Alabama’s Civil War and civil rights sites
Montgomery, Alabama, claims to be the birthplace of both the Civil War and the civil rights movement — events 100 years apart, but not unrelated.Morgan Berney, with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitor Bureau, told me: "You should come here to learn the history of the important things that happened here." So I set out to do just that.And it's... READ MORE
Plant bulbs now for your spring garden
It has been difficult to get excited about the advent of fall weather this year due to a wet September and October. Yet gardening is all about hoping for the best.This sense of hope is well represented by the spring bulb. Spring bulbs are nature’s little bundles of delayed gratification. In each bulb is a harbinger of spring; a snow drop or crocus, a daffodil or tulip. All this will... READ MORE
Nearby W. Va., healing for body and soul
A little chunk of West Virginia dangles like an overturned bowl on the northeastern tip of the state, dipping into Maryland and Virginia. It’s known as West Virginia’s eastern panhandle and is the most visited part of the state. If you’re traveling there from here, the area is a welcoming introduction to the Mountain State. You won’t see sharp peaks, mountain “hollers” or... READ MORE
Good time to visit post-revolution Tunisia
Long known for its sea, sand and sun, Tunisia has a new claim to fame — as the birthplace of the Arab Spring.Popular demonstrations toppled the tiny North African nation’s longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January, inspiring the wave of pro-democracy protests that has swept the Arab world, from Morocco to Bahrain.While the uprising that ended Ben Ali’s... READ MORE
Vermeer and porcelain in quaint Dutch city
You don’t have to be in Delft long to see what inspired Johannes Vermeer. Meandering up and down countless bridges that stretch over canals, and past storefronts and slender houses, the quaint Dutch life sets in. It’s this life — with its scenes of domesticity, milkmaids, and yes, that girl with the pearl earring — that the famed Dutch master so cherished during his lifetime... READ MORE
Be adventuresome in Dominican Republic
“You expect me to climb up that?” I inquired of Carlos, who was guiding my wife Fyllis and me on our morning outing in the Dominican Republic. “And then to slide back down?” I added with growing trepidation in my voice.We were about to scale the first of what’s billed as “27 waterfalls,” a series of cascades and pools created by a rushing river... READ MORE
SEALs, sun and squadrons in Va. Beach
Trying to spot a SEAL is all the rage in Virginia Beach, the Old Dominion’s largest resort town. It is home to the now-famous counterterrorism super-secret Navy team that raided Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani compound on May 1 and carried his corpse out to sea. Locals brag about their SEAL-spotting skills.Virginia Beach, a 14-mile stretch of sand with a heavy military backdrop, is... READ MORE
More than beaches on N.C.’s Outer Banks
I stood frozen with fear, unable to run. The terrifying pirate drew closer, his curved sword swinging wildly.Just as he was about to separate my head and body, I snapped back to reality, left my all-too-real daydream about Blackbeard behind and moved on to the next exhibit in the museum.The story of Blackbeard the Pirate is one display that makes the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in... READ MORE
Cut your losses when a trip gets canceled
For obvious reasons, many Americans who had booked travel to Egypt or Japan earlier this year had to change their plans, and others who hadn’t yet booked have made alternative arrangements.But what about trips to other areas at other times? Nobody can predict where the next revolution might break out — and certainly not when and where the next earthquake, tsunami, fire or... READ MORE
How does your garden grow? Some tips
To my mind, a garden is a space — no matter how small —that lets one enjoy some greenery and a bit of the natural world. Whether you maintain a large garden by yourself, nurture a few pots on a balcony, or pay someone else to take care of your yard, here are some basic tools that will help you create and keep your own green space. There are three main areas to know about... READ MORE
