that continue to earn their income from farming.

A great example of this South Belle lifestyle is Farmyard. Southern Belle is a working farm of over 300 acres and gives visitors a glimpse of exactly what it takes to run a successful farming business here. 

These include a dairy barn exhibit, hay wagon rides, and a chance to get up close and personal with the farm’s loveliest residents – their animals.

There is also a variety of activities that change from season to season, from spring and summer fruit picking to the pumpkin patch that comes to life around Halloween each October.

Stone Mountain Park

The most visited travel destination all in Georgia, Stone Mountain does not sit on a mountain range but as a lonely rocky hill dominating the surrounding countryside 28 miles north of McDonough 250 feet from its base or a little over 500 feet above sea level.

Hiking trails to its summit offer a variety of more dramatic Scenes while it is also possible to reach its highest point using the Skyride cable car.

However, the mountain is perhaps best known for housing the world’s largest bas relief depicting three of the most important leaders of the Confederate Southern States.

Clayton County International Park

This park is located about 30 minutes northwest of McDonough, which is Atlanta’s testament to the enduring legacy that can exist by hosting major sporting events such as the Olympics.

There is no question that the local communities surrounding Clayton County’s International Park benefits from its existence.

Built to host the Games Atlanta 1996 beach volleyball competition not only maintains the beach but also sports fields, bike paths, and places where fishermen can try their luck in the lake waters.

If you’re traveling with young children, your eyes will probably be drawn to the giant water slides

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About the Author: Teresa Sabo