From a ride aboard the SAM Shortline Excursion Train to a day on the water at nearby Lake Blackshear, Americus and the surrounding area offers families an array of memorable experiences.
AMERICUS, GEORGIA—MAY 2025—Located in west-central Georgia, convenient to I-75, three hours south of Atlanta and just two hours north of I-10, Americus and the surrounding area offers families unique adventures, memorable dining experiences, rich history, beloved annual events and so much more. Here are a few must-do activities for families visiting Americus.
All aboard the SAM Shortline! Historic railcars of the SAM Shortline Excursion Train, also known as the Savannah, Americus and Montgomery, have been beautifully and carefully restored and are open for the public to ride the train’s original route from Lake Blackshear to Plains with a stop in Americus. Passengers enjoy the climate-controlled cars in a variety of styles as it journeys through Georgia Veterans State Park, across Lake Blackshear, through Americus and on to President Jimmy Carter’s hometown of Plains. Visitors may hop aboard the train at the Americus Train Depot, but to enjoy the full ride, it’s preferable to board at Lake Blackshear. SAM routinely offers special themed excursions, such as the Murder Mystery Dinner Train, the Halloween Express as well as several holiday excursions. Upcoming experiences include the Wine and Cheese Train, Plains, Trains and Fireworks Train as well as Day Out with Thomas Train. For more information on SAM Shortline events and excursions, click here. SAM Shortline Railroad, 105 9th Avenue East, Cordele, Georgia 31015; 229-276-0755
Lake Blackshear, just a short drive from Americus, offers visitors a plethora of outdoor adventure, relaxation and not-to-miss restaurants. Plan to stay at Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club for a relaxing experience coupled with exciting adventure. This serene setting features a scenic 18-hole golf course and a fully equipped clubhouse, miles of nature trails—ideal for hiking and biking—boating, kayaking, canoeing and fishing. Equipment rentals are available onsite, making it even easier to enjoy this beautiful resort. Spend the day swimming in the lake, play a round of disc golf or simply relax on the beach. Lake Blackshear Resort and Golf Club, 2459-H US Highway 280 West, Cordele, Georgia 31015; 229-276-1004
After a day on the water, stop in one of the area’s most beloved restaurants, located right on the lake. Serving lunch and dinner, Flintside Grill offers diners a variety of options from burgers and sandwiches to fried shrimp, fish, gator bites, tacos and more. Vehicle and boat access is available. Booger Bottom is another favorite among locals and visitors alike. Serving up cheeseburgers, sandwiches and more in a laid-back bar atmosphere, diners are sure to have a memorable experience. Vehicle and boat access available. Flintside Grill, 4262 US-280, Cobb, Georgia, 31735; 229-853-3613; Booger Bottom, 3077 Lamar Road, Cobb, Georgia 31735; 229-853-5555
Mark your calendar for one of these family-friendly events as Americus is known for one-of-a-kind events happening year-round. Don’t miss Taste of Sumter, one of Americus’ largest events. Festival goers will enjoy live entertainment, local restaurants and food vendors along Jackson Street and lots of family-friendly fun. Taste of Sumter is an annual event held on the fourth Thursday of September.
Celebrate peanut harvest season in nearby Plains at the beloved Plains Peanut Festival! Fun for all ages, the Plains Peanut Festival offers a plethora of activities from a parade, road race, fun run and kiddie rides to peanut exhibits, all day entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, SAM Shortline train rides and more. Visitors and locals alike love this annual event as it celebrates one the area’s most plentiful crops. Click here for a full list of the area’s most popular events.
Looking for some presidential history? Look no farther than nearby Plains. Plains, Georgia, is no doubt synonymous with former President Jimmy Carter. No visit to Plains is complete without stopping at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, which includes several sites within the Park. Explore the Plains High School Visitor Center, where Jimmy and Rosalynn both attended and graduated high school; Jimmy Carter’s Boyhood Home and Farm, where visitors can witness first-hand the timeless charm of farm life and the enduring connection to Jimmy Carter’s roots; the Plains Train Depot, a self-guided museum offering visitors an opportunity to explore the life and political career of Jimmy Carter; and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Burial Site—which is expected to be accessible soon. For more information on planning a visit to the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, click here.
If you go
Whether you are headed to the area for a long weekend or just passing through, Americus and the surrounding area is home to many great lodging options. Visitors love the presidential ties to Plains Historic Inn & Antiques. Former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter led the charge along with their hometown in developing a historic inn and antiques mall, located on Main Street in Plains. Guests are invited to step back in time and enjoy the accommodations of one of seven period suites, authentically furnished from the 1920s to 1980s. Every room has a history lesson. Plains Historic Inn & Antiques, 106 Main Street, Plains, Georgia, 31780; 229-824-4517.
Located in the heart of downtown Americus, the Historic Windsor Hotel was built in 1892, to attract winter visitors from the North. The Windsor was a 100-room, five-story Victorian masterpiece architecturally designed with a tower and turret, balconies, and a three-story open atrium lobby. The hotel occupies nearly an entire city block and was the site of numerous balls and celebrations over many decades and after more than 80 years in operation, the hotel closed its doors in 1974. In 1991, the hotel re-opened after a $6.5 million renovation. Historic Windsor Hotel, 125 West Lamar Street, Americus, Georgia, 31709; 229-924-1555.
History buffs will love the Americus Garden Inn. This historic bed and breakfast was built before the Civil War in 1847 and is situated on Rees Park within Americus’ beautiful residential historic district and among many fine homes of the Victorian era. The Americus Garden Inn Bed and Breakfast offers seven spacious comfortable air-conditioned rooms, in-room private baths and several guest amenities. Americus Garden Inn, 504 Rees Park, Americus, Georgia, 31709; 229-931-0122
For more on Americus and Sumter County, visit https://VisitAmericusGA.com/welcome-to-americus/.