Owner: Travel Destination Guides URL:http://www.southpoint.com/blog/index.html Join Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:33:21 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: A commentary on places been for Southpoint.com travel guides, the sites, and the travel industry. Site statistics:Click here
New Atlanta feature reviews now posted 2007-07-16 17:36:45
Just a note that we just posted several new Altanta feature
s,
including the Omni
at CNN Center, the Georgia
Aquarium, the
New World of Coca-Cola, and Medieval
Times. There was only a limited time that Tommy, our writer had in
Hotlanta. He pinpoints some key places to go that are great for all the
family to enjoy. Be sure to also read our archived features on other
Georgia destinations we have been to.
Read more:Atlanta
, reviews
Sneak peak of the Adolphus Hotel 2007-07-14 18:59:45
Recently, we visited the opulent Adolphus Hotel
. An historic gem, the
hotel has numerous rare artifacts and paintings on display for guests to
admire. The staff was most friendly, making sure that our stay was
memorable. Here are a few initial photos.
View from the famous French Restauraunt inside to the enormous hotel
lobby area.
Tapesteries dating to the 17th century line the walls. The guest rooms are
spacious, with an open style which leads from the living area to the
bedroom. Look for our feature coming soon.
What is the most dangerous road in the world? 2007-07-09 22:03:23
I used to think it was certain roads we have driven on while RVing up in
remote areas of Canada or Alaska. But no, those were superhighways
compared to this one. I'm talking about a road referred to by the locals
in Bolivia as the Road of Death, and for good reason.This
one lane road high up in the Bolivian mountains is treacherous,
unwieldy, and remote, and that's just for starters. I watched a
documentary on it today, which stated that on average 200 people a year
have died on the road from car accidents (doesn't mention heart
attacks..). If you go off the side, well let's just say that it's been
nice knowing you. There is a local tour operation where you can go on a
bike tour on the road, which connects La Paz to Coroico. Back in my
younger days, I might have considered. After my wife broke her arm
several years ago while we were mountain biking, we haven't been riding
much. For t Read more:dangerous
Upcoming visit to The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas 2007-07-08 14:26:42
This week we will be visit
ing the
Adolphus, a luxury hotel in Dallas
. From looking through our large
book collection, I located a vintage ad for The Adolphus in a 1947
Texas Almanac. It noted that many of the rooms were air
conditioned year round, with circulating ice water, coffee shop
and bar. When built in 1912, the Adolphus became the first hotel
in the world to have central air conditioning. As noted, several
Presidents and entertainers have stayed at the hotel over the
years. Each of the 422 rooms have been updated recently in English
country house and vintage Hollywood designs. The restaurant, The
French Room, has a world following for it's fine dining and
service. Look for our hotel feature in the coming weeks.
Read more:Hotel
, Upcoming
Today is your luckiest day of the decade 2007-07-07 13:05:56
If you are prone to believe in luck (and my leanings tend to venture
that way if I am near a casino slot machine), then sit up and take
notice.Today
is your lucky day - 7/7/07. This is a once in a decade
event. With a combination like that, who can lose? If you have
especially good luck today, let me know about it. Disclaimer, if you
stub your toe or other injury befalls you today, it's your own bad
luck...
Touring around the Big Apple: Site Review 2007-07-07 12:36:19
When in London, we enjoyed touring some on double decker buses that take
you around the city. These types of tours give you a front row seat to
getting an up-close view of a city without having to walk for miles.I
came across this site - NewYork
City Sightseeing, which is offering a variety of double decker tours
around New York City. We plan to use when we visit the Big Apple
, as the
traffic can be a nightmare if you drive yourself. A taxicab can add up
quick just going a few blocks. The pricing is reasonable, and you can
get $5 off per ticket by visiting their website in the above link. I
want to see numerous sites around the city, including the Statue of
Liberty at night, and to take in a David Letterman show. They also offer
a harbor cruise, where you get a tour that explains about the growth of
the city, as you view Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and large
buildings that dominat Read more:Touring
A recipe for making pork barbecue sauce 2007-07-05 13:27:42
I trust everyone's 4th went well. Due to rain, I had to make my barbecue
plans for pork ribs indoors, cooking in an oven bag. Seeing as how we
didn't have any sauce
, I decided to make my own from a recipe found
online at cooks.com which was for pork chops (but also tasted great on
our pork ribs).It's simple and quick to make:1 8 ounce can of
tomato sauce1/2 c. minced onion (I left this part out)1/4 c.
catsup2 tbsp. vinegar2 tbsp. brown sugar1 tbsp. prepared
mustard1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce1 tsp. salt1/8 tsp. pepperMix
all ingredients and add to meat before cooking.
Read more:making
Coming Up: New features for - Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Illinois 2007-07-02 15:47:19
We have lots of plans for new features
coming up this summer:Our
staff writer Tommy Ford just returned from a trek to Atlanta, Asheville,
NC, and Virginia
. Be sure to read his recent article on the Omni
Hotel at CNN Center. Some interesting features will include visits
to attractions around Atlanta (Aquarium, Coca-Cola Museum, the Medieval
Times Restaurant), the Biltmore, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Colonial
Williamsburg, and Jamestown.Another writer is planning a short trip
to the Windy City of Chicago.A followup trip will be made to the
Dallas area to highlight a unique accommodation. We are also planning an
upcoming trip to Sea World in San Antonio to highlight the new Journey
to Atlantis attraction.What are your plans this summer? Let us know
what interesting places you have planned to go see.
Read more:North
, Carolina
, Colorado
, Illinois
, North Carolina
What does Independence Day mean to you? 2007-07-02 15:04:53
A day of celebration, when our democracy was born. It could have been
different, if not for the scruffy Minutemen made up of farmers, everyday
workers, and the vision of our leaders who risked their lives as well to
be free as a Republic. Our many thanks go to our servcemen and women in
harm's way this holiday, and the veterans who served before them that
have helped to preserve our cherished freedoms.Without them, we (and
other countries of the free world) would not be free today.
Enjoy
this poem by John Mitchum (brother of the actor Robert) recited by the
great John Wayne"America, Why I Love Her"
Have a great 4th of July everyone.
Read more:Independence
, Independence Day
Coming up this week: New Denver segment 2007-06-25 12:31:18
We recently visited Denver
, Colorado. The weather in Denver in June is
nearly perfect with highs in the low 70s and lows in the high 50s. The
clean air and gorgeous views of the nearby mountains are almost
intoxicating.
We also made a short 60 mile trip from Denver for a return trip to Rocky
Mountain National Park. The main road through the park had just opened
up a couple of weeks before. Later, we took in a Denver Rockies baseball
game at Coors stadium and saw Ken Griffey Jr (Reds) hit a home run.
RVing Market Expected to Reach $15.9 Billion by 2011 2007-07-24 10:47:33
A new report issued by market research publisher SBI notes that the RV
market (motorized recreational vehicle and non-motorized, or "towable,"
RVs) is expected to pick up speed over the next five years, growing five
percent and reaching $15.9 billion.
The recent Hurricane Katrina debacle with purchases of bare bones travel
trailers by FEMA, along with higher prices at the pump, and higher
interest rates were the main factors for the slowdown. "The real health
of the industry is directly affected by consumer confidence, interest
rates, and the cost of fuel," notes Tatjana Meerman, Publisher of SBI.
"A strong economy is the industry's best friend. When interest rates
rise, RV purchases decline." This is only partially true. There is a
thriving market for used RVs. We have owned several.With all the
baby boomers retiring, I think the estimate given for the RVi Read more:Expected
, Market
, Reach
Fort Worth honors the cowboy this weekend 2007-07-24 14:44:42
Fort Worth
has a fun celebration this weekend to honor their heritage
with the NATIONAL DAY OF THE AMERICAN COWBOY.We will be making a
special trip there to join in the celebrations, and be updating our
feature on the famous Billy
Bob's of Texas, while watching some of the best bull riders, and
hear the rascally Texas twang of Kevin Fowler.
Fun events will take place around the Fort Worth Stockyards this
Saturday, July 28th, from 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Some of the activities
will include:* Fort Worth Herd Branding Activity* Fort Worth
Herd CowKid Roundup* Cowboy Celebration Parade following the Fort
Worth Herd* Best Mustache Contest* Legends of Texas Gunfight
Shows* Watermelon Eating and Seed Spitting Contest* Most
Worn-out Boot ContestA cattle drive is held daily at 11:30 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m. (look for Snort and Walter, I've heard they're the ornery
ones..).
Just passing through... 2007-07-31 22:24:15
This is an actual truck stop in Van Horn, Texas.The photo
as you can see was taken some time ago. Would love to see these prices
again... It is said that the town is so healthy, that they had to
shoot a man to start a cemetary..Uh, I'll pass on the chicken
special.
Read more:passing
Stay at RV Ranch Resort near Fort Worth 2007-07-31 11:24:05 This past weekend we took our RV to stay for several days at the RV
Ranch
of South Fort Worth
, a new resort near Fort Worth that is listed
within our RV Resort
/Campground guides. The resort had plenty of
pullthroughs, two nice pools and hot tubs (with separate ones for adults),
wireless Internet, and large shaded area for dog walks. There was an
interesting old house on the property and several iron statues of deer
that added to the character of the resort. As I noted to staff, if the
resort could put up reflective signs at both places on the Frontage Road
for RVers to clearly see where to turn to reach the resort when coming in
at night, it would be helpful. The wireless Internet was also slow at
times during the day (due to the number of people using), and needs to be
reconfigured to allow for more users. For vacationers, there are 12 new
cabins and suites, which include continental breakfast as part of your
stay. There
Looking for the "ultimate" stay for your next anniversary or event? 2007-08-02 23:07:16
Looking for that special place for your next anniversary or to have that
one-of-a-kind party that no one will ever forget?Situated in Las
Vegas overlooking the strip, the The Palms Fantasy Suites offers an eye
popping 9,000-square-foot, three-bedroom suite in their Two
Story Sky Villa. The suite comes complete with your own jacuzzi, an
indoor Playboy pool, gym, media room, an 8 foot rotating circular bed,
and much more. If looking for celebrities, this is the place. The hotel
also is home to the world's only Playboy Club.
The price tag for the suite? A mere $20,000 a night...
Read more:event
Featured travel book - The Place No One Knew - Glen Canyon 2007-08-01 11:41:56
Now available from our partner site Southpointbooks through Buybundle,
is the illuminating photography book on Glen Canyon
-
This rare, out of print book shows glimpses of the Glen Canyon area
prior to being flooded for a dam near the Grand Canyon in 1956. Page,
Arizona was founded at the same time. The photographs are stark in their
beauty, and makes an interesting read of the history now beneath the
waters.
Read more:Featured
, Place
Post Katrina 2 Years Later: Finding ways to help the Ms. coast 2007-08-07 13:39:23
With the two year anniversary looming for when Hurricane Katrina
hit the
Mississippi coast, I have read of some progress.See this news
article. New Orleans is another topic for another day. Given the
extent of widespread damage done over such a wide area, the Mississippi
coast needs the help of many. There is so much that needs to be done.As
a Mississippi native, I spent many summers visiting the coast and
enjoying the one-of-a-kind heritage and culture.Several
of the places that we featured within our Mississippi
coast guide were destroyed.In time, the area will recover,
and be a tourist mecca again. One of the key problems right now for
homeowners and businesses is recouping their losses through insurance
claims, and the high cost of insurance for new buildings and cost of
construction materials as a result of hurricane damage.Volunteers
are needed now more than ever. If you can help in Read more:Years
New features - Honky Tonking at Billy Bobs | Splashing at SeaWorld 2007-08-14 23:37:37
As we add to our local Texas features
to include more destinations, we
have now posted two new Feature Attractions in our Texas guide. Also,
look for new destination features on historic areas we have visited in
Williamsburg, Jamestown, and the Blue Ridge Parkway. We are also in the
process of adding a content management system to allow easy addition of
ratings and many other member services.
We make a return visit to the historic Stockyards to visit the expansive Billy
Bob's Texas, and hear the rascally sounds of Kevin Fowler.Also,
we stop in at SeaWorld
in San Antonio, and get quite a splash.
Read more:Honky
Cruising on the high seas Elvis style 2007-08-16 17:29:20
With the 30th anniversary of Elvis
Presley's death this month, Elvis
events and memorabilia are at an all time high.For the true
Elvis fan, why not honor his memory in style?Hop aboard the Carnival
Celebrity for an all week Elvis cruise from Aug. 30-Sept. 3.The ship
will depart from Jacksonville, Florida, with stops in the Bahamas,
before returning to Jacksonville. Jerry Schilling, a long-time friend of
Elvis will be your host. His residence in West Hollywood was given to
him by Elvis back in 1974. Entertainment scheduled will include the
Imperials, Ronnie McDowell, the Jordanaires, the Dempseys, Joe Guercio
(music director for Elvis), and more. During the cruise, there will be
four shows commemorating the life of the King in song and $10,000 in
prizes given away.Pricing for the cruise is from $750 to $2,499,
depending on cabin location. Spacing is still available.If
interested, contact u Read more:Cruising
A different perspective.. 2007-08-24 15:24:39
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist
complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked
how long it took him to catch them. "Not very long," answered the
Mexican. "But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"
asked the American.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his
needs and those of his family.
The American then asked, "What do you do with the rest of your time?"
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta
with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends,
play the guitar, and sing a few songs . . . I have a full life."
The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help
you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the
extra fish Read more:different
Featured Travel Book - Living and Working in Australia 2007-08-24 11:48:43
A recent book just sold today after posting from our partner site
Southpointbooks through Buybundle, is this interesting book on moving to
the land down under.
Browse here also for more travel
books available.
Read more:Featured
, Travel
, Living
, Australia
A unique B&B hideaway - Bear Creek Retreat 2007-08-23 23:55:32
Next week, we visit Bear
Creek Retreat in the Texas hill country. Austin is only 15 miles to
the northeast. The whole house is yours when staying here, surrounded by
100 acres of exceptional views where wildlife is abundant. The retreat
is reported to have the largest bed in Texas. Look for our special
accommodation feature on this interesting retreat.
Read more:unique
Update: Space, the final frontier - a reality for some by 2008... 2007-09-26 22:43:09 As an update to my space posting last week, I couldn't resist to post this
video showing a rendition of what space travel will be like in a little
over a year for those who can afford it. For a mere $200,000, you will be
able to experience space travel on a flight with Virgin Galactic (owned by
Virgin Atlantic).So stop eating out so much and save up those
pennies...Enjoy the video. Read more:Update
, Space
, reality
Riverboat moved to site of planned Mississippi River Museum and Interpretive Center in Vicksburg 2007-09-26 15:29:30
If you weren't expecting it, you were in for a double or triple take if
in the Vicksburg, Mississippi
area yesterday. A huge riverboat, the MV
Mississippi, was moved along a side street to it's new home at the
future site of the Mississippi RiverMuseum
and Interpretive Center
.
Formerly a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' riverboat, rows of specialized
minature wheels were used to manuever it to the new location. Decked
out in fresh paint, with flags and banners for the short trip, the
218-foot riverboat will be a main attraction at the Interpretive Center.
The Mississippi River Museum and Interpretive Center will highlight the
history of the Corp of Engineer's efforts at controlling the mighty
Mississippi. The
grand opening of the Interpretive Center is planned within 2-3 years as
more federal funds become available for the project. Given the size of
the riverboat, it will be a
The world's tallest building 2007-09-25 12:53:14
In an architecural feat of engineering, the world's tallest building
continues to rise. Constructed of glass, steel, and concrete, the final
height of the building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is a closely
guarded secret. What is known is the Dubai Tower now stands at 1,831.5
feet (and growing), making it the tallest building in the world. The
lower 37 floors will house an upscale Georgio Armani hotel, and house
700 luxury condominiums (which sold out in less than a day). I wouldn't
want to be on the top floors when it sways.
Football, Texas sized... 2007-09-20 17:02:45
The UT students refer to it simply as Godzillatron.
The massive scoreboard/HC video display at Darrell Royal-Memorial
Stadium in Austin is the largest in the world, which suits the defending
national champions just fine.Measuring 55 feet tall by 134 feet
wide, Texas
fans will be able to see replays of the action super sized.
Hook 'em horns!If in Austin, be sure to stop by the campus and take
a look. Tickets for the games go fast.
For Texas football fans, our partner site at SouthpointBooks.com now has
these books available online and through the BuyBundle site -Darrell
Royal - Texas Legends The
Best of Dave Campbell's Texas Football
Signed by the Author
Featured Travel Books on Colorado 2007-09-17 12:08:57
We are looking forward to our return trip to Colorado
. For this trip we
will be traveling to Denver,
Estes Park, and the Rocky Mountain National Park via our RV. There are
an abundance of places to see. As this is our first trip to the state in
October, we are expecting to see some snow, especially in the National
Park, and are sure to see plenty of wildlife. The Estes Park area has
exploded with growth since our last visit there. The elk are in their
mating season so we should see plenty of males dueling it out with their
antlers and hear their mating calls. With our upcoming focus on the
state, here are some Colorado
books we recommend.Do you have a favorite Colorado vacation
destination? Let us know.Also, check out these illustrated books
highlighted via our partner site at SouthpointBooks
.com and available
via BuyBundle:
Colorado:
An Illustrated Hist Read more:Featured
, Travel
Space, the final frontier 2007-09-15 08:34:44 Space
travel holds a fascination for many. I, like many others grew up
reading the adventures of John Carter on Mars from the creative mind of
Edgar Rice Burroughs and watching Captain Kirk and crew as they soared
through the galaxies.As we continue to make advances, we may see
where the average person can make a routine trip up into space for their
vacation.The wait is not much longer...see
here.Until that time, here are a few images below of the
Endeavour Space Shuttle STS-118. The images are a little grainy as they
were captured from an email sent to me.Also,
visit this web site and click on the second link shown in the posting to
see an actual video landing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis from inside
the cockpit after an orbit about the Earth and the International Space
Station on September 21, 2006. Quite interesting.For
space fans, our partner site at SouthpointBooks.com now has availa
September 11th - 6 years later 2007-09-11 07:57:13 September
11th. It was all so surreal. It happened so fast.I
remember my wife and I were staying in a small campground in Redding,
California in our fifth wheel.It was a morning like any other
morning during that time when we had time to travel more than we do now.
I was busy writing the final chapters for my book on web hosting. I got
a call from my Mom telling me about a plane that hit a building in New
York. I turned the television on and watched with disbelief as the
second plane hit the second tower.As we commemmorate that day, the
lives that were lost, the heroes, let us not ever forget the hatred of
the terrorists that did this and why they hate us.We must never
forget the lessons we learned that day, and to always cherish our great
Republic, and our freedoms that our veterans and troops have sacrificed
so that we can enjoy.On another note, here is a video that
Budweise Read more:later
New Accommodation - Bear Creek Retreat 2007-09-10 08:23:09
As we add to our local Texas features to include more destinations, we
have now posted a new Feature Accommodation
in our Texas guide - Bear
Creek Retreat. This spacious two-story house is a great B&B hideaway
tucked away in the Hill Country. The roominess of the house makes it
perfect for a romantic or family getaway, reunion, football weekender,
or wedding.
This fall, we return to Colorado to the Estes Park area. More details to
come.
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