125 Year Anniversary - September

TThe alarm sounds. Some of us hit snooze and some of us hit the ground running. We prepare for our day, crank our vehicles, and drive to school or work or to run errands. We perform our 9-5, home to dinner, bath, and bed. When the weekend hits, we may clean or do yard work. We also might drive out-of-town for shopping or to meet friends. Come Monday, we are back to the usual. When vacation time comes, we are ready to hit the road or grab a plane and see the sights. But, have you ever considered walking, biking, or not packing the car to your vacation spot? No, I do not mean 200 miles away. I mean 5 or even 10 miles. Have you ever considered touring your city/county? We live in our community, but do we really know and experience our community? Americus, Georgia, Sumter

County was created in December 1831.

It has approximately 19,000 residents (give or take). It is rich in history, talent, and beauty. It boasts a historic district, an

We live in our community, but do we really know and experience our community?

Americus, Georgia, Sumter County, was created in December 1831. It has approximately 19,000 residents (give or take). It is rich in history, talent, and beauty. It boasts a historic district, an excursion train, a theater, and is home to former President Jimmy Carter in nearby Plains.

excursion train, a theater, and is home to former President Jimmy Carter in nearby Plains. Americus and Sumter County have a lot to offer their residents, not just the tourists. Every once in a while it is nice to take the time to explore your own city. You never know, you may be surprised and fall in love.

Here are a few ways to explore Sumter County:

Be a tourist for the day:

Visit our top tourist attractions. Grab a ticket and hop on board the SAM Shortline Excursion Train. With its vintage passenger cars from the late 1940s, you can board in Cordele, Georgia or Lake Blackshear

Visit the unexpected and unique:

Did you know that Leslie, Georgia, is home to the largest collection of antique telephones in the world? The Georgia Rural Telephone Museum is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, and is located inside a beautifully renovated 1920s building. While there, take a selfie from your smartphone to pay homage to those that invented our unique way of communicating and marvel at how far we have come innovatively.

and travel to Leslie, Americus and Plains. Walk the streets and view each downtown location through the eyes of a tourist. Prefer to take your car? Drive over to Plains and taste the famous Peanut Butter Ice Cream in downtown. View the 13-foot-tall Smiling Peanut and snap a family picture, then visit the Plains Inn and ask for a peek at their decadesthemed rooms. Finally, see the Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm. After your delightful experience, head in the opposite direction to the prisoner-of-war camp inside the Andersonville National Historic Site. While you are there, be sure to visit the town of Andersonville, which is older than the Civil War itself. Check out Andersonville Antiques, Easterlin Country Store and Antiques, Nancy’s Treasure Chest, the Drummer Boy Civil War Museum, and explore the Wirz Monument and Pioneer Farm.

Delight your inner foodie:

Dine inside the Windsor Hotel at Rosemary and Thyme, a modern American restaurant inside the beautiful historic hotel. Afterwards, grab a cocktail from Floyd’s Pub and sit outside on the covered balcony to watch the cars go by or the sun set over the historic buildings. While you are there, schedule a tour and listen to ghost stories. Saturday mornings, take a walk downtown and visit Cafe Campesino for drinks, breakfast, and a bag of coffee to go. Americus has many food options from traditional southern food, Mediterranean, Mexican, and more with talented chefs and local flair.

Head to local events:

Spend an evening at The Rylander enjoying a show, head to Wolf Creek Plantation to stomp grapes or visit vendors, see locals play music in various locations, or visit our local Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings for fresh produce and handmade items. Rain or shine, Americus and the surrounding cities have events monthly. Be sure to make the first Friday of the month a day to enjoy downtown shops until 8 pm while enjoying themed events.

Go on a photography tour:

Grab your camera or smartphone and your walking shoes. Go out and see Sumter County through an artistic lens. Take a photo in front of the butterfly mural at Café Campesino, photograph cemeteries and old church buildings, or ride past fields and capture a sunrise. Seeing your city through a different angle can give you a different perspective and an appreciation for your hometown.

Visit the unexpected and unique:

Did you know that Leslie, Georgia, is home to the largest collection of antique telephones in the world? The Georgia Rural Telephone Museum is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, and is located inside a beautifully renovated 1920s building. While there, take a selfie from your smartphone to pay homage to those that invented our unique way of communicating and marvel at how far we have come innovatively. Another local gem south of downtown Americus is Koinonia Farms. This farm was created as a multiracial settlement long before the end of segregation in southern states. It was created for fellowship (the Greek word Koinonia) in 1942. Today they ship chocolate and pecans through their mail order business and make farming as a community their way of life. Sumter County has several unique history-rich places to explore in each direction. Traveling is a gift. It offers reprieve, relaxation, discovery, and joy. While catching a plane is amazing and seeing new sights offer mental stimulation, so can exploring your city. As often happens with long-lasting relationships, things can become stale and monotonous. That is why taking time to explore, ask questions, and viewing things from another perspective can reignite that spark. So if your budget is tight or your health doesn’t allow you to travel long distances, consider your city/ county. Discover why you fell in love with your community to begin with while supporting locals. (Special thanks to Steve Short at The Visitor Center and Qaijuan Willis)  SCL

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229.924.6669 | 1211 Crawford St. (HWY 49N) Americus | M-F 9-5 | After Hours By Appointment