Maryland - Wish List - Part 1

In my last two posts, I’ve shared with you my favorite places to visit and some good things to know before you visit Maryland.  In today’s post, I’d like to share the 1^st half of my top 10 wish list of places I still want to check out (in no particular order).

1.  I haven’t explored western Maryland at all.  One way of seeing the far west would be to take the Historic National Road (Maryland Post #2) to Cumberland and take a ride on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.  They have various excursions that take you through the spectacular scenery of the Allegheny Mountains and provide you with information about the scenery, history, and culture along the trip.  The regular excursion even provides you with a 1 ½ hour layover in Historic Frostburg (the town turns 200 years old this year) for you to explore that town’s Main Street area before the return trip to Cumberland.

 

2.  While in western Maryland, I’d like to visit Oakland and the Swallow Falls State Park because I love waterfalls and these aren’t that far away from the Washington, DC metro area.  Within the Swallow Falls Park, there are four waterfalls, of which the Muddy Creek Falls at 53-foot tall is the tallest (great pictures that are copyrighted).  Aren’t they beautiful?

3.  Back in May, I had plans to visit one place on my wish list, Catoctin Mountain, while exploring three of the Maryland Covered Bridges (Maryland post #2).  However, I quickly discovered that the United States Presidential Retreat, Camp David, was located in the Catoctin Mountain Park and they had shut down the entire park because of an international summit being held at Camp David that weekend.  Thus, it remains on my wish list.  I had plans to drive along the Catoctin Mountain National Scenic Byway, which is a 38.5 mile road that takes you from the Virginia boarder to the Pennsylvania boarder through quaint little historic towns, and past museums, memorials, and even the Monocacy Battlefield (Maryland Post #2).

One state park I’d like to visit within the picturesque Catoctin Mountains is the Cunningham Falls State Park.  Within the park, you can swim, hunt, hike, fish, canoe, and camp.  But, I would be there to see the 78-foot Cunningham Falls (or McAfee Falls as some may call it), which is the largest cascading waterfall in the state. 

The park’s trails vary in distance and look very serene.  So, if you’re ever headed up to Catoctin Mountain, you might want to check ahead and see what the President of the United States is up to that weekend.  He might be planning a relaxing weekend in the mountains just like you!

4.  South Mountain is a 40-mile long state park along the South Mountain Ridge from the Pennsylvania line to the Potomac River.  The Maryland’s portion of the Appalachian Trail is situated along this ridge and it’s beautiful.  This area features several impressive scenic vistas, including: 

Annapolis Rock

High Rock



Washington Monument

 

 Weverton Cliffs 

 

5.  While Maryland has 28 lighthouses/light stations/lightships on the Chesapeake Bay, I have a few favorites that I’d like to visit more than others.

 

The Concord Point Lighthouse is at the entrance to the Susquehanna River in Havre de Grace and was in service from November 1827 until it’s decommissioning in 1975.  It is one of the oldest lighthouses in continuous operation on the East Coast.  It is open to the public on weekends from April to October.  I think it looks so well kept and pretty.  Plus, my grandmother spent a few years in Havre de Grace growing up so I’d like to see what the town is like.

 

Thomas Point Lighthouse is 1 ½ miles offshore in the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the South River.  The lighthouse was completed and commissioned in 1875 and was manned until 1986 when it was automated.  It is one of nine lighthouses in the country that are designated as a National Historic Landmark.  It seems to be a popular lighthouse and arguably the most recognized Maryland lighthouse amongst Marylanders; however, not many have been to it because of its location.  The Annapolis Maritime Museum’s Barge House offers just a few boat tours out to the lighthouse each summer.  These three-hour tours are said to involve “physical exertion” because you’ll need to climb up a steep ladder and through a small hatch on the lighthouse deck.  Also, there are no toilet facilities on the tour.  So, please be sure to get more information before planning this trip.

 

Blackistone Lighthouse is on St. Clement’s Island, which is the site of Maryland’s birthplace.  In 1634, 140 English settlers landed here to establish America’s fourth British colony.  The 40-acre island offers not only tours of the Blackistone Lighthouse, but also pier and docking facilities, a sandy beach, and picnic areas.  You can take a water taxi over to the island from the St. Clement’s Island Museum in Colton’s Point.

 

Today’s post is just half of my top 10 wish list of places I still want to check out in Maryland.  Come back soon for part 2.

* Pictures found online.

Kentucky

During my senior year in college, my parents moved to south eastern Kentucky for little less than a year.  At least for south eastern Kentucky, I found the fall and the colorful leaves to be so BEAUTIFUL!  Their snow in the winter was pretty cool too for someone who had grown up where an inch or two over the whole winter was fun.  My favorite restaurant was Pine Mountain Grill in Whitesburg, a little drive from my parents’ house.  They have an open face roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy on top that is so delicious!! I got one every time I was on break from school.  YUMMY!  When I go back to Kentucky, there are a few places I want to check out.

When you think of Kentucky, whether you’ve been there or not, what first comes to your mind?  Most know of the famous chicken that came from Kentucky – Kentucky Fried Chicken or KFC.  They’re now world-wide.  I’ve seen a KFC in Canada, Japan, and Australia.  They got their start in Kentucky and you can learn more at Sanders Café and Museum in Corbin.  You can also check out the World Chicken Festival in the town of London.

Colonial Sanders next to the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken

One beautiful place to rest your head and take it easy is the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park also in Corbin.  The 125-foot wide waterfall is known as the “Niagara of the South.”

Cumberland Falls

Throughout the state, they have huge caves you can venture into.  One to check out is the American Cave Museum and Hidden River Cave in the town of Horse Cave.  This cave tour takes you 150 ft underground!  Another cave to check out is the Mammoth Cave National Park in Mammoth Cave.  This cave is said to be the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 390 miles explored hence the name “mammoth.”  Louisville called their big cave the Mega Cavern.  They have the world’s first and only underground zip line, five of them to be exact.  Lastly, there’s the Lost River Cave and Valley in Bowling Green, which has Kentucky’s only underground boat tour.  Kentucky has so many options underground for us to check out.

Mammoth Cave

Lost River Cave

One thing underground that Kentucky is known for and what I saw A LOT of in south eastern Kentucky is COAL MINING!  Most in that part of the state either work in or for the mining companies in some way.  One way to learn more about this industry is to check out the Kentucky Coal Mining Museum and Portal No. 31 Mine Tour.  Visitors step back in time and explore the history of mining and the life of a coal miner.  Then, they get adorned with traditional protective gear of a coal minor and tour an actual coal mine by rail car.

Portal No. 31 Mine Tour

Another thing Kentucky is known for is music – bluegrass and country music.  Bill Monroe and his band, “The Blue Grass Boys,” created a new sound in the 1950s that included Appalachian mountain music, rural “old time” string playing, folk ballads, blues, African stomp, and black and white gospel that became known as BLUEGRASS.  Now, it’s the official state music of Kentucky and you can learn more about it at the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro. 

International Bluegrass Music Museum

OR You can discover Kentucky’s country music side on the Country Music Highway in eastern Kentucky also known as Route 23.  This scenic 144 mile road pays homage to such people as Loretta Lynn, the Judd’s, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam, and Patty Loveless.  Watch out for wildlife along this trail.  Nearby is the Proposed Elk View Scenic Byway in Breathitt, Knott, and Perry Counties.  This area has the most elk east of the Rocky Mountains.

Bourbon is also synonymous with Kentucky.  I don’t know too much about bourbon, and that doesn’t matter.  It’s ingrained in Kentucky’s history so if you want to know more about Kentucky, you have to learn about bourbon and its history.  First place to check out is the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. 

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Map

The trail features six distilleries nestled among the most beautiful scenery the Bluegrass state has to offer.  One such distillery is Jim Beam in Clermont.  There you can visit the historic T. Jeremiah Beam home where three generation of Beam distillers lived, the authentic 1800’s copper still (believed to be one of the oldest in America), and their oldest rack house where you’ll be surrounded by bourbon aging in 20,000 oak barrels.  Another distillery with some history is the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort.  Buffalo Trace was one of four distilleries in the country that operated throughout prohibition because they were licensed to produce “medicinal” whiskey, and, as it turned out, Prohibition coincided with an epidemic of afflictions that reportedly required a bourbon cure (uh ah!  Yeah right!?).  Can’t decide on what distillery to check out, once a year they all get together at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown so check out the festival for all kinds of activities to learn more about bourbon.

Kentucky Derby

Lastly, Kentucky is known for its horses.  The event that most people know about is the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs in Louisville.  It was held the beginning of this month (May).  However, there are other amazing horse events throughout the year that interest horse lovers that show off the beauty of horses - horse jumping, horse racing, and cross-country horse riding.  

World’s Championship Horse Show held at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville.

World Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair

The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in Lexington.

A horse jumping at the Rolex Three-day Event

A horse jumping at the Rolex Three-day Event

The Lexington Junior League Horse Show also in Lexington.

English Country Riding at the Lexington Jr League Horse Show

Pleasure Riding at the Lexington Jr League Horse Show

These are just the places I visited or would like to go to in Kentucky.  If you know of anywhere else in Kentucky we should check out, please leave a comment below.  Next, we’ll explore what’s just round the corner in Louisiana.

**All photos were found online**

Idaho - Southeastern

I visited Idaho a few years ago on an early October road trip through the Northwest with my friend, Lori.  We crossed into Idaho from Wyoming near the Grand Tetons and saw mountains and valleys covered with yellow trees and it was snowing on and off. 

We traveled through the southeast part of Idaho and had plans to check out the Idaho Potato Expo Museum in Blackfoot.  The museum was closed when we got there.  I still suggest people go, but call first. 

We met a friend of Lori’s for lunch in Twin Falls at a bar and grill that was just okay; nothing to write home about.  Afterwards, we walked around downtown and saw geese in the two man-made falls that the town (Twin Falls) was named after.  From there, we drove to Salt Lake City, Utah for the night. 

Geese lined up on the top of the falls.

One of the falls we saw.

Many have laughed at my attempt to check off Idaho on the list of states visited.  I wasn’t overly thrilled with my trip to Idaho but it wasn’t half bad either.  Since coming back from that trip, I’ve met people from the Eastern Washington/Northern Idaho area that have taught me that there are MUCH better things to see and do in their part of the world than the POTATO EXPO!  Between what I have learned from my new friends from the Northwest and the research I’ve done for this post, I now agree with them that the Potato Expo wasn’t where we should have stopped.

I found that if you’re the outdoor type – RUN, don’t walk, to Idaho!  They’ve got RV/camping sites everywhere.  You can fly fish, rock climb, hunt for anything, canoe/raft/kayak, snow mobile (almost year round it seemed), ski, etc.  If all the outdoor stuff excites you, then Idaho is where you need to be.  HOWEVER, if you haven’t figured it out already by state 12 - I’M NOT THAT KIND OF GIRL!

So, here are a few things I found that I’d like to do in Idaho (and still be able to sleep in a nice bed at night while there).

A site in Twin Falls that we should have checked out was Shoshone Falls.  At 212 feet, it’s taller than Niagara Falls in New York and its beautiful!

Shoshone Falls
picture found online

Leaving Twin Falls, you can take the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway.  It’s a peaceful 67 mile drive through the Snake River Canyon area.  It would have only taken 1.5 hours to do.  I wish I had known about that.

Snake River along side the Thousand Springs Scenic Byway
picture found online

South of Blackfoot (where the potato expo was) is the Fort Hall Indian Reservation where they host the Shoshone – Bannock Indian Festival each August.  Thousands of people come from all over North America and celebrate the Shoshone – Bannock Native American tribes.

Two desolate, but very interesting areas are the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve and the St. Anthony Sand Dunes.  The crater monument is described as a vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush. 

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
picture found online

While, the St. Anthony Dunes are made up of white quartz sand that covers an area of 35 miles long by 5 miles wide and can be from 50-500 feet tall.  WOW!  Talk about some peculiar places!

St. Anthony Sand Dunes
picture found online

If for SOME reason, you go to Idaho and hadn’t seen any wildlife, go check out Yellowstone Bear World, which is a drive-through wildlife park that has free-roaming animals and don’t forget to feed some bear cubs while you’re there.

One place you could go to for an entire vacation seems to be the Caribou-Targhee National Forest full of exciting sites and activities – Nordic skiing, horseback riding, the reservoir, Minnetonka Cave, Charcoal Kilns Interpretive Site, and the Upper and Lower Mesa Falls.  The Mesa Falls are gorgeous.

Lower Mesa Falls
picture found online

If REAL adventure is what you’re wanting, I thought you might love the Mesa Falls Marathon which travels 26.2 miles through wildlife laden woods and offers the runner breathtaking views of the Teton Mountain Range.  If that’s not enough for you – you get a free huckleberry milkshake at the end!  HOT DANG - YUMMY!

Or there is the Perrine Bridge.  It’s pretty to look at, and yes, you should go and visit it.  However, it’s best known as one of eight Famous BASE JUMPING SPOTS in the WORLD.  You can jump off a bridge that’s 486 feet above the river.  Yeah, I don’t think so, but you can do it and let me know how that goes.

Perrine Bridge
picture found online

These are just the places I visited and the places I drove right past that I should have stopped for in southeastern Idaho.  Later this week, we’ll explore some places I’d like to visit in southwestern and northern Idaho.  Then, next week, we’ll see what’s just round the corner in Illinois.

**Pictures were taken by me if not noted.

Hawaii - The Other Islands

When I visited Hawaii, I explored just one island, O’ahu.  However, there are 5 other islands in Hawaii full of adventure and fun yet to explore.  Here’s my list of places I’d visit and things I’d do by island.

The Island of Kauai (http://www.hawaii-guide.com/kauai)

The Wailua Falls of Kauai (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60623-d546344-Reviews-Wailua_Falls-Lihue_Kauai_Hawaii.html) is a 173-foot waterfall and is used in the opening credits of the TV show, Fantasy Island.  In the aerial shots, the area looks so pretty.

Also, I’d like to visit the Kilauea Lighthouse (http://www.kilauealighthouse.org/about_lighthouse.html), which opened in 1913.  It’s just so cute and I bet it has a great ocean view.  It is said to be one of the island’s most visited site and best loved places.

The Island of Maui (http://www.to-hawaii.com/maui/)

The Hana Highway (http://www.vacationidea.com/maui/hanahighway.html) looks so beautiful and there are so many places along the road to stop and just enjoy the experience and the views.  The Wailua Falls of Maui (http://www.traveltohawaiireviewed.com/maui/Attractions/Wailua_Falls.html) is one such place located at mile marker #45 off the Hana Highway.  That looks like paradise to me.

Another place on the island of Maui I’d like to visit is the Haleakala Crater and National Park (http://www.nps.gov/hale/index.htm).  It’s just so different than what I’ve seen before.  They also have endangered species that don’t exist anywhere else.

The Island of Molokai (http://www.molokai.com/)

I have pictures of me on horses and donkeys at the age of 4-6 years old.  But, I got on a horse in West Virginia a few years ago and was petrified!  I stayed on the horse and rode the whole trail though.  HOPEFULLY I could do this AWESOME 2.9 mile mule ride through Kalaupapa National Historical Park to the Kalaupapa Peninsula (http://www.muleride.com/ and a good review of the ride can be read at http://www.travelviews.aaa.com/post/2009/03/05/Molokai-Cliff-Hanger.aspx).  They’re mules so they’re shorter and maybe the ride wouldn’t be so scary.  They ride along sheer cliffs overlooking the Pacific so it might not help being closer to the ground and the cliff though.  But, look at the view!  AH!  Beautiful!

The Island of Lanai (http://www.gohawaii.com/lanai) (also known as Hawaii’s most secluded island)

I found the Munro Trail (http://www.to-hawaii.com/lanai/attractions/munro-trail.php) to be very pretty.  It’s a popular 7-mile long hike that leads up to the highest peak on the island  This is the only spot in the state of Hawaii from where one can see five other Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Kahoolawe, and Hawaii) but only on a very clear day.  The trail is a one-lane dirt road that is accessible by foot, bike or four-wheel drive – the 4-wheeler sounds fun!

The Island of Hawaii or “the Big Island” (http://www.hawaii.com/travel/explore_bigisland.php)

The Akaka Falls State Park (http://www.gohawaii.com/big-island/regions-neighborhoods/hamakua-coast/akaka-falls-state-park) looks like a tropical rainforest paradise.  WOW.  Beautiful!  The Hilo Farmers Market (http://hilofarmersmarket.com/) is open year round with a HUGE amount of vendors and different varieties of fruits, meats, vegetables, etc.  It seems like a cool place to go exploring and be adventurous with food.  Also, I hear you have to visit the Hawaii Volcano National Park (http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm).  It’s a live volcano!  I think it would be an experience you have to have in your life – something we just have to see.

One of my favorite finds was the Coffee Festivals on the Big Island:

Kona Coffee Fest in November:  http://www.konacoffeefest.com/
Kau Coffee Fest in May:  http://www.kaucoffeefest.com
Awesome!  Every six months, another party that involves my favorite drink – coffee!  Yippee!  I’m all onboard with that.

While researching the Hawaiian Islands I discovered that there are more than the 5 islands I set out to talk about in this post.  In addition to Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii (the Big Island), Hawaii has two private islands – Niiahu (http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/kauai/niihau/) and Kahoolawe (http://www.to-hawaii.com/kahoolawe.php

These are just the places I’d like to visit on the other islands of Hawaii if I went back.  If you know of anywhere else in Hawaii we should check out, please leave a comment below.  See you next week when we’ll explore what’s just round the corner in Idaho.

Georgia

Being from the south, I’ve been to, and driven through Georgia many times.  My favorite place of all-time in Georgia is the Georgia Pig on the Rt. 17 exit off of I-95 in Brunswick (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-georgia-pig-brunswick).  The 1^st time I visited I was told it was worth the 45 minute, one-way trip from where I was working to this SHACK!  My coworkers and I never regretted the trip, and we made two other trips later that week to the Georgia Pig for dinner.  My boss even took 5 lbs of BBQ home on his lap in the airplane!  You have got to order the BBQ and their Brunswick Stew!  An old southern saying, “it was so good that I’d smack my momma if she tried taking it away from me!”  It was THAT good.

Another favorite is the Dillard House Restaurant in Dillard (http://www.dillardhouse.com/restaurant/index.php).  The view of the rolling hills and the amazing family style southern cooking is just wonderful!  Please do check it out if you are ever in the area.

Picture of Dillard House from their website

Most people that have been to Georgia have visited the city of Atlanta.  You might have flown or driven through Atlanta.  There is plenty to do there.  I suggest you start your trip to Atlanta with my favorite spot – THE VARSITY (http://www.thevarsity.com/).  It’s the world's largest drive-in that can accommodate 600 cars and over 800 people inside.  It sells more than 2 miles of hot dogs daily, a ton of onion rings, 2500 pounds of fresh cut potatoes, 5000 homemade fried pies, and 300 gallons of chili, all of which are made from scratch daily.  Every time I’ve gone to Atlanta for work or with school, we’ve stopped there.  It’s yummy. 

Next, you’ll need to visit the state capitol building (http://www.sos.ga.gov/archives/tours/about.html), which I’ve already mentioned in previous posts is always a must visit in every state especially in your own state.  A beautiful part of town to walk around is the Centennial Olympic Park (http://www.centennialpark.com/), which was built for the 1996 Olympics.  Atlanta is also home to CNN where you can get the inside scoop during a 55-minute tour inside the CNN Studio (www.cnn.com/tour).  I’ve never done that before, however, it’s on my list of things to check out next time I’m in the area.  Another must is a tour of the World of Coca-Cola (www.worldofcoca-cola.com).  Whether you’re for Coca-Cola or Pepsi, this tour is a must.  One of their exhibits is a tasting station with over 60 different Coca-Cola products from around the world.  YIPPEE!

Picture of 1 of the tasting stations at the World of Coca-Cola.  Picture found online.

If it’s a nice day outside you’re wishing for, then you need to visit Georgia’s #1 attraction.  Fifteen minutes outside of Atlanta is Stone Mountain Park (http://stonemountainpark.com/).  You can either take their skyride up to the top of the mountain or walk the 1.3 mile trail up the mountain to see a beautiful view.  Also, they have a 45-minute laser show on the face of the 825-foot tall granite outcropping (or “stone mountain”) most nights through out the year. 

Lastly, while in the Atlanta area, you should visit the Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthplace and burial site (http://www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm).  You can even step inside of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church that Dr. King, his dad, and grandfather all preached in.

When thinking about the south, some movie fans recall the old classic, “Gone with the Wind.”  If you love that movie, you can immerse yourself in all things Gone with Wind in Georgia.  Last year was the 75^th anniversary of the book being published back in 1936.  You can visit the Gone with the Wind Museum: Scarlett on the Square in the town of Marietta (http://gwtwmarietta.com/), The Road to Tara Museum in the town of Jonesboro (http://visitscarlett.com/), or you can visit author Margaret Mitchell’s, house and museum in Atlanta (http://www.margaretmitchellhouse.com/).

Now, if you’ve been to see one of the major mountain ranges around the world or in the USA, you might not consider the “mountains” of Georgia and South Carolina to be mountains because they’re very old and not that tall comparatively.  However, they are still beautiful, especially in the fall.  Just keep in mind that the leaves’ color peaks in these states later than the rest of the Appalachian Mountain range because they are so far south.  There are two mountainous areas to check out in Georgia.  One is the beginning of the Appalachian trial that starts in the northeast part of the state in Dawsonville at the Amicalola Falls State Park (http://www.ngeorgia.com/ang/Amicalola_Falls_State_Park, http://www.georgiatrails.com/gt/Appalachian_Trail_in_Georgia), and the other is The Lookout Mountain Parkway in the northwest (http://lookoutmountainparkway.org/).  It’s right outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Both places have breathtaking views of Georgia’s mountains.

Picture of Amicalola Falls found online.

One place I would love to go to someday is Savannah.  The pictures of Savannah (www.visitsavannah.com) remind me either of New Orleans, LA or Charleston, SC.  While there, I want to go to Paula Deen’s restaurant called Lady and Sons (http://ladyandsons.com/).  I think she’s like to country cooking as Julia Childs was to French cooking.  I’ve eaten dishes from Paula’s cookbooks that were DELICIOUS, so eating food that was actually made in her restaurant has got to be phenomenal.  

Picture of Lady and Sons found online

Savannah is the home of not only Paula Deen but the Girl Scouts!  Girl Scouts is turning 100 years old this year!  Juliette Gordon Low (founder of the Girl Scouts) was born in Savannah and the first headquarters building was in Savannah as well, both of which you can visit (http://www.juliettegordonlowbirthplace.org/, http://www.gshg.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=135&Itemid=149).  A town near Savannah, Port Wentworth, hosts the Annual Collard Green Festival in March with a collard green n’ cornbread cook-off.  Yummy!  According to the festival’s website, they encourage “Ya’ll come and have a mess o’ greens.”  Can’t get more southern than that!  (http://www.visitportwentworth.com/#self)  I think the best way of seeing Savannah would be either walking along the city market (http://www.savannahcitymarket.com/) or taking in a riverboat cruise (http://savannahriverboat.com/).  There is so much on my list to see in Savannah.

Another area I would like to visit in Georgia is the Golden Isles on the coast.  The pictures of Jekyll Island (http://jekyllisland.com/) are just so beautiful and peaceful looking.  Plus, they have a shrimp and grits festival that I’d love to visit. (http://www.jekyllisland.com/Events/AnnualFestivals/ShrimpandGrits.aspx).  MMMM GOOD!  Also, my love for lighthouses would take me to St. Simons Lighthouse (http://saintsimonslighthouse.org/), a lighthouse that is beautiful and has a gorgeous shore surrounding it.

Pictures of Jekll Island and Saint Simons Lighthouse found online 

If you’re into golf, then you have heard about Augusta, home of the Masters Tournament held every April (http://www.augusta.com/).  But, they also have a picturesque Riverwalk in town (http://www.augustaga.org/Things-to-Do/Attractions/Augusta-Riverwalk).

Your kids might like the next two places that I found.  First, the Bruce Weiner Microcar Museum in Madison (http://www.microcarmuseum.com/index.html) houses the largest collection of microcars in the world, and most of the cars in the collection were built between the late 1940s and early 1960s in Europe after World War II.  It might sound a little odd, but I bet any boy (or boy at heart) would love to see that collection.

Second, your little girl will love visiting Cabbage Patch Kid’s Babyland General in Cleveland (http://www.cabbagepatchkids.com/visit/).  It’s the only place in the world where you can witness the birth of a hand-sculpted Cabbage Patch Kid and the best part is that admission is FREE.

These are just a few of the great places you need to know about in the peach state of Georgia.  If you know of anywhere else in Georgia we should check out, please leave a comment below.  See you next week when we explore what’s just round the corner on the paradise shores of Hawaii.

Arkansas

I’ll admit that I haven’t spent much time in Arkansas.  A few friends and I were driving from South Carolina to Oklahoma in 2000 for a conference and we spent the night in Little Rock.  We had a delicious meal of catfish and then we continued through the Ozark Mountains onto Oklahoma.  That being said, I’ve done some research into what I might do if I ever went back to Arkansas.

We all like a good deal, and Arkansas has helped us out in more ways than one.  First, they gave us Wal-Mart!  You can still go and visit the 1st one in Bentonville.  There is a museum at the old location of Walton’s 5 and dime store. http://walmartstores.com/AboutUs/287.aspx  Wal-Mart has gone from Walton’s 5 and dime store in 1962 to having 2.1 million employees in more than 9,884 locations around the world today!

The state tourism website provides a list of 101 FREE things to do in Arkansas - http://www.arkansas.com/things-to-do/101things/ .  Two places on this list that I’d like to go visit are the Cedar Falls at the Petit Jean State Park in Morrilton - http://www.petitjeanstatepark.com/, and the Old Mill in North Little Rock - http://www.northlittlerock.org/entries.aspx?id=233&section=1&subsection=19&filter1=&filter2=&filter3=.  These areas just look amazing!  Cedar Falls is one of many beautiful places in that state park and the Old Mill is featured in the opening of Gone With The Wind.  Be sure to check out its old fashioned country store too.

Photo found of the Old Mill online

The list also recommends checking out the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs - http://thorncrown.com/.  It has so much glass!  I think it would be a cool place to praise and worship God.  There is a similar church in Nebraska that I visited and will talk about in another post. 

Photo found online

Another place in Eureka Springs that has really interested me is the Great Passion Play http://www.greatpassionplay.org/.  It’s been there over 40 years and has a top of the mountain gospel music dinner theater, interactive living Bible tour, and a Bible museum exhibit. The play is America’s #1 most attended outdoor drama.  For more information on the town of Eureka Springs located in the Ozark Mountains visit - http://eurekasprings.org/.

Have you ever dreamed of going to Paris?  You can always check out Mount Magazine State Park in Paris, Arkansas - http://www.mountmagazinestatepark.com/.  It has a breathtaking view of the mountains and it’s one of the tallest places in the state.  It would make a perfect place to go “leaf peeping” in the fall. 

Photo found online

For more leaf peeping, you should drive on the Talimena National Scenic Byway http://talimenascenicdrive.com/.

When visiting Little Rock, you should first visit the state capitol building - http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/stateCapitolInfo/Pages/default.aspx.  Most state capitals (if not all) will allow you to tour the capitol building.  Arkansas provides guided and audio tours.  Be sure to check out the various monuments on the capitol grounds as well.  Also, Little Rock has a Peabody hotel just like the one I’ve visited in Memphis, TN.  Peabody hotels have a duck parade in the morning and afternoon as the ducks go from their penthouse room to the water fountain in the lobby and back.  Its fun to see at least once in your life - http://www.peabodylittlerock.com/peabody-ducks/.  Lastly, no matter if you’re a Democrat or Republican, you should visit the Clinton Presidential Center and Park.  It has the largest collection of presidential documentation and artifacts in US history.  http://clintonlibrary.gov/  You can also see what the oval office looked like when Bill Clinton was president.

Arkansas is home to some odd things as well.  Emerson hosts the annual Purple Hull Pea Festival / World Championship Rotary Tiller Race every April - http://www.purplehull.com//.  I’d like to see what a purple hull pea tastes like, but a rotary tiller race and the world championship at that!?  Hmm.  Well, that sure is different! 

Photo off of their website

Next, an entrepreneur in the town of Lead Hill is building a theme park called the Ozark Medieval Fortress - http://ozarkmedievalfortress.com/en-us/.  The castle is in the making and won’t be done till 2030, but you can visit it now and they have various activities.  STRANGE!  Lastly, you can go to a town in Arkansas and be in Texas (it’s a 2 for 1 deal).  This town is Texarkana - it’s a city in Texas and in Arkansas.  Texarkana has the only US post office that is in two states at once!  http://www.texarkana.org/Texarkana_USA/

These are just a few of the things I’d like to do in Arkansas if I go back; it’s not a complete list.  If you know of anywhere else in Arkansas we should check out, please leave a comment below.  See you next week when we explore what’s just round the corner in California.

**Pictures were found online**