End Of An Era – Surf Ballroom

Each decade seems to bring its own musical trend. The 1940s were all about the Big Band sound that inspired a generation of crooners. When the 1950s rolled in, the sounds of Rock 'n Roll vied with the previous decade's hits for airtime. Much like other passing trends, the popularity of this new sound created the end of an era for Swing music. New faces were becoming stars and they were eager to get in front of their fans. For years, the Surf Ballroom was an important step in the progress to gain national fame. Stars from all music genres scheduled shows at [...]

By |2021-09-17T05:57:20-06:00September 17th, 2021|Clear Lake, Iowa, Midwest|2 Comments
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Facing The Past – M.O.N.A.H.

These days it is too easy to forget about the earliest residents in the lands we call home. So much of our lives revolve around the daily activities that we have disconnected ourselves from our history. That is what makes visits to places like the Museum Of Native American History so important. Finding a cultural center that focuses on the various cultures that inhabited the Americas is a welcome treat. We cleared our schedule to allow for time to investigate this FREE museum and we soon found ourselves facing the past in Bentonville, Arkansas. We want to thank Visit Bentonville and M.O.N.A.H. for [...]

By |2021-09-14T03:56:34-06:00September 14th, 2021|Arkansas, Bentonville, Southeast|2 Comments
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Breaking Point – 1811 Slave Revolt

It is said that history repeats itself. While this is true, the outcome will often change. Such is the case with the 1811 Slave Revolt in the Territory of Orleans. These days the region lies within the Louisiana River parishes. At that time, the area was known as the German Coast. A large number of enslaved black people had reached the breaking point and attempted an unsuccessful end to slavery at the sugar plantations. Our visit to the 1811 Kid Ory Historic House would help educate us about this event. We want to thank Louisiana River Parishes and the 1811 Kid Ory Historic [...]

By |2021-09-10T05:57:21-06:00September 10th, 2021|Louisiana, River Parishes, Southeast|6 Comments
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Eclectic Eats in Lower Alabama – Squid Ink

Our first foray into Lower Alabama ended up filled with unique experiences. We spent a good bit of time exploring one thoroughfare in this historic southern city. Dauphin Street was one of the original from when the city was founded. It was designed to be the principal commercial avenue and it has held that distinction to this day. A blend of retail, and dining makes this the perfect place for some eclectic eats and people watching. Spying the small blue shopfront of Squid Ink intrigued us and sealed the deal for our lunch destination. Funky Vibe Stepping through the door, we found that [...]

By |2021-09-07T14:24:23-06:00September 7th, 2021|Alabama, Mobile, Southeast|0 Comments
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River City Stop – Music Man Square

My mother introduced me to the wonder of musicals, which served as a form of family entertainment, during my younger days. It seems that the golden age of musicals must have peaked by the beginning of the 1960s. That doesn't mean that no good films came out in this genre after that period. An example of a later addition, and one of my personal favorites, is The Music Man. To this day I will put down the remote when I come across this classic. Just the mention of the title has the melody of "Seventy-Six Trombones" running through my mind. That alone is [...]

By |2021-08-24T06:17:14-06:00August 24th, 2021|Iowa, Mason City, Midwest|12 Comments
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Nature Break – Coler Mountain Bike Preserve

Walks in the woods help us maintain our bond with Mother Nature. Since the majority of our travels focus on the downtown districts, we relish the opportunity for a nature break. Bentonville has worked hard to incorporate nature and city into a mish-mash that blends the line. Striving to become the "Mountain Biking Capital of America" has created a focus on healthy lifestyles in the heart of Northwest Arkansas. We made a short side trip to Coler Mountain Bike Preserve to see how this Ozark city has bonded with the biking community. We want to thank Visit Bentonville for hosting our visit. Rest [...]

By |2021-08-23T03:34:29-06:00August 20th, 2021|Arkansas, Bentonville, Southeast|10 Comments
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Tulip Time Trek In Pella, Iowa

We find that festivals are an excellent way to really experience the culture of a city. With a distinctly Dutch heritage, we couldn't wait to explore Pella, Iowa. Taking a Tulip Time trek to this central Iowa town was a chance to learn more about these descendants of people from the Netherlands. With little knowledge of their traditions, we hoped to immerse ourselves in the food, art, history, and entertainment. The Tulip Time event focuses on the abundant blooms that are found all around town. It certainly adds pops of color to their annual festival. We want to thank Visit Pella and the [...]

By |2021-09-09T14:15:46-06:00August 17th, 2021|Guides, Iowa, Midwest, Pella|2 Comments
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Navigating The Mighty Mississippi – Great River Road Steamboat Museum

In southern Louisiana, life revolves around the Mighty Mississippi River. For as long as man can remember, the river has brought life to this region. When the earliest French explorers arrived, they found the Houma tribe to be residing in what would become Louisiana. They understood the value of this impressive waterway which supplied a thoroughfare inland. Centuries later, it is still the river that calls to the people of the land. While the rise and fall have been controlled by levees, the river remains untamed. A new attraction in the Louisiana River Parishes is the Great River Road Steamboat Museum, which is [...]

By |2021-08-08T13:26:54-06:00August 10th, 2021|Louisiana, River Parishes, Southeast|8 Comments
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Sugar Pillows For The Win – Mo’Bay Beignets

Mobile presented us with our first tastes of Alabama life. As we rolled into town, we were greeted with the sights of 300 years of coastal living. We were eager to immerse ourselves in the history of the city, but first, we needed a little sustenance. Previous visits to the south proved we knew that they have a fondness for a specific fried pastry delight. We weren't about to pass up an opportunity to sample some beignets on this trip. Off to Mo'Bay Beignet Co. to get us some sugar pillows for the win. We want to thank Visit Mobile for hosting our [...]

By |2021-07-21T19:26:39-06:00August 6th, 2021|Alabama, Mobile, Southeast|2 Comments
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Airborne Inspiration – Louise At Thaden Field

Having a meal at an airport is not usually high on people's list of entertaining dining. When the suggestion came from our friends at Visit Bentonville, we just knew there was more to this story. Thaden Field is a local airport that serves private traffic. Unlike most places of this type, they also feature an in-house restaurant that is open to the public. Louise, which is named for a local aviation heroine, offers diners an experience unlike any other in town. We dropped in for some coffee, conversation, and a heaping helping of airborne inspiration. We want to thank Visit Bentonville for hosting [...]

By |2021-08-03T10:06:47-06:00August 3rd, 2021|Arkansas, Bentonville, Southeast|14 Comments
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