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mighty partial to the fried variety in this neck of the state. Along Main Street you will also find a few antique stores and a flower shop, where you can pick up more treasures. If history is your thing, explore remnants of the past and get a glimpse into Carter's life today. He still calls Plains home. The depot actually served as his campaign headquarters in the 1970s. When you walk into the wood-paneled room, you will see political posters and an old box television airing interviews from back in the day. A few blocks away sits the high school where Carter attended class. You can see a replica of the presidential desk in the Oval Office and check out some of the school books that the former president pored over in his time. Just a hop, skip and a jump in the other direction sits the house that the Carter's call home today. In the winter the house is easier to see, but you can view the Secret Service headquarters and read information from the National Park Service on the property. Depending on the route the Shortline takes for the day, you may also get the chance to visit Carter's boyhood home a few miles up the road. A er an a ernoon of touring the town, the train ride back is a welcome respite, winding its way back to Central Georgia. Chat with new passenger friends or dri off for a nap with the hum of the engines carrying you home. Either way, a trip on the Sam Shortline is a welcome adventure for anyone who wants a blast from the past or a history lesson on Georgia's only favorite son to occupy the White House. JUNE/JULY 2021 | maconmagazine.com 79