Archive for the ‘U.S. Southeast’ Category

Wild Fun at Ft. Lauderdale’s Billie Swamp Safari

August 9th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations family

Most people who book a Florida vacation in the south end of the Sunshine State head for the beach, strolling in the stylish sands of South Beach, cruising the Ft. Lauderdale strip, or taking in popular attractions on Biscayne Bay involving killer whales, dolphins and birds.

But to get a different glimpse of South Florida–the original view visitors had when first setting foot in the tropics–take a short drive from those beachside Ft. Lauderdale hotels and head west; past the waterways, outlet shops, and single family neighborhoods until the expansive suburbia comes to a screeching halt. You’ll find yourself in what seems like the middle of nowhere. But to its first residents, this area known as the Florida Everglades was home, and that culture is well preserved at Billie Swamp Safari, a wet and very wild adventure you won’t soon forget.
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St. Augustine’s Historic Kenwood Inn

August 7th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations

While vacationing in the nation’s oldest city, you don’t want to stay in just any St. Augustine hotel. To immerse yourself in the history of Florida’s First Coast, you need a place that serves the best of yesterday along with modern amenities and a big heart for hospitality. And with the first steps you take into the Kenwood Inn, St. Augustine’s oldest bed and breakfast, you’ll immediately know that this is the place to rest your head.

Sitting within the historic district, the Kenwood Inn offers an ideal location to fully experience all there is to see and do in St. Augustine. A short walk from the bay and its harbor of boat and pirate ship tours; the coquina-constructed Castillo de San Marcos; and the Old Town shops, sites, and restaurants; it’s also far enough away from the traffic of the busy Avenida Menendez and the sounds of live music from many historic area bars and night clubs.
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A Tale of Two Turner Field Trips in Atlanta

July 11th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations

One of the most popular places that fills up Atlanta hotels during visits to the Peach State capital is a building named after one of the city’s most (in)famous residents. Sure, the Georgia Aquarium makes a splash with visitors, as do the King Center or Stone Mountain, but more than anything, visitors say, “Take me out to the ballgame” with Braves Country stretching all across the Southeast.

I recently had two very unique, very different visits to Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, with my two sons. As a local resident, it didn’t involve any Atlanta vacation plans; more like short drives that took up the bulk of an evening and an afternoon. My first trip with a child took place prior to this season, and was one of those magical father/son shared experiences that neither of us would forget. This time around, it was his younger brother’s turn, and it was unforgettable for completely different reasons.
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Feasting at Lady & Sons in Savannah

July 7th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations food

On a Hawaii vacation, you’ll hear, “Aloha.” In Texas, you might expect, “Howdy.” Out West, perhaps “Dude…” And outside any New York hotel the greeting you might get is “Whatta you looking at?”

But down south, it’s “Hey ya’ll.”

It’s the familiar welcome you hear when tuning into Paula Deen’s show on the Food Network. It’s also what you hear from the hostess when you walk into her Savannah-based restaurant, the one she started before reaching global recognition.

It began humbly, but it’s hard to keep food this good a secret, and soon Lady & Sons became one of the most popular places to eat in town, followed by becoming an attraction for out-of-towners. In fact, if you want a reservation, you’d better wake up bright and early and head straight from your Savannah hotel to the restaurant and get in line with the other hungry vacationers to book a time for later in the day. The window is 6:30am EST to 9am and trust me, it’s well worth the early start to your day as lunches and dinners fill up quickly—don’t worry about breakfast, as there’s plenty to fill you up at lunch.
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Revving up the Fourth of July in Daytona Beach with the Coke Zero 400

July 2nd
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations events and festivals

The combination of oil, surf, and sand have been of great concern for many vacationers lately. But there is one beach, a prime Florida vacation spot, where that combination is not considered tragic or devastating. It’s expected–even desired–as it attracts hundreds of thousands individuals to its shores several times each year. These people are not environmentalists seeking to clean up the mess, politicians and Big Oil executives scrambling for solutions and talking points, or media members getting footage of every impacted detail. They are motorheads and race fans in town for the checkered flag.

It’s an ironic siutation that many vacationers are steering away from Florida’s Gulf Coast because of this horrible oil spill, yet just across the state on its Atlantic side, an event fueled by that same substance will pack out Daytona Beach hotels beyond capacity. That event is the Coke Zero 400, an Independence Day tradition on the Florida Space Coast and one of NASCAR’s biggest races.
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Set Sail for Savannah’s Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum and Gardens

May 22nd
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations family

The city of Savannah is a museum all by itself. Its famous squares are each beautifully landscaped with stately oaks, Spanish moss, fountains, and numerous flora. The unique architecture of historic Savannah hotels, homes, churches, and other buildings showcases a unique style dating back hundreds of years. And then there’s its history—being one of the earliest cities formed in the colonies, the city limits are packed full of so many different aspects that shaped our nation’s heritage: colonial life, the Civil War, and maritime culture.

One Savannah attraction that encapsulates each of these attributes is the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Located on the north side of the historic district, just past the City Market, sits the former home of William Scarborough. Its unique architecture, both inside and out, lush garden courtyard, and large-scale models of ships that have sailed the seas surrounding Savannah makes it a must-see for people of all ages enjoying a Savannah vacation.
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The Tybee Island Lighthouse Still Shines Brightly

May 10th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast beaches destinations

As you wind through the small streets of quaint, vacation homes dotting the north side of Tybee Island, it’s not difficult to get turned around. But one constant towering high above the shady trees, two-story structures, sea turtle statues, and vacationers strolling back and forth from the beach and their Tybee Island hotels, provides a true north by which you can navigate about the island.

First built in 1736, the Tybee Island Lighthouse wasn’t meant for tourists on land, but rather helping navigate the waters of Georgia’s lowcountry coastlines, guiding sea-bearing vessels as they evolved from sails to steam to diesel over time. Still in operation today, it continues to serve as a beacon of light, brightly shining in the darkness to help lead travelers safely to harbor. Sitting on the barrier island known as Savannah’s beach, it’s a must-see for any one making Savannah vacation plans, and it provided a very memorable afternoon for my family.
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The World Grits Festival in South Carolina

April 16th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations events and festivals

Have you ever told anyone to “kiss your grits“? You don’t have to be named Alice, or even live in the South to do so. But if you’d rather open your lips wide to consume the veritable southern dish than pucker them up, you’re in luck. Book a last minute cheap flight and head southbound to the World Grits Festival which is being held this weekend in St. George, S.C.

This tiny town of 2,000 people swells to nearly 50,000 each year on a weekend around tax time (man, would I sure love to tell the IRS to, “kiss my grits!”) to host the event, a most appropriate honor given that more grits per capita are eaten here than any other place in the world! The town is right near the intersections of I-95 and I-26, a short drive from the Carolina coast–so after checking out of your Charleston hotel, or driving back north from your spring break Florida vacation, swing by for the greatest grits around.

Before we continue though, some of you may be asking: What exactly are grits?
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Tee Up a Trip to Augusta for The Masters

April 7th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast events and festivals

Perhaps you’ve heard a thing or two about this guy named Tiger. That he’s a pretty good golfer, had a little car accident back in November, and got into a little a bit of trouble for a couple of things that aren’t really suitable for printing on this family-friendly site. Of course, all of those are gross understatements (especially the “couple of things” comment—I think it was actually more like 15), just like simply saying The Masters is a big golf tournament.

In the eyes of most, it is the only tournament that matters. Many golf enthusiasts have had their Augusta hotel rooms booked for over 12 months, and future travel plans scheduled years in advance. That’s why Tiger Woods, an owner of four green jackets, chose to break his “indefinite” leave from golf with The Masters, making it even more of a must-see event. Actually, media circus and fandom mayhem is probably more like it. But one thing is certain: regardless of whether or not Woods wins his fifth Masters title in his return, this will be an Augusta vacation experience you will never forget.
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Revisit the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee

April 6th
2010
by Matt Wilson
posted in:
U.S. Southeast destinations

It might be known as the Battle of Pittsburg to some, but if you plan a visit to the Civil War battlefield by booking a Pittsburgh hotel reservation, you’ll be a long ways off. That’s because Pittsburg Landing is actually in Tennessee. Also known as the Battle of Shiloh, it was home to some of the most fierce fighting in the War Between the States, and featured some of the biggest names on both sides. Confederate Generals A. S. Johnson and P.G.T. Beauregard launched a surprise attack on Ulysses S. Grant and his Union forces, and nearly defeated him had reinforcements not arrived on the second day from Gen. Don Carlos Buell.

It was, at the time, the bloodiest battle in U.S. history, with nearly 25,000 casualties combined from both sides (including Gen. Johnson). On the 148th anniversary of when it was fought, it remains today a beautifully kept memorial to the brave men who battled on bothsides, and is a must see for any Civil War buff. And with its close proximity, it’s an easy drive for anyone on a Memphis vacation to step back in time and enjoy this historical place firsthand.
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