(Media release from the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism):
The Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism invites locals to “Be a Tourist” in your hometown during National Travel & Tourism Week, May 1-7, 2022. The 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.
The Georgia’s Rome Tourism Office will celebrate National Travel & Tourism Week with the following events:
- Sunday, May 1, Sulzbacher Roman Holiday River Tour– Tour Rome’s rivers on The Rolling on the River Sunday Cruise on the Sulzbacher Roman Holiday with local historian Selena Tilly. The river history themed tour will depart at 2 p.m. from the Heritage Park boat dock. Tickets are $15/person and may be purchased in advance at RomeGeorgia.org/RomanHoliday or at one of the Georgia’s Rome Welcome Centers.
- Thursday, May 5, Childhood Stories form the Outer Hills with Bob Harris – Join us for a fun storytelling event with Bob Harris, an animated storyteller who will present “Childhood Stories from the Hills”. Bring your chairs, blankets and picnic dinner or snacks as you enjoy these delightfully, entertaining stories on the beautiful lawn of Clocktower Hill! This event is free.
- Friday, May 6, Clocktower Painting Party – Create your own Clocktower masterpiece and enjoy “Clocktail drinks” on the deck overlooking downtown Rome with views of the river and of course – the Rome Clocktower! All materials for the painting party will be provided. The painting will be led by artist, Kristi Kent and held on the deck of the Courtyard Rome Riverwalk at 5:30 p.m. 100% of painting proceeds will benefit the Clocktower Restoration Fund in celebration of the 150th Birthday of the Clocktower as well as historic preservation month. Reserve your seat online at: RomeGeorgia.org/Arts
- Saturday, May 7, Downtown History Tour – Places of Worship Guests will board the Roman Chariots for a guided tour highlighting one of Rome’s beautiful places of worship. A new location will be featured each month in Downtown Rome. Selena Tilly, Rome Area History Center Director, will share documented historic insights. Tours are held the first Saturday of every month through September and depart from the Rome Area History Center at 10 a.m. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online at RomeGeorgia.org/Tour or at one of the Georgia’s Rome Welcome Centers. All proceeds benefit the Rome Area History Center.
- Saturday, May 7, Clocktower Tour – The Rome Area History Center will host a new season of Clocktower Tours to be offered the first Saturday of every month May to September from 12 to 2 p.m. Get the best views of Rome from the top of the clocktower and enjoy seeing stories of Rome portrayed through murals at the entrance to the tower. The self-guided tours of the clocktower are $10, and may be purchased online at RomeGeorgia.org/ClocktowerTour. All proceeds benefit the Clocktower Restoration Fund.
- Georgia’s Rome Photo Exhibition Finalists – Photos selected for the Georgia’s Rome Photo & Video Exhibition will be announced Monday, May 2 during National Travel & Tourism Week. Entries are currently posted on the Georgia’s Rome Facebook page through April 28 for People’s Choice voting. The exhibition will be juried and will be held June 4 to July 5 at the Courtyard Rome Riverwalk 1st Floor Gallery. Prizes and awards will be announced during the opening reception on Saturday, June 4 at 5 pm. Details are at: RomeGeorgia.org/Exhibit.
- Georgia’s Rome Scavenger Hunts – Are you up for some fun challenges? Put on your walking shoes and head to Downtown Rome for these fun scavenger hunts! You’ll also learn fun facts about Rome’s history while exploring the town. There are 3 total scavenger hunts. Each take approximately 35-40 mins. Two of the scavenger hunts tour Downtown/Broad Street, and one hunt tours the river walk. Stop by a Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center for details or visit: RomeGeorgia.org/Scavenger
Additional recommendations to help locals enjoy being a tourist in their hometown include:
- Saturday, May 7, ArtsFest & ArtsFest River Cruises – Stroll through Downtown Rome for a vibrant afternoon of arts, crafts, live music, dining and shopping. The annual event offers a full day of creative fun. River cruises will also be offered at 1 pm and 2:30 pm and are a fun way to enjoy all that downtown Rome has to offer. River cruise tickets are $12 and may be purchased online at RomeGeorgia.org/RomanHoliday. Entry to ArtsFest is free.
- Saturday, May 7, Cave Spring Bacon Fest and Care Show – The annual event will be held from 10 am to 3 pm at Rolater Park and is an opportunity to taste all types of homemade bacon dishes. Admission is $5. It is also a great time to tour the namesake cave located inside the park as well as visit the historic town square.
- Museums – Rome offers four museums/centers that are currently open to the public.
- 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. – 4 p.m., Admission details at Chieftainsmuseum.org
- 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. A special exhibit, “Myths and Icons: Decoding the Ruspoli Collection” is currently on exhibit through September 3. 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 Center shares 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 - Rome-Floyd ECO Center allows visitors to view and discover a variety of wildlife that is native to the Northwest Georgia area. Learn about the local ecology; explore local wetlands and learn why it’s so important to protect these natural resources. Admission is free. Open Monday – Friday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and the last Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Details at: RomeFloydECOCenter.com
- Rome Braves – See tomorrow’s stars today at a Rome Braves Game! The Rome Braves will finish out a homestand with the Greensboro Grasshoppers on Sunday, May 1. Kids may run the bases after the conclusion of the game, weather permitting. Sundays are also Family Fun Day; families can purchase a package that includes tickets, food, drinks and Kids Zone wristbands. For details, visit RomeBraves.com
- Georgia’s Rome Art Experiences – Two new art experiences are offered the second Thursday of each month; one geared for kids ages 6 and up and one geared for adults. The May art experiences feature container garden designs with decorated pots using Mandala dotting tools. Create an intricate and beautifully designed container garden complete with warm weather loving plants. All materials and instruction provided. For details and to reserve a seat, visit RomeGeorgia.org/Arts.
- Outdoors – Rome and Floyd County is known for it’s beautiful outdoors that attract visitors year around. For ideas and tips on where to enjoy trails, gardens, river ways, parks, golfing, tennis, pickleball, camping, fishing, miniature golf, and go karts, visit RomeGeorgia.org/Outdoor.
- Events – View our calendar to keep up the with all local events and happenings. You can also submit your community events for free. Visit RomeGeorgia.org/Events.
- Free Downtown 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 Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Route maps are available at RomeGeorgia.org/Chariot
- Georgia’s Rome Welcome Center and Gift Shop – The tourism office manages two locations; one on Jackson Hill (across from Applebee’s) and one in Downtown Rome at the Rome Area History Center. The welcome centers are a great resource for locals. “The tourism office helps many residents who aren’t aware of the various attractions, events and activities that Georgia’s Rome offers,” said Charlene Mathis, Welcome Center Manager. She added, “We challenge you to see Rome through the eyes of a tourist; we offer maps and guides to help you discover a side of Rome and Floyd County you may not have explored yet. Additionally, when you shop the gift shops located at the welcome centers; you are supporting local artisians, makers and growers who are represented in the shops.”
According to reports from Tourism Economics, tourism in Rome and Floyd County generated $8.1 million in state and local tax revenues in 2020, the most recent year that travel expenditure data is available. Additionally, the tourism industry supported 1,345 jobs throughout the service and hospitality industries. Each Floyd County household would need to be taxed an additional $226.90 per year to replace taxes generated by tourism economic activity.
In 2021, the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism saw a 116.5% increase in economic impact from sports, groups and events for a total of $19,088,253. The impact number represents only events, conventions, meetings and other activities the tourism office was directly involved in planning, coordination or assistance.
The Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism is the official destination and sports marketing organization of Rome and Floyd County, Ga. Our mission is to strengthen the economic prosperity of the community through tourism development by attracting leisure travelers, conventions, weddings, meetings, sports, film and events.
For more information about National Travel & Tourism Week, visit USTravel.org. To learn more about area attractions and events in Rome and Floyd County, call 706.295.5576 or visit RomeGeorgia.org.