A tour of country music’s highlights
Country music is a uniquely American art form, with its roots in the fiddle from European immigrants and the African banjo, all the way through its explosion as a commercial art form that has reflected the social, economic and cultural changes within our country. Ken Burns took on the gargantuan task of telling the story of country music in his eight-part PBS documentary series Country... READ MORE
All aboard for fall foliage trips by train
Leaf peeping is traditionally a windshield tourism activity, but lots of folks believe that a train ride is even better. Fortunately, you have lots of options. Options aboard Amtrak Amtrak’s top fall foliage trip is the New York-Montreal Adirondack, especially the segment between Albany and Montreal through the valley that separates the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. Amtrak... READ MORE
A journey in classic cars down Route 66
In the 1940s, everyone was humming about how to “get your kicks on Route 66,” thanks to Nat King Cole and his hit. In the 1960s, the road fed the fevered imagination of an entire generation due to the two cool, good-looking guys in their hot Corvette who starred in the TV show “Route 66” during those years. Back in the day, yours truly — a decidedly uncool, homely teenager... READ MORE
Affordable options beckon for fall travel
It’s time to start working on your fall travel plans. And if your schedule permits, fall remains a top time for vacation travel for at least two reasons. First, throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, the summer heat is largely over, but winter chill hasn’t yet set in. Second, families with kids are back home with kids in school. The net result is that, historically, the... READ MORE
Classic resort offers nostalgia weekend
The 200-year-old Omni Bedford Springs Resort, a luxury hotel in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, is well known for its state-of-the-art golf course, mineral springs spa treatments and scenic hiking trails. But what guests discover upon arrival is that Bedford Springs offers more than just a relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The hotel lobby provides a... READ MORE
Roadtrips worth taking with grandkids
If you’re like many grandparents who can’t get enough of their adorable grandchildren, nothing could be better than an overnight trip with them. But vacations can also be tricky and even stressful, especially when traveling with a wide range of ages. There can be meltdowns, fights and temper tantrums. (And the grandchildren can have them, too!) When friends ask me about... READ MORE
Miami’s South Beach is funky, funny and fun
Miami’s South Beach — a 10-mile stretch of fine, white sand and sparkling, turquoise water along Ocean Drive — is the setting of seemingly endless happy hours, a bohemian playground for all ages, nationalities and ethnicities. SoBe, as locals call it, has attracted celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Marilyn Monroe, Princess Di and Michael Jackson. Desi Arnaz got his... READ MORE
Alabama’s Gulf coast popular year-round
My first thought was that I must have taken a wrong turn. The scene outside the car windows — Dollar Stores, Waffle Houses and tattoo parlors — hardly matched the almost poetic name of my destination: Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Ala. Small, aging wooden houses, some of which had seen better days, lined the narrow lanes off the main road. Before long, though, I came upon glitzy... READ MORE
Exploring a classic Maine fishing village
To get to Stonington, Maine, from U.S. 1, wind down the Blue Hill Peninsula to Deer Isle on two-lane roads for 38 miles, past blueberry fields, rocky pastures and spruce forests, until the road stops at a snug working harbor on the peninsula’s end, a granite thumb lapped by salty ocean waves. Stonington, situated at the southern end of Deer Isle, is a quintessential coastal Maine... READ MORE
Scenic Oregon, unpretentious Portland
Visitors to Oregon soon come to admire its varied landscapes, be fascinated by intriguing chapters of history, and enjoy its well-deserved reputation as a cornucopia of tasty fruits, vegetables and outstanding wine. No wonder the state has ranked high on many “best of” lists. At the same time, Oregon is as much a lifestyle as a destination. It’s among the most... READ MORE
