Tuskegee Airmen Exhibit Coming to Springfield & Central Illinois African American History Museum
The Springfield & Central Illinois African American History Museum will host the “Tuskegee Airmen, Rise Above” traveling exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport from September 13 – 17, 2016.
This unique traveling exhibit features a 160-degree panoramic movie screen housed in a 53’ semi trailer. Expandable sides allow the trailer to accommodate 30 – 40 individuals who can experience the original movie, “Rise Above,” a film about the Tuskegee Airmen who overcame many obstacles to train and fight as U. S. Army Air Corps pilots during World War II. Along with the movie, the exhibit features a WWII-era P-51 Mustang fighter, a signature aircraft of the Tuskegee Airmen.
“We are honored to be able to bring the Tuskegee Airmen – RISE ABOVE Traveling Exhibit to Springfield,” says Douglas E. King, Board President of the Springfield & Central Illinois African American History Museum. “The heroic contributions and efforts made by the Tuskegee Airmen to our country and to the world during World War II goes beyond commendable. That story needs to be told and retold because it is a piece of history that often goes untold.”
Gina Gemberling, Executive Director of Visit Springfield, the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, “We’re excited to have the Tuskegee Airmen exhibit visit Springfield. New exhibits expand our tourism product and encourage increased travel and spending in the Springfield area.”
The Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau works to promote, service and sell Springfield, Illinois as a leisure and convention destination of distinction.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Visiting historic Michie Tavern
In an area as historic as Charlottesville, it is understandable that people would want to dine in a historic tavern. Luckily for locals and visitors alike there is Michie Tavern. With its location within an easy drive of Monticello and Highland, it is a natural choice.
Michie Tavern has a long and interesting history. The main section of the building dates to 1784 and though it was originally an “ordinary” it was not at its current location. In 1927 a local business woman, Mrs. Mark Henderson, purchased the tavern and moved it to its present site. Her motives were as much preservation as business. The building was dismantled, pieces numbered and it was moved 17-miles. It reopened in 1928 as a museum.
Today, while there is a museum there, depending on the time of year, you may be given a tour of the premises or may be given a folder to do a self-guided tour. Michie Tavern is also a great place to eat lunch. It is a destination in its own right and people come from all over the country and the world to partake of their hospitality.
The menu is pretty much the same every day with an occasional change for special events. In case you think that might be boring, rest assured, the food is so good and the variety so extensive that you will never think that there is anything that needs to be added to the menu.
The food at Michie Tavern is served cafeteria style. You pick up your charger and silverware and pass by the food being offered. Southern fried chicken, marinated baked chicken, hand-pulled pork barbecue, black-eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, hot green beans, coleslaw, whole baby beets, biscuits, and cornbread. All of it is exceptionally well presented and cooked. As if this wasn’t enough, wenches will come by and replenish any particular food item that you would like more of. Beverages and delicious desserts, including peach cobbler are offered at an additional charge.
Dining is offered both inside and out. The atmosphere is very historic even though this is not really the historic part of the building. After you finish dining, there are some additional buildings which are worth a visit on the property including several shops and a general store. It really is no wonder that Michie Tavern is a not to be missed destination in Charlottesville.
There are special holiday events that are so popular that it is not really worth mentioning them because they sell out within hours of the tickets being released. It seems that the locals know what a good thing they have in their midst.
Michie Tavern has a long and interesting history. The main section of the building dates to 1784 and though it was originally an “ordinary” it was not at its current location. In 1927 a local business woman, Mrs. Mark Henderson, purchased the tavern and moved it to its present site. Her motives were as much preservation as business. The building was dismantled, pieces numbered and it was moved 17-miles. It reopened in 1928 as a museum.
Today, while there is a museum there, depending on the time of year, you may be given a tour of the premises or may be given a folder to do a self-guided tour. Michie Tavern is also a great place to eat lunch. It is a destination in its own right and people come from all over the country and the world to partake of their hospitality.
The menu is pretty much the same every day with an occasional change for special events. In case you think that might be boring, rest assured, the food is so good and the variety so extensive that you will never think that there is anything that needs to be added to the menu.
The food at Michie Tavern is served cafeteria style. You pick up your charger and silverware and pass by the food being offered. Southern fried chicken, marinated baked chicken, hand-pulled pork barbecue, black-eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, mashed potatoes with gravy, hot green beans, coleslaw, whole baby beets, biscuits, and cornbread. All of it is exceptionally well presented and cooked. As if this wasn’t enough, wenches will come by and replenish any particular food item that you would like more of. Beverages and delicious desserts, including peach cobbler are offered at an additional charge.
Dining is offered both inside and out. The atmosphere is very historic even though this is not really the historic part of the building. After you finish dining, there are some additional buildings which are worth a visit on the property including several shops and a general store. It really is no wonder that Michie Tavern is a not to be missed destination in Charlottesville.
There are special holiday events that are so popular that it is not really worth mentioning them because they sell out within hours of the tickets being released. It seems that the locals know what a good thing they have in their midst.
Monday, August 29, 2016
Vanderbilt Mansion Hyde Park New York
Visitors to Hyde Park, NY will enjoy a tour of the Vanderbilt Estate. In addition to the 54-room mansion, the Pavilion, the grounds, and gardens are open to exploring. National Park Pass holders will receive free admission. Tours of the house are guided and visitors gather in the Pavilion. The number of guests on each tour is limited so be sure to arrive early for the time you would prefer to enter the house. Check the website for details about tour times and size.
The house is decorated for the holidays from the end of November through the end of December and is open every day except Christmas, New Year and Thanksgiving.
The Vanderbilt Mansion is one of the remnants of the Gilded Age in the Hudson River Valley. Frederick Vanderbilt and his wife Louise used it as a summer cottage. Kim, Mead & White was America's number one architecture firm of this era and they designed this home for the Vanderbilts. Built in the neo-classic beaux-arts style, it is the only one of this design in the Hudson River Valley.
Frederick Vanderbilt purchased the estate in 1895 and the pavilion was constructed on the site of the former coach house. The family stayed here during the construction of the mansion which took three years. After the death of the Vanderbilts (Louise died in 1926 and Frederick in 1938) their niece, who inherited the estate, tried to sell it. The age of these great homes had ended and it didn’t sell. FDR convinced her to donate it to the National Park Service and the rest, as they say, is history.
What visitors will see here is not the life of the Vanderbilt family but rather the life of the American aristocracy and how they lived during the time period portrayed. It is representative of the times. You will see how they entertained on the main floor, how they lived on the second floor and how the staff made this life possible in the basement. In order to visit here, you need to be able to climb stairs, there are approximately 100 steps during the tour. Another fact to keep in mind is that the house is not air-conditioned and can be quite warm in the summer.
Frederick Vanderbilt was born into wealth and privilege but unlike some of his siblings, he earned a fortune of his own. He was a very private person and was beloved by his staff. Most of the people who worked for him continued to work at the estate for their entire life. They were very loyal and they were rewarded in Frederick’s will.
You will be guided on your tour of the mansion by one of the park rangers and they are very knowledgeable. By the time you leave, you will have a great appreciation for the life that was lived here. The tour of the house lasts about an hour. Our visit was in December when the gardens have little appeal but at other times they warrant a visit. Of particular interest is Louise’s bedroom on the second floor which is modeled after Marie Antoinette’s at Versailles.
The Pavilion, which served as bachelor quarters after the house was completed, was decorated and is quite lovely. The Vanderbilt Mansion also has a wonderful gift shop and the restrooms. For stunning views of the Hudson River, there are great photo opportunities on the grounds.
The house is decorated for the holidays from the end of November through the end of December and is open every day except Christmas, New Year and Thanksgiving.
The Vanderbilt Mansion is one of the remnants of the Gilded Age in the Hudson River Valley. Frederick Vanderbilt and his wife Louise used it as a summer cottage. Kim, Mead & White was America's number one architecture firm of this era and they designed this home for the Vanderbilts. Built in the neo-classic beaux-arts style, it is the only one of this design in the Hudson River Valley.
Frederick Vanderbilt purchased the estate in 1895 and the pavilion was constructed on the site of the former coach house. The family stayed here during the construction of the mansion which took three years. After the death of the Vanderbilts (Louise died in 1926 and Frederick in 1938) their niece, who inherited the estate, tried to sell it. The age of these great homes had ended and it didn’t sell. FDR convinced her to donate it to the National Park Service and the rest, as they say, is history.
What visitors will see here is not the life of the Vanderbilt family but rather the life of the American aristocracy and how they lived during the time period portrayed. It is representative of the times. You will see how they entertained on the main floor, how they lived on the second floor and how the staff made this life possible in the basement. In order to visit here, you need to be able to climb stairs, there are approximately 100 steps during the tour. Another fact to keep in mind is that the house is not air-conditioned and can be quite warm in the summer.
Frederick Vanderbilt was born into wealth and privilege but unlike some of his siblings, he earned a fortune of his own. He was a very private person and was beloved by his staff. Most of the people who worked for him continued to work at the estate for their entire life. They were very loyal and they were rewarded in Frederick’s will.
You will be guided on your tour of the mansion by one of the park rangers and they are very knowledgeable. By the time you leave, you will have a great appreciation for the life that was lived here. The tour of the house lasts about an hour. Our visit was in December when the gardens have little appeal but at other times they warrant a visit. Of particular interest is Louise’s bedroom on the second floor which is modeled after Marie Antoinette’s at Versailles.
The Pavilion, which served as bachelor quarters after the house was completed, was decorated and is quite lovely. The Vanderbilt Mansion also has a wonderful gift shop and the restrooms. For stunning views of the Hudson River, there are great photo opportunities on the grounds.
Sunday, August 28, 2016
The King's Daughter Inn Durham, NC
The King’s Daughter Inn began its existence as a retirement home. It is hard to fathom that when you pull up to this gorgeous boutique bed and breakfast. Located in the Trinity Park neighborhood of Durham, just a stone’s throw from Duke University, the King’s Daughter Inn offers guests a glimpse of the luxury of a bygone era.
When the inn came up for sale in 2006, Deanna and Colin Crossman saw it as a challenge that they wanted to tackle. They have managed to maintain all the charm that the building had while adding all the modern amenities that any discerning guest could possibly want. Many of the improvement that they made were eco-friendly and they believe in being environmentally responsible. The Inn opened for business in 2009.
The inn has a grand staircase that is designed to impress, you can’t help but notice it as soon as you enter. For those guest who would rather not do stairs, there is an elevator and a handicap accessible side entrance. Many of the original features of the 1925 home have been preserved including the magnificent doors and transoms.
Every room is unique and different from every other one and it makes perfect sense to spend time on their website deciding which one fits your particular taste, some are modern and others contemporary. They have suites as well as more standard rooms. They are all drop dead gorgeous so you can’t make a bad decision.
The staff is very obliging and afternoon coffee or tea will be provided in the public areas or in your room if you request it. Truffles and Port arrive in your room in the evening which is also a great selling point.
We had the Watts Room. It was spacious and included a small sofa, chairs, desk and armoire. The bed was extremely comfortable with a firm but plush mattress and loads of pillows. A flat screen TV was attached to the wall in front of the bed. The bathroom is ultra-modern with a green glass bowl sink and great shower and tub. Even the toilet is unique as it uses recycled water from the inn's laundry. The amenities are made by local people and the shampoo was so phenomenal that this writer bought a bottle at the front desk to take home. The entire building is Wi-Fi and accessing the Internet is simple.
If you are looking for assistance choosing a restaurant for lunch or dinner, the front desk has an extensive collection of menus from local restaurants some of which deliver.
Breakfast during the week is simple. Deanna told this writer she had to adjust to her guest's tastes and often during the week guests are visiting professors etc. at Duke and they wanted simple eggs, not elaborate breakfasts. You can help yourself to cereal, yogurt, fruit and juice in addition to the daily cooked breakfast. The food is simple but satisfying. Coffee is available quite early.
The inn captures rain water in a cistern that it uses to maintain the exterior areas of the building. It is all part of their green philosophy.
This is a gorgeous inn with a friendly staff and committed owners. Colin and Deanna have moved on to a new project so are not onsite as much as previously but have not abandoned this inn. I can confidently recommend The King’s Daughter Inn to anyone who is traveling to Durham. You will receive a warm welcome and genuine Southern hospitality. The location is also excellent for visiting everything that the Durham area has to offer especially Duke University.
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Turn of the Century Victoria B&B Salisbury, NC
Salisbury, N.C. has to be one of the most charming towns we have ever visited. Karen the owner of the Turn of the Century Victorian Bed and Breakfast is just as charming as the city she loves. Though not a native, she grew up in Corning New York and arrived here by way of Atlanta, she is as knowledgeable about the town she has chosen to call home as anyone we met while we were visiting.
The bed and breakfast is located on South Fulton Street. It is a lovely neighborhood filled with historic homes and just oozing southern charm. We spent three amazing night here and ate three luscious breakfasts. We were in the Rose Room. It has a magnificent plantation bed with a custom made queen size mattress that guarantees a good night's rest.
An armoire holds two bathrobes and a pretty marble top dresser is offered for your use. Two nightstands provide lamps for reading. A fainting couch and two chairs complete the furnishings in the room. The only thing we could have possibly wished for was a comfortable upholstered chair for just sitting. A tea table became my work desk and there is excellent high-speed wireless Internet.
The bathroom has a deep vintage tub, a pedestal sink, and a dresser. Our friend had the room next door, The English Room. The style of his bed was an English brass and in that room, there was a shower, which was in a separate closet from the toilet. The sink was in a dresser in the bedroom itself.
There are two other rooms: the Veranda which has a king bed that can be made into two twins and the Wedgewood Suite which has a separate sitting room with a TV. There are no TVs in the other bedrooms but there is one in the hall and a small sitting area on the landing if you really must watch a show.
A lovely parlor downstairs offers a place to gather and in the warm weather, the front porch is the place to be. Breakfast is served in the dining room. We chose to eat at 9 a.m. every morning and Karen was more than happy to accommodate our schedule.
Breakfasts are delicious. The first morning we began with apple juice and the hot beverage of our choice. We then had a fresh pineapple and grapes served in the pineapple. As visually appealing, as it was delicious. The main course was Karen's take on eggs Benedict and it was perfect, sliced boiled eggs over muffins and Canadian bacon with creamy Hollandaise sauce. The second breakfast was grilled grapefruit, and garden scrambled eggs with a morning glory muffin. Keep an eye on the china and glassware, it changes daily and is all lovely. The third breakfast was a crepe with scrambled eggs inside and a divine mushroom sauce. Karen was wonderful in accommodating the dietary foibles of our group.
What sets this bed and breakfast above the others is Karen herself. Her attention to detail is impeccable and there is nothing too small for her to have overlooked. She can suggest local restaurants and provide copies of their menus; she has brochures on all the local sights and maps of downtown etc. She will gladly provide a hot or cold beverage whenever you need one and the chocolate chip cookies are to die for.
This house was a labor of love for her and she dedicated two years to turning it from a derelict apartment house into a glorious perfectly restored 1905 stunner. This was not just renovated, it was restored historically to its original glory and the care and effort she put into that is evident everywhere you look from the beautifully restored floors to the lovingly stripped and repainted woodwork. It is a magnificent house and most of all, her home.
Turn of the Century Victorian Bed and Breakfast could easily become your home away from home and repeat customers are a large part of her business and I can well understand how that could be. I certainly hope to be able to return. Even at departure, it was special, we received little gift bags with the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies to go, a little food for the road, very charming and delicious indeed.
Photo provided by the bed and breakfast website.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Planning a trip to Morocco
Morocco
is a kingdom in North Africa. It has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean which passes
through the Straits of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. A visit to Morocco
is often combined with tours to Spain and Portugal because of the proximity to
the Iberian Peninsula. When you are planning your trip, you will be looking for
the best Morocco travel websites, here are a few to get you started.
The
Official Morocco tourism website is Much More Morocco. The first thing you are asked is where you are
from so that they can make the language correct for you. It has a very stylish
homepage that allows you to choose between Travel by Experience and Travel by
Destination.
Two slideshows are going at the same time, one for experiences and
one for locations. The colors are gorgeous on both of them and will draw you in
immediately.
Under
Travel Experiences you can choose from I Want to Try, Show Me Everything and
Let Us Inspire You. With Travel by Location it is I Want to Visit, Show Me
Everything and Let Us Inspire You. Any of these will lead you to additional
choices. If you choose Let Us Inspire You under Travel Experiences, you will get
Beaches, Culture, Golf, Cultural Festivals, Cycling, Desert Treks, Family Days
Out and Food and Drink.
All
of the previously mentioned experiences are clickable links that lead to more
information. Be prepared to spend a lot of time on this very comprehensive
site. Throughout there are plenty of pictures and easy to understand write-ups.
What
was lacking was practical information about visas, currency and local customs.
Morocco.com is a simple travel website with easy to understand tabs and
the ability to book parts of your trip as well as research things to see and
do. You begin your trip through the site with the tabs across the top; Home,
Regions, City Guides, Travel, Things To Do, Events, Culture, News, Local
Directory and Videos. Start by clicking one of these tabs.
Travel
takes you to About Morocco which is chock full of practical information about
getting to Morocco and more.
Regions
has a drop-down menu of seven regions. Grand Casablanca takes you to another
page where this most popular tourist destination is introduced to you. On the
left hand side of this page there are more tabs that take you to further
information about attractions, cities, mosques, theaters and trains stations.
Clicking on attractions brings up links to attractions that will take you to
another page with extensive detail about the chosen attraction.
This
is a heavily-layered site that for all its simple style is jam-packed with easy
to read, useful information. They also have a newsletter that you can sign up
for. It is a good choice when you are looking for the best Morocco travel
websites.
Visit Casablanca is a beautiful website that will stun you with gorgeous
photos and make you understand why Casablanca is a household word in many parts
of the world. A row of tabs across the top helps you to understand Casablanca.
It offers tips with Discover Casablanca, Gastronomy, Accommodations and Getting
Around. If Casablanca is your destination, this Morocco travel website is the
best way to find useful information.
When
you are planning a vacation to Morocco, the best Morocco travel websites will
help you to find the information you need to plan the vacation of a lifetime.
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Flashback Thursday: The nighmare of lost luggage
I think everyone knows that I travel quite a lot. Given that fact and the fact that I have never had my luggage misplaced, except on my very first flight to England almost 30 years ago, it was inevitable that it was going to happen to me.
Somehow, however, I never expected that it could or would happen on a direct flight. But alas, it did. My bag was sent on the 7 p.m. flight to Shannon instead of the 9 p.m. flight to Dublin. Of course, I had no idea this had happened and since the airport codes for Shannon SNN and Dublin DUB are in no way similar, it is hard to imagine how this mistake happened in the first place. Aer Lingus assured me that the bag had been tagged correctly in Boston.
While I was waiting in line in Dublin to go through customs Kathy heard them call my name, I did not hear them which would have been unfortunate as I waited for my bag to arrive on the turntable. Instead, I went to baggage claim customer service and was told that my bag was at Shannon. Since there was no quick flight from Shannon to Dublin they were sending my bag to London and then to Dublin and I should have it by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, this was 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
I was very understanding and assured them that I would be fine and I was looking forward to being reunited with my bag at the Pembroke Townhouse Hotel later in the day.
Thus began my nightmare with Aer Lingus. To read more about this adventure click here.
Somehow, however, I never expected that it could or would happen on a direct flight. But alas, it did. My bag was sent on the 7 p.m. flight to Shannon instead of the 9 p.m. flight to Dublin. Of course, I had no idea this had happened and since the airport codes for Shannon SNN and Dublin DUB are in no way similar, it is hard to imagine how this mistake happened in the first place. Aer Lingus assured me that the bag had been tagged correctly in Boston.
While I was waiting in line in Dublin to go through customs Kathy heard them call my name, I did not hear them which would have been unfortunate as I waited for my bag to arrive on the turntable. Instead, I went to baggage claim customer service and was told that my bag was at Shannon. Since there was no quick flight from Shannon to Dublin they were sending my bag to London and then to Dublin and I should have it by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, this was 8 a.m. on Tuesday.
I was very understanding and assured them that I would be fine and I was looking forward to being reunited with my bag at the Pembroke Townhouse Hotel later in the day.
Thus began my nightmare with Aer Lingus. To read more about this adventure click here.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
The Lane Motor Museum Nashville, Tenn.
The Lane Motor Museum is a unique motor museum in that they are not looking for cars that belonged to celebrities or famous people. The cars that are in this collection are different; most of them are the first one to have had a particular innovation.
The building where the museum is located is the former Sunbeam Bakery. It was opened in the 1950s and was the largest bakery in the area when it opened. It was used as a bakery until 1999. From then until 2002 when it opened as the motor museum, it was used as a distribution center.
Most of the cars and motorcycles in the collection are European. In fact, there are so many that this is the largest collection of European vehicles in the United States. This is not a collection of historic cars, many of the cars are older from the 1950-1970s but it is not a collection of antique cars. I have visited other car museum and this museum is not like any other collection I have ever seen.
As soon as you walk in the door you are impressed by the size of the space. The majority of the vehicles are in one large room. A separate room houses the motorcycles but the cars are together. About 150 cars are on display at any given time. The entire collection is over 300 cars. That is one of the beauties of this museum, you can come back again and again and really, you should, if you want to eventually see the entire collection.
At the same time, the museum can be intimidating because it seems overwhelming. I am not a car expert so if there was a theme here, I missed it. Having said that, I enjoyed myself immensely. I saw cars the like of which I have never seen before especially since many of them are unique European cars.
I just headed off to the left when I entered and started reading the plaques. It was fascinated and I took an inordinate amount of photos. Photography is allowed here and even encouraged. You are not allowed to touch the cars however, except one in the far right corner and a bunch of us climbed in and had our picture taken.
I just headed off to the left when I entered and started reading the plaques. It was fascinated and I took an inordinate amount of photos. Photography is allowed here and even encouraged. You are not allowed to touch the cars however, except one in the far right corner and a bunch of us climbed in and had our picture taken.
I am sure that there were many significant cars in the collection that the gearheads among us will find interesting and there are just as many beautiful cars. For me, however, it was all about the cute little sports car that belonged to Brigitte Bardot. Very shallow of me perhaps but it is an iconic symbol of a different time and a different place.
If the children get bored with looking at cars a small play area has been provided for them. This is an interesting museum that can certainly offer an hour or two of entertainment to anyone who is looking for something unique and different. Jeff Lane has created a gem and we should all thank him for sharing his passion with the public.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Three good reasons to visit Charlottesville, Va.
Charlottesville, Va. is the home of the University of Virginia. That is no coincidence. Thomas Jefferson, who founded the university, lived close enough to be able to view the rotunda from the grounds of Monticello, his home. He liked to keep an eye on his brainchild.
Two of his lifelong friends, James Madison and James Monroe, also made their homes in the same area. These three friends all ended up living within a day's drive of each other and in the case of Monroe and Jefferson, within a stone's throw.
The homes of these three men are very good reasons to visit Charlottesville.
Monticello means little mountain in Italian and it is the name Jefferson chose for the home he would design. Visits begin at the Visitor Center where tour tickets are purchased. A shuttle ride brings you to the top of the hill. All tours of the house are guided and take anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes depending on your guide and how many questions people ask.
You then have plenty of time to wander the grounds, visit Mulberry Row and the underground portions of the house. You can choose to walk down through the grounds to the cemetery or wait and take the shuttle.
At the Visitor Center enjoy the 15-minute film. Then head to the museum for a visit. Allow at least 2 hours and you certainly could spend a lot more than that if you have the interest. The gift shop is an excellent one and there is also a cafe if you need to grab a bite to eat.
James and Elizabeth Monroe lived just over the hill from Monticello in a house they called Highland. It was their official residence from 1799 to 1826. It was sold after that and they moved to their other home Oak Hill.
A fire destroyed part of the house and the front is a Victorian addition built on what the curators believe is the foundation of Monroe’s addition. You begin your tour in the new part of the house where there are rotating displays and then go into the smaller part of the house. It is jam packed with Monroe memorabilia and the tour is fascinating. It takes about 30 minutes.
There are several outbuildings as well as gardens to visit. Allow at least an hour and a half to complete your tour.
Montpelier was the home of James and Dolly Madison. The original house was built by James’ father and when James brought his wife home he asked his friend Thomas Jefferson to help him to add onto the house to create a place for his wife and his mother. What he got was a duplex which today is all one house.
After James died the house was sold and Dolly went to live in Washington. It went through many owners before being bought by William du Pont. duPont more than doubled the size of the house and brought in horses and steeple chasing. It was William’s daughter, Marion DuPont Scott, who gave the house to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The duPont additions have been removed and the house has been returned to the home that the Madison’s lived in.
There is a wonderful visitor center with an introductory movie. A quarter mile walk to the house from the visitor center and more to the cemetery are required. Extensive grounds and gardens are open to tours and archeological digs are ongoing. Galleries with changing displays are offered in the visitor center as well.
Allow several hours to enjoy all that this house has to offer.
If these three houses don't entice you to visit Charlottesville, nothing will. Well maybe a stay at the Boar's Head Inn might or dining at the Barbeque Exchange, but that is another article altogether.
Two of his lifelong friends, James Madison and James Monroe, also made their homes in the same area. These three friends all ended up living within a day's drive of each other and in the case of Monroe and Jefferson, within a stone's throw.
The homes of these three men are very good reasons to visit Charlottesville.
Thomas Jefferson's Monticello
Monticello means little mountain in Italian and it is the name Jefferson chose for the home he would design. Visits begin at the Visitor Center where tour tickets are purchased. A shuttle ride brings you to the top of the hill. All tours of the house are guided and take anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes depending on your guide and how many questions people ask.
You then have plenty of time to wander the grounds, visit Mulberry Row and the underground portions of the house. You can choose to walk down through the grounds to the cemetery or wait and take the shuttle.
At the Visitor Center enjoy the 15-minute film. Then head to the museum for a visit. Allow at least 2 hours and you certainly could spend a lot more than that if you have the interest. The gift shop is an excellent one and there is also a cafe if you need to grab a bite to eat.
James Monroe's Highland
James and Elizabeth Monroe lived just over the hill from Monticello in a house they called Highland. It was their official residence from 1799 to 1826. It was sold after that and they moved to their other home Oak Hill.
A fire destroyed part of the house and the front is a Victorian addition built on what the curators believe is the foundation of Monroe’s addition. You begin your tour in the new part of the house where there are rotating displays and then go into the smaller part of the house. It is jam packed with Monroe memorabilia and the tour is fascinating. It takes about 30 minutes.
There are several outbuildings as well as gardens to visit. Allow at least an hour and a half to complete your tour.
James Madison's Montpelier
Montpelier was the home of James and Dolly Madison. The original house was built by James’ father and when James brought his wife home he asked his friend Thomas Jefferson to help him to add onto the house to create a place for his wife and his mother. What he got was a duplex which today is all one house.
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| Ghost slave cabins |
After James died the house was sold and Dolly went to live in Washington. It went through many owners before being bought by William du Pont. duPont more than doubled the size of the house and brought in horses and steeple chasing. It was William’s daughter, Marion DuPont Scott, who gave the house to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The duPont additions have been removed and the house has been returned to the home that the Madison’s lived in.
There is a wonderful visitor center with an introductory movie. A quarter mile walk to the house from the visitor center and more to the cemetery are required. Extensive grounds and gardens are open to tours and archeological digs are ongoing. Galleries with changing displays are offered in the visitor center as well.
Allow several hours to enjoy all that this house has to offer.
If these three houses don't entice you to visit Charlottesville, nothing will. Well maybe a stay at the Boar's Head Inn might or dining at the Barbeque Exchange, but that is another article altogether.
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Visiting Davy Crockett's birthplace in Limestone TN
Anyone who grew up in the 1950s can sing the Davy Crockett song and certainly, the part about being born on a mountain top in Tennessee is just one of the many misconceptions about this American hero. His birthplace was a log cabin on the banks of the Nolichucky River in Limestone, Tenn. His father John was attempting to farm this land and it cannot even remotely be called a mountaintop. On a really clear day if you look really hard you might see a mountain in the distance.
David Crockett was the 5th child of John Crockett and Rebecca Hawkins Crockett. He lived in Limestone until he was six years old so if he did indeed "kill him a bar when he was only three" this is where he would have been. His father was a tenant farmer of a man named Gillespie who was the major landowner in the area. After attempting farming John Crockett moved on and decided that farming wasn't for him. He opened a tavern that he ran with his wife and children.
The Tennessee State Parks maintains the birthplace site and has since 1973. The original cabin that the Crocketts lived in is long gone but one has been recreated in the approximate location and of the approximate style of the one that would have been here.
The site is located off Route 11E, don't give up it is quite a long way off of the main road through winding back roads. Make your first stop at the visitor center. Watch the fifteen-minute video which will acquaint you with the real David and the Davy of legend and also the creation of Walt Disney and others. It is at times hard to separate fact from fiction. By the time of his death, he was such a hero in his own time that he was even confused about what was true and what was not. One thing we know for sure, he died at the Alamo along with the other Texans and he was immortalized for it.
After you watch the video take the time to tour the small museum. It has some very interesting pictures of Davy and though they are all a little different, you get a very good idea of what the real man looked like. After seeing the video and reading the articles you also know that he was considered to be a very fine man with a good sense of humor, he was warm and gentle and not a great marksman. He was, however, a great bear killer and in one winter killed one hundred and five.
A whole case of 1950s memorabilia brings to life the days of Crockettmania. If this is your idea of Davy you will be very disappointed to find out that he never wore a coonskin cap and was much more like the character played by John Wayne than the one played by Fess Parker. A little rough around the edges with a big heart.
Rangers are on site who are more than happy to tell you more about the family and their time in this area. The most impressive thing is a doorstep that is supposed to be the original one from the Crockett cabin. A sense of history is alive here and anyone who grew up during the era of Crockettmania will find this a fascinating place to visit.
No entrance fee is charged to visit Davy Crockett Birthplace and other than a few items for sale in the visitor center there is no store per say.
David Crockett was the 5th child of John Crockett and Rebecca Hawkins Crockett. He lived in Limestone until he was six years old so if he did indeed "kill him a bar when he was only three" this is where he would have been. His father was a tenant farmer of a man named Gillespie who was the major landowner in the area. After attempting farming John Crockett moved on and decided that farming wasn't for him. He opened a tavern that he ran with his wife and children.
The Tennessee State Parks maintains the birthplace site and has since 1973. The original cabin that the Crocketts lived in is long gone but one has been recreated in the approximate location and of the approximate style of the one that would have been here.
The site is located off Route 11E, don't give up it is quite a long way off of the main road through winding back roads. Make your first stop at the visitor center. Watch the fifteen-minute video which will acquaint you with the real David and the Davy of legend and also the creation of Walt Disney and others. It is at times hard to separate fact from fiction. By the time of his death, he was such a hero in his own time that he was even confused about what was true and what was not. One thing we know for sure, he died at the Alamo along with the other Texans and he was immortalized for it.
After you watch the video take the time to tour the small museum. It has some very interesting pictures of Davy and though they are all a little different, you get a very good idea of what the real man looked like. After seeing the video and reading the articles you also know that he was considered to be a very fine man with a good sense of humor, he was warm and gentle and not a great marksman. He was, however, a great bear killer and in one winter killed one hundred and five.
A whole case of 1950s memorabilia brings to life the days of Crockettmania. If this is your idea of Davy you will be very disappointed to find out that he never wore a coonskin cap and was much more like the character played by John Wayne than the one played by Fess Parker. A little rough around the edges with a big heart.
Rangers are on site who are more than happy to tell you more about the family and their time in this area. The most impressive thing is a doorstep that is supposed to be the original one from the Crockett cabin. A sense of history is alive here and anyone who grew up during the era of Crockettmania will find this a fascinating place to visit.
No entrance fee is charged to visit Davy Crockett Birthplace and other than a few items for sale in the visitor center there is no store per say.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Planning your trip to Norway
You have finally done it, decided to
visit Norway. Now the fun of planning for your trip begins. Today’s traveler
has access to a wide array of websites to help with that planning. No matter
what you are looking for you are sure to find it on one of these sites.
Visit
Norway is the official travel website
of Norway. It is a very straightforward site that has a lot of good information
in a user friendly format. The home page has current news about things that are
going on in Norway right now, like in late winter the Northern Lights. It has
an interactive map that will take you to a wide variety of popular tourist
destinations. Clicking on any of these dots will take you to a new page and
lots of additional information about that particular location. It also has
stunning photos that will confirm in your mind that you have made a very good
decision by deciding to visit Norway.
You can find out more information
about things to do, where to stay, culture and travel to and in that city. You
may also find a link to a website for that particular city. If you plan to
visit cities, this is a very valuable site and can help you plan just about every
aspect of your visit.
On the home page there is a section called shortcuts where you can go directly to the pages to find out how to get to Norway and how to travel around the country. You can find out the latest news and weather and a lot of other practical information.
On the home page there is a section called shortcuts where you can go directly to the pages to find out how to get to Norway and how to travel around the country. You can find out the latest news and weather and a lot of other practical information.
This website is very comprehensive
and it covers just about anything that you might want to know about travel to
Norway. You could plan your entire trip from this one website but why would you
want to? Just for the fun of it, visit some of these other websites as well,
you never know what great ideas you will find.
Planetware is a site that is much more in depth about the smaller
more remote locations. It isn’t comprehensive and only has a small overview of
many of the smaller cities but it is easy to use and the information is
valuable. If you are planning a driving or walking tour of Norway, they offer a
wide variety of options. They tell you where to start and end and sites worth a
visit along the way. The website also has some maps that you can download to
familiarize yourself with Norway.
Nation Tourist Routes in Norway is a wonderful website for planning a trip.
If offers 18 tourist routes that are designed to allow tourists to see some of
Norway’s remote and fascinating landscape. Clicking on 18 Tourists Routes
brings up a map with points marked on it. Picking one of the marked spots,
Andoya, it brings up a small write up, click a second time and you get a new
page with History, Experiences and Attractions. You can then add it to your
personal trip planner.
Norwegian
American is a different type of
website, it is the only Norwegian American Magazine available and can be a
valuable resource when you what to actually know what is going on. Read about
Norwegian Heritage, A Taste of Norway and Travel among many other pages. This
is a fun website but it is also filled with very good information. It is the
perfect place to get into the spirit of Norway before you actually take your
trip
Go Scandinavia is
the official site of the Scandinavia tourist boards in the US and it is a good
website to bookmark especially if you plan to visit more than one country in
Scandinavia. On the home page you can choose your country and of course Norway
is one of them. If you click the link it will take you to visitnorway.com so
don't click it. You can use the homepage to find tour operators who specialize
in Scandinavia and to easily download or order brochures.
If you are a fan of bed and
breakfast, B&B
Norway specializes in Bed and
Breakfasts in Norway. You will be able to find a B&B in almost any section
of the country you are interested in. B&B allows you to get a closer feel
for the country and her very friendly people. By clicking on the B&B
Catalogue link you will find a map of the country divided into districts and
you can choose the one or ones that fit your itinerary.
Fjord
Norway is the perfect site to plan
your vacation home rental in Norway. You simply put in your dates, the number
of people in your party, the type of accommodation you are looking for and then
the region. The available choices with their prices will pop up for you to
peruse and you then you can add it to “My Planner”.
The Internet has changed the way
that vacations are planned. We can now do the research ourselves and even
personally arrange the bookings. Using the best websites of Norway travel will
make that planning easy and informed. What are you waiting for? The fjords are
calling
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Flashback Thursday: Finding the perfect hotel
Finding the perfect place to stay can make or break a vacation. I have certain criteria for my hotel and the most important is location.
Determining what the perfect location is, takes some careful thought. Are you stopping at this hotel en route to somewhere else or is this your final destination? If I am en route I want the hotel within a mile of the highway and with a restaurant within walking distance. Once I have arrived at the hotel, I don't want to drive out again.
If, however, it is the final destination I want to have free parking as a must. This isn't always possible but at least try to get the charge as part of your rate. City parking can run over $40 a night which takes away money from your fun-things-to-do budget.
I like an indoor pool with a hot tub but that is me. Again, I want restaurants close by. I demand cleanliness and staff that goes out of their way to please. It doesn't have to be a 5-star hotel to get this and it doesn't need to be a boutique hotel though I am a sucker for charm.
I start by getting a Google map on the screen of where I am staying and I locate the hotels. I then check availability on Booking.com and price. Once I have narrowed it down to a few hotels, I check Trip Advisor and see what people are saying. Read a lot of reviews, so many of them are fakes. I want someone who has written a lot of reviews not just one terrible or glowing review.
Now compare all the info, usually one or two will stand out. I am loyal to certain brands, so at this point, brand loyalty will trump. Read between the lines as well, even the hotel website can tell you a lot.
I will always book directly with the hotel on their website or on the phone. I like being in control of my own reservation. Don't be afraid to call and ask questions, you will know right away how helpful the staff is.
So really, this is how I book my hotels. I look for a deal, I want to get the best price but I want a lot for that price. I prefer charm but I can live without it. Free Internet access is a must, I don't compromise on this.
Determining what the perfect location is, takes some careful thought. Are you stopping at this hotel en route to somewhere else or is this your final destination? If I am en route I want the hotel within a mile of the highway and with a restaurant within walking distance. Once I have arrived at the hotel, I don't want to drive out again.
If, however, it is the final destination I want to have free parking as a must. This isn't always possible but at least try to get the charge as part of your rate. City parking can run over $40 a night which takes away money from your fun-things-to-do budget.
I like an indoor pool with a hot tub but that is me. Again, I want restaurants close by. I demand cleanliness and staff that goes out of their way to please. It doesn't have to be a 5-star hotel to get this and it doesn't need to be a boutique hotel though I am a sucker for charm.
I start by getting a Google map on the screen of where I am staying and I locate the hotels. I then check availability on Booking.com and price. Once I have narrowed it down to a few hotels, I check Trip Advisor and see what people are saying. Read a lot of reviews, so many of them are fakes. I want someone who has written a lot of reviews not just one terrible or glowing review.
Now compare all the info, usually one or two will stand out. I am loyal to certain brands, so at this point, brand loyalty will trump. Read between the lines as well, even the hotel website can tell you a lot.
I will always book directly with the hotel on their website or on the phone. I like being in control of my own reservation. Don't be afraid to call and ask questions, you will know right away how helpful the staff is.
So really, this is how I book my hotels. I look for a deal, I want to get the best price but I want a lot for that price. I prefer charm but I can live without it. Free Internet access is a must, I don't compromise on this.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Labor Day in Nashville
NASHVILLE'S LABOR DAY WEEKEND
You have worked hard this year and now it's time to have a little fun. You owe it to yourself to have one amazing Labor Day weekend. Come join us in Music City this Labor Day weekend as we will celebrate with the best art exhibits & performances, amazing family fun, laugh out loud comedy, awesome events,sports, and of course live music. Take a look below to see what is happening in Nashville Labor Day weekend.
CHECK OUT #NASHVILLENOW THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND
The Ultimate Music City Experience
SPECIAL EVENTS
Live on the Green ft. Young the Giant, Band of Horses, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, and more @ Public Square Park - September 1-3
Southern Living #NashvilleNow Weekend @ Throughout Music City - September 2-5
National Beard & Mustache Championship @ Ryman Auditorium - September 3
InterNASHional Food Crawl @ Casa Azafrán Community Center - September 3
Musicians Corner @ Centennial Park - September 3
Tennessee Volksfest @ East Park - September 3-5
Rewind Music Festival @ Riverfront Park - September 4
Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City @ Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum - Continues until December 31, 2016
Dierks Bentley: Every Mile a Memory @ Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum - Continues until September 6
Blake Shelton: Based on a True Story @ Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum - Continues until November 6
Homegrown: Zac Brown Band @ Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum - Continues until July 18, 2017
John A. Merritt Classic Weekend @ TSU and Nissan Stadium - September 2-4
An Evening with Glennon Doyle Melton, in conversation with Ann Patchett @ War Memorial Auditorium - September 8
FAMILY FUN
Zoovie Nights: How to Train Your Dragon 2 @ Nashville Zoo at Grassmere - September 2
Zzzoofari Slumber @ Nashville Zoo at Grassmere - September 3-4
Day Out with Thomas: The Celebration Tour @ Tennessee Central Railway Museum - September 3-11
Fireworks @ Nashville Shores - September 4
Swamps, Seminoles, and Snakes: The US Army in the Second Seminole War @ Andrew Jackson's Hermitage: Home of the People's President - September 4
International Playhouses @ Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art - Continues until September 4
Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs @ Adventure Science Center - Continues until September 5
Take a look at Family Fun in Music City.
ARTS & CULTURE
First Saturday Art Crawl @ Nashville's 5th Avenue of the Arts - September 3
Arts & Music @ Wedgewood/Houston - September 3
Steve Tobin: Southern Roots @ Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art - Continues until September 4
Shakespeare in the Park ft. Macbeth @ Centennial Park - Continues until September 9
Pastorals, Landscapes, and the Arcadian Vision @ Vanderbilt University Fine Arts Gallery - Continues until September 9
Inka Essenhigh: Between Worlds @ Frist Center for the Visual Arts - Continues until October 9
Bellissima! The Italian Automotive Renaissance, 1945-1975 @ Frist Center for the Visual Arts - Continues until October 9
Shakespeare in the Park ft. The Comedy of Errors @ Centennial Park - Continues until September 18
Macchine Italiane: A Tour of Italy's Motoring Spirit @ Lane Motor Museum - Continues until May 22, 2017
Find out what Nashville's Art Scene is doing right now.
SPORTS
AAA Baseball Nashville Sounds vs. Iowa Cubs @ First Tennessee Park - September 1
SEC Football Vanderbilt Commodores vs. South Carolina Gamecocks @ Vanderbilt Stadium - September 1
John A. Merritt Classic: TSU Tigers vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff @ Nissan Stadium* - September 6
Discover more Sports and Recreation in Nashville.
COMEDY
Ralphie May @ Zanies Comedy Night Club - September 2-4
Kathleen Madigan @ Zanies Comedy Night Club - September 6
Brian Regan @ Ryman Auditorium - September 10
LIVE MUSIC
Live on the Green ft. Young the Giant, Band of Horses, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, and more
Public Square Park September 1-3 |
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