Steering off-the-beaten-path for vacations, long weekends or just for a day, visitors are finding unique options like the Café Campesino Professional Coffee Training and Certification, the Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival and historical relics to be worth the trip
AMERICUS, GEORGIA–APRIL 2019–If your search for travel leads to the south, there’s no better place to find a classic blend of celebrated history, festival atmosphere and one-of-a-kind specialized coffee training than in Americus. Located in west-central Georgia, convenient to I-75, three hours south of Atlanta and only two hours north of I-10, folks find refuge in this stop over town when Florida-bound.
Café Campesino–More than a cup of Joe
Café Campesino was founded in 1998 as Georgia’s first and only 100% fair trade, organic coffee company. Supplying coffee houses and restaurants all over the country, the company is also a national online retailer and wholesale roaster distributor. Artisan-roasted specialty-grade coffee is the cornerstone for this Americus-based company with headquarters and their flagship coffee house in the area. It’s a must to have coffee at Café Campesino when in Americus.
If you’re more than “just a coffee drinker,” then it will be important for you to note that Café Campesino is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association as a Premier Training Campus offering professional-level classes for all kinds of coffee industry professionals such as coffee shop owners and even baristas. Hannah Mercer is the resident sales and education coordinator teaching Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)-approved classes where baristas hone specific skills and techniques to properly prepare coffee-based drinks as well as increasing their general coffee knowledge. Her hope is for everyone to learn to “honor the farmer” by brewing good coffee in addition to walking away with a certification.
Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival
Recently completing its third year, the Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival, hosted by Americus Main Street, has become a favorite celebration among locals and visitors. The craft beer phenomenon sweeping the country has not been ignored by the Southern town and their unique way of combining it with Americus’ rich glassblowing history makes it a one-of-a-kind event.
The goal for this now-popular festival has always been to encourage the growth of the local craft beer movement while showcasing the talents in Americus’ glassblowing community. Attractive as both an artisan destination and a city on the cutting-edge of the craft beer culture, Americus has found a niche that plays out as an epic festival-type event each April.
Historically speaking
Like most small Southern towns, Americus has several interesting attractions of historical significance that the history buff in your travel party will want to experience.
The Rylander Theatre is an early 1900s vaudeville-style theatre restored through the efforts of the city and private individuals. Today, audiences enjoy a varying assortment of entertainment thanks to state-of-the-art technology that well supports live performances. Take a tour or take in a performance and experience the charm of this Americus gem.
Georgia’s Victorian Secret–the Windsor Hotel–was originally built in 1892 for winter guests from the north escaping the colder climate. It was 100 rooms in a beautiful five-story Victorian work of architecture with a three-story open atrium lobby and balconies. Covering close to a city block, the Windsor Hotel hosted many celebratory events and balls. In 1972 the grand beauty closed its doors after some 80 years in business. After a massive $6.5 million renovation, the property reopened in 1991. In 2010 another extensive renovation took place to update the property with modern-day amenities like duvets, flat-screen televisions, granite bathroom counter tops, microwave/fridge and more! Best Western became the new family home for the hotel on June 15, 2010, and today sports 53 individual rooms including six suites and two tower suites, the Bridal Suite and the Carter Presidential Suite named in honor of 39th President and local community resident Jimmy Carter who, along with Mrs. Carter, was a big supporter and often a guest of the hotel.
City leaders are passionate about preserving history with the community and for that reason, you’ll find the historic downtown to be filled with original structures in addition to the landmarks mentioned above. Aside from these fun ideas, Americus is also home to Habitat for Humanity International’s headquarters, Koinonia (an intentional Christian-based, self-sustaining community) and Souther Field Airport where Charles Lindbergh completed his very first solo flight. Before you take to the road, do some planning by visiting the Visit Americus website at VisitAmericusGA.com. You’ll find there’s so much to do that is available only in Americus!