Our nation is currently facing several crises. There’s the spiraling-out-of control national debt. Record unemployment. No health care reform. And the lack of any real talent on this season of American Idol. But the greatest crisis in America’s history has eventually become a booming niche in the vacation industry, so there is hope (except maybe for American Idol).
I’m talking of course about the American Civil War. The darkest days of a young nation were pitched in bloody battles between North and South, where even brother fought against brother. The cost of achieving “let freedom ring” for all people was definitely worth the sacrifice, but it left nearly 700,000 Americans dead, devastated the economies of the southern states, and led to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The places where many of these battles were fought have been preserved or restored, and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. One of these storied sites includes the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas, which just celebrated its 148th anniversary.
(more…)
Yes, the weather outside is frightful. And the mood’s not all that delightful with how freaking cold it is—especially if you’re trying to drive on the ice-plagued roads of the Southeast, such as those folks who had the 
Hiking up the path through a densely wooded region, the crisp, fall air had a bite to it that was both stinging, yet refreshing. The crunch of foliage underfoot was another hint to this time of year. But the next few steps around a curve of the path and into a clearing perched atop a hundred-foot cliff revealed a breathtaking, panoramic testimony that autumn was undoubtedly here. The surrounding rugged terrain was ablaze with a mosaic of red, orange, and yellow hues, while a churning white river below ferried cold mountain waters on a long journey that would eventually pour into the mighty Mississippi. It was a sight I’ll never forget and long to see again.