The Rome Georgia Tourism Board invites locals to celebrate the 41st National Travel and Tourism Week. This week we celebrate the value of travel to our economy, business and personal well-being, and invite locals to become tourists in their own cities and have a fulfilling tourist experience. .
Here are some recommended activities and events for locals to enjoy.
Roma of Georgia Outdoor Passport – Local residents must complete the Outdoor Passport by June 23, 2024 to claim a free special Roma of Georgia T-shirt. The Passport is your free ticket to experience beautiful activities like walking scenic trails and viewing historic sites. Places listed on the passport include Angel in the Oak, Blossom Hill Trail, Labyrinth of Rome, and Opera Alley. Check in for all your outdoor experiences, fill out your Rome, Georgia passport, and claim your prize. Passport is mobile-only and does not require you to download an app. Get it now here: RomeGeorgia.org/Outdoor
Rome in Georgia Photo Contest – As they explore Rome, we encourage locals to take beautiful photos of local attractions and submit them to the Rome in Georgia Photo Contest. Entries will be accepted until midnight June 16th. All photos must be taken within Floyd County. Participation is free and prizes will be awarded. Learn more and enter online at RomeGeorgia.org/Exhibition.
Free Peanut Giveaway – In honor of National Travel and Tourism Week, the Georgia Peanut Board will be handing out free peanuts on Tuesday, May 21st at the Rome Welcome Center in Georgia. Stop by one of our two Georgia’s Rome Welcome Centers and Gift Shops downtown. in Rome, next to the Rome Regional History Center or across from Applebee’s on Jackson Hill.
Book tickets for a tour of Rome’s rivers on the Sulzbach Roman Holiday Riverboat – Sulzbach Roman Holiday is a 40-passenger pleasure boat in Rome that offers public tours for all ages. Each tour is unique and provides a perspective on how Roman rivers have shaped the city’s history. Public tours are held on the first Sunday of the month from May to September. His next tour will be on Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m. The riverboat can also be booked as a private tour. Learn more and purchase tour tickets online at RomeGeorgia.org/RomanHoliday.
Here are some additional recommendations for locals to enjoy feeling like tourists in their hometown:
Rome Emperors Baseball – The Rome Emperors’ next homestand is this week, May 21st through May 26th. In-game promotions will be offered daily, including the first 200 fans to win a Rome Emperors T-shirt on Tuesday, and fireworks on Friday and Sunday. It’s a fun day where kids can get in for free, eat, and run the bases after the game. Get more information online: MILB.com/Rome
Forum River Center Events – Forum River Center hosts concerts and live entertainment throughout the year as well as private events. Get your tickets now for Corey Smith – Suburban Drawl Tour on Friday, June 21 and Tenth Avenue North on Sunday, September 22. New events are added frequently. Get tickets and more information at ForumRiverCenter.com.
Museums – Rome is currently home to four museums/centers open to the public: Oak Hill & Martha Berry Museum tells the story of Martha Berry and Berry College through tours of the historic home, museum exhibits, and award-winning gardens. The museum currently has a special exhibition, “Prolific and Experimental: The Art of Stephen Thomas,” on display through June 8, 2024. Open Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm (last tour begins at 3pm) Admission details and tickets Berry.edu/Oakhill The Rome Area History Center shares the history of the region, from the early settlement to more recent history of Rome and the surrounding area.
Admission is free. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit RomeAreaHistoryCenter.org. The Cave Spring Welcome Center & History Museum provides information about area attractions and the town’s history, and is the starting point for a variety of walking tours. Center hours are Sunday through Thursday from noon to 3 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Chieftains Museum & Major Ridge Home is a historic site where you can learn about the history, culture, and founding of the Roman Cherokee. Open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is currently closed for renovations, but the grounds are still open for tours. For more information, visit Chieftainsmuseum.org.
Events – View our calendar to stay up to date on all local events in the area, including festivals, concerts, live music, performances, art and cooking classes, free events, workshops, summer camps, sporting events, farmers markets, and more. Available. You can also submit community events for free. Visit RomeGeorgia.org/Events.
Tennis and Pickleball – The Rome Tennis Center at Berry College is the largest continuous hard court tennis facility in the country and offers many programs to locals. The center offers junior classes and programs, adult programs, 101 beginner tennis classes, clinics, cardio classes, and private his lessons. The center also hosts local leagues and area high school and middle school tennis teams. The facility regularly hosts regional, national and international tennis tournaments, where locals can attend to watch some great tennis action. Rome’s Downtown Racquet Center offers his four-week Pickleball 101 class starting the first Wednesday of each month. Pickleball leagues and tournaments are held throughout the year. Tennis courts at both locations are open daily for local play. For more information, visit RomeTennisCenter.com.
Outdoor Attractions – Rome and Floyd County are known for their beautiful outdoors that attracts visitors year-round. For ideas and tips for enjoying AdventHealth ECO Greenway, Rocky Mountain Recreation Area, Stonebridge Golf, dirt trails, gardens, riverside parks, historic sites, historic cemeteries, camping and fishing locations, and more, visit RomeGeorgia.org/ Check out Outdoors.
Eating and Shopping – Eating and shopping are essential parts of the Rome visitor experience. Explore the area’s shops and restaurants and earn rewards with the Explore Rome discount pass. Local residents can avail of free passes until June 23, 2024, delivered instantly by email and text. Completely free and without any restrictions. To get yours, visit RomeGeorgia.org/Explore.
Free Transportation in Downtown Rome – Enjoy complimentary transportation to locations within the historic downtown area of Rome on a Roman Chariot while enjoying the shops and restaurants of downtown Rome. For free pickup, text 706-413-2822. Business hours are Thursday through Saturday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Route maps are available at RomeGeorgia.org/Chariot.
Rome, Georgia Welcome Center and Gift Shop Locations – The Department of Tourism manages two locations. One is on Jackson Hill (across from Applebee’s) and the other is next to the Rome Regional History Center in downtown Rome. The Welcome Center is a great resource for residents, offering printed maps and guides to local and regional attractions, events, and activities. And when you shop at our gift shop in the Welcome Center, you’re supporting local artisans, makers, and producers.
According to a report from Tourism Economics, tourism in Rome and Floyd County generated $145.6 million in total tourist spending in 2022. Increased by 6.7% from the previous year. Visitors generated $12 million in state and local tax revenue, and the tourism industry supported 1,552 jobs across Floyd County’s service and hospitality industries. Each household in Floyd County would be required to pay an additional $335 per year in taxes in lieu of taxes generated by tourism economic activity. Data for 2022 is the latest available. Data for 2023 will be available in the fall of his 2024.
