Visit Madison, GA

Visit Madison, GA As Madison, GA's official travel & tourism page, we invite you to discover our small town charm. Come slow down, relax, and reconnect. No spam please.
(44)

Known for its rich history, breathtaking architecture, and friendly people, let Madison captivate you with her grace and beauty. Step into a slower pace of life and discover more than two centuries of historic tales, vibrant culture, and small-town charm of this enchanting Southern city. Named “Best Small Town in Georgia” by Southern Living and 10th “Best Historic Small Towns in America” by USA To

day in 2018, Madison is located just one hour east of Atlanta and less than half an hour from Lake Oconee. With one of the largest historic districts in the state of Georgia, get lost roaming the streets, absorbing its local arts and cultural attractions, and shopping the unique boutiques and antiques stores. Enjoy culinary delights ranging from fine dining to good ol’ Southern soul food. If getting back to nature is on the agenda, explore the more than 5000 acres of Hard Labor Creek State Park, the 2nd largest state park in Georgia. Relax on a dude ranch or at one of our charming bed & breakfasts. VisitMadisonGA: Page Rules of Engagement

Welcome to our Visit Madison GA community! We are so excited to have you join and engage with us. We strive to make our community a welcoming and helpful tool for all users, so in order to keep it that way, we ask that you follow a few simple rules. We reserve the right to remove any comments or posts that are in violation of these rules. Repeat offenses may result in the blocking of the user from our page.

1. Please be kind at all times. Harassment and bullying of any kind will not be tolerated. Healthy disagreements are to be expected from time to time, but we expect respectful language and treatment towards all users. Use of obscene language directed towards individuals or groups is strictly prohibited, and words that intend to disrupt the peace are also subject to removal from our page.
2. Discrimination will not be tolerated. Instances of discrimination towards any individual or group on the behalf of that person or group’s race, s*x, ethnicity, religious belief, gender identity, s*xual orientation or disability are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate removal of any comments containing such discriminatory language.
3. In order to maintain a useful space for all users, please avoid self-promotion or spam of any kind. Our community will be most useful if threads remain on topic and without clutter. Please keep any links shared in our group relevant to the topic of conversation and be careful not to share links containing viruses or inappropriate content. Such links will be removed immediately.
4. Respect the privacy of others. Please do not share private information about any community members or non-community members on our site. We want our community to be a safe space for everyone, and that starts with respecting people’s personal information. We encourage members of our community to engage in meaningful discussion of topics that will be helpful to the whole community. Our page should be used as a tool where questions can be answered and knowledge shared. We are so excited to have you here with us, and we thank you for respecting fellow community members enough to follow our rules. With that in mind, have fun discovering Madison-Morgan County with us and welcome to our community.

The Addison Key Bell house (circa 1892) will be on this year's Holiday Tour of Homes! This home has also been referred t...
11/24/2024

The Addison Key Bell house (circa 1892) will be on this year's Holiday Tour of Homes! This home has also been referred to as the the Bell-Bradford-Cartwright-Marett home. Get your early bird tour tickets before November 30th for the Madison Holiday Tour of Homes on December 6th and 7th.

https://visitmadisonga.com/holiday-tour-of-homes/

[Did you know?]
📍Dr. A. K. Bell published a diary in 1883, which includes notes and case studies from his time in medical school, payment records for services rendered in his time as a practitioner, and notes about a trip he took out of Madison by train.
📍Dr. Bell was a Civil War surgeon at a Confederate hospital in Augusta.
📍Dr. Bell was an original member of the Morgan County Medical Society as well as a member of the Georgia State Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

Madison's City Hall is showing off for Fall! 🎃🍁🍂 The current City Hall building was constructed in 1938. This project wa...
11/23/2024

Madison's City Hall is showing off for Fall! 🎃🍁🍂 The current City Hall building was constructed in 1938. This project was funded by a Depression Era Federal program, the Public Works Administration (PWA). This new location was first suggested in 1929 by Mayor C. M. Furlow before his retirement. He suggested that the 1887 City Hall (now the Welcome Center) needed updating.

“The treasurer of our city should have an office not adjoining stables, cages for prisoners, fire department, police headquarters, etc. In other words – an up-to-date office is needed so ladies may call and transact their business with the city with impunity.”

Five years after these remarks, the local newspaper The Madisonian echoed his sentiments: “the room for public comfort of men is small and poorly kept, assuring no privacy, and needs much improvement and better facilities.”

In 1938, the new City Hall was built, and it was fully staffed and operational in 1939. In 2023, this Colonial Revival building received a much-needed renovation with updates that stayed true to its historic heritage.

If you want to learn more about the history, heritage, and cultural sites around Madison, request a visitor's guide today: https://visitmadisonga.com/visitorguiderequest/

Picture it: A small town twinkling with Christmas lights and cheer. Festive shop windows filled with Christmas trees. Th...
11/21/2024

Picture it: A small town twinkling with Christmas lights and cheer. Festive shop windows filled with Christmas trees. The subtle scent of pine and cinnamon drifting on a cool breeze. A holiday melody plays in the background. No, you didn’t wake up in a Hallmark movie. You’re in merry Madison during the holiday season. Discover the many holiday shopping events scheduled this season, and check out our featured partners
Amelia's Apparel , Mad Hospitality Madison, GA , & Farmview Market in this Merry Madison Holiday Shopping Guide!

Check off your Christmas list with Christmas gifts from our Holiday Shopping Guide in the small town The Travel proclaimed “straight out of a Hallmark movie.”

Madison might be a small town, but it's got plenty of charm to go around. Just off I-20, you'll find our historic downto...
11/20/2024

Madison might be a small town, but it's got plenty of charm to go around. Just off I-20, you'll find our historic downtown -- filled with locally-owned shops and restaurants. This walkable town has it all: coffee shops, friendly shopkeepers, historic homes open to the public for tour, well-maintained parks, historic markers, a scenic cemetery, and even a self-guided walking tour around town. Begin at the Welcome Center where you'll find a friendly hello (and your four-legged friends will find dog treats and a water bowl) and plenty of tips for a memorable stay in Madison.

https://visitmadisonga.com/top-10-fall-activities-in-madison-georgia/

If you missed Saturday's Shop, Sip, and Stroll event with Main Street Madison Georgia, there's good news! It's happening...
11/19/2024

If you missed Saturday's Shop, Sip, and Stroll event with Main Street Madison Georgia, there's good news! It's happening again on November 23rd!!! Enjoy holiday shopping, seasonal sips, live music, and more in historic downtown Madison, Georgia. Plan your trip to experience this one-of-a-kind small-town shopping event.

Learn More: https://visitmadisonga.com/shop-sip-stroll/

POV: You spot Little Free Community Lending Libraries all over town! On your visit, don't forget to leave a book & take ...
11/18/2024

POV: You spot Little Free Community Lending Libraries all over town!

On your visit, don't forget to leave a book & take one, too (and post a photo showing us your finds!).

Photo 1: Madison-Morgan Cultural Center
Photo 2: Morgan County African American Museum
Photos 3 & 4: The Sinclair Madison

Where else would you love to see one of these pop up?
https://visitmadisonga.com/start-exploring/ #

It's time to plan your trip to Madison for the Holiday Home Tour hosted by  Madison-Morgan Cultural Center  on December ...
11/17/2024

It's time to plan your trip to Madison for the Holiday Home Tour hosted by Madison-Morgan Cultural Center on December 6th and 7th! One of the homes featured on the tour is Poullain Heights, a Neoclassical Revival house built in 1905 by sisters Sara and Florida Poullain. It remained in the Poullain family until the 1980s when it was purchased by Baron and Baroness Werner von Hanstein. In the early 90s, the home was owned by Ed and Louise Hannah. Today, it is the private home of Shawn and Francis Jan. On December 6th and 7th, come see it decked out in holiday splendor when you purchase tickets to the home tour. Learn more at https://visitmadisonga.com/holiday-tour-of-homes/

A prominent feature in Madison’s downtown square and beloved filming location when Y’allywood comes to town, Morgan Coun...
11/16/2024

A prominent feature in Madison’s downtown square and beloved filming location when Y’allywood comes to town, Morgan County Courthouse is open to visitors when court is not in session. If the courthouse looks familiar, it could be because it's been featured in many of your favorite films -- from Goosebumps to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, to Halloween II. Every hour on the hour, you'll hear the courthouse bells toll, adding to the charming ambiance of historic downtown Madison.

Learn more about the history on the self-guided walking tour: https://visitmadisonga.com/walking-tour/courthouse/

Did you know that the Hilltop House, also known as the Burney-Lambert House, was once photographed by famed photojournal...
11/15/2024

Did you know that the Hilltop House, also known as the Burney-Lambert House, was once photographed by famed photojournalist Francis Benjamin Johnston whose work was recently on exhibit at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center earlier this year? Happily, you can visit the stately Hilltop House for a tour at this year's Holiday Tour of Homes.

Learn more at https://visitmadisonga.com/holiday-tour-of-homes/

This  , choose your own wellness adventure in Madison. Would you rather play pickleball at Hill Park, try the cross-coun...
11/13/2024

This , choose your own wellness adventure in Madison. Would you rather play pickleball at Hill Park, try the cross-country trail at Bill Wood Park, or play a round of disc golf at Indian Creek Park?

For a full list of outdoor adventures, visit https://visitmadisonga.com/outdoor-activities/

Explore Georgia named Madison one of the most unusual fall foliage experiences in Georgia! Do some leaf-peeping this sea...
11/12/2024

Explore Georgia named Madison one of the most unusual fall foliage experiences in Georgia! Do some leaf-peeping this season in the historic splendor of downtown Madison.

From climbing an eight-story castle tower in North Georgia to paddling a blackwater swamp, take leaf-peeping to a whole new level with these adventures in Georgia.

This  , visit “Small but Special” Rutledge, Georgia, to see the military mural entitled “Never Forgotten” on East Main S...
11/11/2024

This , visit “Small but Special” Rutledge, Georgia, to see the military mural entitled “Never Forgotten” on East Main Street. This mural was painted by students from the University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art in 2017 in collaboration with the Rutledge Garden Club to commemorate service members throughout our nation’s history. Within the mural is a depiction of Anne Lesnikowski (1921-2018), one of the first women to fly U.S. military aircraft as a member of the Women Aircraft Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II.

While visiting Rutledge to see the mural, head just down the street to Veteran's Park, which is dedicated to past, present, and future veterans. Flags fly in tribute to all the branches of the military with a tree planted for each by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2557 alongside a playground, skate park, and tennis and basketball courts.

https://visitmadisonga.com/veterans-memorial-park/

Have you stopped by to visit the Doctor's Garden at Heritage Hall? During the 19th Century, many doctors would have a ki...
11/10/2024

Have you stopped by to visit the Doctor's Garden at Heritage Hall? During the 19th Century, many doctors would have a kitchen garden to grow medicinal herbs. Pictured here, you can see parsley and pepper still growing in the garden--even this late in the season. Parsley was often used as a diuretic, and pepper was often used as a pain reliever--although both were recorded as having various uses at that time.

While some herbal remedies were brought with them, early colonizers also benefited from the medical expertise of the local indigenous tribes and enslaved persons. It's very likely that some of the herbs found in gardens of the upper class had many cultural influences that contributed to their presence in medicine at that time.

Learn more about a doctor's garden and its uses by visiting Heritage Hall.

Read more about cultural influences on medicine here: https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1376&context=undergrad_rev

This cozy season, step inside Town 220 for locally-sourced, fresh food. Now open for lunch Thursdays through Saturdays w...
11/08/2024

This cozy season, step inside Town 220 for locally-sourced, fresh food. Now open for lunch Thursdays through Saturdays with a brand new menu! 😋 Tell us: What's your favorite lunch order?

Learn more: https://visitmadisonga.com/town-220/

The Boxwood House is Stop 24 on our walking tour. It was constructed by Wilds Kolb in 1850 and named for its manicured b...
11/07/2024

The Boxwood House is Stop 24 on our walking tour. It was constructed by Wilds Kolb in 1850 and named for its manicured boxwood parterres. While boxwood gardens have been around since ancient times, it became a popular landscape feature in America in the 1600s.

The Boxwood House was purchased by Louis W. Pou in 1869 and sold in 1906 to John Thomas Newton. Ms. Kittie Hunter Newton (1893-1986) inherited the home from her father. A pillar of the community, she attended Brenau College, travelled abroad, was a teacher, held civic roles, and was a founder of the La Flora Garden Club.

Twelve pieces of original parlor furniture and drapes from the Kolbs stayed with the house for 130 years. It is said Ms. Newton kept the shutters closed to prevent the lovely green satin drapes from fading. A few panels of the curtain were used to reupholster the furniture.

During a claimed visit to Boxwood from Margaret Mitchell, author of “Gone With the Wind,” talk turned to the curtains and the reupholstered matching chairs. After the book was published Ms. Newton and her mother suspected that they had given Margaret Mitchell the idea for Scarlett to fashion her drapes into a dress to impress Rhett Butler.

However, it was typical of the times to repurpose fabric, so it is unlikely that this rumored encounter was the inspiration for the curtain dress in the famous book – that claim has stronger ties to Rebecca Latimer Felton – but that has never stopped a good story. The original parlor furniture is on display at Georgia’s Old Governor’s Mansion in Milledgeville, GA.

Learn more about the historic homes in the area when you visit https://visitmadisonga.com/itinerary-womens-history-in-madison-ga/

Tis the season to be planning ... a holiday getaway to Madison where you'll find all the charm, whimsy, and wonder of a ...
11/06/2024

Tis the season to be planning ... a holiday getaway to Madison where you'll find all the charm, whimsy, and wonder of a small-town Christmas. From shops that take "decking the halls" seriously to a full itinerary of local holiday cheer, Madison, Georgia, is the perfect destination for a Christmas getaway.

Start planning your visit today: https://visitmadisonga.com/christmas-getaway/

Finding a place to eat is nacho problem today! 😆 This  , try a local favorite. Choose between Dos Amigos Mexican Grill O...
11/06/2024

Finding a place to eat is nacho problem today! 😆 This , try a local favorite. Choose between Dos Amigos Mexican Grill Of Madison, GA or Tequilas Mexican Restaurant to get your nacho fix!

Does that sound like a made-up holiday? It might seem that way, but it's as good an excuse as any to .

Did you know that a group of rhinos is called a "crash"? That feels like a clear warning to stay out of their way! 😂 Her...
11/05/2024

Did you know that a group of rhinos is called a "crash"? That feels like a clear warning to stay out of their way! 😂 Here are some other fun facts:

🦏 They are endangered.
🦏 They are great swimmers!
🦏 Their favorite "spa" treatment is a mud bath!
🦏 They communicate with each other by growling, sneezing, and ... pooping. 😳
🦏 Their horns are made from keratin -- just like humans hair and nails.
🦏 They have no natural predator other than poaching humans. 🥺
🦏 You can see protected rhinos at the Georgia Safari Conservation Park in Madison!

Plan your trip when you visit https://georgiasafari.com/plan-your-adventure

Address

115 E. Jefferson Street
Madison, GA
30650

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 11:30am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+17063424454

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Visit Madison, GA posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Visit Madison, GA:

Videos

Share

Our Story

A magical southern city just an hour east of Atlanta, Madison is the town Sherman refused to burn on his infamous March to the Sea. Its National Register Historic District is the state’s largest collection of 19th century architecture, earning it a place on Budget Travel’s 2012 “16 Most Picturesque Villages in the World” and Travel Holiday’s 2001 “#1 Small Town in America.” Madison combines with nearby Rutledge to house more than 170 antiques dealers, 40 boutiques and 20 unique eateries. Aristocratic from its 1807 founding, Madison keeps its cultural edge with offerings from the visual and performing arts to epicurean delights served in an array of venues, whether very fine dining or riverside outings at area farms. Art, food, music and agricultural festivals abound throughout the year.

Nearby travel agencies