Plains, Georgia

Guess who's behind on her blog? Obviously me. And, I don't have a super good reason. Sure, we've been busy, but I've had plenty of down time. I just sometimes think this was a kids blog- and now they hardly make an appearance, so should I even keep writing? But, then I'm like 'well, we still do super fun stuff. It should get documented somewhere' and then I procrastinate until finally I write the blog. Rinse and Repeat. 

So the cool stuff Asa and I were doing back the end of July was heading up to Atlanta to see the Premier League Summer Series.  We did decided to make a bit of a trip out of it. Originally we were going to continue on and go to Ohio, but then Calib ended up in Ohio during that time and we didn't want Hayden left alone too long. So, it just became a Georgia trip, which is weird. I'd never just gone to Georgia and back. I've always, exclusively gone through Georgia. Since we weren't really on a time crunch, we decided to take our time getting up to Atlanta, and finally stopping in Plains, Georgia. What's in Plains you ask? Well, one, tisk tisk... and two, a whole lot of nothing but nods to Jimmy Carter, our 39th President. Not only was he born and raised here, he lived here pre-presidency and still resides here post-presidency. 

 

  The whole place only has about 500 residents. It's a tiny little blip of a town. Without Jimmy Carter attractions, I'm not sure it would have even survived. And it's way out there in the middle of nowhere too. You get the exit sign on I-75, but it's not like right there or anything. You're talking at least an hour off the main road here. And you'll come across some weird places in that hour- while simultaneously no places. It's a real weird trip. But, we made it! The first stop in Plains was at the National Historic Park, which is really just the small school Jimmy Carter attended. It's been changed into part school part museum. 

Honestly, the place kind fo reminded me of my grade school, with the high ceilings, wood floors, and exposed radiators. 

Then there's some rooms that have been converted into much more museum like displays. You'll find a replica of Jimmy Carter's Oval Office, gifts from foreign leaders, one of his grammys from his audio books, and plenty of things from his campaign-ing days. 

At the desk though, I noticed this little gem. Yes, technically it's for kids, but I asked how old you had to be to participate, and the ranger was happy to let me know anyone can participate and earn a medal. I'd planned on checking out a lot of places on the Hometown Passport, but now I knew if I went to all the places, answered the question for each, and got my stamps I could come back and get my prize (aka a real Jimmy Carter medal!) 

Of course, Asa obliged me- because he always does. Now, this this a little different of a scavenger hunt. You have to get in your car, because a few places are right outside town. Again, it's not too big or anything, but we traveled a couple of miles coming and going through Plains. We drove by the church where Jimmy Carter taught Sunday School (even after he was president!) and then stopped for a picture with the giant peanut sporting a Jimmy Carter like smile. 

Stop number three on the list was the Georgia Welcome Center in plains. We pulled up just like we did to the church and the peanut, and were the only people in sight. Though, as soon as we got out of the car a group of ducks came up to us and followed us. We went in to get the answer to our passport question and the stamp, and the ladies there gave us some Georgia peanuts and told us we could feed the ducks outside with them. Sure enough, the ducks must know this, because as soon as we opened the door to go back outside all the ducks were standing around the steps to the Welcome Center! 

After the ducks had been fed, we headed back into town for the "downtown". Look, I am a girl from Fremont Ohio, where the "downtown" is one street of various businesses. But this "downtown" was even less... something like 6 or 7 passport sights were in downtown and it was just one shop/stand after another in a row. There isn't really anything here but this one row. It's not even on both sides of the street. And, there was next to nobody else there. So, I'm talking real tiny here people. REAL tiny. It reminded me a little of like a frontierland at Cedar Point- but even smaller. 

Of course, besides Jimmy Carter, Plains' claim to fame is peanuts. So, you see nods to them both everywhere you turn. 

In the back of one of the little shops where we got our passport stamp we found some old Billy Beer cans (Billy was Jimmy's brother who made- you guessed it- beer!), but we also found this little stand for peanut ice cream. We sprung for it in the souvenir cup for $5.  As we sat on the little wooden bench (which was more like a bleacher bench- no actual back to it) it was not lost on me that I am very lucky to have such a willing partner in all of this. Asa always indulges me on my crazy trips, and has a good attitude along the way. 

Next door to the ice cream, we were headed into another store for a stamp, when we discovered they had coffee. Thinking it was going to be more like a coffee shop, we discovered it was just a regular shop with free coffee (for donations) in the back, where you just helped yourself. And then, on the way out, we pet the resident dog who comes to work everyday with the owner. 

Next door to that shop, we found the biggest collection of political buttons in what is likely the world. Not only did this guy have buttons- but he had medals and ribbons dating back to Millard Fillmore! While, I was allowed to take a picture of all of those, we weren't allowed to take a picture of another collection he has- one of Secret Service pins. Apparently those aren't technically allowed to be sold- only traded. And since Jimmy Carter still lives in PLains and still requires Secret Service, they visit the store when they want to trade their pins for political ones. They were super cool to see though- they even had one from one of Jenna Bush's Secret Service Agent from when she was in college- it was a little Yale one. 

While most of the buttons were far beyond my budget, I did spring for what the owner of the store insisted was Jimmy's favorite one (Jimmy apparently, used to come in all the time- and famous people from the King kids to Cory Booker had all stopped by). And then I bought a Shirley Chisholm one, because I've never so much as seen one of those before. 

At the end of "Downtown" we came to a pharmacy that also required a stamp. Asa asked the girl in there how many stamps she does in a week and she replied with "none", so apparently this isn't a super popular scavenger hunt. You could also tell, because besides the shop owners we were the only people in every single place. 

Across from the pharmacy, is the train station which also served as Jimmy Carter's campaign headquarters. 

While trains still come into town (on the weekends with school trips and tourists), the day we were there the station was empty- though it does even have the telephone Jimmy Carter took the concession call from Gerald Ford on. 

Across the tracks we swung by the sheriff's station (which is the tiniest place you'll ever see), and Billy Carter's old gas station to answer our questions and get our stamp. 

And that did it for our 'downtown' tour of Plains. 

We got back in the car to head a mile or two out of town to the farm where Jimmy Carter grew up. On your way out of town, you sort of pass the current resident of the Carters. Their actual street is blocked off with Secret Service guard stations, but you can get a glimpse of it back there if you look closely. We got mixed messages on walking over to the house. At the Welcome Center the ladies said the Carters are fine with people coming around, but the park ranger said the guards will tell you to keep moving. We didn't really want to bother them, so we just slowed down as we drove by on the way out to the Boyhood home. 

This whole complex was also completely empty. The only other souls there were a couple of goats who were not too keen on visitors. You can also spot the outhouse Jimmy had to use as a kid, because his house had no running water. 

But the house is open to go through, even if it isn't manned by anyone. It was a little eerie admittedly. It was just so quiet and empty.  

But we did go in and walk through the house. I looked around for a stamp here too, but we only found it out back by the bathrooms in the parking lot. 

With that, our book was filled out, so we headed back to the high school to collect my medal. I was so excited about it, which made the park ranger also very excited. So then she took me in the back room for something special and gave me a pet peanut box!! 

Those were handed out during the campaign with little pet peanuts in them. And now I have one of my very own! Ranger Heather reserves those for people who are really excited about the Carters and I apparently fit the bill. So, we headed out of Plains with all my loot and a whole bunch of fun memories. 

We were headed up to Atlanta after that, in a round about way going through Columbus, Georgia. We stopped for dinner at a fun Mexican place that had awesome margaritas called Pure Taqueria. 

They also brought warm chips as soon as you sat down, and we ordered this awesome queso. 

A fun stop for dinner for sure. 

And then we were headed into Atlanta, we got ourselves what we call a 'Jake Hotel' because he put us on his friends and family Hilton discount since he works there and it hooks us up with great discounts at any hilton brand hotel. Thanks Jake! It was right across from the Coke-a-Cola offices, and just down the street from the aquarium, and less than a mile to the stadium- so a great location. 

Next up: The Georgia Aquarium (spoiler, it's amazing!) and Brentford!