<> Archives
Spring 2017
Agri Lanes
Todd Syrup Farm: Raising Cane Since 1835
by Kathleen Walls
Can you imagine one family raising cane since 1835? Well, that's just what Joe
Todd's family had been doing. The cane they have been raising isn't the kind
that gets you in trouble. It's the kind that sweetens your pancakes and
biscuits. Through good times, bad times, multiple wars and a depression The Todd
family raised cane. They also ground it and made delicious syrup from it. Joe
Todd, now in his 80s, along with his children and grandchildren are still making
mouthwatering cane syrups.
Read Agri_Lanes.htm
Ancient Trails
Petra Up Close
by Kathleen Walls
I have read hosts of the most beautifully written accounts of it, and they give
one no idea of it at all…so you will never know what Petra is like, unless you
come out here... T.E.
Lawrence ~ February 1914.
This is how Lawrence of Arabia summed up Petra in a letter to a friend. He's
right; it must be seen to be fully appreciated. It is a step back in time to one
of the earliest known civilizations. It is one of the new Seven Wonders of the
World as well as being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by an ancient
civilization called the Nabataeans around the third century BC.
Read Ancient_Trails.htm
Art Trails
New Mexico's ARTesia
by Anne Jenkins
The old adage, never judge a book by it's cover, perfectly describes Artesia, a
rural town in South Eastern New Mexico. On the edge of the dusty desert town the
state's largest oil refinery dominates the vast landscape. It's an uninviting
sight and tempts you to keep driving right out of town. On the drive between the
famous towns of Roswell and Carlsbad you might glimpse into the small town but,
at first glance, there's not much to draw you in. Wait, don't hit the pedal and
keep going. Turn in to town, park and stroll the streets for a rewarding couple
of hours. They have done a wonderful job of highlighting their history and
heritage with public art throughout the town. To be fair, the oil industry might
not be pretty but it, along with ranching, keeps the town alive and helps
finance the art.
Read Art_Trails.htm
Chuckwagon Roundup
I'll have the House Special
by
Kathleen Walls
Some restaurants are known for certain iconic meals
you just have to have when you visit them. Blue Plate Specials began as a way to
offer a complete low-priced meal during the depression. Today they are more
representative of a local culture or special food grown or found in the area.
Sometimes they are recipes passed down through a family and have become iconic
over the years. Below are some of my recent favorites.
read Chuckwagon Roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
It's More Than a
Building: Cherry St. AME Church
by Kathleen Walls
The story behind the Cherry Street African Methodist
Episcopal Church in Dothan, Alabama plays out like a classic drama of good
versus evil; might versus right. Today it's a classic red brick church; the
oldest in Dothan and recognized as the "Mother Church of the A.M.E. Denomination
in Alabama."
read Civil Rights Trails-Click Here
Exploring With Eleanor
Motoring through
Georgia's Heartland
By Eleanor Hendricks McDaniel
Centered in Georgia's rich red clay are old mansions, family farms, literary
giants, contemporary art and crafts, and landmark sites. This remarkable area
has been designated as the state's Historic Heartland. The Heartland Trail rolls
through small towns and cities. So a road trip is the way to go.
read Exploring With Eleanor- Click Here
Elite Street Eats
Up, Down, and Anyway at
the Loft
By Kathleen Walls
You can have fun up or down at The Loft in Columbus, Georgia. My favorite way is
dining Downstairs at The Loft. Tom Jones, the executive chef, makes sure each
dish is perfect. Our waiter, Seth, made sure we had full glasses, everything we
needed to enjoy out meal and to top it off he kept us entertained with his
priceless personality and cute humor.
read Elite Street Eats - Click Here
Fork in The Road
The Old Mill Lives On
By Kathleen Walls
The Mill Winery is an unusual combination of old and new. The Texas Mill and
Elevator Company was built to meet the needs of the young town of Abilene in
1910. Situated between the two railroad tracks for ease in shipping when the
railroad was the major transportation for freight, it originally milled flour
then switched to grain, hay, and feed. As progress moved on, the mill shut down.
It sat empty and desolate.
read Fork in the Road - Click Here
Happy Trails
Jefferson Davis in
Kentucky
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
The two great leaders of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis,
were both born in Kentucky, about100 miles apart. Lincoln's birthplace is now a
National Historic Park, while the Davis birthplace is a state historic site.
The site is located just off Interstate 24 in southern Kentucky (ten miles east
of Hopkinsville in Fairview). It includes the fourth tallest monument in
the country; or in terms of world records, the tallest poured in place concrete
obelisk in the world (sitting on a foundation of solid Kentucky limestone).
World record aside, it is pretty impressive. The
small park and visitor's center/museum are interesting enough warrant an
excursion off the interstate.
read Happy Trails - Click Here
Information Highway ( a different way to promote travel)
Take a Tour
Want to visit fun places but you are not sure what to see there? How about
taking a tour that is like having a friend who knows that city well along to
take you to the coolest places. You can do that for under $5 now.
read Information Highway - Click Here
Inn Roads
Small Hotel, Big
Welcome: Dinah's Garden Hotel
By Kathleen Walls
Dinah's Garden Hotel bills itself, "A lush oasis in the heart of Silicon
Valley." It certainly lives up to that promise. On a recent visit to Dinah's,
John Hutar, the hotel's general manager, showed us around the gardenlike hotel
grounds.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Museum Row
Back to the Future at
Space Science CenterBy
Kathleen Walls
Want to take a trip to the moon or maybe Mars? Unless you are an astronaut or a
very lucky multi-millionaire, it's not going to happen. That is unless you visit
Coca Cola Space Science in Columbus, Georgia. I recently visited and it was a
blast. Literally!
read Museum Row - Click Here
Off The Beaten Trail
A Taste of Grapevine
By Kathleen Walls
We've all familiar with Dallas and Fort Worth but
did you know right in between those two Texas big names is one of Texas's best
kept secrets, Grapevine? No
matter your interest, there's something for everyone here whether you explore
the streets of its historic downtown or sample the fruit of the vine on its
urban wine trail. How's this for a typical
day in Grapevine.
read Off The Beaten Trail - Click Here
On the Road with Grandma
Empress of the Seas:
Small Ship, Great Getaway
by Roberta Sandler
If good things truly come in small packages, you and your grandkids should hit
the road and head for a cruise port where you can embark on a cruise getaway on
a smaller ship.
read On the Road with Grandma- Click Here
Photos from the Roadside
A Night of Opera and Nostalgia
by Jim DeLillo
It was a brisk Thursday night in New York, and I stood in awe of the towering
glass windows before me – the sacred entrance to the Metropolitan Opera House.
Clutched in my fingers was a ticket for that evening's performance of The Barber
of Seville, a personal favorite.
read Photos from the Roadside- Click Her
Renee's Route
Finding Frederick
Douglass in Baltimore
by Renee S. Gordon
Recently Trump commented, "Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who's
done an amazing job and is getting recognized more and more". His comment seems
to indicate a lack of knowledge about Douglass and I thought I would begin my
Baltimore journey tracing Douglass "amazing job" through sites in Baltimore. He
lived in many places, including Canada and England, but Baltimore had a special
significance for him.
read Renee's Route- Click Here
Renee's African Route
Southern Africa Sojourn,
Johannesburg to
Zimbabwe
by Renee S. Gordon
Johannesburg is not only a gateway to other regions in South Africa, it is also
a portal to other countries on the African continent. The Oliver R. Tambo
Airport, the largest in Africa, is welcoming, modern and easily navigated.
Oliver Tambo, after whom it was named, was the president of the African National
Congress (ANC) from 1967-91. Accessibility and ease of transport make Joburg a
natural stop to rest, regroup and explore the country's unique history prior to
embarking on additional adventures.
read Renee's Route- Click Here
Renee's
International Route
Turks and Caicos,
Paradise Regained
Renee S. Gordon
Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is an archipelago of pearls strung out south of
the Bahamas and 600-miles from Florida. The eight large, and more than ninety
smaller islands, are situated on a plateau, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and
a pristine barrier reef. Two distinct island groups make up this British
Overseas Territory, Turks Islands includes Grand Turk and little Salt Cay, and
Caicos Islands comprised of East, West, North, South, and Middle Caicos. Of
these only five of the large islands and a few little ones are inhabited,
offering visitors a huge number of deserted beaches and cays to choose from for
an even more private getaway.
read Renee's International Route- Click Here
Scenic road
Dothan's Murals
By Kathleen Walls
Dothan, Alabama is a small city with a big story. It's the heart of the
Wiregrass Area. Dothan's murals tell the story of the Wiregrass Area and even of
the state of Alabama.
read Scenic Road- Click Here
See the USA with Warren
Discover Louisiana
North
by Warren Resen
The State of Louisiana goes by many names: The Bayou State, Pelican State,
Sportsman's Paradise, Sugar State, and Creole State among others. Rather than a
case of multiple personalities, it is a testimonial to Louisiana's diversity.
Tibbs Trails and Tastes
Wisconsin Northwoods:
Connect To Lakes, Forests, Lodges
by Christine Tibbets
Woods are everywhere in the Wisconsin Northwoods with lakes chained together in
intriguing, accessible ways. Figuring out how to fully experience both calls for
immersing in the charms of a dozen hospitable communities.
read Tibbs Trails- Click Here
Traditional Trail
A Good Trip to Goodwood
Museum and Gardens
By Kathleen Walls
Goodwood Museum and Gardens began life as an elegant cotton and corn plantation.
It witnessed history, the Civil War which forever changed life in the South, and
personal turmoil.
read Traditional Trail- Click Here
Travel Without Borders
Costa Maya: the festive
side of Mexico
By Roberta Sandler
Western Caribbean cruises
frequently include a port stop in Cozumel, Mexico,
but in recent years, another port has become part of the itinerary: Costa Maya.
Read Travel Without Borders - Click Here
War Trails
On The Trail of
Lawrence in Jordan
By Kathleen Walls
This April we commemorate the entrance of the United States into WWI. Almost all
countries were impacted by WWI but one that I recently visited played a unique
part in the war. We often feel that one person who is neither a king or ruler or
even a high-ranking official can't have much impact on history or world events.
But one "little" person did have a tremendous effect on the events that
transpired in that war and perhaps still influence world conditions today. T.E.
Lawrence was a young British army sent to the Middle East before American became
involved in the war. He was a slim wiry young man that stood about 5'5" but he
cast a tall shadow over future world events. The world remembers him today as
Lawrence of Arabia.
read War Trails- Click Here
Weekend
Explorer
The Heritage Trails in
Northern Indiana Amish Country
By Kathy Barnett
It's what connects the circle of communities together. Each is different in its
own way. However, they all celebrate many things in common, like the famous
quilt gardens. Together, they make one of America's most scenic drives. It
doesn't matter which town you start in as each one offers visitors delicious
dining, unique shopping, relaxing accommodations, and fun events for the whole
family to enjoy.
read Weekend Explorer- Click Here
Winter 2017
Adirondack Trail Mix
March Maple Days
By Persis Granger
When folks in the southern Adirondacks awake these winter mornings, it can
be rough to peel back the blankets and plant bare feet on the night-chilled
floor. But you plod to the wood stove anyway. Embers in the bottom flush
bright red as you swing open the firebox door, letting in a gust of air as
you insert logs to warm up the house. Your flannel-clad elbow scrapes away a
little circle of frost from the kitchen window so you read the 6 a.m.
temperature--five degrees. You're grateful that's above zero instead of
below.
Read Adirondack Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
Don't Let Them Get Your Goat: Visit Harley Farms
by Kathleen Walls
Back in the day, it was believed that a goat had a calming effect on
high-strung racehorses so owners would put a goat in the stall with their
horse before a race. Unscrupulous opponents would sometimes steal the
completion's goat in the hopes of making that horse lose the race. Harley
Farms in Pescadero, California is one place you can test the calming effect
of goats for yourself. The goats at Harley Farm are not only calming, they
are downright fun as well as producing a lot of delicious cheeses. Their
story is a testament to American's growing interest in understanding where
their food comes from.
Read Agri-Lanes.htm
Art Trails
The State of Sculpture
by Anne Jenkins
Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse work in progress inevitably springs to
mind at the mention of sculpture and South Dakota in a sentence. Both of
these monumental works are certainly famous, everyone knows 'the faces on
the mountain.' It is definitely worth a trip to see them. And while at Mount
Rushmore National Memorial, don't miss the opportunity to spend time in the
artist, Gutzon Borglum's, studio to see his study for the sculpture. It is
quite different from the sculpture seen today and one wonders at the change
of direction.
Read Art_Trails_here
Chuckwagon Roundup -- Food
One Idea Two Ways
by
Kathleen Walls
What a coincidence to discover two fascinating places that are similar but
different in the course of two weeks. Kitchentown in San Mateo, California
and Smallman Galley in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are both culinary
incubators. They offer chefs the opportunity to launch a
successful business but each takes a unique direction in doing so.
read Chuckwagon Roundup Food Click Here
Chuckwagon Roundup -- Drink
Bourbon, It's Not Just From Kentucky
by Kathleen Walls
Kentucky makes some mighty fine bourbon. I've visited the Bardstown Kentucky
Bourbon Trail and loved what I saw and tasted. But distilleries in other
states have discovered the appeal of bourbon. Arguably, bourbon has
surpassed scotch as the drink of choice in the U.S.
Read
Chuckwagon Roundup Drink Click Here
Elite Street Eats
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto: Dining in a Fish Bowl
By Kathleen Walls
Monterey Bay Fish Grotto is one of those rare places that is more than the
sum of its parts. Sure, it's serves great seafood. It has a chef that is not
afraid to blend his Eastern European traditions with modern recipes. It sits
high on top of Mount Washington overlooking Pittsburgh and offers
spectacular views of the city. All wonderful but combined, it creates a
dining experience that transcends each of the parts.
Read Elite Street Eats- Click Here
Fork in The Road
A Trip on The Strip
By Kathleen Walls
Pittsburgh was named #1 Food City in the US in 2015 by Zagot.
One section of the ‘Burgh stands out as the heart of its foodie movement,
The Strip. Sounds like a naughty adult club but it's PG rated, mostly. It a
mile and a half long section of Pittsburg filled with every type of ethnic
restaurant and some drinking that will take you back in history.
Read Fork in the Road - Click Here
Guest Column
Iowa by Trail
By Kathy Barnett
With over 3,000 miles of trails for all ages, skill levels and seasons, it
only seems appropriate for Iowa to claim the title of "World Capital of
Trails." Currently cyclists, hikers, walkers, runners and other outdoor
enthusiasts can enjoy miles and miles of multi-use land trails across the
state. During the winter, snowmobilers and cross country skiers can find as
many as 1,000 miles of trails in the parks and along Iowa's county road grid
system to glide along the newly fallen snow.
Read Guest Column- Click Here
Happy Trails
Starved Rock: Illinois History and Legend
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Some of the most interesting roadside history involves the lesser-known
sites that don't make the American history books or History Channel.
Illinois has lots of those, and Starved Rock State Park is one of its most
popular ones. It's located very close to the intersection of Interstates 39
and 80, about halfway between Rockford and Bloomington. In 1673 it was also
located at one of the earliest traffic routes across Illinois, the Illinois
River. That is when King Louis XIV of France sent Louis Joliet and Father
Jacques Marquette to explore the unknown midlands of the continent, with a
mission to locate the river called by the Native Americans "Messipi," or the
"Great Water."
Read Happy Trails - Click Here
History's Highway
Nash Farm: Grapevine's Window into Yesterday
By Kathleen Walls
My favorite Grapevine historic/agri adventure is Nash Farm, the oldest
operating farmstead in Tarrant County. It all began in 1843 when General Sam
Houston negotiated a treaty of peace between the Republic of Texas and 10
American Indian nations with claims on the area. The following year, the
first settlers started arrived in covered wagons. In 1859 Thomas Jefferson
Nash came from Kentucky to the Grape Vine Prairie to create a better life
for his family. He found a piece of farmland he loved and bought the farm
for $500. It proved a good investment. Thomas, his family, and his brother,
William, ran the farm for many years.
Read History's Highway- Click Here
Inn Roads
Everyhing is Bigger at Gaylord Texan
By Kathleen Walls
The Gaylord Texan Resort is six miles from DFW Airport and light years away
from average. The Gaylord Texan is a total resort with dining, shops,
multiple indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a fitness center, and pretty much
everything you need to have a wonderful time all within the resort.
Read Inn Roads - Click Here
Museum Row
Frontier Texas--It's for Real
By Kathleen Walls
Some museums pack a punch. You walk away feeling "been there, done that" in
real time. Frontier Texas is one of those. You feel as if you are listening
to real people talking just to you when you experience an encounter with one
of Frontier Texas's nine spirit guides. Spirit guides are not supernatural
phenomena although they create an almost perfect likeness of a living,
breathing person. They are three-dimensional hologram images of several
Native Americans, a former slave, a frontier soldier, a buffalo hunter, a
cattle driver, a frontier woman running her boarding house, and Cynthia Ann
Parker, the white mother of the last Comanche chief, Quanah Parker, that
Frontier Texas uses to bring the era when Abilene was the frontier
(1780-1880) vividly to life. It's also the official visitor center for
Abilene and the Texas Forts Trail Region.
Read Museum Row - Click Here
Off The Beaten Path
Filoli: Not your Average Country Home
By Kathleen Walls
Filoli Mansion and Gardens is a bit off the beaten path and way out of the
ordinary. It's near Woodside about 25 miles south of San Francisco. Many
visitors might miss it. Big mistake! This is one of California's real
treasures with the emphasis on real. Filoli is a
California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
Read Off The Beaten Path- Click Here
On the Road with Grandma
Treasures and Pleasures in Tarpon Springs
by Roberta Sandler
Whether you're a grandparent or a grandchild, the first thing about Tarpon
Springs, Florida that will grab your attention is the
proliferation of sponges. All sizes and shapes. Soft. Squeezable. They sit
on sponge-fishing boats. They nestle in "for sale" baskets in front of shops
along the downtown historic district's Dodecanese
Boulevard. They're represented on signs
advertising Tarpon Springs. Everywhere, sponges.
Read On the Road with Grandma- Click Here
Photos from the Roadside
Shooting the Antelope
byJim DeLillo
The slot canyons of Page, Arizona are on Navajo lands. By law, only native
Navajo can conduct business on the property. This has resulted in several
resident outfitters running operations to visit the twisty, narrow,
photogenic canyons. It is strictly controlled by the Navajo Parks and
Recreation Department, which serves to protect the area from overuse and
preserve its history.
Read Photos from the Roadside- Click Here
Renee's Route
Where Texas Gets Real! Grapevine, Waco and Granbury
by Renee S. Gordon
Grapevine is one of the oldest settlements in Texas and as such it's sites
and attractions chronicle the state's history in a unique way.
Simultaneously the city manages to be thoroughly modern with more than 200
restaurants and 20 hotels designed to fit every taste and budget. Grapevine
is located a few miles from Dallas Forth Worth Airport (DFW) entrance and is
a great destination, hub for travel throughout the state or day trip from
the airport. Organized tours are available from DFW that are a perfect
adventure during a layover.
read Renee's Route- Click Here
Renee's International Route
Harmony of the Seas, Cruising
in a BIG Way!
by Renee S. Gordon
If there were ever a time to getaway this is it and if there were ever a
place to have a total vacation experience it has to be a Royal Caribbean
cruise aboard their newest ship, the Harmony of the Seas.
Amazing, is a perfect word to describe this state-of-the-art marvel because
the ship does indeed astonish and surprise you at every turn.
Read Renee's International Route- Click Here
See the USA with Warren
Georgia's Golden Isles
by Warren Resen
Most travelers on I-95 in southeastern Georgia probably zip by the Brunswick
interchange (EXIT 36) barely pausing to give thought to the signs announcing
Georgia's Golden Isles.
Read See the USA with Warren- Click Here
Scenic Road
San Angelo's Eye Candy
By Kathleen Walls
Have you ever wondered where one of the world's most prestigious collections
of waterliles in the US can be found? Probably the last place you would
guess is San Angelo, Texas but you would be wrong.
Read Scenic Road- Click Here
Smooth Traveler
Way up North in Wisconsin
by Renee S. Gordon
The first nonindigenous people to visit what is now Wisconsin was a 1634
group, led by Jean Nicolet, in search of the Northwest Passage. A small
group of priests, fur traders and hunters followed. French control gave way
to British control until the 1783 Treaty of Paris ceded control to the
United States and the largest group of settlers began entering the region.
They established the dairy, lumber and mining industries. Dairy farming was
their first major industry and the state continues to be the country's
leading dairy producer. The area prospered and in 1848 Wisconsin was granted
statehood.
Read Smooth Traveler- Click Here
Tasting Trail
Grown up fun in San Mateo County
By Kathleen Walls
Sophisticated adults traveling in San Mateo County, California will have a
lot of opportunities to taste test some of California's finest wines and
craft beers right at the source. I visited there recently and found some fun
tasting opportunities. Here are just a few I found on a recent IFWTWA trip.
Read Tasting Trail- Click Here
Tibbs Trails and Tastes
Thoroughbred Country S.C. means more than horses
by Christine Tibbets
Superb lodging with fine dining in arm's reach could be reason enough for
choosing a travel destination, but what about bookending a dozen art and
culture experiences with that lodging?
Read Tibbs Trails- Click Here
Travel Without Borders
Munich: Beer, Bikes, Bratwurst and Bavarian Beauty
By Roberta Sandler
If you're old enough to remember the popular '50s TV show, "Your Show of
Shows," you probably remember a classic comedy skit in which regular
cast-members Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and Howie Morris are
mechanical revolving Bavarian figures on a huge clock (Glockenspiel).
Suddenly, there's a glitch, and the figures turn in wrong directions,
repeatedly bump into each other and smack each other with hammers.
Read Travel without Borders- Click Here
Wet Roads
Slow Trip in Time on the Tule Princess
By Kathleen Walls
Steamboats were at their heights as the world entered the industrial age. It
was an age of glamour and leisurely travel way before the time of jets and
high speed interstates. You can catch a glimpse of that time on the Tule
Princess, the last operational, full size walking beam steam engine,
powering a side wheel paddle steamboat anywhere in the world. The Tule
Princess is navigating on Lake Nasworthy in San Angelo, Texas.
Read Wet Roads- Click Here
Fall 2016
Adirondack Trail Mix
All in the Family:
A Summer Outing at Bennett's Riding Stable
By Persis
Granger
The annual week-long visit
from our youngest grandsons, ages 11 and 8, is always an
occasion for us to plan an Adirondack itinerary that is both
kid-friendly and septuagenarian-doable. Our week 's adventures
usually combine outings that have been popular with the boys
before, plus some new destinations. It starts something like
this: Hey, guys, you know that neat rock shop we went to last
summer? Do you want to go there again? We turn on our
"enthusiometers"' to determine the level of genuine interest
they have in revisiting that attraction or activity. And then we
plan a couple of treks to sites we have not taken them to
before, often places we ourselves have never visited, either,
which makes it an exciting discovery time for all of us.
read Adirondack
Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
Perini Ranch Steakhouse and
More
by Kathleen Walls
Many of you may have heard
of Perini Ranch Steakhouse in tiny Buffalo Gap, Texas. It is
well recognized even outside its native Texas, for its many
awards like Best Burger on the
Today Show, 3rd
Best Steakhouse in Texas by
Texas Monthly, and numerous other
prestigious awards. It is one of only five restaurants
nationwide to be awarded the James Beard Foundation 2014
America's Classics Award.
Read Agri
Lanes_Click Here
Ancient Traces
Jerash: Jordan's Other
Treasure
by Kathleen Walls
Can you imagine stepping
back to a civilization that flourished back in 331BC? The
ancient ruins of Jerash in Jordan were founded about that date
by Alexander the Great or one of his generals. When I visited, I
could feel the currents of civilization that had flourished in
these ancient streets and buildings.
Read
Ancient Traces_Click Here
Art Trails
Art Towns and Rising Stars
by Anne Jenkins
Berea, Ky won the number one
spot in the recent 'Top 10 towns for craft lovers' in the USA
run by American Craft Week (ACW) beating out stiff competition
from the likes of Asheville, N.C. and Burlington, Vt. It is a
well deserved win and they are justifiably proud.
Read
Art_Trails.click here
Chuckwagon Roundup
Bountiful Breakfast
Bonanza
by Kathleen Walls
Last year Zagat named
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania the No. 1 food city in America. Maybe
that is why three of the restaurants featured here are in
Pittsburgh. Then way farther south, Tallahassee, Florida has its
share. As the state capital, it has to serve good food to keep
politicos and visitors alike happy. Manocos Colorado may be a
small town but it can hold its own when it comes to great
breakfasts. Of course, California is known for food innovations
so it's no surprise Palo Alto, California has a great breakfast
spot. Naturally there are many others I have not yet visited.
When I do they will be another grouping of Beautiful Breakfast
Bonanzas.
read Chuckwagon Roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Fort Concho and the Buffalo
Soldiers
by Kathleen Walls
After the Civil War ended
newly free African American men began searching for a place they
could earn a living with dignity and respect, two attributes
that were in short supply for African Americans in September 21,
1866 when the first all black regiments of the peacetime army
were formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. They were the 10th
Cavalry, 9th Cavalry 24th Infantry, and 25th Infantry regiments.
Their main purpose was to protect America's frontier from
Indians.
read
Civil Rights Trails-Click Here
Elite Street Eats
La Costanera: A Sunset
Dream
By Kathleen Walls
La Costanera, perches above
Montara Beach with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. It's
a modern Peruvian fusion restaurant and since its opening on
October 2, 2009. La Costanera has rapidly made a name for
itself. We met with Eric Canupp, Director of Marketing and
events. He told us how La Costanera was born.
read Elite Street Eats - Click Here
Fork in The Road
Miss Hattie's Restaurant
and Cathouse Lounge
By Kathleen Walls
Dining at Miss Hattie's
Restaurant and Cathouse Lounge in San Angelo Texas is so
enjoyable it should be illegal. But since there is no such thing
as too much fun it's perfectly legal. You can munch on
appetizers like Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos, which are filled with
cream cheese and offer just enough bite in the crisply fried
bite-sized morsels to be delicious without scorching your
tonsils. Or you can sample a mixed appetizer plate with three
different choices from their special Texas Toothpicks, slivers
of breaded onion and jalapenos; Fried Zucchini; Hand dipped
Onion Rings; or Fried Mushrooms all served with a
ranch dressing.
read
Fork in the Road - Click Here
Guest Column
See the Missouri Areas
that Inspired Great Authors
By Kathy
Barnett
You don't have to live in
New York to write a best-selling novel. You don't have to live
in Hollywood to have that book turned into a hit movie or
television series either. So what is the secret? What is the
common denominator? The link is to live the life of a
Missourian. When in Missouri, visit the roads to the homes of
four famous authors that are open to the public so you can
relive their stories. Stand in the same spots where they stood
and touch mementos that were woven into the storylines of their
tales.
read Guest Column-
Click Here
Happy Trails
Georgia's Little Grand
Canyon, Jimmy Carter and a Boll Weevil
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Most people don't know
Georgia has a Grand Canyon, albeit a little one. It is a couple
of hours southwest of Atlanta, near Lumpkin, and called
Providence Canyon State Park. The real Grand Canyon took
millions of years to form and is a mile deep; Georgia's took
only a few decades to form and is 150 feet deep. However, just
like the real Grand Canyon, Georgia's is spectacular. And, 150
feet is still deep.
read Happy
Trails - Click Here
Historical Trails
The Real Wild West at
Buffalo Gap Village
By Kathleen Walls
Buffalo Gap, Texas is a
glimpse of the Wild West as it really was. Buffalo Gap was
founded at the site of a natural pass through which bison herds
traveled. It was a stop for cowboys on the Great Western Cattle
Trail. In the late 1800s it was the spot where buffalo hunters
camped. By 1880, it had been named county seat and had a
population of 200. It had the usual businesses, hotel,
blacksmith shop, a general store and a saloon. Perhaps the most
important building in Buffalo Gap was the Taylor County Jail and
Courthouse.
read
Historical_Trails - Click Here
Information Highway
( a different way to promote travel)
Take a Tour
Want to visit fun places but
you are not sure what to see there? How about taking a tour that
is like having a friend who knows that city well along to take
you to the coolest places. You can do that for under $5 now.
read Information Highway - Click Here
Inn Roads
Retro Inn
By Kathleen Walls
Retro Inn in Cortez,
Colorado takes you back in time. You might land anywhere from
the 1950s to the ‘80s. Well, not really but that
is how it feels. If you plan to visit the Four Corners area of
Colorado, Cortez is the perfect hub and Retro Inn is a fun place
to set up your base camp while you explore the Ancestral
Puebloans (AKA Anasazi) sites. It's about ten
minutes from Mesa Verde National Park.
read Inn Roads -
Click Here
Museum Stroll
Who was Andy Warhol?
By Kathleen Walls
When most Americans hear the
name Andy Warhol, they think of Campbell's Soup cans. Those
Campbell's Soup Cans paintings may be his most recognizable work
but it is far from the entirety that was Andy Warhol.
read Museum
Stroll- Click Here
Native Trails
Mesa Verde Country- On the
Trail of the Ancients
By Kathleen Walls
Ancestral Puebloans didn't
limit themselves to Mesa Verde National Park. They built
dwellings throughout the four corners area. We were trying to
see allof the most interesting ones so we headed for Canyon of
the Ancients National Monument. It was created to protect these
sites. Our guide, Jim Colleran told us to "look for sage and
prickly pear cactuses growing on rubble mounds" to recognize
unexcavated sites.
read Native
Trails- Click Here
On the Road with Grandma
Ahoy! Enjoy Annapolis
by Roberta Sandler
There's smooth sailing for
you and your grandchildren when you visit Annapolis, Maryland.
With plenty of water views and water sports, this county seat
of Anne Arundel County is an invitation to fun. Annapolis is
called the Sailing Capital of the World, no surprise considering
that it's situated on the Chesapeake Bay. It's less than an hour
from Baltimore and Washington, D. C.
read On the Road with Grandma- Click Here
Overseas Highways
Jordan's Baker's Dozen Must
Know~Must See
By Kathleen Walls
There are some things a
first time visitor to a special place must see. Likewise there
are certain things that are important to know when venturing
into a strange environment. Go with an open mind and avoid
stereotypes. You will have a much more enjoyable time and learn
more about the culture. For my first visit to
Jordan, here are my lists of the most important "Must See" and
"Must Know" places and things.
read
Overseas Highways - Click Here
Photos from the Roadside
Dam! It's so close
to Las Vegas.
I can't believe how I missed this side trip in the past.
by Jim DeLillo
Only 35 miles from The Strip it takes
less than one hour to drive there.Boulder Dam, as it was once
known, is the result of a government work project that took five
years to build, $49 million (1931) $777 million (2016) and
twenty-one thousand men. Impressive in its stature, standing 726
feet tall and goes from 660 feet wide at the base to a mere 45
feet wide at the top. Holding back the huge volume of water
stored in the reservoir weighs so much that it deformed the
earth's crust, causing more than 600 small earthquakes in the
late 1930s. The Lake was formed by damming the Colorado River at
Black Canyon.The purpose of which is to provide 1.5 million
kilowatts of electricity to the surrounding communities in
Nevada, Arizona, and southern California.
read Photos from
the Roadside- Click Here
Pot Luck
Kitchen Canisters with a
Story
By Mary Emma Allen
Many of the items in your
kitchen either tell a story, because they are hand-me-downs used
in earlier days or are something you've collected as you've
traveled. Canisters, either as matching sets, or odd ones
you've accumulated or saved because you like them, may
contribute to your story or bring memories of travels.
read Pot Luck - Click Here
Rendezvous With
Renee's
South Dakota's
Treasures of I-29
By
Renee S. Gordon
People around the globe tend
to be most familiar with the western region of South Dakota,
famous for the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore and the
rugged scenery of the Badlands. Visitors who confine themselves
to the region west of the Missouri, the boundary between East
and West, miss not only the expansive prairie but also a
plethora of sites and attractions that are culturally unique.
read Rendezvous
with Renee- Click Here
Renee's Route
Lexington Kentucky Getaway
by Renee's
S. Gordon
By all accounts, Abraham
Lincoln visited Kentucky four times, but most significantly, it
was in Kentucky that he experienced his first vacation. In what
we would now term a guy's getaway he visited his best friend
Joshua Speed in 1841 and obtained his first taste of a life of
luxury. The components that make up a successful deluxe getaway
have not changed much in the ensuing 175-years and Kentucky is
still an ideal location to spend some time with friends and
Lexington is just the right size and has such a plethora of
culinary, shopping, arts and entertainment venues that everyone
is bound to be pleased.
read Renee's Route- Click Here
Renee's International Route
Mexico's Playa Mujeres
Excellence Resorts
by Renee's
S. Gordon
Nearly 5000 years ago Mayans
migrated into the Yucatan region of Mexico and between 500 BC
and 900 AD they constructed large commercial, ceremonial and
religious centers. The first documented Europeans to sail into
the area, although they did not land, were part of the 1513
Ponce de Leon expedition. Four years later Francisco Hernendez
de Cordova, while seeking slaves, landed. Encountering
indigenous people he asked where he was in Spanish. They
responded in their language, " Tetec dtan. Ma t natic a dtan,"
basically, "What are you saying?" Cordova believed they were
answering his question and, hearing their words as "Yucatan",
named the land accordingly.
read Renee's International Route- Click
Here
Tibbs Trails and Tastes
Navigating Cultures:
Odyssey to explore Mexico City
by Christine Tibbets
When UNESCO says a place is
special -- paying attention pays off. Perhaps your list of
want-to-go-there World Heritage Sites is as long as mine.
read Tibbs Trails- Click Here
Traditional Trails
Mission San Luis:
Tallahassee's Secret Treasure
By Kathleen Walls
Mission San Luis
takes you back into Florida's early
history. Not just the Spanish settlers but the Native Apalachee.
Museums sometimes seem to forget that long before the Europeans
arrived on this continent the natives had thriving cultures.
Here, the customs, sports and a sustained lifestyle. They
planted corn, beans, and squash, to complement their hunting and
gathering. When the Spanish came, both groups were influenced by
the other. Mission San Luis tells the story of that meshing of
cultures. It's done by docents in traditional costume who remain
in character so no point talking about your smart phone or
camera. Those things don't exist here.
read
Traditional Trail- Click Here
Traveling Beyond Borders
The Joie de Trois-Rivieres
by Roberta Sandler
It's not that I'm squeamish
about staying in a centuries-old jail. It's just that I'd rather
enjoy the comforts of a hotel.
read Traveling Beyond Borders- Click Here
Vagabond Traveler
The Lure of Scenic
Waterfalls
By Mary Emma Allen
Waterfalls, wherever they
are in the world, seem to capture the attention of travelers.
They go out of their way to travel to these cascading tumbles
of water, whether the falls are long narrow streams or a wide
expanse like Niagara Falls. Some falls may simply be a tumble
of water over a dam, while others are famed and draw visitors
from far and near.
Read Vagabond Traveler - Click Here
See the USA with Warren
Touring Historic Savannah,
Georgia
by Warren Resen
Pre-Civil War Savannah was
called the most picturesque and serene city in America.
Today it is a reminder of what many consider to have been the
epitome of a society in gentler times as portrayed by Hollywood.
read See the USA with Warren- Click Here
Wild Roads
A Visit
to Abilene Zoo
By Kathleen Walls
In the wild west of Abilene
Texas, you expect to find a lot of wild. The Abilene Zoo doesn't
disappoint. It is filled with wild life. One of the first stops
in the zoo has to be Wetlands of the Americas.
read Wild Roads- Click Here
Adirondack Trail Mix
Exploring Country Stores, Part 1: Hoss's
Country Corner Store
By Persis
Granger
You'll find center of Long Lake, New York, at the intersection
of state routes 30 and 28N, and presiding over that intersection
is Hoss's Country Corner Store,
a must-see for travelers.
read Adirondack Trail Mix- Click
Here
Adirondack Trail Mix 2
Exploring Country Stores, Part 2:
Some Favorite Things Gallery
By Persis
Granger
You'll find the small hamlet of Hadley, NY, connected to its
larger neighboring hamlet, Lake Luzerne, by a bridge over the
Hudson at tumbling, churning Rockwell Falls. A stone's throw
away is a small new train station, part of the Saratoga and
North Creek Railway. Hadley is perched at the confluence of the
Hudson and Sacandaga Rivers, a breathtaking site that is spanned
by two bridges, one, the recently-restored historic Bow Bridge,
and the other, higher up, a railroad bridge over which once
rumbled passenger and freight aboard the Delaware and Hudson
Railroad, and now still used by the Saratoga and North Creek.
This town that is so steeped in history and natural Adirondack
wonders is the perfect site for Some Favorite Things Gallery, a
gift shop in which each item is as fresh and unique as the
wildflowers along a mountain trail.
read Adirondack Trail Mix- Click
Here
Agri Lanes
Looking out for Mother
Earth: Feynan Eco Lodge
by Kathleen Walls
Most agri tourism destinations promote a
single product such as a winery, a farm visit, a dairy and so
on. Feynan Eco Lodge promotes and supports an entire eco
culture. The oh-too-short time I spent there was the most
sustainable experience I ever experienced.
Read Agri Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
Celebrate American Craft
Week
by Anne Jenkins
When all 50 states join together for a celebration of craft,
artisans and handmade in America, the echoes reach the far
corners from small towns, rural backwaters to bustling cities.
American Craft Week (ACW) surfaced about 7 years ago because
there is so much creativity and excellent crafts produced in the
U.S. but the industry did not have a special way to highlight
the work. Not surprisingly Diane Sulg and Sherry Masters, the
driving forces behind the event, live in North Carolina, an
artisan state if ever there was one. Apart from all the town's
celebrations listed on the ACW website, they also hold a vote in
poll for the Top Ten Art Towns and this year a list of nominated
"Rising Stars, 30 under 30" heralding young crafters on the up
and up, will be announced later in the year.
Read Art_Trails.htm
Chuckwagon Roundup
Sweet Treats
by Kathleen Walls
Nothing can turn a dignified adult into a kid faster than ice
cream and candy. So let's track down some of my favorites.
Here are some really sweet shops I have visited in the
past few years.
read Chuckwagon roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Puttin' on the Ritz
by Kathleen Walls
The original Ritz Theater was constructed in 1929 when Black
entertainers followed what was called the "Chittlin' Circuit"
and African Americans could not walk into any theater to see a
show like other citizens. Ritz
Theater was built in Art Deco Style and was the center of the
LaVilla neighborhood. It was rebuilt in 1999 and all that remain
of the historic building are the sign and the Northwest corner
of the building.
read Civil Rights Trails-Click Here
Desert Drive
Wadi Rum: The Ultimate
Desert
by Kathleen Walls
It's
known as the Valley of the Moon. The landscape of Wadi Rum is so
exotic it might well be on some ancient orbiting rock.
When we
first ventured out into it in rugged old four-wheel drive
pickups driven by Bedouins who appeared as tough and
self-reliant as their vehicles, the pavement rapidly disappeared
behind us. We faced unending sand punctuated by strangely eroded
mountains that seemed older than time.
Read Desert_Drive_Click
Here
Elite Street Eats
Nefetari's: A Royal Dining
Experience
By Kathleen Walls
Can you imagine dining like
Egyptian Royalty of ancient times? You can actually do it at
Nefetari's Restaurant in Tallahassee. Not only is the food
healthy and delicious, the decor is a feast for the eyes. One of
the first things you see is a stuffed lion named Maliki near the
entrance. The entire restaurant is filled with Egyptian and
African art. It's a mini-museum.
read Elite_Eats Click Here
Fork in The Road
Now You're Cooking~ Petra
Kitchen
By Kathleen Walls
What fun to eat in a restaurant where you get to prepare you own
meal under the eye of a watchful chef before dining. It's even
better when the recipes are local favorites from an exotic
country you are visiting for the first time. I got to do just
that on a recent trip to Jordan when we experienced Petra
Kitchen.
read Fork in the Road - Click Here
Globe Trotting with Warren
India
Article by Warren Resen
Photos by Jeanne O'Connor
India, as portrayed in slick travel magazines is a microcosm of
a much larger, much more diverse culture. Yes, there are
five-star hotels, restaurants, and world-class resorts there but
is it really necessary to travel half way around the world for
something you probably have at home?
read Globe Trotting with Warren-
Click Here
Happy Trails
"There's Gold in Them Thar
[Georgia] Hills"
By Tom Straka
The lead photograph is a
vertical mine shaft that leads to the famous gold vein in
Dahlonega, Georgia. What famous gold vein? Dahlonega is an
unusual tourist town that will introduce you to some unusual
southern history which includes some of the nation's earliest
gold mining history.
As an example of what I mean by unusual, that mine shaft
is in a family-style restaurant, The Smith House, located a
block off the town's main square. During renovations workers
found the shaft in the restaurant's basement. Not all the
attractions in town are free, but viewing the mine shaft will
cost you nothing.
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Information Highway
( a different way to promote travel)
Take a Tour
Want to visit fun places but you are not sure what to see there?
How about taking a tour that is like having a friend who knows
that city well along to take you to the coolest places. You can
do that for under $5 now.
read Information Highway - Click Here
Inn Roads
Kempinski Hotel Ishtar:
Beyond Five-Star Luxury
By Kathleen Walls
The Dead Sea area of Jordan
is filled with luxury resorts but one stands out. Kempinski
Hotel Ishtar Resort welcomed us, refreshed us, fed us and made
our stay memorable.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Museum Stroll
Touch of Old Florida: The
Tallahassee Museum
By Kathleen Walls
With most museums, you
expect to find all the exhibits tucked away neatly in a
building. Tallahassee Musuem is so different. It's like a time
capsule of Tallahassee's (and Florida's) cultural and natural
history all set in a natural outdoor environment on the shores
of Lake Bradford.
read Museum Stroll - Click Here
Native Trails
Mesa Verde Country: On the
Trail of the Ancients: Part One
By Kathleen Walls
Some of American's most
intriguing mysteries surround the Anasazi culture of Mesa Verde.
Modern Anthropology is uncovering many secrets about these
ancient people including the fact that they are the ancestors of
the modern day Pueblo tribes, thus the name has been changed.
Today, they are called Ancient Puebloans. Anasazi is a Navajo
word meaning "Ancient People" or "Ancient Enemy" and offensive
to the Pueblo tribes.
read Native Trails- Click
Here
On the Road with Grandma
Finding Family Fun in
Columbus, Ohio
by Roberta Sandler
Columbus is such a lively city with so many family-friendly
attractions and cultural venues that it easily finds a place on
the list of best American cities to visit.
read On the Road with Grandma-
Click Here
Photos from the Roadside
Blueberry Thrill in
Washington State
by Jim DeLillo
I reach in tentatively,
cautiously. My outstretched finger gently touches the
sphere. Then gently giving a little tug the blue tidbit comes
free in my hand.
read Photos from the Roadside-
Click Here
Pot Luck
A Taste for Tea
By Mary Emma Allen
For relaxation or as a way to start the day, a cup
of tea can't be beat. Even though I sometimes drink
coffee, I prefer tea such as English Breakfast tea, Awake tea
and Earl Grey tea, to name a few. Drinking tea has long
been a tradition in my family, something my grandmother and
mother enjoyed with family and friends.
read Pot Luck - Click Here
Quiet Roads
A House With a Soul
by Kathleen Walls
Some houses are so unique they seem to
have a soul. You feel it when you first look at them. You feel
it even more when you step inside. Since houses are just bricks,
wood or stone, that soul must come in part for the architect who
designs the house and in part from those who envision it
and make it their home.
Read Quiet Roads_Click Here
Renee's Route
Virginia's
Shenandoah Valley, Gateway to Adventure
by Renee'
S. Gordon
Virginia's
140-miles long Shenandoah Valley lies between the Allegheny and
the Blue Ridge Mountains. This incredibly beautiful region has
been a staging ground for history since the 1600s and for Native
Americans for approximately 11,000 years prior to that. The
Chester and Manassas Gaps afforded natural access for people and
goods into the valley where they could transport goods via the
Shenandoah River.
read Renee's Route- Click Here
Renee's International Route
Uniquely Flanders
by Renee'
S. Gordon
Modern Flanders, a
region in north Belgium, is one of the most historic, beautiful,
architecturally distinctive and intriguing regions in Europe.
The name is derived from the County of Flanders, a
medieval principality that existed from the mid-800s to 1795 and
was made up of Northern Belgium and a portion of northern
France. Flanders is bordered by the Netherlands and a North Sea
shoreline that extends 42-miles. Because of its strategic
position in the heart of Europe the area has been involved in
every major European conflict including both World Wars. Despite
the years of occupation and carnage Flandriens have maintained a
distinct character and culture that is both unique and
accessible.
read Renee's International Route- Click
Here
Tibbs Trails and Tastes
First: Why travel to Jordan?
Second: What remarkable
connections will the trip reveal?
by Christine Tibbets
Jordan is a lyrical country where music filters
within routine daily chores as often as it wafts across
landscapes both lush and dry. Listen as you wander.
read Tibbs Trails- Click Here
Traditional Trails
Life in a Bedouin Tent
By Kathleen Walls
Imagine living life as it was 2000 years
ago. Some cultures still live a life very similar to the way
they were then. On a recent trip to Jordan, I got to meet an
elder of a Bedouin tribe and his family.
read Traditional Trail-
Click Here
Traveling Beyond Borders
Exploring the Outskirts of
Edinburgh
By Roberta Sandler
Your cruise ship has just sailed into one
of Edinburgh, Scotland's four ports, and you're eager to
disembark for a day of exploring. Or, you've arrived for a
vacation in Edinburgh via plane or car and you're looking for
attractions to visit.
Read Traveling beyond Borders -
Click Here
Vagabond Traveler
Old Foundations, Stone Walls & Byways
By Mary Emma Allen
Traveling over old byways or
walking along those no longer passable fascinates me. Often in
these travels, we come across abandoned home sites and
foundations, as well as stone walls. Most of these abandoned
towns in New England consist of fallen foundations, steps
leading to doorways that no longer exist, old barns and sheds,
lilac bushes, rose bushes and apple trees. Perhaps you'll find
the remnants of a church or town meeting hall.
Read Vagabond Traveler - Click
Here
Wet Roads
Maryland's Western Shore
by Renee'
S. Gordon
The Chesapeake Bay was created
approximately 10,000-years ago from melting glaciers and it is
home to 238 varieties of finfish, 173 species of shellfish and
nearly 3,000 plant types. It is the largest estuary in the
country and the third largest in the world flowing 200-miles
with 11,684-miles of shoreline. The bay is a narrow waterway
bisecting Maryland that is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The towns
and villages located on the western shore are a fishing, hiking,
boating paradise that has unique offerings for history lovers
and those seeking a peaceful getaway.
read Wet Roads- Click Here
The Spring 2016 Edition of American
Roads and Global Highways
Adirondack Trail Mix
The Lake George Elvis
Festival ~ June 1 – 5, 2016
By Persis Granger
Elvis
has left the building? Lake George Village, in the southern
Adirondacks of New York state, would beg to differ! This small
village springs to life during the first week of June with a
five-day celebration of the "King of Rock ‘n' Roll." Tribute
artists from far and near descend upon the Adirondacks to shake,
rattle and roll to honor the life and perpetuate the legacy of
Elvis Presley along the shore of the "Queen of America's Lakes",
the pristine 32-mile-long mountain-rimmed Lake George. Although
the setting is serene, you can be sure that, during the
festival, there will be no peace in that valley
read Adirondack Trail Mix- Click
Here
Agri Lanes
Riding the Tide: Great Raft
Brewery
by Kathleen Walls
There is nothing like a
"Produced in the USA" tag on a food product to remind us of our
country's agricultural roots. Since pre-colonial days, beer has
been part of the American culture. Native Americans brewed a
type of beer from corn, birch sap and water. But beer as we know
it today began with the brewing traditions brought from England
and the Netherlands in Colonial days. Ale was the traditional
brews found in early pubs. Then in the 19th century, German
immigrants brought with them a culture of creating lagers.
Read Agri Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
Living History, Modern Art
by Anne Jenkins
Conjure up a trip to Williamsburg, Va., and history immediately
springs to mind. The neatly restored town perfectly chronicles
the early history of the United States, complete with docents
dressed in period costume and dusty wide streets. And
while it is very essential, interesting and educational to
'live' history, there is another side to Colonial Williamsburg.
An exciting and modern arts and crafts industry hides in plain
sight in in the area.
Read Art_Trails.htm
Chuckwagon Roundup
Prize Pizzas
by Kathleen Walls
Pizza was long a favorite in
Italy's poorer sections. In the early 18th century Italian
emigrants brought their favorite comfort food to the United
States but it remained mostly a local dish served in Italian
communities. Pizza popularity grew with the returning WW2
soldiers who had occupied Italy and discovered pizza as a
welcome change for rations during the war. For the first time,
restaurants serving pizza and chains specializing in the
delectable pies sprang up outside of the old Italian
neighborhoods and were welcomed with open arms. Here are a few
fantastic pizza places I have visited lately.
read Chuckwagon roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Tallahassee's Spirit
of Smokey Hollow
by Kathleen Walls
Founded
in the 1890s close to downtown, Smokey Hollow was home to many
of Tallahassee's working class African Americans. It was a safe
comfortable place where neighbors were like family until the
1960s.Then, as Tallahassee entered the period of the Civil Right
movement. sweeping its reforms across American, everything
changed.
read Civil Rights Trails-Click Here
Dark Trails
Mount Sinai Adventure
By Warren Resen
Traveling to the Holy Land
is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people. No matter
what your beliefs, the trip is an amazing adventure.
read Dark Trails- Click
Here
Elite Street Eats
The Edison is Lighting up
Tallahassee
By Kathleen Walls
Thomas Edison once stated,
"The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will
interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and
in the cause and prevention of disease." Perhaps he had a
restaurant like his namesake, The Edison, in mind.
read Elite Street Eats -
Click Her
Fork in The Road
Zydeco's: A Touch of
Louisiana in Indiana
By Kathleen Walls
The last thing you expect to
find in Mooresville, Indiana is a genuine Cajun restaurant but
there it is right in the heart of Hoosier country, a little
piece of Acadiana called Zydeco. Actually it's more than Cajun
it's a little bit of New Orleans best Creole cooking rolled up
with Lafayette, Breau Bridge, Thibodaux's Cajun and Zydeco style
and all of South Louisiana thrown in for fun.
read Fork in the Road - Click Here
Happy Trails
Bennett Place~~The
Surrender after Appomattox Court House
By Tom
Straka
You probably think the last surrender of the Civil War took
place at Appomattox Court House. Not so, there were several
others as Confederate troops further south and west surrendered.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis did not want the war to
end with Appomattox. By early-April 1865 it was apparent that
the Civil War was drawing to a close. General William T. Sherman
and his Union troops had finished their march to the sea and
were now marching through the Carolinas. Columbia, South
Carolina was burned in mid-February and in mid-March Sherman's
objective in North Carolina became clear; he was headed to
Goldboro to linkup with 30,000 additonal Union troops moving
west from the coast. Goldsboro
was important as it openned the door to Raleigh and the
important rail lines going north (the rail line that supplied
the besieged Army of Northern Virginia). Sherman hoped to move
north rapidly and join in the expected surrender of
General Robert E. Lee
and the Army of Northern Virginia.
read Happy Trails - Click Here
Information Highway
( a different way to promote travel)
Wild About Florida
When you visit Florida, there is so much natural beauty to see.
Wild About Florida
by Kathleen and Martin Walls gives you a glimpse of all of the
fun and natural places in Florida everyone would love to visit
but doesn't know that they exist.
read Information Highway -
Click Here
Inn Roads
Barrymore Hotel. A Local
Flavorite
By Kathleen Walls
Are you one of those people
who book at chain hotels? If so you could be missing out on a
lot of local flavor. Barrymore Hotel in Tampa is a perfect
example. Once part of a chain, this boutique hotel in Tampa's
Downtown River Arts District, is a unique cultural experience
not just a place to lay your head.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Photos from the Roadside
Coronado National Forest
and Chiricahua National Monument,
Willcox, Arizona
By Jim DiLillio
Red dust kicked up behind my wheels as I hugged the inner curve
of the dirt road. Through the passenger-side window on my right,
I could just make out the 1500-foot drop to the gorge below.
read Photos from the Roadside -
Click Here
Museum Stroll
Smithsonian, Texas Style
By Kathleen Walls
Panhandle Plains Historical
Museum calls itself "The Smithsonian with a Texas accent." It's
pretty close to right. It is a fantastic museum and it's located
on Texas A and M University Campus in Canyon, Texas so it
definitely has a Texas accent.
read Museum Stroll- Click
Here
Music Row
Tallahassee Blues
By Kathleen Walls
Our group leader, Laura, led
us down a winding dirt road just wide enough for a car that
looked like the scene of some B grade horror movie. As the road
petered out we saw a small, cinderblock building with a huge
bonfire blazing behind it. Instead of being slashed by a monster
at the end of the road, we reached one of Tallahassee's
best-kept-secret fun spots, The Bradfordville Blues Club.
read Music Row- Click Here
On the Road with Grandma
Sarasota: Fun in a Cultural
Breadbasket
by Roberta Sandler
What kid doesn't like going to the circus? For that matter, what
kid-at-heart doesn't have fond childhood memories of watching
the animals and performers under the Big Top?
read On the Road with Grandma-
Click Here
Pot Luck
Quilting Bees and Teas
By Mary Emma Allen
Quilting bees and gatherings often become a winter
pasttime...occasions to gather socially, work on projects and
enjoy tea and cookies. This has been an activity for
generations and continues today among my daughter and her
friends. Some quilters travel distances to attend workshops,
shows and gatherings.
read Pot Luck - Click Here
Photos from the Side of the
Road
by Jim Delillo
Red dust kicked up behind my wheels as I hugged the inner curve
of the dirt road. Through the passenger-side window on my right,
I could just make out the 1500-foot drop to the gorge below.
Read
Photos- click here
Renee's Route
Smooth Travels: African
American Heritage Trail in Northern NY
by Renee's S. Gordon
In 1613 what is believed to be the first permanent settler in
New Netherlands, now New York City, was put ashore from a Dutch
sailing ship. Jan Rodrigues, a free man of color from Santo
Domingo carried with him tools and provisions and was tasked
with establishing trade with the Indians for the Dutch. His
presence is documented because the following year legal problems
arose with fur traders. Rodrigues married a native and when the
Dutch returned for him he chose to stay and establish his own
trading post. In commemoration in 2012 Broadway between 158th
and 218th Streets was designated Juan Rodriguez Way.
read Renee's Route- Click Here
Renee's Route
International
El Dorado, Bogot and
Cartagena, Colombiaby
Renee's S. Gordon
It is estimated that during the slave trade approximately
12.5-million Africans were taken from Africa with an estimated
10.7-million completing the voyage to the Americas and only
about 10% of those captured taken directly to North America. The
coastal area of Colombia, South America was such a large and
lucrative slave port that more than 300,000 Africans passed
through the city. Today Colombia's current black population is
the 2nd largest in South America and the 3rd
largest outside of the continent of Africa.
read Renee's Route-International- Click
Here
See the USA with Warren
Blowing Rock, North
Carolina
by Warren Resen
Have you ever wondered where many of the place names displayed
on road signs originated?
Was a city, town, or historical site named for a founding
father, a geographical feature, historical event, or something
else that brought this area into prominence?
Names tell a story and the story is not always obvious.
read See the USA with Warren- Click
Here
Tibbs Trails and Tastes
Consider a Trail of
Excellence Combining Some Riveria Resorts
by Christine Tibbets
Staying put is enticing once
the slog of air travel is accomplished but I discovered a slew
of alluring reasons to roam from one all-inclusive resort to
another on a Cancun vacation.
read Tibbs Trails andTastes-
Click Here
Vagabond Traveler
Following the Quilting
Trail
By Mary Emma Allen
Designing and making quilts can be exciting and satisfying in
itself. However, an added reward is attending quilt
workshops and shows around your home area and in various parts
of the country. In the course of my quilting, both making
quilts and writing about them, I've been involved in events
nearby and those as I traveled.
Read Vagabond Traveler - Click
Here
Wild Road
Lowry
Park Zoo Revistied
Kathleen
Walls
It has been
years since I visited Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo so I was presently
surprised at all the improvements made to an already wonderful
facility when I visited with my daughter a short time ago. Also,
pleased at all the new additions to some of the animal families.
read Wild Roads- Click Here
Lagniappe
A
little something extra just for you.
read Lagniappe- Click Here
2016 Winter
Edition
Adirondack Trail Mix
A visit to Lake George
Winter Carnival
By
Persis Granger
Many summer visitors to the Adirondacks' Lake George area look
around during the summer festivities, and then ask natives, "So
what do you do around here in the winter? Hibernate?"
read Adirondack Trail Mix- Click
Here
Agri Lanes
Little Piece of Heaven:
Oliver Winery
by Kathleen Walls
What would you call a place that
offered great wine tastings, tours, music, a beautiful garden
and even some pet friendly events? No I haven't discovered
Nirvana. It's Oliver Winery in Bloomington, Indiana I'm thinking
about. I visited it with Travel Media Showcase and was thrilled
with both the beauty and the fruits of the vine found there in
equal parts.
Read Agri Lanes_Click Here
Ancient Traces
Good Bones: Waco Mammoth
National Monument
by Kathleen Walls
On July 10, 2015, President
Obama created three new National Monuments. One of these sites
protect some of the most important paleontological finds in
American History, Waco Mammoth National Monument.
Read Ancient
Traces_Click Here
Art Trails
Art Town Tour
by Anne Jenkins
Cold, snowy winter weather
provides the perfect time to plan a spring road trip to see some
cool local art. Art towns, big and small, around the country are
well known. There's a book listing the top 100 best art towns.
American Craft Week held a vote-in competition for the best art
town during their 2015 event. Some town names keep popping up in
all the lists, like Asheville, N.C., Berea, Ky., Sante Fe, NM.,
Eureka Springs, Ark., Saugatuck, Mich., and as far as States are
concerned North Carolina and Vermont always top everyone's
list. These are all excellent choices, Asheville and Berea are
among my favorites and Vermont is definitely a wonderland of
art. But I am going to give you a few fresh ideas. Get the atlas
out and start plotting and planning.
Read Art_Trails.htm
Chuckwagon Roundup
Delicious Diners
by Kathleen Walls
Diners were the American fast
food joints of the early 20th century. They began in the 1870s
and were the most popular eatery of the middle class until the
1970s with the coming of the fast food chains that are so
popular with younger people who think a McBurger is high
cuisine.
read Chuckwagon roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Birth of the Civil
Rights Movement
by Kathleen Walls
In
1606 an event happened that was little noted and not long
remembered but it was of great historical importance.
The Cathedral Archives in St. Augustine recorded the birth of
the first African American child in the continental United
States. This was 13 years before the first enslaved Africans
were brought to the English colony of Jamestown in 1619. It was
the first spark in the fight for civil rights for African
Americans.
read Civil Rights Trails-Click Here
Exploring With Eleanor
Ahoy, Annapolis
By Eleanor Hendricks McDaniel
Like the tides, the coastline of Annapolis flows in and out of
the country's largest estuary, Chesapeake Bay. Not only is the
city the capital of Maryland, but it's also "America's Sailing
Capital." In or out of the water, you're in for a nautical
experience.
read Exploring With Eleanor-
Click Here
Elite Street Eats
Broussards: A New Orleans
Tradition
By Kathleen Walls
Since 1920, Broussard's has been
considered one of the Grand Dames of New Orleans restaurants.
Our server, Adam Martinez, told us a little about Broussard's
history. The restaurant began with Joseph Broussard and his
wife, Rosalie Borrello. The owner of Antoine's was a friend and
brought Joseph with him to Paris one summer where the young chef
got his classical training. When he returned home and married
Rosalie, his father-in-law gifted them with the Borrello family
mansion on Conti Street. This allowed Joseph to have his
longtime dream, a restaurant of his own. His combination of
classic French dishes with his own Louisiana Creole style
guaranteed him success.
read Elite Street Eats - Click
Here
Fork in The Road
LeBleu's Landing
By Kathleen Walls
If you're looking for a real
Cajun food experience, you can find it at LeBleu's Landing in
Sulphur, Louisiana.
read Fork in the Road - Click Here
Guest Corridor
Chocolate Trail
by Kathy Barnett
If you are a
chocoholic like me, the place to go and satisfy your craving is
Richmond, Indiana's Chocolate Trail. The best thing about this
destination is that you can take the self-guided tour any time
of the year.
read Guest Corridor Click Here
Guest Corridor 2
Monsters at Borrego
Springs--Photographing the Milky Way
by Jim DeLillo
A warm wind blows across me, but I still feel
a chill run down my back. I'm alone in the desert. I'm at one of
the darkest places on earth according to my map. It's a little
scary, especially while visions of coyotes, scorpions, and
roving gangs of desert hares dance in my head. I'm here to
photograph monsters. It isn't my imagination. I saw them as I
drove in during the day. Standing as tall as two stories, I
could make out their rust-colored silhouettes against the arid
sand.
read Guest Corridor 2 Click Here
Happy Trails
Pennsylvania Dutch Village
and Farm Museum
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Southeastern Pennsylvania brings
to mind Amish country, but it is just as much Pennsylvania Dutch
country. The German word for "German' is Deutsch and from that
is how the Pennsylvania Germans came to be called the
Pennsylvania Dutch. The late 1600s and 1700s was a time of
European turmoil and waves of German-speaking immigrants came to
the region, making up 40% of its population by the late 1700s.
Around places like Lancaster the German-speaking population was
about 70%. Today, Lancaster is one of the best places in the
country to learn about the Pennsylvania Dutch culture and
history.
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Information Highway
( a different way to promote travel)
Wild About Florida
When you visit Florida, there is so much natural beauty to see.
Wild About Florida
by Kathleen and Martin Walls gives you a glimpse of all of the
fun and natural places in Florida everyone would love to visit
but doesn't know that they exist.
read Information Highway -
Click Here
Inn Roads
Stay and Play
By Kathleen Walls
Planning a vacation to Louisiana
in the future? When you are choosing a hotel consider staying at
a casino. You say you don't gamble. Still casinos are a good
choice for several reasons even for family vacations. They offer
reasonable prices and all the advantages of a resort.
There are always restaurants for every taste and budget. Shops
and entertainment abound in casino. The ever important swimming
pool is usually offered in several versions. For those who do
wish to indulge in the gaming the opportunities are limitless.
You will have a confortable visit, you can bet on it.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Museum Stroll
Time Tripping
at the Mayborn Museum
By Kathleen Walls
Mayborn Museum in Waco, Texas is
filled with interesting things for young and old alike: a place
for the scholar or the fun seeker. It's a fun trip back in time,
It has indoor exhibits and great outdoor historical village. It
opened in 2004 as a blending of the former Strecker Museum, a
Children's Discovery Center and the Outdoor Village all situated
at different places originally.
read Museum Stroll - Click Here
Music Row
Cajun or
Zydeco?
By Kathleen Walls
Is it Cajun or Zydeco? That's
the most common question folks ask when they hear Louisiana
music. Well, Cajun music is the "folk music" of the Arcadian
people exiled from Canada who settled mostly in southern
Louisiana. It will usually have fiddles along with an accordion,
and guitars. Modern Cajun music has borrowed some from County
and Western.
read Music Row - Click Here
On the Road with Grandma
On the Road to a Family
Cruise
by Roberta Sandler
When it comes to vacations,
nothing excites my grandchildren as much as getting on the road
and heading for a cruise port for a vacation at sea.
read On the Road with Grandma-
Click Here
Renee's
Route
Alexandria, Virginia
by Renee's S. Gordon
There are cities older than
Alexandria, Virginia and cities that have witnessed as many of
America's major historical events but there are no other
colonial cities that experienced history in such a personal way
and none that can as readily evoke the sense of historical
immediacy. Archeology has proven that humans existed in the
Alexandria region for at least 13,000-years. The earliest Native
Americans hunted and eventual developed settlements near the
Patawomeck Flu, Potomac River. In 1654 the first documented
patent for 700-acres of land belonged to Margaret Brent, a
Maryland resident and first colonial woman to become a
landowner.
read Renee's Route- Click Here
See the USA with Warren
AMERICA'S MOST REMOTE NATIONAL PARK
by Warren Resen Photos by Jeanne O'Conner
If you found yourself on an
island in the Gulf of Mexico 70 miles west of Key West, where do
you think you might be...in another country, or perhaps another
state? You would still be in the USA and in Florida and on
Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas visiting Ft. Jefferson.
read See the USA with Warren- Click
Here
Street Party
Party Like it's 1565
by Kathleen Walls
When it comes to throwing a big
birthday bash, nobody tops Saint Augustine. Then, no other city
in the country has been around for 450 years. For the big 450
Celebration they pulled out all the stops. When the planning
started they asked all the usual questions. Bands? Let's get
some of the best names. Stage? How about five? Weekend
festival? No let's carry it over for four days from the Friday
of Labor Day Weekend until Tuesday, September 8, the actual
birthday.
read Street Party- Click
Here
Tibbs Tastes and Trails
Follow the Film Trail in
Louisiana North
By Christine Tibbetts
Movie travel offers way more
than peering at some places where a favorite film launched, or
so I discovered in Louisiana
Read TibbsTastes and Trails -
Click Here
Wet Roads
The Anthem of the Seas, A
Technological Wonder
by Renee S. Gordon
Cruising has provided a popular
escape for thousands of years, think Caesar and Cleopatra, but
historians tend to trace the history of passenger, ocean
cruising for personal enjoyment, to an imaginative article
penned in the early 1830s by Arthur Anderson. Almost concurrent
with its publication steamships were introduced and ocean
cruising took on an aura of the ultimate in glamour and wealth.
Cunard, the most famous of the early cruise lines, established a
reputation for sophistication that lasted until their allure was
surpassed by the ability to take a transatlantic flight. World
Wars I and II made cruising difficult for the obvious reasons
and because many of the ships were conscripted for the war
effort. It was not until the late 1960s that the popularity of
passenger cruising surged, spurred by the growing number of
activities offered onboard and some believe the fun and frolic
depicted on the 1970's sitcom "The Love Boat".
Read Wet_Roads.htm
Wild Roads
The Bear Facts
by Kathleen Walls
The American Black Bear has a
wide range. They are found along the eastern seaboard of North
America from Alaska to Northern Mexico and in parts of western
United States. They are very adaptable so they have learned to
survive in closer proximity to humans than many other wild
creatures. This very trait that helped them survive for millions
of years, now is putting them on the path to extinction.
read Wild Roads- Click Here
Lagniappe
A little something extra just
for you. From trolly rides to Europe and beyond. Check it
out.
read Lagniappe- Click Here
The Fall 2015 Edition of American Roads
Magazine
American Roads is proud to present the Fall 2015
Edition of American Roads Magazine.
Adirondack Trail Mix
A Visit to Historic Fort Ticonderoga – An Immersion Experience
By Persis
Granger
We arrived at Fort Ticonderoga on a
photo album summer morning, the kind with azure sky
polka-dotted with cauliflower clouds. Bright sunlight
danced on the waters of Lake Champlain that tickled the
sides of the Ticonderoga peninsula. It would have been
enough just to sit and soak up the mountain scenery, but
there lay ahead the imposing star-shaped Fort, and our
crew had adventure in mind.
read Adirondack
Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
Busy as a Bee: A visit to
Hunter's Honey Farm
by Kathleen Walls
Hunter's Honey Farm can trace its beginnings of
managing bees and harvesting nature's liquid gold
for more than a century. Gilbert Perigo, the farm
and family patriarch, began beekeeping while he was
still in high school in Boonville, Indiana and by
1910, was using several hives to pollinate the
family apple orchard. In 1951, Gilbert retired from
teaching and moved his family to Mooresville,
Indiana. There, he began what you find today at
Hunter's Honey Farm.
Read Agri
Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
Art of the Battlefield
by Anne Jenkins
At the end of July I visited the Panhandle of West Virginia to
find out more about Over the Mountain Studio Tour held in
Jefferson County every fall. They host a 2-day preview exhibit
in Shepherdstown to give you a sampling of the art offered
during the studio tour later in the year. I not only got a great
impression of the art and artists, I also discovered a
fascinating artist tale just across the Maryland border at
Antietam National Battlefield.
Read Art_Trails.htm /
ByRoads
Only in Louisiana
by
Kathleen Walls
Traveling in the United States, Louisiana
is the closest you can come to visiting a foreign country. So
much of their food, culture and heritage is found only in
Louisiana.
read ByRoads Click Here
Chuckwagon Roundup
Ghostly Gourmets:
Haunted
Restaurants of the South
by
Kathleen Walls
Some restaurants have a lot of spirits. I mean that literally. A
few of the restaurants I visited have their very own ghostly
gourmets still wandering the kitchens and dining rooms.
read Chuckwagon
Roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Hitching
a Ride on the Underground Railroad
by Kathleen Walls
"You can't really understand another person's experience
until you've walked a mile in their shoes." There is no
way to walk in the shoes of an African Slave in the
Antebellum South or hitch a ride on the Underground
Railroad today but a visit to Slave Haven in Memphis is
as close as you can come.
read Civil Rights Trail-Click
Here
Civil War Trails
Fayetteville's Civil War Heritage:
The Beginning of the End
by Kathleen Walls
Fayetteville, North Carolina
boasts about 35 markers and sited related to The War Between the
States in the area. I would consider the ones below a "must see"
for Civil War buffs.
read Civil War Trails-Click
Here
Elite Street Eats
Antoine's:
A Living Legend
By Kathleen Walls
It's hard for any restaurant to stand out at the head of
the pack in a city filled with outstanding restaurants like New
Orleans, Yet, if
you ask the experts to name some of New Orleans best
restaurants, Antoine's will always be on the list. It's been way
up there for a long time, 175 years of French Creole culinary
traditions to be exact.
read Elite Street Eats
- Click Here
Exploring with Eleanor
A Southern Foodie Cooks in Wisconsin
By
Eleanor Hendricks
McDaniel
I just
became a Southerner when I relocated to Florida. But I grew up
on "down-home" southern cooking. My northern mother learned to
cook from her southern mother. So naturally, I cook mostly
southern-style. Living in Italy had added to my kitchen
expertise. But I wanted to expand my culinary horizon even more.
So when I heard about a couple of cooking classes in Wisconsin,
I thought it would be worth a try.
Exploring with Eleanor
- Click Here
Fork in The Road
Dine like
Royalty at The Crown
By Kathleen Walls
The Crown in Indianola, Mississippi is a
lot more than a restaurant. they
also bill themselves as "an Art Gallery full of fabulous
original Delta art, a Gift Shop filled with classic children's
toys and gifts for every occasion and a Bookstore." You could
browse for hours but we came to dine so the browsing was
limited.
read Fork in the Road
- Click Here
Guest Corridor
Along the Old Cattle Trail
by Kathy Barnett
By car today, driving from Bandera, Tx. to Sedalia, Mo. takes a
little over 13 hours – a good day's drive if you are in a hurry.
However, back in the days of the Great Western Cattle Trail, it
took much longer for cowboys to drive their herds to the end of
the railroad where they were shipped back East to the markets.
By following Interstate 35 through through Austin and Waco, our
first stop is in Dallas.
read Guest Corridor Click Here
Happy Trails
Moundsville, West Virginia: More than Mounds
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Patricia A. Straka
Sometimes you stumble on to an interesting place without even
planning on it.
Moundsville, just south of Wheeling in West Virginia's
panhandle, between Pennsylvania and Ohio, is one of those
places. The name comes from the many Native American mounds in
the area and largest and most prominent one, the Grave Creek
Mound, is in the center of town on the main thoroughfare. A
state historical marker gives the details of the original
dimensions, the moat, and an early tunnel into the mound's
interior.
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Historic Trails
Roots of Natchitoches:
Fort St. Jean Baptiste
By Kathleen Walls
Most people when asked about the oldest
city in Louisiana would guess New Orleans. They would be wrong.
Natchitoches is four years the senior. The city of Natchitoches
grew from two simple huts to become Fort St. Jean Baptiste des
Natchitoches. The city grew around the fort and became a primary
French trading post.
read Historic Trails- Click Here
Information Highway
( a different way to promote travel)
Wild About Florida
When you visit Florida, there is so much natural beauty to see. Wild
About Florida by
Kathleen and Martin Walls gives you a glimpse of all of the fun
and natural places in Florida everyone would love to visit but
doesn't know that they exist.
read Information Highway - Click Here
Inn Roads
The Village at Indian Point
By Kathleen Walls
When you visit Branson, you expect everything to be special. The
Village at Indian Point doesn't disappoint. It is beautiful,
peaceful and has every amenity you want. To top that, it is
located close to Silver Dollar City. It's not technically in the
city of Branson but is located on beautiful Table Rock Lake on
Indian Point Peninsula.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Literary Trails
The Mystic of Ancient Books: A Visit to the Lilly Library
By Kathleen Walls
There is something captivating about books. Even modern ones.
When you touch a book, you touch many different lives, the
characters that inhabit the book as well as the author who
created the book. However, ancient books are even more magical.
I recently had an experience any book lover would be thrilled to
experience. I visited the Lilly Library on the campus of Indiana
University in Bloomington, Indiana.
read Literary Trails- Click Here
Movie Trails
Where's The Help
By Kathleen Walls
Skeeter is still in Greenwood,
Mississippi. No, not the character played by Emma Stone in
The Help, one of the
most popular movies of 2011. This Skeeter is a small gray dog
and she resides with Webb Franklin in his home at 613 River Road
in Greenwood.
read Movie Trails- Click Here
Museum Stroll
A Capitol Idea: Louisiana's Capitol Park Museum
By Kathleen Walls
Capitol Park Museum is the place to visit first if you are a
newbie visiting Louisiana for the first time. It's relatively
new museum, opened in 2006 shortly after Katrina so it is all
state of the art and Disneyesque in its scale. Kids will be
fascinated as well as adults. It
really covers the state from the days of the Louisiana Purchase
to present. The museum, with 70,000 square feet of spectacular
exhibits, is the largest in Baton Rouge.
read Museum Stroll- Click Here
Off the Road
On the Road Again
By Kathleen Walls
For those of us who have done our share of RVing, only one thing
is more fun than an
nostalgic look at an antique or classic RV and that is an entire
museum devoted to these land rovers of the past. Amarillo, Texas
is home to Jack Sisemore RV Museum. To sweeten the nostalgia
pot, the RV Museum is located just a short distance off the
"Mother Road" for all roadies, Route 66. Best of all. It's free.
read On the Road- Click Here
On the Road with Grandma
Winston-Salem: An unexpected treat for Grandkids
by Roberta Sandler
Who would have guessed that Winston-Salem is a great vacation
destination for grandparents and their grandchildren?
read On the Road with
Grandma- Click Here
Product Review
CardNinja Smartphone Wallet
by Kathleen Walls
Ever have trouble juggling you phone case and wallet or purse? I
recently was given a product to review that make the task a lot
easier. CardNinja Smartphone Wallet is a simple devise but very
useful.
read Product Review- Click Here
Potluck
Squash- A Bounty of Fall
By Mary Emma Allen
With autumn upon us and holidays not far away, we plan for the
many festive meals we may be serving. Many of them include
squash in some form...baked, steamed, sauteed, in casseroles,
pies and even cookies. Winter squash, in its many shapes and
varieties, makes a hit. This hard tough covered vegetable will
save into the winter when stored in a dark, dry place.
read Potluck Click here
Renee's Route
Look Again at Louisville
by Renee S. Gordon
Every state has a unique story that explains how it developed
into the place we visit today. Geography is the single largest
determinate and the character of the people drawn to the area
are the next most important factor. The region we know as
Kentucky has always been a haven for individuals of strong
opinions and personal moral commitment. The state, with its key
position on the border between the North and South, was the only
state to be represented with a star on the flag of the Union and
the Confederacy during the Civil War and both Abraham Lincoln,
the President of the Union and Jefferson Davis, the President of
the Confederacy, were born in Kentucky. To delve deeper into
the state's story, one can elect to follow one of the numerous
thematic trails created by the state or "go rogue" and tour some
of the lesser-touted sites. Considering what Kentucky is all
about that is the only way to go.
read Renee's Route- Click
Here
Street Party
Music in Mayberry
by Kathleen Walls
If you're a Mayberry kind of person who enjoys old-fashioned fun
and music, you want to be in Danville, Indiana on the third
Saturday of each month from June thru September for Summer
Sounds on the Square. You will feel like you took a time machine
ride and emerged in Mayberry, the iconic small town home of the
Andy Griffin Show.
read
Street Party Click here
Tibs Trails and Tastes
Sweetwater County, Wyoming
Flaming Gorges, Wild Horses,
Vast Landscapes
by Christine
Tibbets
Generations of cowboys
and ranchers, ropers and rodeos are not my normal circle
of friends. That's why I headed to Wyoming to meet some.
Read Tibs
Trails and Tastes Click Here
See the U.S.A. with
Warren
Western
North Carolina
by
Warren Resen
Photographs by Jeanne O'Conner
Summertime in Florida and the living is hot. We decided to head
to the mountains of Western North Carolina for a month of cooler
temperatures and sightseeing, something retired Floridians have
been doing for years.
read See the U.S.A. with Warren-
Click Here
Vagabond Traveler
Travels to Research a Civil War Book
by Mary
Emma Allen
Assisting my Cousin Steve in researching a book about our Civil
War ancestor, Henry Ira Banks, has been a fascinating journey.
The book, The Legacy Road by Steve Enyeart, recently was
released. By combining our research and his travels, Steve has
written a very informative blog and book about our ancestor and
the Civil War era.
read Vagabond Traveler- Click Here
The Summer 2015 Edition of American
Roads
Magazine
Adirondack Trail Mix
The Wild Center
By Persis
Granger
The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, NY, is a natural history
museum. Or a park. Or a farmers' market or art studio.
Or an environmental awareness center. Or a
sustainability training ground. Or a concert venue, or
an Adirondack appreciation center, or…. Actually, The
Wild Center is all of the above, and more, all with one
theme binding the various facets together – an "enduring
passion for the Adirondacks." What it isn't is a theme
park with characters and rides and such. The Wild Center
is the real deal – kids and adults exploring and
interacting with the natural environment of the
Adirondacks.
read Adirondack
Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
The Old Fashioned Way: Homestead
Heritage
by Kathleen Walls
Our pioneer ancestors survived and thrived in an untamed land. They did so because they
were not dependant on anyone else. They grew their own
food, made their own furniture and household items and
learned to use what nature provided.
Read Agri
Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
Grounds for
Sculpture
by Anne Jenkins
The tactile nature of sculpture as an art form can be good and
bad. The forms are an invitation to touch and feel. Soft
voluptuous curves or hard jagged edges provoke different images
and emotions. Unfortunately, as recent attacks of vandalism in
Italian museums have shown, not everyone touches and feels for
the love of art or to understand it. But there are some
sculptures that invite you in, encourage you to explore what the
artist is saying and can improve the understanding of art,
especially for children. And this is the strength of Grounds for
Sculpture near Trenton, N.J.
Read Art_Trails.htm /
Chuckwagon Roundup
Recognizing Creme Brulee
by
Kathleen Walls
Did you know July 27 is National Crème Brûlee Day? The origins
of this sweet treat are believed to be English in spite of the
French name. Although the English referred to this mouth
watering custard as "burnt cream," the name Crème Brûlee just
sounds so much more delicious?
read Chuckwagon
Roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Art of
Clementine Hunter
by Kathleen Walls
The Northwest Louisiana History Museum explores the unique
cultural traditions from early native-American civilizations to
the present. The building itself, designed by Trahan Architects,
has won international acclaim for its design and is shared with
the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. However, even though both of
the museums offer a multitude of interesting exhibits, there is
one that is unique in that it tells the story of ordinary
African Americans during the post slavery period in the South.
Their story is told not in words but in images and it is told by
an extraordinary woman.
read Civil Rights Trail-Click
Here
Civil War Trails
Visiting Louisiana's Civil War Hotspots
by Kathleen Walls
The importance of Louisiana in the War between the States is
often overlooked. Since New Orleans controlled the mouth of the
Mississippi River it was of vital strategic importance to both
sides. Union Captain David Farragut succeeded in passing
Confederate-held Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip at the mouth
of the Mississippi leaving New Orleans wide open to attack. The
city had no choice. They surrendered on April 28, 1862. Both
Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip are not open to the public any
longer. For the traveler interested in following the Civil War
Trail there are a lot of places you want to visit in Louisiana.
read Civil War Trails-Click
Here
Elite Street Eats
Kitchen on
San Marco
By Kathleen Walls
Jacksonville, Florida has many great eating places so for a new
restaurant to raise the standard, it has to be really special.
The Kitchen on San Marco does just that. It opened in April 2015
and has been thrilling gourmets and casual diners alike since. A
friend and I attended a pre-opening dinner there and were
impressed with the quality of food and service.
read Elite Street Eats
- Click Here
Exploring with Eleanor
TOP TEN TIPS FOR A WILD WEST ROADTRIP
Drive through Western
Nebraska
By
Eleanor Hendricks
McDaniel
The Wild West began in Nebraska. (Who knew?) The Oregon Trail,
Mormon Trail, Pony Express, pioneers, trappers, explorers,
Indian fighters and others heading west moved through Nebraska.
Charles Kuralt, the late host of CBS' Sunday Morning program,
called Nebraska Highway 2, that runs east and west, "…one of
America's most beautiful highways."
With an endorsement like that, it's time for you to rev
up your engine and head to the Cornhusker State.
read Exploring with Eleanor
- Click Here
Fork in The Road
The Big
Texan or Bust
By Kathleen Walls
It's fun and food wrapped in one gaudy package. If Miss Kitty
had a dinner date with Marshal Dillon, The Big Texan Steak Ranch
in Amarillo is where they would dine.
read Fork in the Road
- Click Here
Happy Trails
Cornwall Iron Furnace
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Douglas H. Page, Jr.
The ironmaking industry had an important role in America's
technological and industrial development. It was one of the
country's earliest industries. There are many remnants of iron
furnaces scattered around the country; most are just languishing
stonework, but a few have been preserved as examples of a
fascinating industry.
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Historic Trails
Louisiana's Rural Heritage
By Kathleen Walls
Imagine stepping back in time to a rural lifestyle of the 19th
and early 20th century in the heart of Baton Rouge. Hard to
believe but it's true. I did it when I visited the Rural Life
Museum. This is life the way it was in Louisiana.
read Historic Trails- Click Here
Inn Roads
Bourbon Orleans: Hotel with a
History
By Kathleen Walls
Of all the historic hotels in New Orleans, Bourbon Orleans is
perhaps the most interesting. It has a unique history and a few
spirits of the past that still remain. I had the pleasure of
staying there on a press trip for Travel South recently and so
enjoyed the decor, atmosphere and comfort. The hotel is
conveniently located on Orleans St. between Bourbon and Royal.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Museum Stroll
B. B. King: Gone But Never Forgotten
By Kathleen Walls
The Blues might be considered the soul of American music. It was
born in the dark soil of the Mississippi Delta and came of age
at juke joints and small bars where the field hands by day,
musician by night preformed. It grew to adulthood in an era
where a African American musician could entertain white patrons
but nor sit in the same bar with them after a performance. It
was more than a style of music. It was a cry for justice and a
part of each singer's soul. If one man could be said to have
brought this genera to the world's attention, that man is B. B.
King.
read Museum Stroll- Click Here
Music Row
Birth of American Music
By Kathleen Walls
The music of
America was born in the Mississippi Delta. It was firmly rooted
in the alluvial topsoil that the "Father of Waters" spewed
across the land as it regularly overflowed its banks wreaking
havoc on anything in its path. After mankind learned to tame the
mighty river with levees, they realized the bounty the rampaging
Mississippi had given them. This
land is one of the richest agricultural areas in the world.
Almost anything will grow here; cotton, soybeans, corn and
vegetables of almost any kind. Once upon a time, in the not too
distant past, the Mississippi Delta ran on a system where the
richest people in the country owned the land and the crops and
some of the poorest worked the fields to produce their bounty.
In that era, cotton was king. But this system produced one other
important product, American music.
read Music Row- Click Here
Off the Beaten Path
McAllen: A Different Kind of Texas
by Kathleen Walls
When people think of Texas usually the first images are cowboys
and rodeos. McAllen and all of Hidalgo County is a different
kind of Texas. It's filled with subtropical beauty and natural
attractions but in recent years it has developed into a vibrant
sophisticated city.
read Off the
Beaten Path- Click Here
On the Road with Grandma
Perusing Tucson's Past
by Roberta Sandler
Taking my grandchildren on trips teaches them about the world
around them while reinforcing the loving bond we share. They've
heard enough about 19th-century Indian uprisings, outlaws and
shootouts to know that there once was an untamed Old West, but I
wanted to show them the actual remnants and symbols of our
country's long-gone Wild West. That's how Alyssa, Samantha,
Andrew and I ended up on the road to Tucson. (It was easy. They
live in Phoenix and I was visiting them.)
read On the Road with
Grandma- Click Here
Potluck
Wild Bounty of Spring
By Mary Emma Allen
With the coming of warmer weather, the greens
growing wild add appeal to your meals. Many of these
today are available in the supermarkets when you can't
find them in the wild around your home, as we did when I
grew up on the farm.
.
read Potluck Click here
Renee's Route
Cambridge, Maryland: Heart of the Eastern Shore
by Renee S. Gordon
From the first European sighting of the Chesapeake Bay area,
believed to have been Spanish explorers in the 1520s, the region
was lauded for its beauty and abundance of wildlife and fish.
Mid-16th century maps show that they called the bay Santa Maria.
The earliest documented foreign visitor, Captain John Smith,
arrived 82-years later and it is from his journals that we
gather information on the geography, native population and
culture. The Native Americans referred to the water as the
"great shellfish bay," "Tschiswapeki," which to English ears
became Chesapeake. The major tribes in the region were the
Nantaquak (Nanticoke), Pocomoke-Assateague and Susquehannock.
You can follow the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National
Historic Trail.
read Renee's Route- Click
Here
Tibs Trails and Tastes
Nebraska Pioneer Trails
by Christine
Tibbets
Sandhill cranes can't be wrong, not if 80 percent of the half
million of them swoop in to central Nebraska's Central
Platte River Valley to catch their breath before
continuing what Jane Goodall calls one of the world's
ten most splendid migrations.
read Tibs
Trails and Tastes Click Here
Traditional Trail
A Tale of Two Sodas
by Kathleen Walls
While Coca Cola and Dr Pepper have a lot of things in common;
both were created by pharmacists, both were developed in the
South just about a year apart and both were developed as a soda
fountain drink, they each have a unique history.
read
Traditional Trail Click here
Scenic Roads
The Grand Canyon of Texas
by Kathleen Walls
Want to explore the most beautiful spot in Texas? Look no
farther than Palo Duro Canyon. As we drove the perfectly flat
lands from Amarillo to the canyon I found it hard to believe
there could be any drastic change in elevations. Boy was I
wrong.
read Scenic Roads Click here
Street Party
Juke Joint Festival
by Kathleen Walls
Step out anywhere in downtown Clarksdale during the Juke Joint
Festival and you will have a bounce to your step and a swing to
your walk. You can't help but feel the music. The music is in
the air. Better still it's at every street corner and under ever
store awning. This is not canned. It's for real and it's coming
at you loud and strong. Bands of every gender and ethnic
mixture and every age group are playing straight from their
heart. This is the sounds that make the Mississippi Delta so
special. It's the Blues.
read Street Party Click here
See the U.S.A. with
Warren
Georgia's
Historic Antebellum
Trail
by
Warren Resen
Photographs by Jeanne O'Conner
Which would you think generates more passion in Georgia, the
University of Georgia's football team or the Civil War? It's
probably a tossup up depending on the time of year and one's
ancestry.
read See the U.S.A. with Warren-
Click Here
Vagabond Traveler
Seagrass and Simple Pleasures
by Mary
Emma Allen
Whether you're traveling long distance or only on local jaunts,
take a child exploring. Enhance you knowledge and stretch your
imagination as you look at the world through their eyes.
read Vagabond Traveler- Click Here
Wet Roads
Cajun Pride Swamp Tour
By Kathleen Walls
Oh what fun to glide down a shady bayou and watch the alligators
swimming around your boat. Alligators? Fun? And what about
snakes? Not so sure of that? Well if you are gliding down that
bayou with Captain Tom Billiot on his Cajun Pride Swamp Tour
you can relax and enjoy the wildlife. Even those huge alligators
are fun to watch.
read Wet Roads - Click Here
Wild Roads
Cameron
Park Zoo: The Happiest Surprise in Texas
By Kathleen Walls
Cameron Park Zoo bills itself as "The Happiest Surprise in
Texas." That is so true, Not only for you the visitor but for
the animals living there. Cameron Park Zoo is the direct
opposite of that old time zoo with cramped cages and restless
bored animals who paced back and forth in their tiny spaces. No
indeed! At this zoo, the animals are the first consideration and
that makes it a much more interesting place to visit. There is
an enrichment program for all the animals.
read Wild Roads - Click Here
Spring 2015 Issue
Adirondack Trail Mix
A Visit to Nettle Meadow Farm
By Persis
Granger
Nettle Meadow Farm and Cheese Company is
not the kind of place you'd be likely to stumble upon while
headed to some other destination. Visitors to this Adirondack
goat and sheep dairy arrive at the complex of red barns and
barnyards by design, driven by the desire to see for themselves
the place that produces the wide variety of artisan cheeses they
love, and to take home some farm-fresh cheese.
read Adirondack
Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
Farmtastic
by Kathleen Walls
One of Georgia's best kept secrets is the Georgia Museum of
Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural
College. It's easy to find located just off Interstate 75 in
Tifton, Georgia and is a real treasure. Yet it isn't as
universally known as many tourist hotspots. This was my second
visit there and it was never crowded. Considering all it has to
offer, I don't know why it isn't thronged with visitors.
Read Agri
Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
The
Culinary Arts - How about a Food Tour?
by Anne Jenkins
Food occupies a lot of our time - we grow it, we plan meals, we
shop for it, we experiment with it and it sustains us. When
traveling we savor new culinary delights. And now food tourism
is big business. Cooking schools all over the world vie for
attention.
Read Art_Trails.htm /
Chuckwagon Roundup
Breakfast Specials
by
Kathleen Walls
Here are a few of my latest finds for out-of-this-world
breakfasts.
read Chuckwagon
Roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Booker T.
Washington: An Under Rated Hero
by Kathleen Walls
History seldom cites Booker T. Washington as a Civil Rights
Leader. In reality, he was one of the first and one of the most
important African American leaders in the struggle of a former
enslaved people to gain equality promised them under the law.
read Civil Rights Trail-Click
Here
Civil War Trails
Kennesaw
Mountain to Nash Farms
A War Between the States Adventure
by William A. Bowers, Jr.
A visitor to the Atlanta, Georgia area that has an interest in
the War Between the States era could not find a better place to
visit and explore. So much that was pivotal in that war occurred
around Atlanta and the eventual fall of that city paved the way
for Sherman's advance to the sea.
read Civil War Trails-Click
Here
Exploring with Eleanor
Eating your way ‘round the world in Ann Arbor
By
Eleanor Hendricks
McDaniel
Located just 42 miles from Detroit, upscale Ann Arbor, Michigan
refutes the small town stereotype. With a population of about
114,000, its sophistication comes as a surprise, and may be
explained by being the home of the University of Michigan. It
overflows with fine art museums and galleries, unique shopping
and an outstanding culinary scene. For example, there are almost
300 restaurants, many headed by award-winning chefs, and the
number of excellent ethnic restaurants boggles the mind.
read Exploring with Eleanor
- Click Here
Fork in The Road
Doggone
Good: Chateau Morrrisette
By Kathleen Walls
I think Julia Child would have loved this winery and its
restaurant. You might expect a winery to serve excellent wines
but when a winery is the place to go for fine dining as well,
now that's something special.
read Fork in the Road
- Click Here
Happy Trails
Abraham Lincoln: "There I Grew Up…"
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Abraham Lincoln brings the state of Illinois to mind, or maybe
Kentucky, where he was born, but a quarter of Lincoln's life was
spent in a third state. When he was seven years of age his
father, Thomas, moved the family (Including mother, Nancy, and
sister, Sarah) from Kentucky to the frontiers of southern
Indiana. Abraham Lincoln spent fourteen years of his life there
from 1816 to 1830, when he moved to Illinois. Those were his
formative years, where he developed his morals and character.
The family claimed 160 acres near Little Pigeon Creek in what
would become Spencer County, Indiana. Indiana became a state
just about the same time as the family moved. Lincoln referred
to the unsettled woodlands as the "wild region."
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Historic Trails
On the Trail of the Pony Express
By Kathleen Walls
Legends of the Pony Express are part of our history. The
Hollywood version is of hard riding steely eyed men blazing an
trail across the American West. In the movie version they
usually have countless adventures, fight off Indians, and find
romance along the way. In truth, the reality is greater than the
legend. In spite of the Hollywood version of the hunky hero, the
riders were all in their teens and weighed less than 125 pounds
in most cases. the company preferred orphans for obvious
reasons.
read Historic Trails- Click Here
Inn Roads
The Chattanooga Choo Choo
By Kathleen Walls
"A private railcar is not an acquired taste. One takes to it
immediately.." Eleanor Robson Belmont-Actress and founder of the
Metropolitan Opera Guild
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Museum Stroll
Then and Now: The Georgia Rural Telephone Museum
By Kathleen Walls
Where would we be without our phone? It's our protection should
our car break down. It's how we plan our lives and communicate
with friends. We use it to do business. Isn't it wonderful that
it fits in our pocket or purse and goes wherever we do? Little
did I dream back in the day when I watched Star Trek's Captain
Kirk "call" Mr. Spock on that nifty little handheld device that
I would one day have my own and not leave home without it.
read Museum Stroll- Click Here
Native Trails
Alphabet 101
by Kathleen Walls
In the history of humanity only one man ever created an alphabet
single handedly. He was a poor silversmith who went by the
American name of George Gist or Guest. Today, he is known to the
world as Sequoyah.
read Native Trails- Click Here
Rail Roads
The Romance of the Rail
by Kathleen Walls
For over a century America has carried on a love affair with the
steam locomotive. It still represents the romance of the train.
Watch one of the epic old movies and you will be awed by the
power of the old steam engine pulling into the station puffing a
cloud of smoke above it.
read Rail Roads Click here
Renee's Route
Fredericksburg, VA, Step into History (1800-1870)
by Renee S. Gordon
Fredericksburg has always benefitted from a location that placed
it at the heart of all of the events that contributed to the
making of America. It thrived as an inland port, was an early
urban center and served as a gateway to westward expansion. The
institution of slavery was interwoven in every event and
activity and by the onset of the Civil War the population
consisted of approximately 50% people of African descent with
1,200 slaves, 350 free blacks and 3,000 whites. An African
American male in his prime sold for about $1500, $40,000 in
modern currency.
read Renee's Route- Click
Here
Tibs Trails and Tastes
Discover North Carolina's Yadkin Valley for Wines and Other
Delights
by Christine
Tibbets
Winemakers
who understand the science of the land and the grapes
are recognizing similarities to France's Burgundy region
in North Carolina, close to the border with Virginia.
read Tibs
Trails and Tastes Click Here
See the U.S.A. with
Warren
New
Orleans
by
Warren Resen
Photographs by Jeanne O'Conner
The "Big Easy," was an eagerly awaited stop on our road trip. It
was a city we had never before visited and were looking forward
to the sights and sounds of this storied place.
read See the U.S.A. with Warren-
Click Here
Wet Roads
Chattanooga Drifting
By Kathleen Walls
Some attractions are hectic, fast paced and exciting. Fun maybe
but not really relaxing. If you are looking for relaxing fun in
Chattanooga there is one special place that offers the best of
both worlds. It is exciting and fun but it also offers a perfect
way to spend a relaxing day.
read Wet Roads - Click Here
Wild Roads
Georgia's
Seven Natural Wonders
By Kathleen Walls
Everyone has heard of the seven natural wonders of the world. In
1999, they have been challenged by a group promoting the New
Seven Wonders. However, Georgia has had its own Seven Wonders
since state librarian Ella May Thornton, published her list in
the Atlanta Georgian Magazine on December 26, 1926. It has since
been amended but the present Seven Wonders of Georgia are well
worth a trip across the state to view each and every one.
read Wild Roads - Click Here
The Winter 2015 Edition of American
Roads Magazine
You will
always find interesting lodging here at American Roads.
Remember when planning a vacation or business trip, it's
always a good idea to research the available lodging.
The last thing you want is an unpleasant surprise when
you arrive at your destination. My favorite way to check
with a reliable service that gives me ratings, reviews,
lots of photos and the ability to book through whichever
booking agency is currently offering the lowest price.
All through the same website. You can do the same.
Click here for the
best way to find a hotel worldwide.
Lagniappe (Our new E-zine branches off from this page)
read Lagniappe- Click Here
Adirondack Trail Mix
The Glen Lodge and Wild Waters Outdoor Center
By Persis
Granger
Travelers to the Adirondack find a wide range of lodging
choices, from nationally known chain motels, to posh
hotels, or, for those who like the more homey, friendly
touch, bed and breakfasts. B & Bs abound in the region,
nestled in the woods, along creeks or on hilltops. Each
has its own character and special allure. Each has a
unique story of how it was started, and of the people
who poured their dreams into it.
read Adirondack Trail Mix-
Click Here
Agri Lanes
The Farmer in the Big Easy
by Kathleen Walls
New Orleans is famous for many thing but until recent years
agriculture was not one of them. That is changing. Since
Katrina, community gardens have become a part of the Big Easy.
Food has always been an important part of New Orleans culture
but a disaster like Katrina reminded people how fragile the link
that connects us with the far away markets. I recalled the scene
in "Gone With the Wind" where Scarlett returns home to the
ruined fields of Tata and grubs in the garden to find a few
tough greens that survived the devastation. She pulls up a
handful and holds them to heaven and cries "As God is my
witness, they're not going to lick me. I'm going to live through
this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again."
Read Agri Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
Intriguing Ponce and Puerto Rico
by Anne Jenkins
As the colder weather settles in, Puerto Rico's hot
weather, warm people and good art sounds very inviting.
Once you arrive in San Juan, rent a car and drive straight out
of town to the Southern shore of the island and get settled in
Ponce before exploring. There's nothing wrong with San Juan, you
can spend a couple of days there before you leave. It's the big
city, so to get a taste of the real Puerto Rico head on out of
town and prepare to be delighted.
Read Art_Trails.htm /
Artisan Trails
Made in Southeast Tennessee
by Kathleen Walls
In a time when so much that we buy has a label reading "Made in
China" it's refreshing to visit a state with a "Made in
Tennessee" travel campaign. If you enjoy watching talented
crafters create useful, artistic or edible products, Tennessee
fills the bill.
Read Artisan
Trails_Click Here
Chuckwagon Roundup
Dining
Cajun Style
by Kathleen Walls
As my favorite Cajun cook, Justin Wilson,
once said "There`s no
place in the whole world that has food as good as us Cajuns down
in South Louisiana."
read Chuckwagon
Roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Lorraine
Motel: Death Brings Forth New Life
by Kathleen Walls
Sometimes, new life springs forth from death. For years the very
name Lorraine Motel conjured up images of hatred and bigotry.
The events of April 4, 1968 link Lorraine Motel forever with the
assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, the old
motel tells a different story. It has metamorphosed into the
National Civil Rights Museum. The former boarding house where
James Earl Ray stayed and from where he fired the fatal shot is
now the Legacy Building. The entrance is a timeline up until Dr.
King's assassination and provides a detailed timeline of the
movements of both Dr. King and James Earl Ray in the days
leading up to the assassination until Ray's capture.
read Civil Rights
Trail-Click Here
Cowboy Trails
Scout's
Rest
by Kathleen Walls
Western historians generally agree that the most
recognizable celebrity on Earth at the turn of the 20th century
was Buffalo Bill Cody. His larger-than-life career linked two
centuries. He was born in Iowa Territory in February 26, 1846
and died in Denver. Colorado on January 10, 1917 He was the
stereotype of the wild west: Indian scout, buffalo hunter, gold
prospector, Civil War soldier, pony express rider, rancher:
William Fredrick Cody was that and more. He also was many of
the things that we think of as "20th century ": his career
included Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, showman,
entrepreneur, town founder, owner of a dude ranch and big game
hunting preserve and even environmentalist.
read Cowboy
Trails-Click Here
Exploring with Eleanor
Top 10 Reasons "Foxes" Get Away to the Fox Cities
By Eleanor Hendricks
McDaniel
We all know that attractive, fabulous women are known as
"foxes." But did you know that the Fox Cities of Appleton,
Menasha and Neenah in eastern Wisconsin are the favorite
destinations for a Midwest Girlfriends Getaway? Why? Because
they offer what gal pals love.
read Exploring with
Eleanor - Click Here
Fork in The Road
Great Western Dining in the Heart of the South
By Kathleen Walls
You don't have to travel out west for some great western dining.
I recently visited Bald Headed Bistro in Cleveland, Tennessee
and found the best of the west right there. I felt like I had
arrived at a plush lodge in Jackson Hole.
That could be because the signage and lighting
that greet you as you step inside the door was designed
by award-winning Jackson Hole artist John Mortensen. The booths,
furnishings and decor are an artistic blend of hand crafted
woods, hides, and leather done by Rocky Mountain artisans. The
light fixtures are showplace quality. Throughout there are
unique touches like mounted wildlife on the walls, 55 million
year old fossils are embedded in the walls and floor. The doors
feature an "etched" snow elk that was created using
"electrochemical etching."
read Fork in the Road -
Click Here
Happy Trails
In Concrete Wonderland
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
A good roadside attraction will usually draw us in; the more
unusual the better. And the Wisconsin Concrete Park is
highly unusual, even by our standards. If you are from
Wisconsin, you'll know what I mean when I say it looks like it
was hijacked from the Wisconsin Dells. It is artsy enough
for a museum, while still being gaudy enough for the Dells, and
with enough history and folklore to be fascinating at the same
time. It is easy to get to, if you happen to be in the middle of
Wisconsin's Northwoods; it is located only a half-mile south of
Phillips, the county seat of Price County. It definitely
will not be a problem noticing it on the left side of the road
if you head south on state road 13
read Happy Trails -
Click Here
Historic Trails
Battle of New Orleans
By Kathleen Walls
Who hasn't tapped their toes to Johnny Horton's "Battle of New
Orleans?" Realistically, the actual battle occurred on the
outskirts of New Orleans in Chalmette, Louisiana 200 years ago,
January 8, 1815. There had been several earlier battles and
skirmishes where the British tried to take New Orleans but none
were decisive. Not until The British army led by General Edward
Pakingham tangled with General Andrew Jackson's ragtag army at
what is now known as Pakingham Oaks, so named for the majestic
oaks there and the attacking general.
read
historical_trails_winter2015.htm
Inn Roads
Ashton's Bed and Breakfast
By Kathleen Walls
When visiting a city with the history and heritage of New
Orleans it's important to pick a lodging that fits your needs
and mirrors the city's personality. I stayed at Ashton's for a
short trip before I went to Lake Charles for Travel Media
Showcase this year. As a travel writer, I have stayed in lots of
great places but Ashton's ranks up near the top of my list. It
is gracious old New Orleans at its best.
read Inn Roads - Click
Here
Literary Trails
Visit an Author in the Big Easy
By Kathleen Walls
No city in the South has had such an impact on the literary
figures that molded the twentieth century as New Orleans. Next
time you visit New Orleans, take yourself on a "Writer's Tour"
and visit some of the places made famous by the greatest
literary minds of their time.
read Literary Trails
- Click Here
Mountain Roads
Blue Ridge Scenic Byway in Virginia
By Kathleen Walls
The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of mountain beauty
connecting Shenandoah National Park and the Skyline Drive in
Virginia, with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North
Carolina and Tennessee.
read Mountain Roads-
Click Here
----------
Museum Stroll
Mardi Gras World
By Kathleen Walls
Say "Mardi Gras" and everyone thinks of New Orleans, parties and
fun. Not many people think of the work and effort it takes to
put on a world class spectacular event each year. One place
represents that year round part of Mardi Gras more than any
other in the world, Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World. This is
where you can see Mardi Gras in action year round. Since
1947, Blaine Kern Studios has built those stunning parade floats
for Mardi Gras and lots of other events as well.
read Museum Stroll-
Click Here
Native Trails
Visiting the Chitimacha: Louisiana's Native People
by Kathleen Walls
Few native Americans managed to retain their ancestral lands so
when I visited the Chitimacha Museum in Charenton, Louisiana and
found that the Chitimacha still retained some of their original
homelands in Louisiana, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more
about these little known people. Tahra Demarco, Museum Services
Specialist, led us through the museum and was willing to tell us
about her people.
read Native Trails-
Click Here
Off the Beaten Path
Hard Work University
by Kathleen Walls
College of the Ozarks, gives a whole new meaning to "working
your way through college." The college is also known as "Hard
Work U" because of its work instead of pay policy. Students work
at places that are part of the campus to earn tuition and room
and board. The unique structure of the institute make it a
wonderful destination as well as a place to learn. The college
has its own inn, restaurant, gristmill, farmer's market, museums
and other places of interest you can enjoy touring. The 1,000
acre campus overlooks Lake Taneycomo at Point Lookout, Missouri.
Most of the attractions are free of charge and all are staffed
and operated with student labor.
read Off the Beaten
Path- Click Here
Potluck
Blizzard Weather, Cooking Weather
By Mary Emma Allen
Cold, snowy weather, "blizzard weather, "often mean delicious
aromas in the kitchen when we came inside from snow clearing
tasks, skiing, and sledding. This might be a lunch,
snacks, or cocoa and goodies as you warm before the stove or
fireplace.
.
read Potluck Click here
Renee's Route
Deep into Detroit
by Renee S. Gordon
The first multi-million dollar industry in the New World was the
fur trade and as early as 1608 Champlain began to form alliances
with Indians to trade furs to Europe and in 1682 La Salle
claimed for France all the land drained by the Mississippi and
its tributaries. All of the early American settlements were
established in locations based on their proximity to
transportation to facilitate trade. Waterways and native trails
were the first highways and no region had better access than
that of an area in Michigan Territory. Lake St. Clair flows into
Lake Erie there and the French traders referred to it as "the
Strait," or "Le Detroit."
read Renee's Route-
Click Here
Traditional Trails
Little City with a Big Heart:
The Story of North Platte
Canteen
by Kathleen Walls
"What happened in North Platte is a miracle. It was a love story
between a country and its sons." This is how Bob Greene, author
of Once Upon a Town, a book about the North Platte Canteen, sums
up what the canteen accomplished. The North Platte Canteen is
one of America's little known World War II stories. I first
heard of it on a recent visit to North Platte. You know
you are going to have an authentic experience when you enter the
museum through three doors that are preserved from the original
North Platte Canteen. Inside, we were greeted by James
Griffin, the museum curator.
read Traditional
Trails click here
Tibs Trails and Tastes
Choose four Colorado towns to access Rocky Mountain National
Park
by Christine
Tibbets
Time to change that old notion about all roads leading
to Rome. Update it to talk about all the roads
leading to Rocky Mountain National Park.
read Tibs Trails and Tastes
Click Here
See the U.S.A. with
Warren
AMELIA ISLAND - 400 Years and
8 Flags
by
Warren Resen
Photographs by Jeanne O'Conner
Florida's AMELIA ISLAND, at 13 miles long and 2 miles wide, is
approximately the same size as the Island of Manhattan. Over the
course of its 400 years of modern history, Amelia Island has had
eight different flags flown over it, some multiple times, as the
major powers gained and lost their ascendency over the land.
read See the U.S.A. with Warren-
Click Here
Vagabond Traveler
Journaling Your Travels
by Mary
Emma Allen
Organizing your photos, postcards and other travel collectibles
can be enjoyable and enable you to relive your various trips.
Journal writing also adds to the memories for you and
other family members. These are items you can pass along
throughout the years as you share your adventures.
read Vagabond Traveler-
Click Here
War Trails
World War II Remembered
by Kathleen Walls
The bombing of Pearl Harbor on
December 7, 1941, dubbed by President Roosevelt, "a day
that will live in Infamy,"
created a sense of patriotism the United States unequaled
ever since. Then on June 6, 1945 there occurred a day that will
live in triumph.
read WarTrails click
here
Wet Roads
High Plains Drifting: Kayaking and Tanking on Nebraska's Rivers
by Kathleen Walls
If you hadn't thought of Nebraska as a great water sports
destination think again. The rivers of Nebraska's Sandhills
offer unique opportunities and some spectacular scenery.
read Wet Roads click here
Wild Trails
Louisiana's Wetlands: Wild and Wonderful
by Kathleen Walls
Are you in search of exotic birds, elusive mammals and reptiles
from the prehistoric era? Do you think you need to travel
to foreign lands to find such wildlife? No way! You can find all
that in Louisiana's wild and wonderful swamps and wetlands.
These are precious and endangered places. Each year they face
more dangers from natural causes such as hurricanes and salt
water incursion and even worse from human causes such as
development and waste dumping. Visit them while that still exist
in their primal states and do all you can to help to preserver
these natural treasures.
read Wild Trails click
here
AMERICAN ROADS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
<>
The Fall 2014 Edition of American Roads
Magazine
Lagniappe (Our
new E-zine branches off from this page)
read Lagniappe- Click Here
Adirondack Trail Mix
A Visit to Basil and Wicks, North Creek, NY
By Persis
Granger
The original Basil and Wicks was in operation when we
first moved to the Adirondacks in the mid-1970s. I
won't be named "Mom of the Year" for saying this, but
back then I thought of Basil and Wicks as a "family
bar." It was clean, well-managed and friendly. Basil –
or was it Wick? – we never knew who it was behind the
bar – ran a tight ship.
read Adirondack
Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
It's Rocking at the Ranch
by Kathleen Walls
Things start rocking at the Ranch when Fall rolls around. That's
Rock Ranch located in The Rock, Georgia.
On the off chance you never heard of "The Rock," it's a
tiny hamlet about an hour south of Atlanta and worth every
minute of the drive.
Read Agri
Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
Fall Studio Tours and Arts
Markets
by Anne Jenkins
We are lucky indeed that art studio tours during fall are two
a-penny and buyers are spoiled for choice in every region. I
strongly recommend
you always support your local studio tours, but here are three
of my top picks
–
one in the nation's capital, one in the nation's most lively
city and one in a tranquil rural area. All the websites are
listed at the end of this article for more information.
Read Art_Trails.htm /
Chuckwagon Roundup
Family Tradition
by
Kathleen Walls
As Hank Williams, Jr. says they are "just carrying on an old
family tradition" and the food in these multi-generational
restaurants makes that family proud. These restaurants are still
operated by a family member of in one case passed on to a "like
family" member
read Chuckwagon
Roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
From the
Ashes
by Kathleen Walls
Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Resora in Albany, Georgia,
is a story of love and compassion conquering the demons of hate
and bigotry. What was once a place of enslavement now serves the
multiple purposes of recreation, cultural awareness and
empowerment.
read Civil Rights Trail-Click
Here
Civil War Trails
Shiloh:
American's Waterloo
by Kathleen Walls
"Captain, give me a gun – The blamed fight ain't got no rear."
This was the conclusion of an unknown Ohio private who had tried
to flee to safety during the Battle of Shiloh. He decided he had
to stay and fight since he observed in this battle, there was no
refuge to retreat into, no rear to hide a frightened man. The
battle was everywhere at once.
read Civil War Trails-Click
Here
Dark Roads
New
Orleans' Cities of the dead
by Kathleen Walls
In recent years cemeteries have become popular tourist
destination. Some cities have instituted "Cemetery Walks."
Others "Ghost Tours" in their burial grounds. Only in New
Orleans is this not a new practice. The mysterious, historic and
often haunted cemeteries of the Crescent City have always drawn
visitors.
read Dark Roads-Click
Here
Exploring with Eleanor
HARRISBURG--Perfect for a weekend getaway
By
Eleanor Hendricks
McDaniel
Summer's over, and everyone is back to school or work. But many
of us are still experiencing that laid-back vibe, causing us to
hunt for a perfect weekend escape. And why not? The weather is
temperate, the leaves are brightly colored and lodging fees have
dropped. Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, offers family
activities, great restaurants, history, outdoor fun, wine trails
and food and art events.
read Exploring with Eleanor
- Click Here
Fork in The Road
Sing for your Supper at Mel's
Hard Luck Diner
By Kathleen Walls
Many a future singing star starts out as a waiter. Usually it's
just a stopgap until their musical talent can land them in the
spotlight. It's only at Mel's Hard Luck Diner, the home of
Branson's Original Singing Servers, that singers aspire to
become servers.
read Fork in the Road
- Click Here
Happy Trails
Cave-In-Rock
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
We tend to drive alternatives to the interstate when the
opportunity arises. One of our favorite alternatives involves a
free ferry ride across the Ohio River, a grand cave, and a
history of river pirates.
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Historic TrailsFort Robinson: Bridging Three Centuries
By Kathleen Walls
Fort Robinson is one of those rare places where history, culture
and nature intersect. It's a place where old or young, casual
vacationer or serious student, could all have a great time and
come away with totally different impressions.
read Historic Trails- Click Here
Inn Roads
The Peabody: It's Just Ducky
By Kathleen Walls
The Peabody Hotel in Memphis is a tradition. Its daily "Duck
Walk" is world famous and draws both local and international a
visitors.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Literary Trails
The Roots of "Roots"
By Kathleen Walls
In 1976, a literary bombshell bust upon American
literature. It was a book that fit its times. After the Civil
Rights movement of the 60s, African Americans were looking at
their culture and background with a new and different eye.
"Black Pride" was the watchword of the time. Roots: The Saga of
an American Family by Alex Haley erupted upon the American
consciousness at exactly the right moment.
read Literary Trails - Click Here
Museum StrollMuseums of New Orleans
By Kathleen Walls
New Orleans is filled with museums. Some have been there for
time immemorial. Others pop up as interest in their special
subject grows. This is just a small sampling of what New Orleans
has to offer.
read Museum Stroll- Click Here
---------- Music
RowBred in the Soul
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
In Tennessee, music is bred deep in the soul. You will find it
anywhere. You might stop at the West Tennessee Delta Heritage
Center in Brownsville just for a break as you travel along the
Tennessee Music Highway. You might think it's a visitor center.
It is. It is also so much more.
read Music Row- Click Here
Native TrailsCulture of the Mound Builders
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
About 1,000 years before the ancient Egyptians built the
pyramids, native people of North American were busy building
huge ceremonial and burial mounds.
read Native Trails- Click Here
Pioneer PathWestward Ho: Western Nebraska's Pioneer Trails
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
In May 1848 Sam Brannan, a storekeeper at Sutter's Creek,
strode onto the streets of San Francisco carrying a bottle
filled with gold dust and announced his find. 'Gold! Gold! Gold
from American River!'
read Pioneer Path- Click Here
PotluckFrost on the Pumpkins
By Mary Emma Allen
."The
frost is on the pumpkins" was a phrase of my childhood, from a
poem Mother quoted us. "And a chill is in the air," she'd
continue.
.
read Potluck Click here
Rail RoadsNebraska's Golden Spike
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
When I stepped out on the eighth story glass enclosed viewing
platform of the Golden Spike Tower I was met with a panoramic
view of Union Pacific's Bailey Yard, a sight to thrill all rail
fans and even semi-rail fans like myself. As I strolled around
the tower, I had a 360 degree view of Bailey Yard and the Platte
River Valley. I decided to take a quick elevator ride down one
floor to see how the seventh floor open-air platform differed.
The view was much the same from the two observation decks but
the lower one was windy and cooler.
.
read Rail Roads Click here
Renee's Route
The Adirondacks, "Sanctuary of Dreams"
by Renee S. Gordon
New York's Adirondacks State Park is a magnificent gem of
extremely underrated value. The 6-million acre park, larger than
Glacier Park, the bold
Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains,Yellowstone.Yosemite
all put together, includes 8,000-sq. miles of mountains,
1,500-miles of rivers, 30,000-miles of streams, 2,000-miles of
foot trails and more than 2,300 lakes. It is also home to 66
fish species, and greater than 50 animal and 220 bird species.
It is an all season destination and visitors can engage in every
activity from Olympic level skiing to fall foliage viewing.
read Renee's Route- Click
Here
Road Dog
Baron Does New Orleans
by Baron Byrd (with assistance
from Veronica Byrd)
My human really did it this time she took me to
one of the most entertaining places in the world. New
Orleans, yes The Big Easy. I saw and did things that I
cannot imagine humans actually do and actually get away
with it.
read Road Dog Click Here
Scenic RoadsWildflowers of Western Nebraska
by Kathleen Walls
One of the most
striking things you notice as you wander trails and paths in
western Nebraska along what was once the Oregon Trail is the
stunning array of wildflowers. They are blooming in the harshest
most inhospitable soil you can imagine yet are flourishing and
adding a patchwork of color to the high plains.
read Scenic Roads click
here
Street PartySilver Dollar City goes Red, White and Blue
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
Calling Silver Dollar City "a theme park" is only half the
story. Think theme park and you envision rides and attractions
with some short-order fast food thrown in. Silver Dollar City is
more a celebration of 19th century Ozark Mountain Americana.
It's a mini-village filled with artisans, unique shops, shows,
dining of all kinds, buildings you would find in an19th century
Ozark village.
.
read Street Party Click here
Traditional TrailsCastles in Arcadiana
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
"A man's home is his castle" is the old saying. This is ever so
true in Houma, Louisiana and along the Cajun Coast. As you
cruise the area, you find countless mansions that elicit
memories of an earlier era. In the 19th century sugar, not
cotton, was king here. Many a man made a fortune and built a
luxurious mansion to display his wealth. Here are a few I
visited recently.
read Traditional
Trails click here
Tibs Trails and Tastes
Reinvigorate Your Landscape Memories In Western Nebraska
by Christine
Tibbets
Maybe you can discover all of western Nebraska's
treasures with global positioning devices on a vacation
road trip, but I'd recommend conjuring up an ancient
skill too: landscape memory.
read Tibs
Trails and Tastes Click Here
See the U.S.A. with
Warren
A World Apart …Door County,
Wisconsin
by
Warren Resen
Photographs by Jeanne O'Conner
Jutting out from Green Bay into Lake Michigan, Wisconsin's Door
County is a peninsula that is a world apart and a visitor's
delight. Visiting Door County is like having a picture postcard
come to life.
read See the U.S.A. with Warren-
Click Here
Vagabond TravelerAutumn Time, Apple Time
by Mary
Emma Allen
When I was substitute teaching in art class the other day, the
second grade teacher walked by with a large pan. "Would you like
some apple crisp?" she asked.
read Vagabond Traveler- Click Here
The Summer 2014 Edition of American Roads
Magazine
American Roads is proud to present the Summer 2014
Edition of American Roads Magazine.
Lagniappe (Our
new E-zine branches off from this page)
read Lagniappe- Click Here
Adirondack Trail Mix
A Visit to Natural Stone Bridge and Caves
By Persis
Granger
"Char-lie, wait for meeee!" The chipmunk-cheeked
five-year-old had been left in his brother's dust.
The slender
eight-year-old with wispy white-blond hair, paused farther down
the trail, tapped his toe and said, "Come on, Will. There's a
neat cave up here. I'm going inside!"
read Adirondack
Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
Perfect 10
by Kathleen Walls
"Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam…" The words of this
old song are familiar to Americans of a certain age from the era
of the western movies. The buffalo are symbolic of our American
West. Once they roamed the plains in vast numbers. Then around
the turn of the 20th century hunters and "sportsmen" almost
annihilated the great herds.
Read Agri
Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
Up, Down and Art in Detroit
by Anne Jenkins
I try hard not to prejudge
cities or countries before traveling there. I have been to
Detroit many times but not since it's spectacular collapse
and I couldn't help wondering what I'd find, especially
since the media are pretty harsh with most reports.
Read Art_Trails.htm /
Chuckwagon Roundup
Out of the Ordinary: Ethnic
Restaurants
by
Kathleen Walls
Eating is an adventure. Never hesitate to take a chance on
something new. When traveling, we are often tempted to stick to
the tried and true American food, hamburgers, hot dogs or fried
chicken.
There are
lots of other choices out there. Here are some unique ethnic
restaurants I sampled recently.
read Chuckwagon
Roundup Click Here
Civil Rights Trails
Georgia
Crafts
by Kathleen Walls
Ellen Craft and Lucy Craft Laney, they had so much more in
common than a shared name. But they probabaly never met.
read Civil War Trails-Click
Here
Civil War Trails
Heart of
the Confederacy: Augusta's Civilians
by Kathleen Walls
During the War between the States in the South, it was not only
military actions that kept the Confederacy going. Factories that
produced materials needed for the war effort were indispensible.
Without
them the soldiers
would have had not guns, ammunition, clothing or railroad
transportation to keep them functioning.
read Civil War Trails-Click
Here
Exploring with Eleanor
Arts Alive! In Ann Arbor, Michigan
By
Eleanor Hendricks
McDaniel
Small cities often
surprise me with the unexpected. Ann Arbor left me with my mouth
wide open in awe. Located a mere 43 miles west of Detroit, the
college town has superseded the larger city in many of the fine
arts.
read Exploring with Eleanor
- Click Here
Fork in The Road
Hop on Down to Frog Hollow
Tavern
By Kathleen Walls
Cross Southern Hospitality and down home food with Big Apple
chic and you get Frog Hollow Tavern.
read Fork in the Road
- Click Here
Happy Trails
Revolutionaly War Battlefields Kings Mountain and Cowpens
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
Two fascinating Revolutionary War Battlefields, both located
just off Interstate 85, are often overlooked by drivers speeding
towards one of those cities.
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Inn Roads
Augusta's Treasure: The
Partridge Inn
By Kathleen Walls
No other hotel in Augusta can match the gracious Partridge Inn
for history and ambiance. A stay at the historic inn offers the
feel of visiting an Antebellum home. That might be because
originally the Partridge Inn was just that. Despite the fact that the Partridge Inn didn't
turn into a hotel until the 1900s, it does had an intriguing
Civil War legend surrounding the gracious old hotel. Partridge
Inn began life in 1816 as the two-story home of Daniel and
Elizabeth Meigs. It was prior to before the home passed into
public use that the event creating the legend is believed to
have occurred.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Museum StrollFrank Lloyd Wright's Masterpiece in Rockford
By Kathleen Walls
Rockford, Illinois
has a new museum to brag about. It is something unusual, the
newest Frank Lloyd Wright museum,
The Kenneth and Phyllis
Laurent House. This is the only building ever designed by
Frank Lloyd Wright for a person with a disability. Wright
personally considered this one of the 35 best works of his
career. The museum just opened on
Friday, June 6, 2014.
read Museum Stroll- Click Here
Music
RowHappy Birthday Rock and Roll
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
Many music
historians
credit July 5, 1954 as the day Rock and Roll was born. It was on
that day that a little know singer with an unbelievable smile
and wiggly hips walked into Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee and
recorded
That's All Right
Mama.
read Music Row- Click Here
Native TrailsDancing Leaf
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
Deep in Nebraska's Sandhills there is a special place that
transports you to a time before written history when primitive
people lived in harmony with nature.Discovery
Park of America in Union City will rock your world. Literally.
Experience an earthquake such as the ones that rocked this area
of Northwest Tennessee 1811 and 1812 changing the terrain and
creating a brand new waterway, Reelfoot Lake. The Earthquake
Simulator is only one of the reasons you will want to visit
Discovery Park.
.
read Native Trails- Click Here
e
Off the Beaten PathDiscovery Park of American: See Beyond
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee will rock your world.
Literally. Experience an earthquake such as the ones that rocked
this area of Northwest Tennessee 1811 and 1812 changing the
terrain and creating a brand new waterway, Reelfoot Lake. The
Earthquake Simulator is only one of the reasons you will want to
visit Discovery Park.
.
read Off the
Beaten Path Click here
Off the InterstateBranson: Something for Everyone
Article and photos by Kathleen Walls
Branson,
Missouri is a town that's full of it. Yes, it's full of fun,
food, music, entertsainment and just plain All American Values.
.
read Off the
Interstate Click here
Potluck
Gleaning Recipes from Relatives in Your Travels
By Mary Emma Allen
In our travels, my family and I have always enjoyed discovering
new recipes. Some of these have come from relatives we've
visited, whether on short or longer trips. I've been organizing
some of these recipes for our family heritage. You'll
also recall family memories accompanying many of these recipes.
.
read Potluck Click here
Renee's Route
Indianapolis' Year of Family Travel
by Renee S. Gordon
The Archeological evidence of human
habitation in the area that is now Indianapolis points to Native
American presence circa 9500 BC.
Documentary evidence of tribal groups begins with
journals kept during LaSalle's 1679 explorations. At that time
members of the Miami Confederacy lived in the region. On October
3, 1818 with the signing of the Treaty of St. Mary's, Ohio the
Miami relinquished 7,000,000-acres of land and retained
31,460-acres. They were allowed to live on reservations on their
land and the tribe received a yearly annuity of $15,000. Almost
immediately settlers began to move into the area.
read Renee's Route- Click
Here
Road Dog
Silver Springs State Park
by Baron Byrd (with assistance
from Veronica Byrd)
It is now time to go on my first official camping trip.
I suggested to my human companion to load up the car and
her bike so that I may seek the adventures of the wild
life. She gladly approved. We headed to Silver Springs
State Park, Florida.
read Road Dog Click Here
Tibs Trails and Tastes
South Carolina Low Country Charms Abound in Beaufort
by Christine
Tibbets
Simply show up in Beaufort South Carolina and the living
is easy. Walkable. Tasty.Up-close architectural wonders
and broad-vista costal views.
read Tibs
Trails and Tastes Click Here
See the U.S.A. with
Warren
A Brief Tour of St. Augustine
500 Years after Ponce de Leon.
by
Warren Resen
Photographs by Jeanne O'Conner
March 15, 1513 is the date recorded for Ponce de Leon's
landing on the coast of eastern Florida.
A ship's log book records land being sighted at
what he probabaly though was an island at 30 degrees 8 minutes
North Latitude which is about 10 miles north of the present day
St. Augustine. The year 2013 marked the 500th year of this
monumentus event and festivities continue into early 2014.
read See the U.S.A. with Warren-
Click Here
Wild RoadsGet Swamp Fever: Visit Phinizy Swamp Nature Park
by
Kathleen Walls
As Georgia's second largest city, you may not have considered
Augusta as a nature lover's paradise. Well, think again. On a
recent trip to Augusta, I discovered one of the city's best kept
secrets. Phinizy Swamp Nature Park.
read Wild Roads- Click Here
Vagabond TravelerTraveling Through Yesterday
by Mary
Emma Allen
My father stimulated my interest in the history of this country
by taking us to historic sites when we traveled. Mother
researched them with her school teacher's instincts and pulled
out maps and pictures.
read Vagabond Traveler- Click Here
The Spring 2014 Edition of American Roads
Magazine
Adirondack Trail Mix
A Jaunt to the Adirondack Museum
By Persis
Granger
Are you the kind of
traveler who likes to soak up the culture and history of the
region you are visiting? If so, during your next North Country
vacation, plan to spend a day at the Adirondack Museum in Blue
Mountain Lake, NY.
read Adirondack
Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
True Grits from Nora Mill
by Kathleen Walls
Many places in the Mountains of Appalachia have their own
special magic. A visit there is like stepping back to a more
peaceful time. Most places you visit and leave all their magic, except
the memories and maybe a few pictures, behind when you return to
the modern world.
Read Agri
Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
The Philadelphia Mural Story
by Anne Jenkins
Philadelphia lures you with thousands of murals, some large,
some small. All of them amazing works of art. There's no way to
see them all in a short space of time or even a whole day. There
are good maps of them
Read Art_Trails.htm /
Chuckwagon Roundup
On The Waterfront: My Favorite
Waterfront Restaurants
by
Kathleen Walls
What better place to dine than looking out
over a water view. Some of my fondest memories are of some of my
favorite waterfront places. Here are a few.
read Chuckwagon
Roundup Click Here
Civil War Trails
Divided We
Stand: The Civil War in West Virginia
by Kathleen Walls
While the War Between the States divided
families and pitted brother against brother
(see Hatfield
McCoy Feud) only one state is a direct result of the
conflict that tore families, a nation and a state apart. West
Virginia was born of that conflict and the labor pains were
excruciating.
read Civil War Trails-Click
Here
Exploring With Eleanor
Louisiana's Family Friendly Mardi Gras
By Eleanor
Hendricks McDaniel
Would I ever take my kids to Mardi Gras in New Orleans? No way!
Not with women flashing boobs at every turn, and drunken
revelers stumbling along the streets. But the time before Lent
is important, and celebrated throughout the Christian world. It
may be called Mardi Gras (French for
Fat Tuesday),
Carnevale or Carnival, but it represents the merriment that
overflows the weeks before the somber 40 days of sacrifice and
prayer of the Lenten season. So it was reassuring to discover
Lake Charles, Louisiana, a city where families can enjoy the
festive celebration with music, food, spangled costumes, parades
and more.
read Exploring
With Eleanor- Click Here
Fork in The Road
Trabue: Doubly Delicious Dining
By Kathleen Walls
Trabue in Punta Gorda, Florida is where
Paris, France meets Cracker Florida. Chef Keith Meyers creates a
fascinating array of dishes where he combines the best of
traditional French style cuisine with Florida's local offerings.
read Fork in the Road
- Click Here
Garden Paths
Anderson Japanese Gardens:
Paradise on Earth
By Kathleen Walls
What better
place to be on a sunny spring day than in a fertile garden
surrounded by luxuriant plants and bubbling brooks. One such
magic location is Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford.,
Illinois. As you enter the garden. all your senses are rewarded.
A fresh earthy fragrance mingles with the sounds of a small
tumbling stream and multi-shades of green greet you.
read Garden Paths
- Click Here
Happy Trails
Cumberland Gap National Historic Park
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
The Appalachian Mountains extend for nearly 1,500 miles from
Newfoundland in Canada to Central Alabama in the United States.
They are really a series of mountain ranges with an average
elevation of 3,000 feet, with some peaks exceeding 6,000 feet.
They were a natural barrier to westward expansion from
America's coastal plain to the boundless interior lowlands. Only
a few gaps existed in the mountain range. One feature of the
Appalachians is a series of interior lowland valleys that forms
a "trough" that runs from Canada to Alabama, called the Great
Appalachian Valley. That valley was a major transportation route
for Native Americans and later for colonial settlers. The Great
Wagon Road used this route to move settlers from Pennsylvania
south.
The road
began in Philadelphia, crossed the Potomac River at Harpers
Ferry, and followed the Shenandoah Valley up to the town of Big
Lick (Roanoke today).
At Roanoke the road split, one route into the Carolinas
and ending in Augusta and the other route leading to the
Wilderness Road.
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Heritage Roads
Rockford Illinois's Swedish
Heritage
By Kathleen Walls
Rockford, Illinois has the third largest concentration of
Swedish people per capita in the United States. Erlander Museum
in Rockford preserves Rockford's Swedish roots. It's named for
John Erlander and his daughter Mary. The Englander family is
typical of many Swedish immigrants to Rockford. John emigrated
from Sweden to Chicago, Illinois and then Rockford. He worked as
a tailor and later opened a furniture store in partnership with
other Swedish men.
read Heritage Roads - Click Here
Inn Roads
Fishermen's Village
By Kathleen Walls
When you plan a vacation, what do you look for? Fun entertainment? Shopping nearby? Delicious and varied
dining? Maybe a cruise or fishing trip?
Museums and art
galleries? Fun and games? Of course, comfortable and reasonable
priced accommodations are at the top of the list. Would you
consider it a dream vacation if all this could all be found at
one resort? Well, look no further. The Villas at Fishermen's Village in Punta
Gorda, Florida is your dream vacation. Everything you want all
together in one resort.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Main StreetSaved by Art
By Kathleen Walls
Augusta has always been a city that
appreciated its art. However, in Augusta, the local artist
repaid that devotion well. As the second largest and second
oldest city in Georgia, Augusta early on developed a downtown
business district with Broad Street as its heart. Broad Street
was where citizens shopped, dined, mingled and considered the
heart of their city. With the advent of suburbs and malls in the
50s and 60s, Augusta's Broad Street area fell into a decline.
Stores closed and became boarded up
graffiti covered buildings where few wanted to venture.
read Main Street- Click Here
---------- Mountain RoadWhere Rednecks Come From: Touring the West Virginia Coalfields
By Kathleen Walls
No, I am not suggesting a seedy bar way
back in the woods filled with rough looking characters. I am
suggesting a visit to wild and wonderful West Virginia. Specifically,
Southern West Virginia, high in the mountains that are filled
with the coal that powers our nation and the people whose lives
are built around it..
read Mountain Road- Click Here
Music RowThe Hills Are Alive With The Sounds of Music: West Virginia's
Musical Heritage
By Veronica Byrd and Kathleen Walls
There is more to West Virginia
than just coal mining. It has its own voice. A voice that go deep
into the soul, tell stories from a hard life, beginning with the
music the Appalachian people brought with them into the heart of the
mountains. The music grew from folk music, bluegrass, that lead to
rockabilly, country music and even the classics. Witness opera
singers from West Virginia like Eleanor Steber from Wheeling and
Elisabeth Baer from Charleston. Connie Smith, Brad Paisley,
Hawkshaw Hawkins, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, and dozens of other
musicians who call the Mountain State home are honored in West
Virginia's Music Hall of Fame. For some singers the road has led
from rags to riches. For many the music grew out of the coal mining
tradition.
read Music Row- Click Here
Pot Luck
A Taste for tea
By Mary Emma Allen
For relaxation, or as a way to start the day, a cup of tea
can't be beat. Even though I sometimes drink coffee, I
prefer tea such as English Breakfast tea, Darjeeling tea and
Earl Grey tea. Drinking tea was a tradition in my family,
something my grandmother and mother enjoyed with family and
friends.
read Pot Luck - Click Here
Renee's Route
Phoenix Arizona's Golden Spas
by Renee S. Gordon
The first documented non-native to enter the southwestern
portion of our nation was a Moorish-African slave. Estevanico
had been a member of the ill-fated
Narvaez Expedition
in 1527 and was enslaved by the Indians for 5-years. During
captivity he learned several native languages and after escaping
he was selected to serve as a healer, guide, advance scout and
interpreter for a party led by
Cabeza de Vaca and in 1539 he took on the same duties for Friar
Marcos de Niza.
read Renee's Route- Click
Here
Tibs Trails and Tastes
Wildlife Wilderness Week In Pigeon Forge
by Christine
Tibbeyts
Pigeon Forge in the winter. That's my
recommendation. Think not about the adrenaline rush of family
fun you already know about in this Smoky Mountain neck of the
woods. Tennessee woods.
read Tibs
Trails and Tastes Click Here
Tibs Trails and Tastes Special
Meeting The Civilians of Gettysburg
by Christine
Tibbetts
No disrespect
intended, but the battles of Gettysburg and their strategies
elude me. Re-enactments too.
read Tibs
Trails and Tastes Click Here
Traditional Trails
Hatfield~McCoy Trail
By Kathleen Walls
The Hatfield McCoy feud was too big for
one state to contain it all.
It raged along the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy River that
separates West Virginia from Kentucky. The Hatfields mainly
lived on the West Virginia side while Kentucky was home to most
of the McCoys but the families and the feud spilled back and
forth
over the
states' border.
Read
Traditional Trails - Click Here
Vagabond Traveler
Finding Tea Shops and Tea
Collectables
By Mary Emma Allen
In this Internet Age,finding tea shops and cafes in your travels
can be relatively easy. I discovered by searching this topic, I
came up with many within a 50 mile radius of my home. I
even found one in my small hometown.
Read
Vagabond Traveler - Click Here
Warren's Bi-Ways
Cody Wyoming: Cowboy Town
U.S.A.
by
Warren Resen
Photographs by Jeanne O'Conner
Yeehaw!This is the one word I think that best describes the
most Cowboy of Cowboy Towns I've so far visited in the American
West. Cowboy Culture thrives here and the people really live it.
If you want better service in any restaurant, bar or better
seats at the daily Rodeo the secret, we discovered, was to wear
your Stetson 24/7 everywhere you go in Cody.
read Warren's Bi-Ways-
Click Here
Wild RoadsHeaven on Earth Via Kayak
by
Kathleen Walls
A kayak trip down a undeveloped creek is like getting a glimpse
of what Heaven must be like. Shell Creek which flows off the
southernmost section of Peace River in Charlotte County, Florida
is one such sacred place. It's a local "secret spot" that
deserves more recognition.
read Wild Roads- Click Here
The Winter 2014 issue
----------
Adirondack Trail Mix
Riding Steel Rails to Ski Trails: History Revisited
By Persis
Granger
The southern Adirondack Mountains have lured snow sports
enthusiasts to their snow-clad slopes for at least a century.
The crisp winter air, azure skies and white peaks of this
vacationers' Mecca offer irresistible enticement, and the small
hamlet of North Creek, NY, has hosted its share of winter
adventurers.
read Adirondack
Trail Mix- Click Here
Agri Lanes
Eckert's Grafton Farm
by Kathleen Walls
Johann Peter Eckert farmed all his life in Dietzenbach, Hesse
Darmestadt, Germany. When he emigrated to
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
in 1837 with his wife and four sons he saw no reason to change.
He
went on to buy each
of his sons a farm. The family had followed the tradition down
to the present
dday.
Read Agri
Lanes_Click Here
Art Trails
DELMARVA PUBLIC ART TRAIL
by Anne Jenkins
Public art offers an interesting, unique and fun way to learn
about an area's history, quirks or local flora and fauna. Many
big cities around the world show off their artists talents with
decorated sculpture forms such as trams and fish in New Orleans,
La., bulls in Sydney, Australia or murals in London, England.
And now smaller towns and regions are realizing the benefits
–
beautification and economic –
of public art. The popular holiday destination peninsular,
Delmarva, home to Delaware, Maryland and Virginia has an
intriguing trail of public art, much of it revolving around the
water and the life it sustains. Follow the art (working from
north to south), find hidden gems, stay in quaint B&B's or
boutique inns and absorb some fascinating history through art.
Read Art_Trails.htm /
Chuckwagon Roundup
The Best Dessert I Ever Ate
by
Kathleen Walls
No question about it, the prettiest dessert I ever
ate was a Tahitian Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlee at Cotton
Row in
Huntsville, Alabama created by pastry chef, Jay Hendricks. With its
gleaming strands of spun sugar arching above it for at least six or
seven inches, It was almost too beautiful to eat. Almost!
It was also the best tasting
Crème Brûlee ever.
read Chuckwagon
Roundup Click Here
Civil War Trails
War on the
Waters
by Kathleen Walls
Columbus, Georgia
is home to the only museum in the world dedicated to the naval history
of the War Between the States. The Port Columbus National Civil War
Naval Museum, which opened in the spring of 2001, brings both sides of
the conflict together and sheds light on a too-often-ignored aspect of
the war: battles that were fought in the water, not on the land.
read Civil War Trails-Click
Here
Exploring With Eleanor
GO NORTH BY NORTHWEST
Discover Cowboys, Indians, and Corn
By Eleanor
Hendricks McDaniel
Mention South Dakota and everyone immediately thinks of Mt.
Rushmore. I knew that the monument was carved on sacred land
belonging to Native Americans, but I didn't realize how much of
the state revolved around their culture and heritage. Using
Sioux Falls as my home base, I wanted to explore southeast South
Dakota. Sioux Falls is named for the magnificent waters of the
Big Sioux River that cascade in Falls Park. As the state's
largest city, visitors can enjoy its pioneer culture, historic
sites, friendly residents, a zoo, eclectic shops and 600
restaurants. But I was there to focus on the Great Sioux Nation
that once dominated South Dakota.
read Exploring
With Eleanor- Click Here
Fork in The Road
Dinner on the Dock
By Kathleen Walls
What is more fun than au fresco dining
overlooking a picturesque river.
Dinner on the Dock, held every Thursday during summer at The
Prairie Street Brewhouse in Rockford, Illinois, combines all the right
elements. It offers a perfect venue for dining
on the Rock River, great food catered by The Backyard Grill and
Bar and music by assorted talents. The
event space which is also available for weddings and other events
abuts a 60-slip marina and offers a excellent view of the river.
After dark, the lights of the bridge lend a fairytale atmosphere.
It also allows boaters to dock
and dine.
read Fork in the Road
- Click Here
Happy Trails
The du Ponts and Gunpowder
By Tom Straka
Photographs by Pat Straka
If anyone has
kept track of our columns, they would have noticed many of the articles
deal with charcoal. Charcoal kilns, ironworks, and now even gunpowder.
Technically, this column's travel location is Hagley Museum and Library,
an educational institiution located in northernmost Delaware that
preserves and interprets the history of American enterprise. However,
our real topic is the manufacture of gunpowder.
read Happy Trails - Click
Here
Inn Roads
Cuscowilla on Lake Oconee
By Kathleen Walls
It's always fun to know the history of a
place you visit. When you stay at Cuscowilla at Lake Oconee Golf
Resort, the story goes way back before the dawn of written
history. Native people made their home here far back into
prehistoric times. The first settlers recorded as dwelling here
were a tribe of the Creek Nation. They built their town on the
banks of a river they called the
Okoni, meaning "The Great Water." They named their
village Cuscowilla.
read Inn Roads - Click Here
Music Row
Too Much Fun
By Kathleen Walls
The Second Old City Music Fest held at the St. Augustine Flea
Market was really prime time in St. Johns County, Florida. It
featured the best of the old with fine up-and-coming musicians.
The music was a blend also, some Rock mixed with great Country.
read Music Row- Click Here
Off the Beaten Path
Sage Advice About Rosemary Time
By Kathleen Walls
Most of Florida is on Eastern Standard
time. Some is on Central Standard Time. Then there are places
that have a timing all their own. Rosemary Beach is just a tiny
blip on the Florida map in Walton County but it is one of these
special places. Here you forget about the usual timed things,
Appointments, schedules, routine, none of these apply here. In
fact you won't need a watch or clock since the town bells toll
on the hour during the day. If you send the kids to play on the
green and want them home by 6 pm remind them that when they hear
the six dongs ""Ask not
for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee," Head
home.
Read
Off the Beaten Path - Click Here
Off the Interstate
A Walk in the Park
by Kathleen
Walls
Winter Park, Florida
gets neglected. People
lump it together with its big sister, Orlando. While Orlando is
filled with big theme parks and glitzy attractions, Winter Park
is more low key. Winter Park is one of the prettiest little
towns in Florida and one of the most artistically inclined. It
has its own charm and repays visitors with
memories of a wonderful time. Not only the time they
spend enjoying their stay at a unique hotel like Alfond Inn (see
earlier article), browsing the boutiques and restaurants on
Park Avenue, taking a boat tour of the Winter Park chain of
lakes, exploring the Winter Park History Museum, attending the
Rollins College Theater or visiting the Farmers Market, they get
to glimpse what life was like in another era.
read Off the
Interstare- Click Here
Pot Luck
Ice Cream Time in Winter
By Mary Emma Allen
With
predictions of 6-10 inches of snow arriving tonight and
tomorrow, my thoughts turn to winter traditions, especially
those associated with snow. One of those in our family has been
making ice cream for New Year's Eve or Day. We haul out the
freezer, stir up a custard, then make vanilla ice cream we can
use with various accompaniments-chocolate sauce, crushed
strawberries, raspberries, caramel sauce, or simply plain.
read Pot Luck - Click Here
Renee's Route
Experiene it All in East Tennessee
by Renee S. Gordon
Tennessee's tri-colored flag has a blue emblem in the center of
a field of red with three white stars. Each star represents one
of three geographic regions, the western lowlands, central
highlands and the mountainous east. Each region has a
distinctive history and culture and each has a unique story to
tell. The state's documented biography begins in East Tennessee
in an area that takes its name from the Appalachian Mountains.
Hernando de Soto named them in the 1540s after a northwestern
Florida tribe, the Apalachee.
read Renee's Route- Click
Here
Road Dog
Micanopy Fall Festival
by Baron Byrd (with a little
assistance from Veronica Byrd)
Hi, my paw friends; it′s me again Road Dog,
Baron. Just want to tell you about my latest adventurist journey. My
human companions and I went to a fall festival located in Micanopy,
Florida and it couldn't have been a better day the weather was just
doggone perfect.
read Road Dog- Click Here
Tibs Trails and Tastes
Outer Banks National Scenic
Byway
by Christine
Tibbits
Start this trip in the middle. The National Scenic Byway hugging North
Carolina's fabled Outer Banks provides more tastes and treasures than a
traveler could ever access driving all 138 miles north to south.
read Tibs
Trails and Tastes Click Here
Traditional Trails
Tinker Tales
By Kathleen Walls
Right in the heart of Rockford Illinois
is a historical and architectural treasure., Tinker Swiss
Cottage. The cottage is unique as it is one of just a few Swiss
style homes built in the United states.
Read
Traditional Trails - Click Here
Vagabond Traveler
Activities for Young Travelers
By Mary Emma Allen
Traveling can be fun and educational for young travelers
if adults have activities for them. Also, instead of
putting them solely in front of movies and games (on
computers and iPads), draw their attention to sights along
the way.
Read
Vagabond Traveler - Click Here
Warren's Bi-Ways
H. M. S. Queen Mary
by
Warren Resen
With much fanfare,
the
Queen Mary arrived in
Long Beach Harbor on December 1967 to begin its well deserved retirement
after 30 years as the premiere luxury liner sailing the waters of the
North Atlantic Ocean.
read Warren's Bi-Ways-
Click Here
Wild RoadsThe Eagle Flies
by
Kathleen Walls
It all began in 1992 when Georgia Southern University in Statesboro
Georgia went in search of a eagle for a mascot. Steve Hein, Director
of the university's Wildlife Center, stated "When we decided to get
an eagle and not just display it but wrap it in education, I don't
think anybody had any notion of what was to follow."
read Wild Roads- Click Here
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