Archive for May, 2009

Bonnaroo Music Festival

There are several things always guaranteed when it comes to music festivals:

  • Expensive souvenir t-shirts
  • Giant turkey legs
  • Lots of port-a-potties
  • Someone walking on stilts
  • Crazy-dancing hippie folks
  • Hours of good music

bonnaroo_logo_01lIf those things appeal to you (specifically the music part… or maybe the turkey leg), or if you happen to be on a Nashville vacation in the middle of June and want to change things up a bit with your Music City tour, take an hour’s drive southeast on I-24 towards Chattanooga. There you’ll find the sleepy town of Manchester, where each year its population of 8,200 increases ten-fold with the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. (more…)

Chicago’s Summer Slice

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On a cold and blustery Windy City day, Chicago’s coveted deep-dish pizza just makes sense. The layers of tomato sauce set the mouth alight, the gooey cheesy goodness adds a protective layer against the elements, and the crustacular bread warms you up to the core. But, in summer, diving into the deep dish can be a bit, well, hot and heavy.
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Touring Sweet Home Alabama

alabama-mapThree phrases can stir a Southern man’s heart: “Suppertime!” (Especially when momma’s cooking), “Kick off” (as in SEC football games) and “Freebird!”

That last one, in case you don’t know, refers to the Southeast’s unofficial anthem by Southern Fried Rock stalwarts Lynyrd Skynyrd. I’m sure you’ve heard someone scream “Freebird!” at the top of his or her lungs at a concert, regardless of whatever band was playing—maybe even at a symphony.
 

Just for the record, this isn’t about that song, but instead focuses on the subject of another Lynyrd Skynyrd favorite: “Sweet Home Alabama.” Recently, while the big wheels of my minivan were turning, carrying me home to see my kin in Florida, that song came on the radio and got me thinking: What would actually touring the lyrics look like? So without further adieu, here’s a quick itinerary for “where the skies are so blue”:   (more…)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

american-flag1Memorial Day has become synonymous with unofficially marking the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, barbecuing, re-opening community pools, and hitting the beach. It’s also a time where many people take to the road for weekend getaways. And then there’s those really fast drivers at the Indy 500.

Most of us have good memories of Memorial Day activities, but it’s unlikely that many of them have to do with the actual reason of why the holiday is on our calendar. And that’s unfortunate.

Not that we shouldn’t enjoy our day off, but it’s important to remember why many people hang American flags outside their homes this weekend: (more…)

My Top Five Memphis Barbecue Joints

commisary-ribsNowhere does barbecue as right as Memphis. The smoked pork swathed with a combination of tangy/sweet tomatoes, vinegar and other spices is a slice of heaven.

With the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest having ended at the Memphis in May festivities, my taste buds are salivating just thinking about it. Fortunately, there are other opportunities around town to get your BBQ-fill, so next time you’re on a Memphis vacation—which is great for a fun, cheap getaway—try out one of my personal top five Memphis barbecue restaurants: (more…)

Key West’s Hemingway House

hemingwayIf you like literature, are a cat lover, or just looking for an interesting detour while on your Miami vacation, head south. Way south. Until you can’t go any farther.
 
In Key West, near the southernmost point of the continental U.S., is the house that Ernest Hemingway once called home. The Old Man and the Sea is one of my favorite books, so any time I venture down to the Conch Republic, The Hemingway House is always a must-see (trust me, it has nothing to do with the cats). Thousands of tourists feel the same way, as it happens to be one of Key West’s most frequented spots.

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What’ll Ya Have in Atlanta?

varsityAtlanta is a hotspot for great dining options across the Southeast. But the most famous restaurant is hardly what you might call gourmet. The food is cheap, the servers impatient, and there’s an option of ordering a “Naked Dog,” though no one would have it any other way—such is the charm of The Varsity.

Located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta at the corner of North Avenue and Spring Street, The Varsity is directly across Georgia Tech, hugging the Downtown Connector (I-75/I-85). But don’t let the collegiate-sounding name fool you–there are just as many power lunches between business men that happen here as there are students filling their munchies-cravings during late night study sessions. If you happen to be on an Atlanta vacation, make sure this icon is on your itinerary. (more…)

The Swap Shop in Fort Lauderdale

You can probably guess what the most popular tourist attraction for Florida vacations is (it involves a talking mouse, bad-tempered duck, yellow dog and whatever Goofy is–plus a lot of magic). But what about the second most popular, attracting upwards of 12 million people each year?

Universal Studios? Nope. Sea World. Not it either. The Burt Reynolds & Friends Museum? Umm, no (but I would like to go there one day).

You have to go farther south. It’s “where the bargains are.”

It’s the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop. (more…)

Take Me Out to the Atlanta Ballgame

favorite_viewBaseball makes for a great vacation getaway—in fact, I tried to schedule my Cape Cod honeymoon around the Red Sox’s schedule. There’s just something about the game, the different stadium quirks, the cuisine, and even the fans themselves that make it an enjoyable occasion. Turner Field, or “The Ted,” as it’s affectionately called, is no different. So if you’re planning an Atlanta vacation, do it while the southeast boys of summer are on the diamond.
 
My most recent big league outing involved taking my four-year-old son to his first game. He couldn’t wait to get there, and being a lifelong baseball fan, I couldn’t either. After parking in the area formerly occupied by Fulton County Stadium—the place where Hammerin’ Hank broke Babe Ruth’s record—we were approached by a scalper. Since we didn’t have tickets yet, I felt this might be a chance to get a good deal. The tickets had fancy pictures on them and looked like really good seats. “Better get these quick; Sundays sell out fast,” he warned. (more…)

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm

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Every tourist location has its hidden gems—those somewhat, off-the-beaten path kinds of places that are typically sideshows to the more popular natural wonder, historical site, and theme park main attractions. Florida vacation spots are full of them.

And if you happen to be taking a Jacksonville vacation, one place you should visit—especially if you have younger kids—is a short drive down A1A. It’s called the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.

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