Traveling Far, Traveling Near

A Caribbean Cruise Vacation

           On my last spring break, I went on a Caribbean cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. When planning a cruise, I always check the vacationstogo.com website to comparison shop. Cruises will vary in price according to the time of year, duration of the cruise, and the different cruise line companies. After comparing prices for a trip to Cozumel, I chose a five day Carnival cruise on the Fantasy cruise ship. The total cost for the cruise to Cozumel was $530 which included the port taxes. This price was a great value, since spring vacation times are more expensive. My cruise to Cozumel embarked at Mobile, Alabama. Mobile is a five and a half hour trip from Atlanta. The onboard party was fun with lots of entertainment, music, and dancing.

           Cozumel, Mexico is known for its beautiful blue/green water, white sand, and coral reefs. When we arrived at the Cozumel port, the Mexican dancers in colorful, native costumes were performing. Hanging out at the pool at the central plaza is a favorite with tourist. The small port shops have unique souvenirs which represent the local Mexican culture. I love how you can bargain with the shop owners. When I purchased an authentic Mexican blanket, I actually saved $5 off the asking price.

           My dining experiences on the cruise were great. My friend and I ate breakfast in the Jubilee Dining Room each morning. I like ordering from the breakfast menu instead of going to the Lido buffet. For dinner we were assigned the anytime dining time which allows cruise participants to choose either the early or late dining time. When taking excursions, you can miss an early dining time, and a late time may be more convenient. Dinner each night included a variety of entrees. I am disappointed that Carnival no longer serves lobster for free on formal nights on a five day cruise. However, the tiger eye jumbo grilled shrimp and prime rib were tasty. The shrimp cocktail and flaming tomato soup are great appetizers. The chocolate melting cake dessert which is a very rich chocolate cake served warm with vanilla ice cream is fabulous. I ordered it three times during my five day cruise.

           Many choices existed for lunch. Guy’s Burger Joint is located near the pool action. The juicy, tender burgers are a favorite with a choice of different sauces, condiments, and hand-cut fries. The Fantasy ship has a great deli with a large variety of sandwiches. My favorite sandwich was the Reuben. Guy’s Burger Joint, the deli, and the Blue Iguana are open for lunch and dinner. The Lido Buffet is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The buffet has a great selection of American and Italian dishes, a carving station, and a variety of fruits and breads. It was really hard to avoid the dessert station with the huge selection of sweets. Each time, I went to the dessert station, my plate had two or three desserts to taste. I recommend the cherry cheesecake and the banana cream cake. The Pizzeria is open twenty-four hours a day for late night snacks. The Margarita pizza with the Caesar salad was my favorite.

           Excursions on a cruise provide entertainment and allow tourists to explore a cruise port city or island. My friend and I decided to book a swim with the dolphins for $89. My advice is to book your excursions in advance, since many popular excursions sellout quickly. We boarded an air conditioned bus to the beach for a scenic boat ride tour. Putting on our snorkeling gear, we jumped into the cool water. The dolphins actually swam close to us so we could pet them. The excursion company did not allow personal photos, so we purchased the company’s photo for $12. The next port to explore was Progresso (Merida), Mexico where we decided to do the walking tour to view the old world architectural designs of the homes and buildings. The walking tour was an educational experience about the Mayan civilization and the local culture.

A Day in Helen

           This past summer, I had the opportunity to spend the weekend in Helen, Georgia. Helen is a quaint little town which is located in the foothills of the North Georgia Mountains. When arriving in Helen, the German Bavarian atmosphere with hotels, restaurants, and businesses gave me the feeling and impression that I was in Germany. Helen is a charming town that is a replica of a German town. The Alpine Village is home to approximately 450 residents.

           My first stop in Helen was the Cool River Rafting Company. White water tubing is a popular water sports activity. With our water shoes, bathing suits, and bottles of water, my family and I went to the small restaurant which is located in the gift shop. After ordering sandwiches, we sat on the covered porch to eat. The view of the mountain river was cool and calming. My club sandwich was loaded with ham and turkey. The sandwich with fresh fruit and a soda was the perfect light lunch. Changing rooms are located at the back of the shop. The cost for a river tubing trip is $14 for a two and a half hour trip, and $10 for an hour to hour and a half trip. Everyone purchased a long stick for $5 to help us guide our rafting tubes.

           Grabbing our tubes, we headed to get in line to enter the river. Our water adventure was about to begin. It was a great day to float the “Hooch.” Being a summer day, the Georgia weather was hot, and the sun was bright. The mountain stream was cool and refreshing. The challenges of tubing a mountain stream are to navigate around the large rocks and down the small waterfalls without getting your raft stuck on or between the rocks. Being a Saturday, the “Hooch” was packed with people and tubes. Oh no! I just got stuck between two large boulders. Exiting my tube, I had to stand up and push my tube off the rocks. I am glad that I wore water shoes because the rocks were like a slip and slide.

           We floated past the town of Helen. The scenery on the river was a natural beauty with many overhanging tree branches, the rocks, the rolling water, and the waterfalls. When our water adventure was over, exiting the raft was a little challenging due to the river current. We rode the Cool River Rafting bus back to the parking lot to get our car. The bus ride was a little bumpy, and it reminded me of riding the bus in elementary school. At the gift shop we all purchased Cool River Rafting t-shirts. We had a fun time on our river adventure.

A Day in Asheville, North Carolina

           Asheville, North Carolina is home to the Biltmore Estate, the largest home in the United States. Can you imagine being so wealthy that you own a house with 250 rooms? The Biltmore House was built for George Vanderbilt in the late 1800’s. The mansion sits on 8000 acres which include a lake, woodlands, a farm, meadows, gardens, hiking and bike paths. Visitors have a choice to visit the Biltmore House, Antler Hill Village, the many restaurants, shops, and the Biltmore Estate Winery. Overnight accommodations can be made at the Biltmore Estate Inn, Village Hotel, or at the Biltmore Cottages.

           When arriving at the Biltmore Estate, the car line at the entrance was long since it was a Friday. My first stop was at the Visitor Center to purchase a ticket for a self-guided tour of the Biltmore House. A ticket for the tour is $89 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Sunday-Thursday is $69. If I had purchased an online ticket seven days in advance, then I would have saved $10. Looking at the map in the Visitor Center, I planned an itinerary for the day. The next stop was Antler Hill Village which is home to several unique shops, restaurants, and the Biltmore Estate Winery. After browsing the upscale merchandise and choosing a Biltmore House t-shirt, I took a tour of the wine cellar and enjoyed the free wine tasting. The winery sells several varieties of great wines. The three wines that I tasted had an unbelievable great taste. Next, we rented trail bikes at the Bike Barn for $30 for two hours. We rode through the meadow paths and alongside the corn fields. Riding the bikes was great exercise, and observing the beautiful scenery was relaxing.

           At the Visitor Center, my friend and I purchased tickets for the lunch buffet at the Deerpark Restaurant. The buffet was $100 for two people which included a gratuity. Our reservations were for 12:00. The Deerpark lunch buffet is only offered on Friday and Saturday. When we arrived at the Deerpark Restaurant, our hostess greeted us with a smile. The wall of windows offered a great view of the courtyard gardens. The restaurant has a fancy, southern style atmosphere with white tablecloths on the tables. The buffet had a variety of farm fresh foods, butters, breads, and hand carved meats. I chose the prime rib which was juicy, tender, and tasty. The dessert station had a variety of sweets. The southern pecan pie and the petite squares of chocolate and strawberry cakes were a favorite. I highly recommend the lunch buffet if you visit Biltmore Estate on Friday or Saturday. The service was great, and after the meal, I felt like I had just enjoyed a feast suitable for a king.

           Our Biltmore House self-guided tour reservation was for 1:30. We stood in line for thirty minutes. Stepping into the house was like stepping back in time to the late 1800’s. The décor of the house includes very ornate pictures, accessories, and furniture. The house with its museum features represents the Gilded Age in history when just a few families like the Vanderbilt family owned the wealth in the United States. My favorite spot was the upstairs terrace overlooking the meadows and woodlands. The library was massive. Can you imagine climbing on a ladder to locate your favorite book on a high shelf? Everything about the house represents wealth and a grandeur lifestyle. Everyone should take a self-guided tour of this large home one time.

           Once outside the Biltmore House, we began to tour the gardens. The rose garden was magnificent and included many different types of roses. I noticed several roses had 1800’s dates. The rose arbor was covered with beautiful, pink climbing roses. Going into the observatory was neat. The inside garden has a variety of green indoor plants. Some plants looked like they had been growing for years. Being summertime, the perennials and annuals created a colorful display.

A Day at Stone Mountain Park

           This summer, I visited Stone Mountain Park which is located approximately twenty miles from Atlanta. The huge mountain which is composed of granite is massive. On the side of the mountain is a sculpture of President Davis, Robert Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. The mountain scene is a symbol of the Civil War. The carving on the mountain is absolutely amazing. Visitors that want to go to the top of the mountain have a choice of riding the sky lift or walking up a mountain trail. My choice is to walk up the one-mile trail, so I can get my exercise for the day. The scenery on the trail is great with a lot of trees. The top of the trail is rather steep, and you might just be out of breath when you reach the top. However, the view at the top of the mountain is spectacular! If you happen to be thirsty, you can purchase snacks, drinks, and gifts at the store. As we all know, the hike going down a mountain is much easier than going up a mountain. For people who think the trail is too strenuous, the sky lift will take you to the top of the mountain. The view from the sky lift is breathtaking. Stone Mountain Park has many recreational activities including biking paths, walking trails, golf, canoeing, boat rides, and camping. I like walking around the base of the mountain, which is approximately five and half miles. The train ride is a fun family activity.

           Stone Mountain has many seasonal events and activities. If you like to cook on the Big Green Egg, you might want to check out the Green Egg Festival which is a yearly event in October. I just recently went to the Pumpkin Festival which features many favorite fairy tale characters. In the winter, Snow Mountain is a great family activity. Adults and children love playing in the snow and going tubing on the snow-covered mountain.

A Day Trip to the Yellow Daisy Festival

           Sometimes, I like to travel for a week, or for a weekend. However, due to my busy schedule, I also like day trips. If you like arts and crafts festivals, I recommend the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park. With approximately 400 vendors, the Yellow Daisy Festival is one of the largest arts and crafts festivals in the United States. The four day festival has unique crafts, entertainment, and food vendors.

           Attending the Yellow Daisy Festival is a tradition in my family. This year, it included so many unique handcrafted items that could be purchased. Some of the craft items included unique pieces of art, jewelry, yard art, and household crafts. One year, I purchased a Georgia Tech weathervane for my dad’s birthday. You would never see a weathervane with a GT at a big box retail store. My fiancée loves the jewelry displays. I think she could spend hours admiring all of the handcrafted jewelry. This year, she bought an unusual butterfly pendant and a pair of sparkly, crystal earrings. My niece loves the children’s area. She had a Braves logo painted on her face. She also had fun doing sand art. She was having so much fun, that she actually did not want to leave the area.

           The Yellow Daisy Festival has different food trucks and food vendors. A crowd favorite is the Perky Moose which sells food mixers for hot chocolates and lemonades. People always flock to their booth for free samples of the drinks. I think everyone who goes to the Yellow Daisy Festival samples the different drinks. If you are lucky, you might even get a sample of their frozen strawberry lemonade. My dad loves Bayou Billy’s. He sells southern iced tea in an old fashion mug. Since the vendor sometimes creates new designs for the mug, a mug can become a collector item. Each year, you can take your mug to the festival and get a refill of tea for $1.00. The line is long for the tea, but well worth the wait. A dollar drink at a festival is a bargain.

           You will always see vendors like Chick-fil-A and Sonny’s Barbeque. The homemade ribbon chips are great. The plate is always piled high with delicious, crispy ribbon chips. Can anyone go to a festival without eating fudge? A candy vendor has individually wrapped pieces of fudge. The chocolate and maple are the most popular. The fudge is tasty, creamy, and delicious. This is one time that I forget about calories. I usually leave with a bag full of old fashion chocolate fudge.

A Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway

           Being an avid NASCAR fan, I always make plans to go with my parents to the Talladega Superspeedway in the fall. If you want to meet the stars of NASCAR, visit Big Bill’s Garage! The racetrack has just completed a multimillion dollar renovation to make the fan zone an awesome experience. The fan zone at Big Bill’s Garage area is amazing. Actually, when I was at the race, it was the 50th anniversary of NASCAR at the Talladega Superspeedway. The Big Bill’s Garage was just being introduced to NASCAR fans. The France family were the founders of NASCAR, and the fan zone is named after the legend Big Bill France. The  garage area includes 35,000 square feet. Big Bill’s has a huge area for fans to hangout, meet the racecar drivers, and eat. The food was great with $4.00 hotdogs and $2.00 16 oz. colas. All food items were $4.00 or less. That is cheap! The dining area had a lot of tables and chairs, a big screen TV to watch racing activities and sofa and chairs for lounging. In the garage area, you will see the top 22 teams working on their cars and getting them ready for the big race day. Since collecting NASCAR die-cast is my hobby, I took several diecasts to the weekend races to get autographs. Several big name racecar drivers were signing at Big Bill’s which included Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon, and Jimmie Johnson.

           The outside fan zone is free, and the driver haulers have a variety of racing shirts, hats, and other racing memorabilia. You never know which racecar driver you will meet at their hauler. In fact, I met Bubba Wallace at his hauler. A favorite sponsor for the track this year was McDonald’s. Kyle Larson’s pit crew was handing out McDonald’s new spicy barbeque chicken tenders and fries. I recommend going to your local McDonald’s and ordering the new spicy, barbeque chicken tenders. The chicken tenders were so tasty and tender!

A Day in Nashville

           I recently traveled to Tennessee and stopped in Nashville for a day. When you think of Nashville, what comes to your mind? Why of course, country music and bars. Since I was only spending one night in Nashville on this trip, I researched things to do instead of participating in the country music scenes. I was really surprised when I found some interesting places to visit.    My first stop was Cheekwood Estates Gardens. The original owners of the estate were Leslie and Mabel Cheek. Their fascination of trains began when they first fell in love on a train. The Turner Seasons Garden area has a miniature train display which was inspired by the book The Little Engine That Could. It is a book that uses trains to teach positive actions. People who work hard can archive their goals. In the Turner Garden,  original illustrations from the book along the trail brought back memories from my childhood. When I was young my parents read me the book. This area of the gardens is a great family area. A lot of children were playing on the playground and in the tunnel. I loved the miniture trains. I really enjoyed hiking around the gardens and taking pictures of the different plants. Cheekwood Garden has several different areas displaying a variety of plants. The love for plants is evident in the different garden designs. Throughout the garden, a visitor may see crape myrtles, a variety of flowers, and some tropical plants

           My next stop was the Parthenon at Centennial Park. It is a replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It was a great sightseeing monument, especially if you have never had the opportunity to visit the original Parthenon in Greece. We took great pictures and hiked around the park. After lunch, I had the opportunity to explore the Opryland Resort and Convention Center. It is an absolutely beautiful well designed complex. We toured the boat display in the convention center, and many Smurf characters were walking around marketing the boats.

A Trip to St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida

           Panama City is a great place to visit in the summer. One of my favorite places in Panama City is St. Andrews State Park. To me, it is a hidden gem! The park is a great getaway from the commercialism in Panama City. St. Andrews State Park is located on the Gulf of Mexico in a serene area with approximately two miles of beaches. The beach area known as the jetties is unique with cliffs of sand dunes. The jetties are made up of large boulders to separate the St. Andrews Pass from the beach. Climbing on the jetties to sightsee or fish is great fun. However, be careful, or you just might slip and slide if the jetties are wet with ocean water. You might even see a raccoon with his piercing eyes staring you in the face until he decides to walk back to his home in the rocks.

           While standing on the jetties, you can look across the emerald waters and imagine you see a Caribbean Island. Shell Island, a preserved natural island, is just across the St. Andrews Pass. You can rent a pontoon boat at the park for a $150 for half a day, rent jet skis, or take a shuttle ride on the St. Andrews shuttle boat to visit Shell Island. On the island, I love diving for sand dollars and starfish, snorkeling, watching the dolphins swim in circles, and collecting unique seashells. A travel tip is to take a picnic lunch and a cooler with you. The island does not have restrooms or concession stands. The beach at the jetties is beautiful. Sunbathing on the white sandy beach, listening to the ocean waves, and feeling the sea breeze makes for a relaxing day. If you love a gorgeous sunset that lights up the sky, then take your camera and sit at the beach fishing pier. When you hang around the pier for a while, you might just see a beach wedding.

           Visiting St. Andrews State Park is never boring. I love walking the beach, the nature trails, biking, and kayaking on the bay. Some tourists love to go parasailing, scuba diving, and surfing when the waves are high. In the spring, walking to St. Andrew’s Point which is located on a peninsula is a popular spot for saltwater fishing. When the Spanish Mackerel are running, you can catch your limit of fish very quickly. If you love to fish, pack your rod and reels and your tackle box. Even if you do not like to fish, the walk to the point is a scenic route. You can see all types of boats entering and exiting the pass.

Panama City Restaurants and Things To Do

           I love traveling to Panama City Beach, Florida. The drive to the beach is approximately 6 hours from Atlanta. Since I was a small kid, I have been swimming and playing in the emerald waters in the Gulf of Mexico. What do travelers like to do on vacation besides enjoying the beach? The answer is to eat at great restaurants and shop for souvenirs. Panama City Beach is booming with many great restaurants and unique shops. The Historic St. Andrews business and residential area is located on the St. Andrews Bay.

           Of course, you will want to visit the landmark restaurant Hunt’s Oyster Bar in Historical St. Andrews. On my last visit to Hunt’s Oyster Bar, a dozen oysters cost $12.00. That’s a bargain. Most restaurants charge $12.00 for a half dozen. You can get the oysters raw, steamed or baked. My favorite is the baked oysters with cheese. Another favorite is the succulent grilled shrimp. I love the homemade cocktail sauce. The added horseradish gives it a tangy taste. On any summer day during peak times, the outside waiting area is packed with tourists who are waiting to get yummy oysters and other delicious seafood dishes. Hunt’s Oyster Bar is just a quaint restaurant with a unique beach bar atmosphere. Watching the guys shuck the oysters and hearing the clanking bell when they receive tips creates a fun experience.

           After you eat, take a stroll to the St. Andrews Pier. Along the way, you can shop at the unique gift shops. The harbor is home to many shrimp boats, charter boats, and sail boats. Some tourists like saltwater fishing at the Pier. The Pier Gift Shop has unique gifts for souvenirs. Uncle Earnie’s Restaurant is located adjacent to the pier. The best time to eat at the restaurant is at sunset. The restaurant is located on St. Andrews Bay which creates a vivid view of the sunset and the harbor. Uncle Earnie’s Grill is another landmark restaurant with great seafood. However, it is also known for its hamburgers, which are probably the largest in Panama City. It makes me sad, that Uncle Earnie’s Grill is closed for remodeling due to the damage from Hurricane Michael. The restaurant is projected to reopen this fall. All of the restaurants located in the historical district are great.

           On the way back from Historic St. Andrews to Panama City Beach, you pass Howell’s Bait and Tackle shop which has great beachwear and fishing tackle. If you want to cook fresh seafood, Gandy’s Seafood has a huge selection of fresh seafood including shrimp, black drum fish, and red snapper. I bought the black drum fish and cooked it on the grill with spices, and it was delicious.

Traveling Far, Traveling Near

A Day in Cookeville, Tennessee

           My recent travel adventures include a trip to Cookeville, Tennessee. Even though the city has approximately thirty thousand people, the city is quaint and offers southern hospitality. Before the trip, I googled tourist sites near Cookeville. When completing my research, I found that the Cookeville area is known for its many waterfalls. I love to travel, hike, and do photography. I have a growing fascination with taking pictures of waterfalls. Before traveling, it is a great idea to have an itinerary.

My Itinerary For the Day

·     Breakfast at Dunkin Donuts

·     Fall Creek Falls

·     Cummins Falls

·     Lunch at Cheddars

·     Burgess Falls

·     Red Roof Inn

           My traveling adventures were about to begin. The first stop was Dunkin Donuts. Who loves their tasty, sugary donuts? Next, I traveled 215 miles from Kennesaw to Cookeville. The ride was uneventful with no problems. Arriving in Cookeville, the first stop was Fall Creek Falls State Park to view a waterfall. Fall Creek Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in Tennessee. The waterfall is 256 feet high. The images of Falls Creek Falls on the state park’s website show a beautiful waterfall with rolling water. With my iPhone in hand to use as a camera, I preceded to the overlook. Oh, no! Have you ever viewed a waterfall with virtually no water? I found out that the lake that provides the source of water is man-made. A dam is used to control the water. If you are planning a trip to view Fall Creek Falls, my recommendation is to contact the park ranger to see if the waterfall has plenty of water on the day that you will visit.

           The next stop was Cummins State Park to view another waterfall. According to the state park website, the waterfall is 75 feet high with a huge amount of water. To get to the Cummins Falls, a hike in the water is necessary. The walking trails were great! However, the hike in the water was a little difficult due to the rocks in the water. Being a hot August day, the water temperature was relatively cool, and the water was sparkling clean. Cummins Falls is a beautiful sight with plenty of rolling water. I took great pictures of the falls and the park. I highly recommend taking a trip to Cummins State Park to see the spectacular waterfall. By this time, I was hungry and ready to eat. At Cheddars, I ordered the chicken tenders meal. The food was tasty, and the service was great! I definitely will eat at Cheddars on another trip.