KIRSTEN LUPINSKI: Day trippin’ ideas a half-hour away

Last month I gave you all some fun things that you can do in Albany, and I promised that I would follow that column up with a few places a little outside of Albany that I recommend you visit. I have been to all three of these and they are each about 30 minutes away from Albany.

I have mentioned some of them before in previous posts, but my family and I enjoyed them so much, so I want to make sure you all get this information.

I am sure you are all aware that Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, was born and raised in Plains. Have you ever visited Plains and his boyhood farm? This is a National Historic Site and only a short half-hour from Albany. There are many things to do in Plains that will give you a history of Jimmy Carter, and don’t forget that this is the peanut capital of the United States (so they say).

They actually do have a Peanut Festival every year in September with lots of yummy peanut treats and fun for people of all ages. You can check out this website for up to date information on the festival (www.plainsgeorgia.com/peanut_festival.html).

However, you can visit the historical sites at any time of the year. There are three places that I highly recommend you visit on your trip to Plains — Jimmy Carter’s boyhood farm, Plains High School (turned into a museum), and the train depot (the 1976 presidential campaign headquarters). These are all open to the public every day of the year (except Christmas, New Year’s and Thanksgiving). A trip to plains will give you a sense of where Jimmy Carter grew up and what farm life was like in the 1920s.

This website will provide you with details on the National Historic Site (www.nps.gov/nr/travel/presidents/jimmy_carter_nhs.html).

The Global Village and Discovery Center is located in Americus, which is, again, only about 30 minutes from Albany. This is the International headquarters for Habitat for Humanity and a very interesting and educational place for people of all ages. The Center is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and on Saturdays March through November.

You can tour models of houses that Habitat has built around the world and also explore a section on living in poverty. I would suggest that you visit their website (www.habitat.org/gvdc) for up to date information.

The Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village is located in Tifton. They have recreated an 1870s farm community/village that includes a church, drug store, houses, school, saw mill, steam engine and other features that take you back to life in the 1870s. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays.

There is also a country store located on the property that sells locally grown and crafted merchandise. This short day trip is a fun way to look back on life in the late 1800s. You can visit their website for up to date information, www.habitat.org/gvdc.

As I mentioned, I have been to all three of these with my kids and we not only learned something, but enjoyed walking around and getting in some exercise.

Kirsten Lupinski is an assistant professor at Albany State University in the Department of Health and Human Performance. She has a bachelor’s of science in nutrition from the University of North Carolina, a master’s of science in health education from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate in education from the University of Cincinnati. She has worked in the health education field in various capacities (corporate health, community health, college health and wellness and university education) for more than 17 years. She and her husband have three young children (9-year-old twin boys and a 5-year-old girl).