I stopped in Chicago, one of my favorite food and wine towns in the entire country. I enjoyed some exceptional wine and food at the Greek Restaurant Avli on the Park on top of a tall building just up from the waterfront. I headed south that evening, arriving in South Chicago. It was very dark. I arrived on a street filled with people running around, yelling, drinking and cars double parked. I felt out of my element. My desired space for the night … [Read more...]
Lake of the Ozarks sets its Sights on Breaking the World Record for the Largest Boat Parade
LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO - It was announced during a press conference that the Lake of the Ozarks will make a second attempt at breaking the current record for the largest official boat parade in the world on Saturday, June 11, 2022. The current record, according to Guinness World Records, stands at 1,180 vessels and was set in Terengganu, Malaysia in September 2014. Over the years, there have been many attempts to break the record by different … [Read more...]
5 Easily-Available Things That Disabled People Struggle to Find
If you thought activism for the disabled was just a matter of asking for money, think again. A lot of highly-capable disabled people are struggling to find basics that the able-bodied might consider so normal, that they don’t think of them at all. Did you think that finding an accessible hotel easy while traveling? It’s not as simple as it sounds, and high-level forums are striving to address this, and other issues We take a closer look at 4 … [Read more...]
Road Trip Part 1: Branson to Bisbee
On April 1st, 2012 I set out on my first road trip from Northern Indiana to Southern California. By November 2014 I had added four more similar trips, each time taking a different route. It's easy to say that the journey is better than the destination, but the reality is, the longer the road trip, the greater the monotony. Fortunately, there is relief that comes from finding great places to stop, stretch your legs, take some pictures, get … [Read more...]
7 Best US Living History Museums
If you want a little more out of a vacation, take the kids somewhere history comes alive. More than just a collection of artifacts, living history museums bring history to life in a way that children remember long after the visit. Think walking along the streets our founding fathers did or touching 450-year-old buildings. Imagine mining for gold or driving the first motorized vehicle. These hands-on experiences put you in the middle of history … [Read more...]
Hot Springs, Arkansas – A CouchSurfer’s Slant on Immersion
A smile of contentment warms the crisp evening breeze, as my Big-Easy reality eases back to its default setting: A humbled existence devoted to saving lives, amidst the controlled chaos of a stressful clinical environment. Just a few days back, the dullness of my royal blue nursing scrubs surrendered to the brightness of my candy pink hiking suit. The travel bug took an awful bite! It is nudging this brown-eyed, fun-size wanderlust to defy … [Read more...]
Cherokee Nation Salutes 150th Anniversary, Civil War
Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism 2011 season to salute the American Civil War's 150-year anniversary Civil War History Tour highlights the award-winning cultural tourism program's new season TULSA, Okla., (January 25, 2011) --- The Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism program is set to launch the 2011 season, which runs from March through October and features its four historically authentic cultural tours and a wide array of cultural … [Read more...]
Cherokee Hills Byway features five fall foliage spots to catch the colors of the season
From recreation to cultural, Cherokee Nation spotlights five scenic points along the 88-mile stretch of highway to take in the fall colors TAHLEQUAH, Okla., (November 18, 2010) --- A brilliant kaleidoscope of autumn colors are set to light up the Cherokee Hills Byway as illuminated by an 88-mile stretch of fall foliage running through Sequoyah, Cherokee, Delaware and Adair counties. The curtain of turning colors for the drive-thru theater … [Read more...]
My Foreign Language
The preparation for the trip back to Vietnam was almost as unsettling as the trip itself. Mom didn't want me to go because she was afraid something might happen to me. I had planned to go with several other people, including a Vietnamese guy who goes by his Catholic name of 'Matthew,' and I had assured mom that Matthew would look after me since he had gone back several times already. Father had demanded that I not go because he didn't want me … [Read more...]