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San Antonio: Heart of Texas
Kathleen Walls
Published 5-28-2023
There
is no question. San Antonio is the heart of Texas and the
heart of San Antonio lies the middle of its 21st century
downtown. There one piece of 18th century architecture reigns
supreme. It is not the tallest or the largest. Not even the
grandest, but it is unquestionably San Antonio's crowning
jewel. The Alamo! No other symbol in American history is more
revered as a shrine to heroism in the cause of freedom. In
actual fact, the story is a little different. A group of
American who had been invited to settle in Mexico's then
owned territory, actually snatched Texas away from Mexico and
created a separate county, the Republic of Texas.
They declared independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. The
Republic of Texas was not recognized by the United States
until a year later in 1837.
26 Experiences you will only find in Onslow County, North Carolina
Kathleen Walls
Published 5-13-2023
Until
1941, Onslow County was a quiet fishing village that depended
on naval stores, lumber, and tobacco crops as its main source
of income. Then in 1941, Onslow County and the world changed.
Marine Barracks Camp Lejeune located in Jacksonville,
Onslow’s main city. Today, tourism plays a major role in the
area. It has many unique attractions you won’t find anywhere
else.
Huntsville: Relive the Past and Foresee the Future
Kathleen Walls
Published 5-4-2023
In
Huntsville, you can foresee the future at the Space and
Rocket Center. You can tour the museum’s artifacts from
Apollo and Challenger to present day and experience a
simulated space voyage aboard the Discovery Shuttle where you
“launch” from Kennedy Space Center, go into orbit, and
landing back at Kennedy.
A Walk on the Wild Side of St. Lucie County
Kathleen Walls
Published 4-7-2023
Published 4-7-2023
Here’s a secret about Florida. It’s not
all theme parks and crowds You can visit St Lucie County for
some natural resources and have a blast minus the crowds. I
recently took a nature press trip and want to share the beauty
of the Treasure Coast with you.
(Photo credit Ischell Laxton)
Western North Carolina Nature Center
Tom Straka
Published 4-4-2023
Ashville, North Carolina is a fun city to
visit, with lots of hidden gems. Among them is the
Western North Carolina Nature
Center, one of North Carolina’s accredited zoos, but much
more than that. It is both plants and animals, intended to
connect people with an appreciation of the of the Southern
Appalachian native wildlife and habitats. The
WNC Nature Center is a menagerie of over 60 species of wild
and domestic animals, set in a landscape including hundreds of
native plant species, all characteristic of the unique Southern
Appalachian bioregion.
Alachua County’s Magnificent
Museums
Kathleen Walls
Published 3-28-2023
Alachua
County, Florida has a museum for every interest. As a college
town, you expect this in Gainesville, but there are other
towns around the county worth a visit. Here are some I have
visited and enjoyed. I’ll start with Gainesville.
Dudley Farm: A Trip into Florida's Agricultural Past
Kathleen Walls
Published 3-4-2023
Dudley Farm Historical State Park is an authentic 325-acre
working “Cracker” farm on the western outskirts of Gainesville.
A visit there gives you an accurate picture of North Florida
farming through the eyes of three generations of the Dudley
family. The farm began in the pioneer days of the 1850s when
Phillip B.H. Dudley and his wife, Mary, began the farm. After
Phillip’s death, the farm passed it on to his son, Ben, and his
wife, Fanny.
Herlong Mansion: Reminder of a Earlier Time
Kathleen Walls
Published 3-1-2023
When Zeddy Clarence Herlong came to
Micanopy with his wife, Natalie, in the early 1900s and settled
into the house along an Indian trading route, now known as
Cholokka Boulevard, he never imagined it would one day be a
famous bed-and-breakfast. The two-story pine “cracker style”
home, built in 1845 by R. S. Stoughton, and then owned by
Herlong’s father-in-law, John Simonton, is now
The Herlong Mansion and
listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Catty Shack Offers Help for Homeless Animals
Kathleen Walls
Published 1-30-2023
There
has been a lot in the news lately about the homeless. Yes,
that’s a sad situation, but at least people can try to get
help. What about animals who cannot ask for help or go apply
for a job?
Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary in Jacksonville,
Florida helps those homeless. Animals that have been abandoned,
confiscated by law enforcement due to abuse, or just cats that
are unwanted at bigger zoos can find a “forever home” here.
Manifest Distilling
Kathleen Walls
Published 2-25-2023
If
you’re visiting Jacksonville and want an adult beverage at a
fun location, visit the taproom at Manifest
Distilling. They’re located in the heart of the sports
district and since Jacksonville worships the Jaguars that is a
good place to be. It began in 2016 as a dream of David Cohen, a
graduate of the brew school at the Siebel Institute. He brought
in Scott Kennelly, Trey Mills, and Tom Johnson at first. Today
it has grown to 11 staff people and one territorial cat.
The Jesse James Trail
Renée S. Gordon
Published 1-25-2023
The
whereabouts of Jesse James may have been mysterious in the
latter part of the 1880s but scholars have successfully
traced his movements from birth through his burials and
exhumations. Across the country, from Texas to West Virginia,
there are explorable sites and markers that refer to his
domestic and his criminal lives. He joined the Civil War
guerrillas in 1864 and Post-Civil War he and his brother
Frank formed an alliance with the four Younger Brothers and
became the James-Younger Gang to continue the fight. James is
estimated to have participated in approximately twenty armed
robberies.
Destination Kansas City,
Kansas
Renée S. Gordon
Published 1-15-2023
The
consolidation and incorporation of eight small towns in
Wyandotte County in 1872 led to the creation of Kansas City
eleven years after Kansas gained statehood. A biography of
the state, both prior to statehood and into the 21st-century,
is a microcosm of the history of the United States’ westward
expansion and the colorful characters who impacted on those
events. Until entry into the Union the region was recognized
as the Nebraska and the Indian Territories until 1854 and as
such settlers, outlaws, lawmen, natives and African Americans
entered the area. Kansas City, KS is listed as one of
fifty-five National Heritage Areas based on its historical
sites, culture and significant geography
Walking with Patsy Cline
Kathleen Walls
published 1-7-2023
I saw Patsy Cline last night. Well, she
looked like Patsy Cline. She talked like Patsy Cline. And boy,
did she sing like Patsy Cline! Actually, it was
Gail Bliss
performing in
the fantastic
A
Closer Walk with Patsy Cline at Jacksonville’s
Alhambra Theatre and
Dining.
Starr Hill Winery and Vineyard
Kathleen Walls
Published 12-8-2022
Starr Hill Winery is more than a winery and vineyard. It’s
almost a one-stop-for-all place. The vineyard sits atop a hill
in Curwensville in the Pennsylvania Wilds. We visited recently
on a press trip and met with Kenn Starr who told us a little
about Starr Hill Winery. It began with his father’s dream. He
started making wine in the ‘50s when he returned from Germany
where he had been stationed in the Air Force. He saw how they
made wine over in Germany and started making wine in 1967. Kenn
told us, “We have the original bottles here at the winery.”
Anna Maria Island
Kathleen Walls
Published 11-16-2022
Anna Maria Island’s history goes way back.
The first record of European explorers here dated to the 1530s.
They claimed Anna Maria for Spain. Of course, they weren’t the
first people here. The Tocobagans, Calusa’s and other native
tribes using the island as a base for fishing and hunting.
Trinkle Mansion Bed and Breakfast
Kathleen Walls
Published 11-15-2022
A stay at
Trinkle Mansion Bed &
Breakfast in
Wytheville, Virginia is a way to experience traveling like the
elite in the Victorian era. Those days, wealthy people stayed
at the homes of friends and family many times when traveling.
That’s how it feels when staying at Trinkle Mansion. It is a
Classical Revival home built for William Trinkle, a gentleman
farmer and brother of a Virginia governor, Elbert Lee
Trinkle. Trinkle served as governor from 1922 to 1926 after
serving in the Virginia Senate. That may give you a hint of
what it would be like staying in William Trinkle’s home.
Isett Heritage Museum
Kathleen Walls
Published 11-14-2022
I always love to know all the little secret stories about a
place I visit. On a recent visit to Huntingdon County,
Pennsylvania, I got the entire condensed history of the area at
the Isett Heritage Museum. I’m using condensed loosely as the
museum is huge. There are three large buildings plus some
outside artifacts all telling the local history. J. Melvin
Isett and his wife, Beulah, began the museum after many years
of collecting and a variety of service-related businesses in
Huntingdon County. In 2001, shortly after Mr. Isett retired, he
opened his collection to the public in a 1940 renovated barn on
the property. In 2004 the museum expanded adding a ten thousand
square foot building, and once again in 2008, added another ten
thousand square foot building. The three buildings house a
collection of over forty thousand items.
Bilger’s Rocks:
A 300-Million-Year-Old
Rock City
Kathleen Walls
Published 11-1-2022
Bilger’s Rocks have been there since
before the
America continents split from Africa. It’s about 300-million
years old, give or take a few birthdays. Paleo-Indians used
some of its caves for shelter. The first European settler was a
German named Jacob Bilger in the 1800s. Today, it’s a park with
not only the rocks but a primitive camping area and playground
and the ruins of an old mill on Bilger’s Creek which runs
through the park. There are hiking trails and beautiful woods.
Cades Cove
A Treasure Trove of History and Nature
Article by Kathleen Walls
Photos by Martin and Kathleen Walls
Updated 10-28-2022
Nestled
in the northwest corner of the great Smoky Mountains National
Park, is a tiny treasure trove of Americana. Here, the
heritage carved by the early settlers of this pastoral valley
is preserved. Rustic log cabins still echo with the soft
whispers of Elizabethan English. The mills and barns recall a
time when man and nature were bound in an ongoing ritual.
Their houses of worship still ring with the strains of joyous
hymns from the past. On this eleven mile loop road you cover
a span of a century in the lives of Cades Cove residents but
the historic buildings are only a part of the Cades Cove
experience.
Experience Kitsap
Peninsula, Washington
Kathleen Walls
Published 10-14-2022
Kitsap Peninsula is just minutes away from
Seattle, but it’s another world. A place of diversity, both
physically and culturally. It’s home to Native American Tribes,
has one town with a Viking heritage, and is a diners and
watersports lover’s heaven, with a lot of history.
Poplar Forest and Thomas Jefferson
Story by Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Published 10-8-2022
Published 10-8-2022
Why
a tree to lead this article? To start with, it is a tulip
poplar, located at Poplar Forest. It is a very old tree,
believed to be over 200 years old. Popular Forest was a
Virginia tobacco plantation which included a plantation
house, also known as Poplar Forest. Work began on the
mansion, which is still there, in 1806. The tree is thought
to predate the construction of the mansion. The person who
owned Poplar Forest and built the mansion was an interesting
fellow.
Things I Love or Hate About Hotels
Kathleen Walls
Published 10-8-2022
As a long-term travel writer, I have
stayed in all kinds of hotels over the years. Most good. Some
not so good. Sometimes it's a wonderful experience and
occasionally, it's like a horror movie setting. There are some
little things that a hotel can do to make the stay a pleasant
one. These are the top loves and hates I have at hotels. Hotel
managers, this one is for you.
Monticello and Thomas Jefferson
Story by Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Published 9-29-2022
Most readers will surely recognize the
person and home in the title photograph. Thomas Jefferson
standing in front of one of America’s most famous homes. The
home in the photograph,
Monticello, is real
and Thomas Jefferson is interpreter
Bill Barker. "Jefferson" spoke to us near the front of
Monticello, in a small group of about a dozen, first giving us
background, then allowing the group to ask questions. The
presentation was at the end of a full tour of Monticello. The
tour, the subject of this article, was outstanding and
"Jefferson" was a fantastic way to end the tour. We expected
the home to be the highlight of the day; instead, it was
Jefferson, "himself" who was the true highlight. Think about
it, spending time in small museum, then a full tour of the
house, and ending with a conversation with "the man himself."
Visit
a Time Machine at Patee House Museum
Kathleen Walls
Published 9-1-2022
Patee
House Museum in St. Joseph is like entering a time machine of
Missouri history. I stood at the counter of the first Pony
Express station and felt like I was back in 1860. Patee House
was the Pony Express Headquarters when it began. Pony Express
is the first thing that comes to mind when most people think
of St. Joseph, but Patee House began several years earlier.
Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary
Kathleen Walls
Published 8-30-2022
Noah's
Ark is a sanctuary in Locust grove, Georgia for abused,
abandoned, neglected, or surrendered animals ranging from
domestic livestock to exotic animals such as tigers, monkeys,
wolves, primates, and bears. Basic tours are free but you can
opt for a more close up paid tour. Volunteers, Patty and Mark,
took our group on a Walk on the Wild Side tour. It’s 1.5-hour
walking tour bringing us inside the first set of fences so we
could get a closer look at some of their more than 1,500
animals.
Ride with the Pony Express
Kathleen Walls
Published 8-27-022
"Help
wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows, not over eighteen. Must
be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans
preferred. Wages $25 per week.” Would you answer this ad?
During the 18 months the Pony Express was in operation, over
230 young men applied and were accepted. Some died in
performance of their duties. Others went on to different
careers after the Pony Express ended.
Getting Hand to Paw with Wolves
Kathleen Walls
Published 8-16-2022
Published 8-16-2022
Little Red Riding Hood lied. She caused
generations to see wolves as evil creatures, intent on eating
people. I recently visited
Seacrest Wolf Preserve located in
Chipley, Florida. Cynthia and Wayne Watkins founded it in 1999
as a sanctuary for displaced captive wolves. Seacrest is one of
the few preserves in the country that allow up close encounters
with wolves.
Virginia Beach, A Place to Play
Kathleen Walls
Published 8-8-2022
There
are many reasons to visit Virginia Beach. Aside from the
delightful weather most of the year, there are lots of
attractions and some delicious restaurants.
Fayette
Historical State Park and Townsite
Michigan Upper Peninsula Iron-Smelting Town
Michigan Upper Peninsula Iron-Smelting Town
Tom Straka
Published 6-25-2022
Published 6-25-2022
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has lots of fascinating towns and
museums to visit. Many of the museums are related to the
region’s pioneering industries: copper, iron, and timber. The
Upper Peninsula once had huge iron resources and over two-dozen
iron blast furnaces, and many of the museums and historical
attractions deal with the iron mining and smelting industries.
The fuel for nearly all of the iron smelting furnaces was
charcoal, and if you look hard you can even see some charcoal
kilns that still remain to celebrate the iron industry history.
Marquette was center of the iron activity and if you enter town
from the east, you’ll see a huge, reconstructed charcoal kiln
to welcome you to the city.
Best Dining in the South
Kathleen Walls
Published 6-11-2022
Published 6-11-2022
I've
been doing a lot of road trips lately and have discovered some
of the best dining in the South. Here are a few must-dine
places.
Some Gave All:
All Gave Some
Kathleen Walls
Published 5-29-2022
Published 5-29-2022
Just
back from a press trip to Henry County, Georgia, where I had
the privilege of meeting many of the veterans who gave some.
For Memorial Day, we honor those who gave all. Henry County
recognizes both. Here's a little about those who gave some and
those who gave all.
Transformative Travel in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Renée S. Gordon
Published 5-29-2022
Published 5-29-2022
Archaeological evidence exists attesting to the fact that
Native Americans inhabited the Oklahoma region as early as 500
AD. The state’s documented history begins with the Spanish
explorations of Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in 1541, followed
in 1682 by Robert de la Salle who claimed the land for France.
Colonial Williamsburg
Where Past and Present Meet
Kathleen Walls
Published 5-19-2022
Published 5-19-2022
Williamsburg
is one of those magic places where history is ever present.
Williamsburg was founded between 1630 and 1633 when some
Jamestown settlers moved there. Jamestown's capital building
burned twice, the second time In 1698. The locals in Jamestown
were tired of the unhealthy climagte and decided to
permanently move the capital Williamsburg. The once small
community grew and prospered until a later governor, Thomas
Jefferson, moved the capital to Richmond. Williamsburg retuned
to its early small village status.
Auburn, New York: The Spirit of Tubman
Renée S. Gordon
Published 5-18-2022
Published 5-18-2022
Harriet
Tubman was born 200-years ago in Maryland and embarked on an
extraordinary journey that continues to resonate throughout US
history. Her story serves as an example of courage and
perseverance against seemingly insurmountable odds. She
employed her uncanny ability to conquer any situation
enslaved.
Buffalo Soldiers In the Heart
of America
Renée S. Gordon
Published 4-10-2022
There
have been no American military engagements in which African
Americans have not participated at some level. In the 1600s
British colonies blacks were used to defend against Indian
attacks. Massachusetts’ 1636 law was one of the earliest
documented laws to state that “all able-bodied Negroes” had to
report to serve in the militia. Enslaved and freedmen were
among the 9,000 African Americans serving in the Continental
Army as Patriots, largely in integrated units. During the War
of 1812 it is estimated that 15% of the soldiers and sailors
were of African descent and General Andrew Jackson called for
“free colored inhabitants of Louisiana” to enlist in the US
Army on Sept. 21, 1814 with the promise of equal pay. The
Civil War witnessed Union enlistment of approximately 200,000
African Americans, an estimated 100,000 once enslaved,
resulting in a death toll of nearly 40,000.
Experience Southeast
Texas
Renee S. Gordon
Published 3-30-2022
Published 3-30-2022
Native Americans settled along the shores of Sabine Lake in
what was to become East Texas more than 1,500-years ago. In
1528 Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca and three of his men,
including Estevanico an African, became the first Europeans to
travel into the interior of Texas. They were followed, nearly
200-years later, by transient Spanish, French and Englishmen.
In the 17th-century the lake became a draw for traders of legal
and illegal goods, settlers and pirates like Jean Laffite.
The Not Too
Little Zoo That Can
Kathleen Walls
Published 3-29-2022
Published 3-29-2022
Gulf Shores Zoo became a household word as "The Little Zoo That
Could" when a prime-time documentary told how the zoo's saved
its animals in 2004 before Hurricane Ivan struck Gulf Shores.
It all began in 1989 when Joey Ward built a small, community
zoo on his family's land just a mile from the beach. He named
it Zooland Animal Park. By 2000 it had grown and was renamed
The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.
Shelby: Land of Rythym
and Roots
Kathleen Walls
published 3-34-3033
published 3-34-3033
Shelby in Cleveland
County is just 45 minutes west of Charlotte but a completely
different world. Creativity reigns here. Two music legends were
born in Cleveland County, Earl Scruggs and Don Gibson. Art is
all over Cleveland County. Museums are unique. Shopping and
dining is laid back and individually owned not chains.
Virginia Beach: The First Resort
Renee S. Gordon
published 3-20-2022
Native Americans, namely the Chesepians, inhabited the South
Hampton Roads region of Virginia for thousands of years prior
to first contact with English colonists on April 26, 1607.
Three British Ships sent by the Virginia Company, sailed for 4
months, landed on Cape Henry and erected a wooden cross on the
spot where they came ashore. Captain Christopher Newport, the
first English tourist, was first to go ashore to reconnoiter
and found “freshwaters, faire meadowes," and “goodly tall
trees”. A second party built a small boat and visited the
areas’ land and waterways. On May 14, the ships relocated to
Jamestown and established the first permanent English
settlement.
Norfolk, Virginia, Home of the Brave
Renee S. Gordon
Published 3-9-2022
Native
Americans inhabited
the Norfolk region,
in a settlement
known as Skicoak,
for thousands
of years prior to
the establishment of
a European colony in
1636 and in 1682
Nicholas Wise sold
50 acres of
riverfront
property to the
Virginia General
Assembly to found
Norfolk.
Fifty years later it
was the largest town
in the colony.
During
the American
Revolution the busy
port, shipbuilding
industry and
transportation of
goods made Norfolk a
prime target for a
British attack and
on January 1, 1776
they destroyed
two-thirds of the
city. Citizens
torched what
remained to prevent
confiscation by the
British. The city
was rapidly rebuilt
and again
established
prominence as a port
linking
transportation
between North and
South
Cape Henry Lighthouse's Unique Keeper
Kathleen Walls
Published 3-9-2022
Cape
Henry Lighthouse,
the 4th oldest
lighthouse in the
United States, was
authorized by
President George
Washington in 1792.
In 1881, the
government
constructed a second
lighthouse 350 feet
from the first. The
lighthouses are a
fun place to visit
but there is
something more in
their story.
Lighthouses are
beacons of hope, and
Cape Henry
Lighthouse offers a
story of one man's
hopes. From May 10
to July 26, 1870.
Willis Augustus
Hodges served as the
first African
American lighthouse
keeper at the Cape
Henry Lighthouse.
Winston-Salem, Where Two Cultures
Collide
Kathleen Walls
published 3-6-2022
Can you imagine a culture of socialistic
church members in a society where the church controlled all
aspects of life and owned all property in the settlement and
smoking, drinking and partying was forbidden ever finding
common ground with capitalistic tobacco manufactures?
Seek the Exceptional
in Clearfield County, PA
Renée S. Gordon
Published 2-3-2022
Western
Pennsylvania’s Clearfield County is as close to a recreational
paradise, replete with natural wonders, numerous outdoor
activities, unique tasting trails and culinary delights, as
any traveler can imagine. All season recreational offerings
make any time opportune for a trip to the county’s wild side.
More than 100,000-acres of State Forest and Game Lands allow
sport hunting and game viewing. Those who prefer water-based
experiences can choose from more than 250 lakes and rivers in
which to fish, swim, boat or canoe.
Amelia Island:Like No Place Else on Earth
Kathleen Walls
Published 2-1-2022
It's
no wonder Amelia Island is such an interesting place to visit.
The blend of cultures that have created this special place
differs from any other place on earth. It lived under eight
flags. It was special to people from pre-Columbian Timucuans
to pirates and con men, as well as hardworking settlers from
many countries. Today, it's a wonderful vacation spot with
fewer crowds than the better-known Florida beach towns. Here
are just some of the best things to do on Amelia Island.
Discover Aiken, South Carolina
Renée S. Gordon
Published 1-30-2022
The
city of Aiken, named after William Aiken, SC Railroad’s first
president, was founded in 1835 after railroads entered the
area in 1833 and the world’s longest line, 136-miles,
connected the Savannah River with Charleston. In 1871 Aiken
County was formed from portions of four existing counties.
Ball’s Bluff Battlefield
Story by Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Published 1-6-2022
Published 1-6-2022
The
Battle of Ball’s Bluff was a small one by Civil War standards,
but a consequential one. It occurred early in the War on
October 21,1861, by accident, just a couple of months after
Bull Run (or First Manassas). The battlefield is on U.S. 15 in
Leesburg, Virginia, just before the highway crosses into
Maryland on to the Antietam and Gettysburg battlefields. We’ve
passed it many times and recently had the time to visit. It
turned out to be a well worth the stop; it is a small
battlefield, but an interesting one that abuts the Potomac
River. The 300-foot bluff is surprising, while being so close
to the ocean, it contains 100-foot cliffs, is covered with
outcroppings, and only a single steep trail led up to the top.
Union troops had to cross the Potomac River twice to reach the
battlefield, as Harrison Island stood in the middle of the
river. Union pickets protected the island during the crossing,
taking cover behind entrenchments for protection from hostile
Confederate fire.
Tampa Bay:The Place to Play
Kathleen Walls
Published 12-17-2021
Tampa Bay is one of Florida’s most
popular playground areas. It has such a variety of attractions
even a picky group will find something each party will enjoy.
Horne Creek Living Historical Farm
Story by Tom Straka
Photo by Pat Straka
published 12-16-2021
Photo by Pat Straka
published 12-16-2021
Horne
Creek Farm is a living history farm, a North Carolina Historic
Site, and the
actual Hauser family farm (as opposed to many living history
farms that are relocated farm buildings or rebuilt farm
buildings). This is the real thing, allowing visitors to
experience farm life in North Carolina’s northwestern Piedmont
circa 1900. The site features the family’s original farmhouse
(with original furnishings), a tobacco curing barn, a corn
crib, adjacent fields under cultivation, and even a heritage
apple orchard. The Site also offers programs ranging from old
fashioned ice cream socials to an annual corn shucking frolic.
There is a visitors' center with exhibits and a gift shop.
This living history is a chance to learn about the rural past,
a chance to see, smell, touch, and hear things once common in
rural North Carolina.orne Creek Farm is a living history farm, a
North Carolina Historic Site, and
the actual Hauser family farm (as opposed to many
living history farms that are relocated farm buildings or
rebuilt farm buildings). This is the real thing, allowing
visitors to experience farm life in North Carolina’s
northwestern Piedmont circa 1900. The site features the
family’s original farmhouse (with original furnishings), a
tobacco curing barn, a corn crib, adjacent fields under
cultivation, and even a heritage apple orchard. The Site also
offers programs ranging from old fashioned ice cream socials
to an annual corn shucking frolic. There is a visitors' center
with exhibits and a gift shop. This living history is a chance
to learn about the rural past, a chance to see, smell, touch,
and hear things once common in rural North Carolina.
Fort Dobbs State
Historic Site
Photo by Pat Straka
published 12-5-2021
During
the COVID-19 pandemic we have visited attractions that were primarily out-of-doors and generally not that far
off the highway.Fort Dobbs State Historic Site meets those
requirements, being nearly at the intersection of Interstates
40 and 77, just north of Statesville, North
Carolina. Most forts in the South were associated with
the Revolutionary or Civil Wars. Fort Dobbs is a French and
Indian War fort. It is the only state historic site associated
with that period in North Carolina. The site is similar to
Oconee Station in South Carolina, visited last October and
described in an
ARGH article, in that it is mainly a blockhouse and it is
situated on what was back then the frontier, the foothills of
the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Enjoy the Holidays on Jekyll Island with a Holly Jolly Christmas
Kathleen WallsPublished 11-29-2021

For my friends who have never visited Jekyll Island, the
holiday season is the perfect time to visit. Take a ride on
Jekyll’s Holly Jolly Trolley to see over half a million lights
around the island. There are lights from the Historic District
to Beach Village. Trolley riders will enjoy festive holiday
beverages, and sing along to Jingle Bells and other carols. For older stories click here
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Fort Smith, Wild, Wild West Arkansas-Part Two
Renée S. Gordon
Published 11-28-2021
Cherokee
Bill was born Crawford Goldsby in 1876 to a Buffalo Soldier and
a mixed Cherokee and black mother. Bill’s father abandoned the
family but at the age of 10 his mother managed to send him to
Pennsylvania’s Carlisle Industrial School for two years. Stories
differ but it is generally believed that he shot his first man
at age 12 and soon after joined up with the Cook Brothers for a
string of robberies and murders. During his brief career he both
led his own gang and rode with other notorious felons such as
Billy the Kid.
A North Carolina Grist Mill Tour
Story by Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Published 11-28-2021

Fort Smith, Wild, Wild West Arkansas-Part One
Renée S. Gordon
Published 11-14-2021
Published 11-14-2021

Ghost of Ybor City
Kathleen Walls

Maybellene's First Camping Trip
Kathleen Walls

For more about Maybellene's begiinings.
Chattanooga Dining
Kathleen Walls

Amazing St. Augustine, Florida
Warren Resen

"Ain't it Grand!"
Kathleen Walls

A Pennsylvania Pretzel
Bakery Tour
Story by Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka

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.
Remember The Forgotten Coast
Kathleen Walls

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.