(Media release from the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism):
The Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism invites locals to celebrate the 41st National Travel & Tourism Week. This week celebrates the value travel holds for our economy, businesses and personal well-being and invites locals to gain the full visitor experience by becoming tourists in their own town.
Here are several suggested activities and events for locals to enjoy:
Georgia’s Rome Outdoor Passport – Locals have until June 23, 2024, to complete the Outdoor Passport and claim a free and exclusive Georgia’s Rome T-shirt. The passport is your free ticket to experience beautiful activities like walking scenic trails and viewing historic sites. Featured locations on the passport include Angel in the Oak, Blossom Hill Trail, The Labyrinth of Rome, and Opera Alley. Check in at all the outdoor experiences to fill your Georgia’s Rome passport and claim your prize. The passport is mobile exclusive with no app to download. Get yours now at: RomeGeorgia.org/Outdoor
Georgia’s Rome Photo Contest – While exploring Rome, we encourage locals to snap beautiful photos of area attractions and submit them in the Georgia’s Rome Photo Contest. Entries are being accepted until Midnight on June 16. All photos must be captured within Floyd County. It’s free to enter and prizes will be awarded. Get details and enter online at RomeGeorgia.org/Exhibit
Free Peanut Giveaway – In celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, the Georgia Peanut Commission is giving away free peanuts at our Georgia’s Rome Welcome Centers on Tuesday, May 21. Stop by one of our two Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center and Gift Shop locations in Downtown Rome beside the Rome Area History Center or across from Applebee’s on Jackson Hill.
Book Tickets to Tour Rome’s Rivers on the Sulzbacher Roman Holiday Riverboat – The Sulzbacher Roman Holiday is Rome’s 40-passenger excursion boat offering public tours geared for all ages. Each tour is unique and offers perspectives on how Rome’s rivers have shaped the town’s history. Public tours are held the first Sunday of the month from May to September. The next tour will be held Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m. The riverboat is also available to be booked for private excursions. Get details and purchase tour tickets online at: RomeGeorgia.org/RomanHoliday.
Additional recommendations to help locals enjoy being a tourist in their hometown include:
- Rome Emperors Baseball – The Rome Emperors next homestand is this week, May 21 to May 26. They offer daily in-game promotions including T-shirt Tuesday where the first 200 fans will snag a Rome Emperors t-shirt, Fireworks Friday, and Sunday Fun-day where kids can enter and eat for free – and run the bases after the game! Get details online at: MILB.com/Rome
- Forum River Center Events – The Forum River Center not only hosts private events, but hosts concerts and live entertainment throughout the year. Get your tickets now for the Corey Smith – Suburban Drawl Tour on Friday, June 21 and Tenth Avenue North on Sunday, September 22. New events are added often; get tickets and details at: ForumRiverCenter.com
- Museums – Rome currently offers four museums/centers that are open to the public.
- Oak Hill & Martha Berry Museum shares the story Martha Berry and Berry College through tours of the historic home, exhibitions in the museum and award-winning gardens. The museum is currently hosting a special exhibition, “Prolific and Experimental: The Art of Steffen Thomas” running now through June 8, 2024. Open Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (last tour begins at 3 p.m.) Admission details and tickets at Berry.edu/Oakhill
- Rome Area History Centershares area history starting from early settlements to recent history of Rome and surrounding areas.
Admission is free. Open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Details at: RomeAreaHistoryCenter.org - Cave Spring Welcome Center& History Museum offers information on area attractions, provides a history of the town and is a starting point for various walking tours. The center is open Sunday to Thursday, Noon to 3 pm, Friday, 11 am to 4 pm, and Saturday, 1 pm to 4 pm.
- Chieftains Museum & Major Ridge Home is a historic site where visitors can learn about Rome’s Cherokee history, culture and founding history. Open Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., The museum is currently closed for renovations, however the grounds are still open to explore. Get details at Chieftainsmuseum.org
- Events – View our calendar to keep up with all local events in our area including festivals, concerts, live music, performances, art and culinary classes, free events, workshops, summer camps, sporting events and farmers markets. You can also submit your community events for free. Visit RomeGeorgia.org/Events.
- Tennis and Pickleball – The Rome Tennis Center at Berry College is the largest contiguous hard-court tennis facility in the nation and offers many programs for locals. The center offers junior classes and programs, adult programs, 101 beginner tennis classes, clinics, cardio classes, and private lessons. The center also hosts local leagues, area high school and middle school tennis teams. The facility hosts a solid schedule of regional, national, and international tennis tournaments that locals can attend to see great tennis in action. The Downtown Rome Racquet Center offers 4-week Pickleball 101 classes that start the first Wednesday of the month. Pickleball leagues and tournaments are held year-around. Tennis courts at both locations are open daily for local play. Get details at RomeTennisCenter.com
- Outdoor Attractions – Rome and Floyd County is known for its beautiful outdoors that attract visitors year around. Visit RomeGeorgia.org/Outdoor for ideas and tips on how to enjoy the AdventHealth ECO Greenway, Rocky Mountain Recreation Area, Stonebridge Golf, unpaved trails, gardens, river ways, parks, historic sights, historic cemeteries, camping and fishing locations.
- Dining and Shopping – Dining and shopping is essential to any Rome visitor’s experience. Use the Explore Rome Discount Pass and get rewarded for exploring area shops and restaurants. Locals have until June 23, 2024, to take advantage of the free pass that is instantly delivered via email and text. It’s totally free, no strings attached! To get yours visit: RomeGeorgia.org/Explore
- Free Downtown Rome Transportation – While enjoying the shops and restaurants of Downtown Rome, enjoy free transportation on the Roman Chariot to locations within the historic downtown Rome area. For free pick-up, text 706-413-2822. Operating hours are Thursday to Saturday from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Route maps are available at RomeGeorgia.org/Chariot
- Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center and Gift Shop Locations – The tourism office manages two locations: one on Jackson Hill (across from Applebee’s) and one in Downtown Rome beside the Rome Area History Center. The welcome centers are a great resource for residents offering printed maps and guides to local and regional attractions, events, and activities. Also, when you shop at the gift shops located at the welcome centers you are supporting local artisans, makers, and growers.
According to reports from Tourism Economics, tourism in Rome and Floyd County generated $145.6 million in total visitor spending in 2022; a 6.7% year over year increase. Visitors generated $12 million in state and local tax revenues and the tourism industry supported 1,552 jobs throughout the service and hospitality industries in Floyd County. Each Floyd County household would need to be taxed an additional $335 per year to replace taxes generated by tourism economic activity. 2022 data is the most recent data available; 2023 data will be available in Fall of 2024.
