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Now
that it is difficult to physically visit fun places how about taking a
virtual tour. Then when you can travel there, this tour will
show you all the best places.You can do that for under
$5 now. Here's some fun and informative tours at Tours4Mobile.
Read more
Max
Herman of Official Ybor City Ghost Tours introduced me to his
“friend,” Don Vicente Martinez de Ybor, the cigar entrepreneur
who founded Ybor City in 1886. Of course, the “friend” is just
a bronze statue, but without him, Ybor City would not exist.
Ybor City is like a city within a city. It has some of the
most haunted building in America. It’s one of only three
National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Max led me on
a terrific ghost tour of Ybor City. The Official Ybor City
Ghost Tour is so good it’s ranked #1 ghost tour on US City
Traveler. One thing that differentiates it from other tours is
you go into some buildings, not just look from outside. In
addition, my guide told a lot of authentic Ybor City history.
Read more.
Montgomery,
Alabama
has something for everyone. It offers American history at its
museums and attractions from early settlers onward. It stood
at the forefront of the Civil War and the Civil Rights
Movement.. There are music and wildlife spots. Read more.
Maybellene’s
first camping trip went well as far as her performance. The
rain both days dampened the trip some but it was a good test.
She sprung no leaks. The drive there and back went smoothly.
Just wish vans were quieter.
Read more.
Sure, you visit Chattanooga for the world famous
attractions like Rock City, Ruby Falls, and Tennessee
Aquarium. You do the less known ones like Naughty Cat
Café, Incline Railway, and Bluff View Art District.
You fed your soul with these interesting places, but
your body needs nourishment too. Here are some choices
near the attractions.
Read more.
This
is a city that continues to amaze, entertain, and educate
visitors even those who have previously been here. As a
frequent visitor to this old city, I can attest to the fact
that there is always something new happening in America's
oldest continuously occupied city.
Read more.
I'll
bet the first thing the early Rocky Mountain explorers said
when they viewed Grand Lake near the headwaters of the
majestic Colorado River with the backdrop of the Rockies
framing it was, "Ain't it grand!" I had the good fortune to
visit and get out on Grand Lake recently and absolutely agree.
Native Americans considered it special long before that. They
called it "Spirit Lake" because of an old legend. The Utes and
Arapahos were going to war. They put their women and children
on boats in the lake and a storm overturned the boats and they
drowned. The Native Americans believe the spirits of those
drowned people abide there. Read
more.
The
right factory tour can be a ton of fun and a great learning
experience. One of the right ones is the Julius Sturgis
Pretzel Bakery in Lititz, Pennsylvania. It isn't a long tour,
at just under a half hour (tours are offered every half hour).
However, the bakery is located in the middle of Pennsylvania
Dutch Country, with plenty of other attractions to fill out a
day. The claim is that in 1861 Julius Sturgis opened America's
first commercial pretzel bakery in Lititz. More than 150 years
later the Sturgis family continues to make pretzels, and the
original bakery is now used to give visitors a unique view
into the history of pretzel making in America.
Read
more.
It earned the name
"The Forgotten Coast" when it was omitted
from a map depicting the local businesses in Florida. Once you
visit, you won't forget it. It's in the Big Bend area of
Florida and has around 200 miles of uncrowded beaches and
fantastic attractions. The food, especially the seafood, is
heavenly and so fresh. The local oysters are the best in the
world. What you won't find are crowds, traffic, and theme
parks. This is REAL Florida.
Read more.
Some of the greatest art in the
world is in the Vatican, so when "Michelangelo - A Different
View" got sanctioned by The Vatican you know it is special.
The exhibit gives visitors an opportunity many people will
never have in a lifetime, namely to view famous frescos by
Florentine master sculptor/painter, Michelangelo, that
adorn the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Read more.
Kehinde Wiley, one of America's foremost African American
artists, visited an exhibition of his works in the Virginia
Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and was stricken by the Confederate
statues, and what they represent, that line nearby Monument
Avenue. He conceived of a monumental sculpture, Rumours
of War, as a response that would enhance the country's
story by placing people of color into the narrative and
serving as a reminder that our cultural wars have not ended.
Since that time the Confederate statues have come down and the
“war” has expanded to include political, social and
historical issues. The sculpture expresses
Richmond's recognition of and commitment to societal
change through art. Read
more.
I
know there are some places in Macon I haven't visited.
However, I was surprised to recently learn of an outstanding
event I had not known about before. I guess that's because I
was staying at the fantastic 1842 Inn and visiting some of
Macon's most interesting places. I must have gotten too
busy.Read more.
As some of you know, I recently purchased
a 2003 Ford Econoline 250 cargo van from Apex Autoline and
have been converting it into a camper van. Her name is
Maybelline from one of Rock-and-roll's early Chuck Berry songs
about an unfaithful gal named Maybelline, a Cadillac Coupe de
Ville, and a hot rod Ford. My van is not a hot rod and I hope
she will be faithful. (If you are too young to remember the
song, Google it and enjoy. It was a big hit and a fun song.)
Read more.
Ever wonder what it is like to take
a real road trip? Imagine a trip where you went from the
highest mountain in one state to the deepest cave in another.
Get the feel of spending one night in a luxury hotel and the
next in a tent in a campground. Add in a little rain—no make
that a downpour—one of the camping nights. Here's the scoop on
my fun–mostly– road trip. This is just a teaser, there will be
stories about many of these places coming soon.Read more.
Sometimes
hidden treasures are right in your face. Like many others, I
took home county sites for granted. Sure, I live just a few
miles from Camp Blanding and can hear the booms of drills
often. Camp Blanding began in 1939 as a Florida National Guard
training site and remains that today. What I wasn't thinking
about was the Camp Blanding Museum telling its history. I
can't believe I never visited before. After all, during WWII,
this was the fourth largest city in Florida. Wow! What a
little gem. Read more.
This
is a trip for a pandemic, one that minimizes crowds and is
mostly out-of-doors. The highest point in any state offers a
destination with a view. A day trip from my location offered
three choices in North Carolina (highest in eastern United
States), South Carolina, and Georgia. Georgia won, as it
includes a museum and a view of the Atlanta skyline from 80
miles (on a very clear day, not the day I was there). On
regular clear day, four states should be visible. The name of
the top attraction is Brasstown Bald.
Read more.
On
April 26, 1607 three English ships docked in Virginia's
Chesapeake Bay and placed a wooden cross on the beach. They
named the site of the first landing Cape Henry in honor of
Prince Henry of Wales. Approximately 18,000 indigenous Native
Americans, the Chesepians, who had inhabited the region for
thousands of years, greeted the settlers. Fourteen days later
they relocated upstream to the more easily defended Jamestown
Island and established the first permanent English
settlement. Based on this early history Virginia Beach can lay
claim to being the first tourist destination in the country.
Read more.
The
Book of Esther is the story of a beautiful Jewish girl named
Hadassah who becomes the wife of Ahasuerus, the Persian king
Xerxes I, and is renamed Esther. Her religious identity is
hidden, making her life at court precarious, and
inexorably leads to her being called upon to save her people
from total annihilation. Read
more.
Good pandemic travel destinations need to be interesting,
generally not crowded, and preferably mostly out-of-doors.
Etowah Indian Mounds just off Interstate 75 north of Atlanta
near Cartersville, Georgia meets that definition. It includes
a small museum with a huge outdoor expanse which was the
largest Native American settlement in the Etowah Valley. Still
remaining are historic Indian mounds on the north bank of the
Etowah River. Read more.
The
first recorded European explorer to reach Mississippi was De
Soto in 1540. At the time Native Americans had been living
there for 12,000-years and three indigenous tribes had the
largest presence, the Chickasaw, Choctaw and Natchez. It was
Indians who gave the river and the state its name as the
“Father of Waters”, “Misi-ziibi". The native
inhabitants were displaced through unfair treaties
and oppression and in 1719 the French introduced a significant
number of slaves into the area.
Read more.
The U.S. Civil
Rights Trail runs through 15 states and the District of
Columbia and seeks to interpret the fight for Civil Rights
through exploring the cities and sites along the route. Each
destination is a testament to the fortitude, resolve and
unwavering commitment of those, both black and white, who
engaged in the struggle. Guides and maps are available
throughout the trail aid in traveler's site selections and
understanding of each site's place in the history of the
movement, Read more.
When it comes to Black History Month, no place
figures more in Black history than Saint
Augustine.Walk through almost any section of the
city and you will find reminders of its rich
Black history. In 1606, 13 years before the
first enslaved Africans were brought to the
English colony of Jamestown in 1619 an event
happened that was little noted but it was of
great historical importance in Black history.The Cathedral Archives in St. Augustine
recorded the birth of the first African American
child in the continental United States. This
free child was the first spark in the fight for
civil rights for African Americans.Read
more.
Roswell, New Mexico was described as "West of
lost and North of nowhere"in the 1993
documentary UFO Secret: The Roswell Crash by New
Century Productions. The documentary of course
refers to the July 4, 1947 crash of an alien
spaceship which did —or did not —happen near
Roswell. This was what put Roswell on the map as
far as visitors were concerned. As a teen
in the 1960s, I developed an intense interest
and have followed possible UFO incidents so when
I finally got chance to visit Roswell, New
Mexico just months before the pandemic slowed
down my travels, I was thrilled.
Read more.
When
the first Europeans arrived the region of Fairfax County in
1608 the land had been inhabited for thousands of years by
Indians. The Doeg, the largest tribe in the area, lived in
three villages in what is now Fairfax. They farmed and fished.
By the end of the 1600s they had either migrated, died of
disease or war. Read more
One
can trace the country's military history through visiting
sites and attractions throughout Fairfax County Virginia from
the pre-American Revolution Era to modern contemporary times.
The region has always been significant, as the site
of three Native American villages, a route between the
revolutionary northern and southern colonies, a Civil War
transit hub and the location of several museums that interpret
US military history. Read
more.
Travelers
appear to see a light at the end of the tunnel and that,
coupled with enhanced safety precautions, competitive pricing
and flexible reservations make this an opportune time to plan
to ease back into the thrill of adventure. It is best to opt
for destinations that meet your social distancing comfort
level, offer a variety of indoor and outdoor attractions, are
affordable and are accessible via safe modes of
transportation. Read more.
Many
Americans are hopeful that shortly our lives will begin to
stabilize, we will once again engage in what were ordinary
activities, rebuild our economy and reestablish our unifying
cultural links and travel has proven to be one of the most
effective ways to accomplish all of these goals. Individuals
and families can visit destinations that enhance their
knowledge of culture and history and provide jobs in
industries, hospitality and tourism, which have suffered
disproportionately. Read
more.
On
December 31, 2019 Covid-19 was reported in Wuhan, China.
Once again the world, and NYC in particular, was plunged into
social and economic despair and tourism suffered a huge
blow. Now, more than a year later, it appears NYC can once
again exhale and plan to welcome visitors again. All sites,
attractions, dining venues and accommodations adhere to
the Dept. of Health guidelines and NYC is open for business.
Read more.
There's a special place in West Volusia
County where you can time travel. Barberville
Pioneer Settlement transports you back to the
turn of the century when Florida was the wild
frontier. The buildings range from the late
1800s to early 1900s and present a way of life
that is all but forgotten now. It's the perfect
place to blend education with fun in a safe,
mainly-outdoor environment.
Read more.
Back in
1966 a North Georgia English teacher needed a way to get his
students more engaged. He gave them a chance to come up with a
project that would make the course more interesting. The
result was an idea for a magazine that focused on local
(Southern Appalachian) folklore, tradition, and culture. The
students could use their own families and the local community
as a source of material.
Read more.
William Bartram came to
West Volusia County 255 years ago with his
father. He was intrigued enough to return in
1774. He was one of America's first naturalists
to visit and write about Florida. His book,
Travels Through North And South Carolina,
Georgia, East and West Florida, The Cherokee
Country, The Extensive Territories of The
Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and The
Country Of The Chactaws, —They went in for long
titles those days—was one of the first
naturalists' books published by the fledgling
United States in 1791.
Read more.
The
town of DeLand, Florida began in 1876 when a New York
businessman, Henry A. DeLand, visited and fell in love with
the area. He remained there and built his home. The city was
incorporated in 1882 and named in his honor. It has blossomed
into a delightful place to visit. No hustle and bustle, no
traffic and no parking problems create a wonderful background
for dining, shopping, and relaxing. Since I visited near
Halloween, it's only natural to include some ghostly fun
spots.Read more.
Car camping is becoming
more popular. Many years ago I camped in
everything from a station wagon to a stretched
tarp between trees to motor homes and every kind of camping
in-between. After getting hooked on RVing and
Glamping, I thought "no more primitive stuff
like car camping for me." I was wrong. On a trip
last year, I had a long drive of about thirteen
hours between places that were graciously
hosting me. Being cheap, I decided to go back to
the old ways and do a night of car camping.
Read more.
An excellent way to gauge the political climate is to
examine the laws that are deemed necessary
and enacted and the response of the population. In the
inexorable march to the Civil War the most impactful law
was the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, strengthening the lax
enforcement of the 1793 Fugitive Slave Act. The 1850
law, enacted as part of the 1850 Compromise, was created
to facilitate the recapture of those identified
as southern slaves. Southerners felt that Northern
sentiment was not in their favor and abolitionism was on
the rise. Read
more.
Frederick
County Maryland was the site of pivotal events during the
founding of the country from its formation in 1748 but it is
the Civil War, and allied events, that would indelibly
inscribe its place in history. The county is situated on the
Mason-Dixon Line, abuts Pennsylvania, and was both an
early gateway to the West and later for southern incursions
into the North. The Historic National Road, the C&O Canal and
the B&O Railroad all passed through and it was the location of
Union and Confederate troop movements and Antietam, the Battle
of South Mountain, Gettysburg and the Battle of Monocacy.Read
more.
Maryland's African American history officially dates
from 1634. The colonies' initial black population
probably came from Virginia but was quickly supplemented
by sales directly from Africa, the first “documented”
Africans arriving in 1642. More than most states
Maryland's stance on slavery was shaped by political
events. In 1639 all slaves' were stripped of
legal rights and in 1664 the Maryland Assembly deemed
the enslaved slaves for life.
Read more.
This is an excerpt from the
latest edition of Georgia's Ghostly Getaways.
It is available at
Kindle
books.
Check out my other books at
my website, KatysWorld
College towns seem to attract haunts. So do
historic districts, Athens, with its eclectic
mix of brash young college students and
descendants of the legendary antebellum gentry,
is a natural habitat of ghostly legends.
Read more.
Upcountry
South Carolina is the northwest corner of the state, along the
North Carolina border and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has
many historical, natural, and cultural treasures. Many of
these attractions can be visited during a pandemic and Oconee
Station is one of those. It a South Carolina State Historic
Site that includes one of the prettiest waterfalls in the
Upstate, Station Cove Falls. Read more.
Just outside the city of Ocala
lies a different "Magic Kingdom." Mother Nature
rules this kingdom. It's the Ocala National Forest,
430,000 scenic acres of the most diverse terrain
imaginable. It contains highlands, swamps, 600
lakes, countless ponds, 23 streams and springs of clear
crystal water, it's bounded by the slow, dark waters of
the Oklawaha River on the west and the larger, faster
moving St. Johns River on the east. It is the oldest
national forest east of the Mississippi and it has its
ghostly secrets. Read
more.
Some
say that the personalities of ghosts in the afterlife are much
like the ones they had while living. Amelie Comeaux who haunts
T-Frere's Bed and Breakfast in Lafayette was a “canaille,” a
mischievous girl, and her antics in death reflect this wily
nature. Read More
September
is International Underground Railroad Month and nowhere is
that history better preserved and presented more accurately
than throughout the state of Maryland. This month Maryland is
honoring the legacy of the freedom seekers and those who
assisted them with a series of exhibitions, events, tours and
walking and road trips, all designed to be both comprehensive
and follow socially safe guidelines. Read
more.
Being trapped at home courtesy
of Corona Virus has me thinking of many lesser known
places I visited over my years of travel writing and want to visit again . Each of these places has a unique
treasure you won't find anywhere else. Here are just a
few of my favorites. You can click on the linked names
for more about that place.
Read more.
There are many
interesting historical and natural attraction
located just a few miles off the interstate; one
is a fantastic botanical garden just ten miles
from the exit on Interstate 85, halfway between
Atlanta and Charlotte. It is Clemson
University's South Carolina Botanical Garden,
which is much more than the standard botanical
garden. All the traditional plant-focused things
are there, but a lot more, like a special
natural heritage trail that allows the visitor
to transect the natural plant habitats of the
state in just a half-mile.
Read more.
Norfolk
is the second largest city in Virginia. Its history has much
to do with its location at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. It has
Chesapeake Bay to the north and the Elizabeth River to the
west and south, giving it a tremendous amount of waterfront.
All that water also means it has an interesting naval and
maritime history. That history is on display at one of the
city's best museums: the Nauticus, which includes the Hampton
Roads Naval Museum and the Battleship Wisconsin.
Read more
The
U.S. travel industry has emerged as one of the hardest hit
industries in the country. Prior to the pandemic
travel produced a $2.6-trillion profit and
created 15.8-million jobs across the industry. As of the end
of April, 8-million jobs have been lost and projections
estimate that the total effect of the economic loss will be
nine times that of 9/11.
Read more
When
most people think Louisiana plantations, cotton is what comes
to mind. However another crop, sugar cane, was a staple. West
Baton Rouge Museum tells the story of Louisiana's sugar cane
industry. A trip through the museum and its many historical
buildings that make up its campus is a tour through time. It
gives a glimpse of life back through the years for 300 years
from the Antebellum though the struggle for Civil Rights.
Read more.
UNESCO
World Heritage Sites are chosen based on their outstanding
value to humanity and at least one of ten additional criteria.
Why sofa sojourns? There are several reasons for traveling
from the comfort of your sofa. These visual forays allow us to
explore places around the world, reminisce about former trips,
learn about new ones and plan for the time when we can all
travel again. Read more.
There
was a time, not so long ago, when travel was a luxury for
those with time, money and imagination but creative minds and
the internet have altered that narrative. Today you can travel
from anywhere to interesting places and see sights that once
you only heard about. In these times of sheltering in place
the ability to access information, virtually visit national
and international destinations and in some cases experience
them interactively, is priceless.
Read more.
Baton
Rouge is uniquely where the past and the present merge
and it is filled with sites that clarify and expand what
you have previously learned. After French explorers came
upon the Baton Rouge area in 1699 the region was
thoroughly documented by Pierre Le Moyne D'Iberville's
descriptions of what he called Istrouma, Red Stick, in
French is Baton Rouge. He saw large red poles, adorned
with animal and fish heads, placed by the Houma tribes
to delineate their hunting ground.
Read more.
Red Stick was what Native Americans
called this part of the country. Baton Rouge, as we know
it today, is often under-considered as a great tourist
destination. It was where Travel South held this
year's conference. Yes, we worked meeting with CVB
people from southern states in a speed dating format
during two of the days but lunch and evenings were super
fun and our first day was spent seeing some of its many
attractions. Read
more.
Being an armchair adventurer has its advantages. Travelers
have all the time they need to explore a destination's hidden
treasures as well as experience the local cuisine and
culture. As we embark on part two of our Louisiana adventure
we are heading the 57-miles to Terrebonne Parish, the heart of
Bayou Country. Louisiana has 64 parishes that are the
equivalent of counties in other states. Terrebonne created in
1822, is the second largest parish and is one of the
southernmost. Read more.
I recently returned from Travel South as the Corona Virus
erupted. We're all sitting at home now and friends have asked
me what a meet-up like this is like. Here is part one of an
overview of Travel South starting with my pre-trip, called "A
Whole Lotta History Goin' on." I hope since none of should be
on the road now, you can enjoy my trip vicariously. And that
you will be inspired to go see some of these fantastic places
for yourself when this crisis passes.
Read more.
Self-isolation
is a term that has recently embedded itself into the public
consciousness. People have been asked to refrain from close
quarters in large crowds, international travel and
nonessential activities. In other words, as much as possible,
stay home. Self-isolation has its own set of issues, not the
least regarding the impact on destination travel. My solution
is to spend some of your newly available time planning for the
time when things normalize, and history has proven that it
will, and the call of the open road will again
beckon. Plan now for a new adventure, to revisit an
old one and support the travel industry.
Read more.
We
can all acknowledge the fact that blacks have played a
significant role in United States history, from the Spanish
explorers, Estevanico, Pedro Nino and Juan Garrido,
to advancements by *Dr. Patricia E. Bath and **Dr. Thomas
Mensah. We tend to exalt those whose actions were overt,
seemingly larger than life but what about those who operated
in the shadows and attained quiet victories. What about those
who literally turned the tide of events.
Read more.
African
Americans served as spies during the American Revolution with
the belief that their service would prove the loyalty of the
people, improve their condition and for the ever present
promises of freedom. Largely the status of African Americans
did not change as a result of their service the government did
not keep their promises. Read more.
Two
events happened in 1965. Country Willie – His Own Songs
became Willie Nelson's first RCA Victor album leading to his
success as a singer instead of just a songwriter. The same
year, the Saint Augustine Amphitheater was built commemorating
Saint Augustine's 400th birthday. Willie and Saint Augustine
have another thing in common, being the oldest. Willie is the
oldest, male, country star still performing; Saint Augustine
is the oldest city in the United States and they are both
still in great form. Read more.
Cities
are, in their own ways, canvasses that depict the history,
culture, and dreams of the residents. Stories reflected there
are ever changing but the past never really disappears and, if
one looks closely enough, one can see traces of earlier times
and their ongoing impact.Durham is a classic example of a
city with a storied past intertwined with a modern vibrancy.
Read more.
The
use of slave labor in NC was, from the outset, a money making
proposition. In 1663 eight Lord Proprietors were granted a
charter from King Charles II. The Concessions of 1665”,
in which 50 additional acres were assigned to settlers based
on the number of enslaved 14 years and older each brought into
the colony. The 1669 Colonial Carolina Fundamental
Constitution legalized slavery.
Read more.
Off
the beaten path places always appeal to me especially if there
is a history connection. Las Cruces has many. One is an
ancient adobe fort that tells a story of the old west.
Read more.
Little
did I know many years ago when I lived in the Mississippi Gulf
Coast and was attending college at The Jeff Davis Campus of
the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, I would get to
see an amazing reincarnation 40-plus years later.
Read more.
Oklahoma
City is filled with interesting places to visit. There is one
that is not a fun quest but no one should pass it by without
stopping. The Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum walks you
through one of the most horrific acts committed in modern
history.
Read more.
Montgomery,
Alabama has, from its beginning, acted as a historical vortex,
drawing people and events into its orbit in astonishing
configurations. Read more
David
Friedman, author of Food Sanity, gives us one good reason to
drink rum. He states, “Also, while too much drinking can
damage your brain, moderate consumption of rum may actually
lower that risk: Rum has properties that may help protect your
brain cells and decrease your risk of dementia and
Alzheimer's.” Read more.
Whether
your latest resolution was to spend more time with your family
or not, this column is for you. Philadelphia was designated
the nation's first UNESCO World Heritage City in 2015, placing
it on par with Berlin, Mexico City, Paris and Quebec City.
Read more.
Spanish
explorer Juan Ponce de León is believed to be the first
European to explore Florida although earlier expeditions
reached the region hunting for native slaves to export to
Spain. He set sail in 1513 on a search for gold and new lands,
later stories tell he sought the Fountain of Youth.
Read more.
The
Mid-Atlantic region is the most historic corridor in the
country and consists of a series of metropolitan areas within
220-miles and accessed by I-95. The major cities, New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC, each have
distinctive attractions, New York's glitz, glamour and
Broadway, Philadelphia's historic sites, art and music scene
and DC's museums, memorials and institutions.
Read more.
As you drive into Ghost Ranch, you are going to be driving
slowly. That's because the eye-catching beauty of the
mountains surround you. You would not be human if you didn't
stop to stare at such overwhelming beauty.
Read more.
There
are lots of old plantations and plantation houses scattered
across the South. Many are special, usually due to some sort
of historical connection. Fort Hill was the antebellum
plantation of John C. Calhoun, a preeminent nineteenth century
southern statesman and later the home of Thomas G. Clemson,
his son-in-law. Read
more.
The
Hamburg-America Line launched the Princess Victoria Louise,
the first ship built solely for luxury cruising, on June 29,
1900. Prior ships were ocean liners created to transport
passengers and cargo on transatlantic journeys as
expeditiously as possible but the Victoria Louise was designed
to provide a truly luxurious experience with the aura of a
floating 5-star hotel. Read more.
The
Beaumont, Port Arthur Metropolitan area in Texas is called the
Golden Triangle in reference to the wealth that flowed in
after the oil gusher at Spindletop in 1901. It includes other
smaller cities such as Orange, Nederland, Groves, Port Neches,
Vidor, and Lumberton, and smaller places within the area. It
could also be called "Golden" in regard to the number of gold
records local musicians have earned.
Read more.
Nothing
is more welcoming on a cold night than a warm fire flickering
in an old fashioned cast iron stove. It's really a gas heater
but it looks and feels like a real old fashioned wood one.
Naturally, there is back up heat and air conditioning if you
visit in summer. When I visited Two Casitas in November, Santa
Fe's nighttime temperature dropped to 19%. It didn't bother me
at all. Read
more
The last few days on the road were a
whirlwind of fun. I didn't have time to write about them—until
now. It was on to Ghost Ranch and Las Cruces inNew Mexico and
then to Beaumont and Port Arthur in Texas.
Read more.
I'm
in Santa Fe now after a fabulous pre trip to Albuquerque.
Albuquerque is filled with great food and amazing museums. Our
IFWTWA (International Food Wine and Travel Writers
Association) Convention was very helpful to improve my career
as a travel writer.
Read more.
Say
“Roswell, New Mexico” and everyone's first thought is
“aliens.” Mine too. That's way I am so thrilled to be here
today exploring the unknown. My first stop naturally was the
International UFO Museum & Research Center. This is not some
hokey museum dealing just with Hollywood's version of aliens
from outer space. Read more.
Oklahoma
City is filled with treasures I discovered yesterday and
probably many more I did not have time to visit. My stay began
at the historic 21C Museum Hotel. This early 1900s building
earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places
by being a former Fred Jones Ford Motor Company assembly plant
that crafted Model Ts. Read More.
I'm in Lake Charles and just visited the very first Southern
Cast Iron Cook-Off. Picture
Cajun food and culture, music, venders offering samples of and
information about everything from alligators to cast iron pots
and pans. Professional chefs and amateurs competed in four
categories– Meat & Game, Seafood, Sweet & Savory Baking, and
Vegetables & Sides.
Read more.
I'm
in awesome Lake Charles, Louisiana now. It's such a different
kind of place. It's not a descendant of the plantation South
or the old West. It's a mish mash of both. It's history is
influenced by the fact it was not exactly included in the area
of the Louisiana Purchase as it is not land drained by the
Mississippi River. Read more.
The
Secret Coast won't stay a secret much longer. There is so much
going on along Mississippi's Gulf Coast now. The last two days
was rainy but I still managed to see a lot more of the coast.
It brought back many memories of the days when I lived in Bay
St. Louis.
Read
more.
To
paraphrase Willie Nelson, "I'm on the road again." But instead
of making music, I'm visiting some fantastic places. Some
brand new to me; some I am visiting again and enjoying the old
while marveling at the new. Read more.
In
1607 a group of 105 people led by John Smith established a
permanent Virginia colony, named in honor of Queen Elizabeth
I, at Jamestown on land inhabited by Native Americans. A
colony, also established by the Virginia Company, was to
become Richmond, situated on the fall line of the James River.
Read
more.
More
Civil War battles were staged in Virginia than any other state
and many of those battles played out in and around the
34,000-sq. mile Blue Ridge Mountains' region. The mountains
are more than 1 billion years old, wind through eight states
and are stunning in their majesty.
Read more.
Halloween
is an especially good time to seek out haunted hotels. But
these are fun any time of year. Southern hospitality mingled
with the spirits of long ago.
Read more.
Contrary
to what some might believe Lynchburg was named after John
Lynch who took over the family's James River ferry service in
1757. In 1786 45-acres of John Lynch's land was used to found
the town that was chartered 29-years later. The location of
the ferry service was memorialized in 2004 with Langley
Fountain spouting a 190-ft. stream of water into the air.
Read more.
In
1669 the French explorer de La Salle, the first European in
the Ohio was met by the Iroquois Indians who migrated there in
the early 1600s. The river and the state would be named the
Iroquois word for “beautiful river”. The land was a
bountiful native beaver hunting ground and although the
Iroquois were quickly decimated and supplanted by the tribes
including the Delaware and Shawnee, the French established
posts to trade with the natives.
Read more.
I
wonder if Willie Nelson was thinking of Franklin, Tennessee
when he wrote "We're agin' with time like yesterday's wine."
Just like a good aged wine, Franklin had a unique past and
today is a city that beckons travelers of all types.
Read more.
Georgia,
named in honor of King George II, was the 13th of the 13
colonies and was founded in 1733. When the ship Anne
landed the 120 colonists on the shore of the Savannah
River, at the foot of a 45-foot bluff, founder James
Oglethorpe brought with him the plans for the city with the
river as the northern boundary. Read
more.
Woodstock,
Georgia has a huge variety of great restaurants but if you
like Italian, Vingenzo's stands out. It is an Italian treasure
in Woodstock's downtown entertainment district. One
taste of Vingenzo's Chef Michael Bologna's Neapolitan Pizza or
homemade sausage will have you thinking you died and went
to—no, not Heaven—Italy.
Read more.
The
history of DeKalb County has been archeologically traced back
as far as the late Ice Age and Indian mounds from the Late
Archaic Period have been found that predate the 1567 Spanish
claim to the land by thousands of years. Read more
Saint
Lucia was possibly inhabited 3,000 years ago by the Ciboney
and based on archaeological research and artifacts it has been
proven that “Iouanalao” island, “land of the iguanas”, was
settled by the Arawaks around 2,000 years ago.
Read more.
You may go to Savannah for the history
and fun but you gotta eat. So why not eat at the most fun and
interesting restaurants. As icing on the cake many of
Savannah's restaurants have a historic background. Here are a
few I loved there and why.
Read more.
She
was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on September 8, 1932. In a
life filled with much misfortune, she not only survived but
became a role model for female singers and women everywhere.
Read more.
In
1800 Pierre-Samuel du Pont de Nemours and two sons left France
to settle in the United States. This voyage would alter the
course of American history. Pierre had been elevated to
nobility because of his position with Louis XVI as an
economist, secretary to the Assembly of Notables
and his assistance in crafting the 1783 Treaty of Versailles
that ended the American Revolution.
Read more.
On
the 50th Anniversary of Hank Williams death, I had the honor
to meet the man who slapped his bull fiddle for Hank's
Drifting Cowboys in the 1940s.William Herbert "Lum" York,
(November 16, 1918 – August 15, 2004) was a musician best
known as the bass player in Hank Williams Drifting Cowboys.
Read more.
Who
knew there is so much to see and do in Woodstock, Georgia?
Just visited it with Travel Media Showcase this year and
discovered a treasure. It began with the Georgia Gold Rush and
grew when Marietta and North Georgia Railroad built a depot
there in 1879. There are a couple of legends about the city's
name. Read more.
On
Monday, September 17, 1849 Araminta “Minty” Ross set out from
Poplar Neck Plantation, on Maryland's Eastern Shore, to
freedom in the North. Prior to her escape she changed her name
to Harriet, after her mother, and took her husband's last
name. Read more.
Did
you know DeKalb County, Georgia has a trio of unusual and
fascinating museums? I didn't until I recently visited during
Travel Media Showcase.
Read more.
The
first Europeans in the southern region of Maryland, today's
10-mile long South Potomac Heritage Scenic Corridor portion*,
were met by the Piscataway Indians who lived there from 1300.
Regional native habitation dates back 13,000 years and was the
site of a thriving culture.
Read more
Stone Mountain, a huge granite monolith
towering over the landscape in DeKalb County, Georgia, is
eye-candy in the highest form. Its
Confederate heroes, carved in giant scale on its front, is
carving is breathtaking. It's the world's largest bas-relief
carving in North America on the largest granite outcropping.
Read more.
If you've been putting off visiting Savannah because you think
it's expensive, think again. It can be costly especially
parking but there are many free attractions well worth a
visit. I just visited and had a wonderful time.
Read more.
In
the not too distant past, if you wanted to get close to nature
you needed to pack your camping supplies or hitch up your RV.
I just did a magnificent close to nature trip with neither of
those things. How? I went glamping in Ellijay in the North
Georgia Mountains. Read
more.
NashHouse
Southern Spoon & Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee is more than a
dining establishment. It's a tribute to Nashville's Country
Music icons. It's relatively new having opened in March 2018
and is booming. Location of course is important. It's in the
Cambria Nashville hotel putting it walking distance from the
Country Music Hall of Fame, Music City Center, and the Johnny
Cash/Patsy Cline Museums.
Read more.
This
is one of the gems which is hidden right off a major
interstate. It's for transportation buffs, especially railroad
buffs. In the late nineteenth century, J.P. Morgan, owner of
what was once the Southern Railway Company, located its
largest steam locomotive servicing facility halfway between
the railroad's major terminal points of Washington, D.C. and
Atlanta. Read more.
If an apple a day really keeps the doctor
away, R and A Orchards in Gilmer County, Georgia can keep you
in perfect health. In this era of not knowing where our food
comes from, it's a pleasure to visit a real family run orchard
and produce store. Read more.
Hampton,
located 26-miles south of Atlanta, has a population of less
than 10,000 but receives thousands of visitors annually drawn
by the city's unique sites and attractions. Seven years ago
Hampton was deemed a “Playful City,” one of under 220 in the
country. Read more.
There
are many fun things to visit in Ellijay, Georgia but there is
one unusual place many people might miss. If you are an animal
lover this one is a must-see. It's Build an Ark Animal Rescue. Read more.
Long awaited Westville, a living history
recreation of a typical Georgia town in the 1800s is now alive
and in full swing again in Columbus, Georgia. Its authentic
homes and building have been moved from around the state. It
had begun in Lumpkin and was closed down for a good while to
complete the move.Read more.
"Return
with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear when the
Lone Ranger rides again"--no make that the Lone Writer. Here
at French Broad Outpost Dude Ranch in Eastern Tennessee, I'm
getting as close to the old western days as you can get. I
followed a gravel road that is not on most maps to the ranch.Read more.
I
recently visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art to view an
exhibition of their extraordinary collection of Impressionist
and Post-Impressionist artworks. More than 80 important pieces
by the masters of those avant-garde movements can be seen in
the media of painting, sculpture and works on paper. Read more.
One of the greatest musicians of our time is memorialized
in a museum in downtown Nashville. Only a handful of musicians
have left as large a footprint on Country Music as Johnny
Cash. The Johnny Cash Museum is rated number one music museum
in the world and a must-see by Forbes, Conde' Naste,
and National Geographical Traveler.
Read more.
Henry
County, Georgia, comprised of four major communities, Hampton,
Locust Grove, McDonough, and Stockbridge, is situated 20-miles
from downtown Atlanta. It was named in honor of Patrick Henry
upon its creation in 1821 on land obtained through a treaty
with the Creek Indians.
Read
more.
Leiper's Fork, Tennessee is one of the
prettiest little towns you can find. It's no coincidence that
as you drive into town, a bright orange car and a police
cruiser catch your eye. It's the General Lee from Dukes of Hazzard
and Barney Fife's cruiser from the
Andy Griffin Show.
Read more
There
are some places in Jacksonville a visitor should not miss. One
of them is Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. It's on the
north side of Jacksonville and not in the main path of
visitors headed into Jax's busy downtown. It
began back in 1914 and has grown ever since.
Read More.
Public Disclosure-- Please Read The FTC has a
law requiring web sites to let their readers
know if any of the stories are "sponsored" or
compensated. We also are to let readers know if
any of our links are ads. Most are not. They are
just a way to direct you to more information
about the article where the link is placed. We
also have several ads on our pages. They are
clearly marked as ads. I think readers are smart
enough to know an ad when they see one but to
obey the letter of the law, I am putting this
statement here to make sure everyone
understands. American Roads and Global Highways
may contain affiliate links or ads. Further, as
their bios show, most of the feature writers are
professional travel writers. As such we are
frequently invited on press trips, also called
fam trips. On these trips most of our lodging,
dining, admissions fees and often plane fare are
covered by the city or firm hosting the trip. It
is an opportunity to visit places we might not
otherwise be able to visit. However, no one
tells us what to write about those places. All
opinions are 100% those of the author of that
feature column.
The
Tenant from Hell Book 1 in
the Realtor Mystery Series
Casey Clark,
property manager, is
just trying to evict
a bad tenant.
Instead she is over
her head in murder
and mayhem
The Everglades
swarm with wildlife
from birds, to
mammals, to
reptiles. Take a
boat ride into the
surrounding waters
of the Atlantic or
Gulf of Mexico, you
will find dolphins
dancing in your
wake.
Wild about Florida:
Central FL Central Florida has
the ocean and gulf
beaches much like
other parts of
Florida but in many
other ways it is
distinct and unique.
The Florida scrub
jay, a bird many
Floridians believe
should be our state
bird, is found
nowhere else in the
world .
Wild About Florida:
North FL
Come explore caves,
hills, whitewater
falls and lots of
other fun things you
didn't expect to
find in Florida.
North Florida still
lets you enjoy the
sun and sand of Gulf
and ocean beaches,
but there is so much
more. The northern
counties are
different from their
southern and central
counterparts.
Georgia's
Ghostly Getaways
Who is not
fascinated by
mysterious things
that go bump in the
night? Who has never
wondered about that
thin line that
separates the living
from the dead? Are
there some places
where departed souls
still linger?
Hosts With
Ghosts The
South has long been
famous for its
Southern
Hospitality. Hotels
throughout Dixie vie
with one another to
offer their guests
more service and
more amenities. They
strive to make each
visitor feel like a
cherished family
member instead of a
paying customer.
Many have guests
that never depart.
Finding
Florida's Phantoms
Florida! The land of
sunshine and
wide-open beaches.
But even the
Sunshine State has
its dark secrets.
Places where
centuries old
spirits remain tied
to earth. Beneath
the facade of fun
and make believe
lurks the real
Florida.
Color Saint
Augustine
This is a way to
virtually visit
Saint Augustine.
It's a coloring book
for grown ups (but
kids will love it
too.) It's a spiral
bound, letter size
(8.5" x 11") book
with an actual photo
taken by me of one
of the attractions
in Saint Augustine.
The opposite page is
the same photo
converted into a
black and white line
image for you to to
color. It's 64 pages
with 30 photos and
30 pages for you to
color. On each photo
and each color page
there is a little
about the story of
the image .
Now
that it is difficult to physically visit fun places how about taking a
virtual tour. Then when you can travel there, this tour will
show you all the best places.You can do that for under
$5 now. Here's some fun and informative tours at Tours4Mobile.
Max
Herman of Official Ybor City Ghost Tours introduced me to his
“friend,” Don Vicente Martinez de Ybor, the cigar entrepreneur
who founded Ybor City in 1886. Of course, the “friend” is just
a bronze statue, but without him, Ybor City would not exist.
Ybor City is like a city within a city. It has some of the
most haunted building in America. It’s one of only three
National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Max led me on
a terrific ghost tour of Ybor City. The Official Ybor City
Ghost Tour is so good it’s ranked #1 ghost tour on US City
Traveler. One thing that differentiates it from other tours is
you go into some buildings, not just look from outside. In
addition, my guide told a lot of authentic Ybor City history.
Read more.
Montgomery,
Alabama
has something for everyone. It offers American history at its
museums and attractions from early settlers onward. It stood
at the forefront of the Civil War and the Civil Rights
Movement.. There are music and wildlife spots. 
Maybellene’s
first camping trip went well as far as her performance. The
rain both days dampened the trip some but it was a good test.
She sprung no leaks. The drive there and back went smoothly.
Just wish vans were quieter.
Read more.
Sure, you visit Chattanooga for the world famous
attractions like Rock City, Ruby Falls, and Tennessee
Aquarium. You do the less known ones like Naughty Cat
Café, Incline Railway, and Bluff View Art District.
You fed your soul with these interesting places, but
your body needs nourishment too. Here are some choices
near the attractions.
Read more.
This
is a city that continues to amaze, entertain, and educate
visitors even those who have previously been here. As a
frequent visitor to this old city, I can attest to the fact
that there is always something new happening in America's
oldest continuously occupied city.
Read more.
I'll
bet the first thing the early Rocky Mountain explorers said
when they viewed Grand Lake near the headwaters of the
majestic Colorado River with the backdrop of the Rockies
framing it was, "Ain't it grand!" I had the good fortune to
visit and get out on Grand Lake recently and absolutely agree.
Native Americans considered it special long before that. They
called it "Spirit Lake" because of an old legend. The Utes and
Arapahos were going to war. They put their women and children
on boats in the lake and a storm overturned the boats and they
drowned. The Native Americans believe the spirits of those
drowned people abide there. Read
more.
Kehinde Wiley, one of America's foremost African American
artists, visited an exhibition of his works in the Virginia
Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and was stricken by the Confederate
statues, and what they represent, that line nearby Monument
Avenue. He conceived of a monumental sculpture, Rumours
of War, as a response that would enhance the country's
story by placing people of color into the narrative and
serving as a reminder that our cultural wars have not ended.
Since that time the Confederate statues have come down and the
“war” has expanded to include political, social and
historical issues. The sculpture expresses
Richmond's recognition of and commitment to societal
change through art. 
Upcountry
South Carolina is the northwest corner of the state, along the
North Carolina border and the Blue Ridge Mountains. It has
many historical, natural, and cultural treasures. Many of
these attractions can be visited during a pandemic and Oconee
Station is one of those. It a South Carolina State Historic
Site that includes one of the prettiest waterfalls in the
Upstate, Station Cove Falls. 
Some
say that the personalities of ghosts in the afterlife are much
like the ones they had while living. Amelie Comeaux who haunts
T-Frere's Bed and Breakfast in Lafayette was a “canaille,” a
mischievous girl, and her antics in death reflect this wily
nature.
We
can all acknowledge the fact that blacks have played a
significant role in United States history, from the Spanish
explorers, Estevanico, Pedro Nino and Juan Garrido,
to advancements by *Dr. Patricia E. Bath and **Dr. Thomas
Mensah. We tend to exalt those whose actions were overt,
seemingly larger than life but what about those who operated
in the shadows and attained quiet victories. What about those
who literally turned the tide of events.
Long awaited Westville, a living history
recreation of a typical Georgia town in the 1800s is now alive
and in full swing again in Columbus, Georgia. Its authentic
homes and building have been moved from around the state. It
had begun in Lumpkin and was closed down for a good while to
complete the move.
