Wineries, the Windsor, whiskey–date nights heat up in this South Georgia town
An easy drive from the ATL, Americus and Sumter County, Georgia, offers wineries, the Windsor and whiskey for a weekend to remember.
Set the scene for relaxation and head to Wolf Creek Plantation, which is more than doubling its vineyards’ size in 2018. The winery will expand to 2,500+ vines covering more than twenty acres of beautiful vineyards, adding to its roster the Dixie Red variety this year, and bringing the total to ten different varieties of muscadine grapes, including Early Fry (bronze), Fry (bronze), Late Fry (bronze), Fry Seedless (red), Tara (bronze), Supreme (red), Carlos (bronze), Noble (red), Ison (red) and Dixie Red (bronze). Free tours are offered. Hold hands with your special someone while strolling through the vineyards before enjoying sips in the tasting room. (207 Wolf Creek Dr., Americus, GA 31709)remember.
Plan a creative date and explore the artsy side of Americus. Mobile Glassblowing Studios is a one-of-a-kind business that creates portable furnaces for everyone, from the hobbyist to the professional. Their Americus location has a small gallery of pieces and offers classes to the public through Hot Glass Academy. (131B Cotton Ave., Americus, GA 31709)
Nearby, the Georgia Southwestern Fine Arts Building Gallery showcases the work of students, as well as visiting artists, in the Department of Visual Arts. It contains a second gallery, as well–the James Earl Carter Gallery. (800 Georgia Southwestern State, University Dr., Americus, Georgia 31709)
The Americus Center for the Arts is run by the Americus-Sumter County Arts Council, and features the work of local, and young, artists. The Arts Council also puts on workshops, camps and events. (326 W Forsyth St., Americus, GA 31709)
It’s five o’clock somewhere in Sumter County! Thirteenth Colony Distilleries began as friends making moonshine for holiday gifts, but they’re now one of the state’s best craft distilleries. You can try their lineup of award-winning whiskeys, bourbons, vodkas and gins in the form of a craft cocktail from one of the local bars. The company’s name is a nod to the state of Georgia, which was the last, or thirteenth, of the American colonies. (305 N Dudley St., Americus, GA 31907)
Catch a show at the Rylander Theater, a hub for the performing arts, carefully restored and renovated from its early days as a vaudeville theater to a modern venue. Reopened in 1999, the theater has their own troupe and also hosts concerts and plays. (310 W Lamar St., Americus, GA 31709)
At the end of the day, rest easy at the Windsor Hotel, the crown jewel of Americus since its opening in 1892. The icon of downtown Americus celebrated its 125th anniversary in June 2017, and draws in visitors with its Victorian architecture. The hotel has hosted guests like Al Capone and President Carter. It was donated to the city in 1978 and reopened in 1991. Locals love to hang out at Floyd’s Pub–a great place to savor sips from Thirteenth Colony Distilleries. (125 W Lamar St., Americus, GA 31709)
If you go
In between adventures, satisfy hunger pangs–discover top picks for best bites in Americus and Sumter County. Plan to visit around a special event like April’s Hot Glass Craft Beer Festival, the Spring Festival at Wolf Creek Plantation–complete with free tastings, free tours, free admission and the oh-so-satisfying wine slushies, Memorial Day weekend at Andersonville National Historic Site, and June’s Red, White, and Blues event in Americus.