Warm Up in One of America’s Prettiest Winter Towns
The North Carolina town of Blowing Rock is at its best in the winter, especially during the month of January.
New Year, New Montgomery
Make a visit to the hometown of Zelda Fitzgerald one of your resolutions this year. by Erin Z. Bass
Memphis in Summer
From marching ducks to art, Elvis and of course barbecue, Memphis is a great place to be this summer.
In Love With Gatlinburg
Selected as one of America’s most romantic getaway destinations recently, the resort town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, resides in the splendor of the Smoky Mountains. A gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg is a popular tourist spot in the summer, but this February, the city is calling all couples for a romantic retreat. In its list of the Top 10 Romantic Getaways in the United States, Guidebook America suggests a mountain cabin for "wooded seclusion, small-town charm and breathtaking mountain views" as Valentine's Day approaches.
Christmas New Orleans Style
People might think Mardi Gras is the time to visit New Orleans, but the city is actually much more charming, and less crowded, during the holidays. Lights twinkle down Canal Street, wreaths decorate the streetcars and snow even falls outside Harrah's Casino. Of course music is always a highlight in New Orleans, but hearing some of the country's best musicians sing carols in St. Louis Cathedral is an unforgettable experience.
Calvin Coolidge Slept Here
A retreat can often be described as a haven or refuge, a place where individuals or groups venture to seek solitude and escape the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives. Nestled in a forest of towering pines and majestic oaks, bordered by Georgia’s Cumberland River near the border of Florida, sits Cabin Bluff — a hunter’s paradise dating from the days of Calvin Coolidge. Established in 1928 as a sanctuary for distinguished sporting enthusiasts from around the world, Cabin Bluff earned a reputation as a world-class hunting and fishing destination. The addition of championship golf in a unique setting, hiking, biking and kayaking, sporting clays and an inviting lap pool has turned the remote compound into a luxurious Southern getaway.
Georgia Wine With a View
Back-to-back festivals celebrate the state's wine industry in June. by Linda M. Erbele Sometimes you have to wonder if the GPS is really taking you to a winery. There’ve been so many turns since leaving the main road that you don’t know how the mailman finds it, but discovery is part of the delight when visiting Georgia's wine region. Once there, stretch out on the tasting room deck, admire the neat rows of vines behind the hillsides and sip what just might be the next gold medal winner. If your idea of Southern wine is Kool-Aid sweet and made from muscadines, you’re in for a surprise. Georgia is producing Cabernets, Merlots, Viogniers, Chardonnays and a number of excellent blends. “It used to surprise people that Georgia has a whole wine industry that doesn’t involve muscadines,” says Steve Gipson, president of the Georgia Wine Association. A number of the vineyards, especially in North Georgia, grow European varieties of grapes, producing award-winning varietals. “There’s a tremendous amount of interest," continues Gipson. "I think the state lists 32 bonded wineries, and several more are very close to becoming bonded.” Like craft breweries, local wineries produce a product unique to an area, made with a hands-on, personal touch.
Comeback Coast
Biloxi's Ohr-O'Keefe Museum opens this weekend, signaling the Mississippi Gulf Coast is alive and well - and ready for holiday travelers. by Erin Z. Bass Five years after Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi’s Gulf Coast is still busy rebuilding and re-inventing itself, and there’s no better time than now to plan a trip to view its progress. With the much-anticipated opening of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art this weekend, locals and travelers will have the opportunity to visit a Frank Gehry-designed space that celebrates the self-proclaimed “Mad Potter of Biloxi” on Beach Boulevard. Joining new hotels, plush casino spas, thriving downtowns, historic homes and restaurants that have stood the test of time, the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum is just another reason why the Mississippi Gulf Coast is making a comeback and here to stay. In 1994, a group of Mississippi citizens opened the George Ohr Arts and Cultural Center. Ohr was born in Biloxi in 1857 and studied to be a potter in New Orleans, exhibiting his work at the 1884 World’s Fair. Having created more than 10,000 pots in his lifetime, Ohr’s style was described as abstract and without perfection; his pots are thin with metallic glazes and twisted, pinched shapes. Much of his clay
Back to the Beach
As July 4 approaches, there's no better place than Alabama's beaches for fireworks and fun. by Erin Z. Bass On June 18, Alabama announced the launch of a new advertising campaign featuring celebrity chef Lucy Buffett, who asks vacationers to "Come on, get back to the beaches we all love." Buffett owns Lulu's on the Intracoastal Waterway in Gulf Shores and is the sister of beach crooner Jimmy Buffett. Her restaurant has become a hot spot in the area, and no trip to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach is complete without some Lower Alabama Caviar, a Cheeseburger in Paradise and Lulu's Rum Punch overlooking the water. With live music every day of the week in the summertime and an art market on Saturdays, you may want to visit Lulu's more than once during your trip. As Lulu herself will tell you, her restaurant is just one example of hometown places that give Gulf Shores/Orange Beach its charm. Everybody's got their favorites, whether it be cheesecake at Hope's just over the bridge from Lulu's, pancakes at Tacky Jack's, shopping at Tallulah's or the outlet mall in Foley. We know many of you are skeptical about a beach vacation where the beach could possibly
Coolin’ Down in the North Georgia Mountains
Tubing, hiking, waterfalls, wine and ultimately cooler temperatures await in Georgia's Blue Ridge Mountains. by Deanna Kuder We are close to shattering the record for the hottest summer in recorded history as I look at the Georgia map. It’s hard to ignore the big spot of green at the top, beckoning me to cool off in the mountain air. As I answered the call and headed for the north Georgia mountains, the main goal was escaping the heat, but what I found was a mecca of entertainment for the entire family and a playground to please every budget, age and activity level. Helen, Georgia, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains along the shores of the Chattahoochee River, launched its transformation into an Alpine village in 1969. Local business owners began to revitalize their mountain paradise by turning it into a Bavarian village. Faces of the buildings are now adorned with delicate gingerbread trim, intricate plaster relief and detailed scenes of Bavaria. And in keeping with the theme, visitors will find shopkeepers decked out in lederhosen and dirndls. Upon entering the Welcome Center, a helpful attendant was on the phone being quizzed about the weather. It was 90 degrees in town, but at home