Letter from the Editor Spring has Sprung And, oh, what a beautiful time of year! The daffodils and crocuses are creeping through last fall’s dead leaves. The robins are building a nest in the blossoming tree outside my office window. The kids are dragging heavy winter coats behind them as they walk from the bus stop. My most enjoyable project of Spring cleaning has begun - that of exchanging my boxes containing the summer wardrobe with the closet full of sweaters and winter jackets. It’s like saying “hello” to old friends I haven’t seen for six months. Of course, there are the old favorites that I have to try on right then to make sure those extra pounds gained over the holidays didn’t hinder a nice fit. Now that travel is in my regular itinerary, I even have two swimsuits to fit the changing seasons. I Purchased a bright tropical wildflower one for this
CONTENTS Top Ten 6 Romantic Inns Places to Go: 10 New Orleans, LA 14 Hampton, VA 23 West Michigan Pike, MI 28 Greenfield, NC 30 Titanic Museum, MO 36 Ohio Barns People to See 02 Veggie Tales Page 4
Spring when they were on clearance last Fall. So I can’t wait to try it on again and actually use it. Perhaps some of you were too busy last Fall to take advantage of the clearance racks. So if you need to start off by shopping for those much needed Spring items, my suggestion is to incorporate a shopping trip with your first destination. Try Magazine St. in New Orleans, considered a “shoppers paradise.” Check out our feature articles on this city starting on page 10. How about sewing an additional piece or two to compliment the existing wardrobe? Maybe even an outfit for Easter! See the barns series of articles starting on page 36. Then you are free to examine this whole issue... Happy traveling!
Kathy Barnett - The Editor
WeekenderE x t e n d e d
is published quarterly with periodic updates online by Barnett PRO, 71 Plymouth St., Plymouth, OH 44865. PHONE/FAX: 419-687-0002 email: info@weekenderextended.com
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Editor in Chief Kathy Barnett email: Kathy@barnettpro.com
Assistant Editor: Sheeree Oney Contributing Editors: Rebecca Embry; Kandy Derden; Michael Arnold, Chris Offenburger Photojournalists: Norman Reed; Robert Oney; Kaitlynne & Lee Offenburger
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20 John Schneider, James Best from Dukes of Hazzard 34 Amish Quilters Things to Do 8, 9 Romantic Getaways 18 Ride the Rails, VA 14 Smell the Flowers, NY 22 Relax, Repose, Recline, MI 25 Wheel Thru History, MI 33 Hunt Easter Eggs, MO 42 Culinary Tour, MA 43 Be A Pirate, MA www.weekenderextended.com
The street car is a convenient and very affordable way to get around New Orleans when visiting See P. 10-13 Spring, 2012
Places to Go: In New Orleans
Top 10 Romantic Inns NORTHEAST 1-The High Pointe Inn in West Barnstable, Massachusetts is a romantic, ocean-view Cape Cod bed and breakfast inn sitting high on a hill overlooking the dunes of Sandy Neck Beach. Indulge in a pampering package that includes a deluxe guest room or spacious fireplace suite, chilled bottle of Champagne, chocolates, candlelight breakfast, couples massage and a threecourse gourmet dinner for two. The local area offers a variety of attractions that couples will enjoy experiencing hand in hand. 2-The Inn at Sunrise Point in Lincolnville, Maine is a secluded waterfront hideaway on more than five coastal acres where the mountains meet the sea. Luxury accommodations are inviting retreats with an incredibly pampering amenity assortment and a three-course gourmet breakfast. A delightful romance package includes a two-hour sailing trip for two on a schooner, a welcome bottle of Champagne, strawberries, fine chocolates, the inn’s favorite bubble bath, two in-room aromatherapy massage treatments, fresh flowers and a secret gift when departing. SOUTH 3-Henderson Park Inn in Destin, Florida is a highly acclaimed seaside escape hidden on the edge of Henderson State Park with beach access. This delightful adults-only boutique hotel offers all-inclusive luxury with unrivaled service that anticipates guests’ needs. The spectacular setting boasts incredible views of the Gulf of Mexico. Romantic ideas can be customized to include an ultimate picnic lunch and candlelight dinner on the beach, in-room spa Page 6
experience, soft music, bottle of wine, grapes, roses and chocolates. 4-Rosemary Inn in North Augusta, South Carolina is a romantic distraction from everyday life that invites couples to focus on each other. Breathtaking beauty, rich history and peaceful tranquility add to the amenities that interest men and women alike. The inn offers romance packages that are customized to fulfill your dreams with services, niceties and necessities that will pamper and please. Be actively engaged in bike riding, golf or attending a theatre performance; or relax with a spa treatment, soft music, garden walks and afternoon tea. 5-Foxfield Inn in Charlottesville, Virginia graces horse country at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains with panoramic views of Shenandoah National Park. The romantic setting with a gazebo and park-like landscape is popular for outdoor weddings. Honeymoons and getaways are enhanced by in-room fireplaces, two-person Jacuzzis and fresh flowers. The secluded hot tub under the moon and stars invites relaxation. There are artisanal breweries, wineries and hiking trails nearby. MIDWEST 6-The Villas at Gervasi Vineyard in Canton, Ohio include 55 breathtaking acres with vineyards, a spring-fed lake, walking paths and yard games. Tuscany-inspired fireside guest suites exude luxury from the setting and style to the service and special details. The Ultimate Romantic Escape includes a topiary arrangement of a dozen roses, decadent chocolates, credit towards dinner in the spectacular Bistro,
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Salute wine gift box set with Gervasi wine, engraved glasses and a marble bottle stopper, and continental breakfast delivered to your villa. 7-Inn at Irish Hollow in Galena, Illinois spans 500 gorgeous countryside acres with picturesque wandering trails and secret garden spots created for couples. Everything at this inn was designed to be experienced as a duo from showers and whirlpool tubs to snowshoes, bikes and binoculars. Romantic meals include a seven-course feast and a Bathrobe Breakfast in a private cottage, or dine in a secluded grotto and enjoy campfire picnic sites for two. Every thoughtful detail invites partners to be immersed in each other. WEST 8-Johnson Mill Bed & Breakfast in Midway, Utah paints a pretty picture as it sits on a high mountain valley with 25 acres surrounded by a crystal blue lake and meandering river and is adjacent to a 300-acre nature preserve. Romance is this inn’s middle name, with picturesque picnics by a cascading waterfall, evening canoe rides, naps in a hammock, sunset strolls by the water, and fairytale weddings in the gazebo on the lake. Lavish accommodations come with endless pampering and amenities, and there are many local activities to experience nearby. 9-Eden Vale Inn in Placerville, California
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offers numerous romance packages from passionate to pampering. Gracing the rural destination location in the Sierra Foothills Gold Country, this ten-acre bed and breakfast boasts modern accommodations that were designed to enhance romance with exceptional service and amenities, extensive landscaped gardens, a spring-fed pond for swimming and a fire pit for star gazing. Five rooms have outdoor private deep soaking tubs for couples. Indulge in massage treatments with warm rock therapy and steamed towels in the Spa Studio. 10-The 1906 Lodge in Coronado, California designed lavish accommodations with seaside romance and relaxation in mind. In fact, the main reason people choose to stay at this luxurious personal hideaway is for a romantic getaway. A unique Message in a Bottle package includes notes composed by the guest or selected poems handwritten by the innkeepers and rolled up in a bottle with tiny seashells to be given to that special someone at a designated time. Another original package features a photo of the couple in the inn’s signature handmade ceramic frame. About American Historic Inns and iLoveInns.com American Historic Inns, Inc. (wwwiloveinns.com), founded in 1981, is the leading publisher of bed and breakfast guidebooks, with more than 2.8 million bed and breakfast guidebooks sold, and runsiLoveInns.com, a top bed and breakfast and country inns directory.
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Georgia
Things to Do: Study the Mysterious Art of Fragrance at Chateau Elan
Braselton, GA - Experience the secret art of making fragrance, revealed to you by a master parfumeur trained by Galimard, the oldest parfumerie in France, established 1747. Experience what Kings and Queens of Europe have revered for centuries with the Mysterious Art of Fragrance package at Chateau Elan Spend the evening as a couple designing two of your own 20 ml custom bottles of fragrance to take home for him and for her. Master blending artists will guide you through the process of choosing your best fragrance family followed by your choice of over 137 essences to select what truly becomes your personal chemistry. After designing your signature scent you will have the opportunity to name it and make it your own. Included in your package is a bottle of Château Élan wine to sip on Page 08
throughout the evening. Package includes deluxe overnight accommodations, instruction from a Master parfumeur, two 20ml bottles of your own customized fragrance and a bottle of Château Élan Wine. The event takes place Saturday, April 21, 2012 and the rates are $299 - $374 + tax. Within the sweeping panorama of the north Georgia foothills, just 40 minutes away from Atlanta, Château Élan began with the planting of vineyards in 1981. From these lush vines of Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet & Riesling grapes has grown a 3,500 acre conference and leisure destination where French provincial and Southern hospitality combine to produce exceptional wines and warm memories. Visit online at www.chateauelan.com, or call 678-425-0900 for more information.
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Spring, 2012
Ohio
Things to Do: Romantic Getaway at The Hideaway Country Inn
Bucyrus-This Inn was recently certified by BedandBreakfast. com as a Diamond Collection member. This is an exclusive group of professionally inspected and guest-reviewed luxury inns. Out of 11,000 members only 200 qualify for Diamond Collection status. The Inn is within minutes of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Raceway and the Delaware Ohio Little Brown Jug harness racing track. The inn was established in 1932 by Mr. S.H. Smith, a well known inventor and industrialist who loved airplanes, A few of his patents include the variable pitch airplane propeller and hollow steel blades. He developed the transistor radio for aircraft during World War II. Many of his inventions were used to help Wiley Post win the Cleveland Air Races, along with holding the air speed record for many years. A portion of the property was purchased in 1990 by Deborah and Steve Miller who converted the house and farm shop into a successful bed and breakfast and event facility. Deborah is a member of Spring, 2012
an executive team that played an instrumental role in the turnaround of the Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association. Under her direction HideAway Country Inn has reached recognition as one of the Top 10 Romantic Inns nationwide (from iloveinns.com) as well as an AAA 3 star property. Managing Partner and Chef de Cuisine, Marc Sleeckx and his staff prepare 5-Star international cuisine in the HideAway restaurant every Thursday through Saturday evening. A new Bistro opened recently to serve lighter fare, international wines and imported beer. Marc has directed events for AT&T and held events for dignitaries for diplomats, international dignitaries and celebrities. During the Olympics, Marc was chosen as one of the "Top 13 Outstanding Chefs" in the state of Georgia by American Express. For more information on the inn go to www.hideawayinn.com or call (800) 570-8233.
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Places To Go: New Orleans
By Kathy Barnett Managing Editor
A
lthough known for its Mardis Gras festivities, New Orleans is a great place to visit any time of year. I prefer to call it . . .
“The place to Celebrate.” Page 10
Whether for a honeymoon, a girlfriend’s getaway, a family reunion or simple vacation from work, New Orleans offers all the elements required to produce a once-in-a-livetime memory. The fun begins early in the day with Breakfast at Brennans in the French Quarters. Located on Royal Street where some of the best antique stores in the world are located, French quisine is served during a three-hour breakfast, a nineteenth-centruy custom supposedly unfitted to the modern tempo. Founder Owen Edward Brennan was the culinary renaissance man of his time. He devoted his life to the Eggs restaurant that Hussarde influenced the course of New Orleans gastronomy. The concept for his restaurant came about at the time when the novel “Dinner at Antoine’s” was published. The setting of this murder mystery begins with a dinner party in the 1840 Room and later, another dinner party at Antoine’s, which is considered the oldest family-run restaurant in the United States. Brennan felt if dinner at another restaurant could become popular from a book, he would market his own establishment for the fine pleasures of a an elegant morning meal.
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There are three sections to the famous gourmet breakfast. First comes the “eye opener.” To sharpen your taste as well as your appetite, try the Brandy Milk Punch or perhaps a Mimosa (champagne mixed with orange juice. The Mr. Funk of New Orleans is named for a former cellar master and blends champagne, cranberry juice and peach schnapps. As with any reputable meal in New Orleans, every dish has a proper wine suggestion complimenting each course. For the adventuresome, choose the New Orleans Turtle soup for an appetizer. I prefer the Oyerer soup Brennan while others in our party enjoyed Maude’s Seafood Okra Gumbo. Just the right amount of vegetables, tomatoes and seafood are blended to enhance the flavor of the okra and crabmeat. For the main course, there are several egg entrees. I chose the Eggs Hussarde, a signature Brennan’s dish. Perfectly prepared poached eggs grace the top of Holland Rusks (slice of yeast bread baked until dry, crisp, and golden brown) and Canadian bacon. A rich Hollandaise sauce is served over the top. Now, for a liesurely walk for sightseeing or shopping to get rid of a few of those extra pounds we just put on! Along Royal Street, you will find antiques, unique gift shops, original artwork and design studios. You may even be entertained by a street band or two. Venture on toward Decator St. for the tourist shops to find the best buys on souvenirs. The French Market provides six blocks of shopping, historic monuments and scenic walkways where the first trading post originally stood. The Moon Walk is a Mississippi riverside promenade, popular for watching the boats pass by or listen to street musicians. Spring, 2012
The grand finale is the original, world-famous, Bananas Foster prepared at your table. dripping with brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and banana liqueur, then flamed in rum and served with vanilla ice cream. The dish was created in 1951 by Paul Blangé at Brennan's Restaurant, named for Richard Foster, a friend of Owen Brennan's who was then New Orleans Crime Commission chairman. It is still served at a number of fine restaurants in New Orleans as well as in many restaurants around the world. But it all began right where we sat, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere - a perfect ending to a perfect brunch.
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W
hen you want to get away from all the crowds to relax and rejuvenate from all the celebrating, Maison St. Charles Inn and Suites is a perfect pick. You are still close to the fun, (only a mile or so from the French Quarters) but away from the noise of nighttime partying. It is a convenient location to both worlds. The hotel is right at a St Charles Street trolley stop, a nostalgic experience and easy and affordable way to get to the French Quarters area. No bother trying to find a place to park.
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The Maison St. Charles blends the historic Louisiana appeal and hospitality with a fresh and modern style of lodging at a price affordable for all. There are three courtyards at this hotel. Two have bistro type seating and one is around
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the outdoor pool. All are quiet, but you may or may-not want to be next to the pool. We overlooked a quiet garden instead with a fountain and the palm tree.sThe lush plant leaves made me feel like I was staying at a lavish plantation. A free continental breakfast is included with the room. This is a clean neighborhood and very close to nearby fast food restaurants. For the budget minded, a continental breakfast is included with your stay. The Maison St. Charles is a three-time Choice Hotels Gold Award Winner – one of the highest honors any Choice hotel can receive.
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: o D o Tour the Float Factory t s Thing
C C
elebrate Mardis Gras season any time of the year, thanks to Mardis Gras World, a 400,000 square foot musem , float manufacturing facility and working warehouse. Located on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from the French Quarter, each visit is a different experiencesdue to the constant creation of different clients. Many props are completely recreated and used for a different themed float each year. The Kern family-run business has been making mega-floats for some of the biggest and best Mardi Gras parades for more than 60 years. They also make floats for Disney's Halloween parade at Universal Studios and several other venues. The guided tour starts with a short film on the history of Mardi Gras, its elaborate costumes, and the creation of the floats. Then King Cake is served before walking through the buildings to view floats being designed, crafted, and the finished products. These are all stored in large warehouses. The gift shop is full of unique gifts and souvenirs at affordable prices. The $20 admission ticket is even a souvenir strand of beads to keep. For more information, visit www.mardisgrasworld.com
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After years of wreaking havoc on Virginia’s shores and economy, Blackbeard’s life was finally taken in a violent sea battle with Lieutenant Robert Maynard in 1718. His severed head was impaled upon a pole near the mouth of Hampton Creek, now known as Blackbeard’s Point, to serve as an unyielding reminder that piracy would not be tolerated in Virginia. Beginning June 1, roughly 50,000 seafaring attendees, as well as Blackbeard and his crew, will once again invade downtown Hampton during the festival! Interact with Blackbeard (personified by first-person interpreter Ben Cherry) and more than 100 other authentically costumed pirate re-enactors as they run rampant on the streets of America’s oldest continuous English-speaking settlement. The festivities begin Friday night, June 1, at the Oyster Alley restaurant on the back of the Crowne Plaza Hampton Marina Hotel with an annual Grand Pirates Ball (creative black tie or period attire strictly enforced!). The celebration, Page 16
recreation of Blackbeard’s Party at Okracoke, will feature Caribbean food, adult beverages and live music. There is an admission charge for the ball. Visit www.blackbeardfestival.com Saturday’s activities include a swarm of extemporized street skirmishes between pirates and militia (costumed interpreters), a replica of Blackbeard’s pirate camp,
complete with living history interpreters teaching the skills of the sailor circa 1700, and the trial and escape of William Howard, one of Blackbeard’s fellow pirates with ties to Hampton. Don’t miss the exhilarating re-enactment of the classic sea battle between Lt. Maynard and Blackbeard, featuring two full - scale replica vessels in the Hampton Harbor. At the conclusion of the sea battle a presentation ceremony takes place in which Blackbeard’s severed head will be bestowed upon Virginia Governor Alexander Spotswood (1710-1722). Visitors can participate in the festivities when they join Blackbeard’s funeral parade,
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Hampton’s own version of Mardi Gras, and share in the booty from the treasure chest. New to the festival is the Pride of Baltimore II. The tall ship was commissioned in 1988 as a sailing memorial to her immediate predecessor, the original Pride of Baltimore, which was tragically sunk by a white squall off Puerto Rico in 1986 (taking her captain and three crew members down with her). Both ships were built in the Inner Harbor as reproductions of 1812-era topsail schooners, the type of vessels (called Baltimore Clippers), that helped America win the War of 1812 and finally secure its freedom. Since her commissioning, Pride II has sailed nearly 200,000 miles, and visited over 200 ports in 40 countries in North, South, and Central America, Europe, and Asia. The Pride of Baltimore II will be available for free tours throughout Blackbeard weekend. This year, the event will once again feature the Blackbeard children’s area, highlighting the Little Swashbuckler’s Stage. The stage will host several performances, including Spring, 2012
special performances and a variety of musical acts. In addition to the children’s area, guests will have the opportunity to stroll through Blackbeard’s Pirate Camp where they can learn how to use a cutlass, load a cannon, or even sing a sea chantey at Pirate’s Cove. At the cove, visitors can also explore a collection of 17th& 18th century period vendors selling items such as jewelry, clothing, art, and personal accessories. Another highlight of Pirate’s Cove is the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, a rustic tavern-style throwback to what a Hampton www.WeekenderExtended.com
bar would have looked like in the 18th century. In fact, the tavern is an actual recreation of Hampton’s original Bunch of Grapes Tavern from the 1700s. Feel free to rub elbows with the local swashbucklers and be served by wenches. Other weekend amusements include jugglers, musicians, a pirate procession, street entertainers, and a very special pirate-themed Summer Street Fest, a seasonal street party that takes place every Saturday night in downtown Hampton. Saturday night will conclude with a dramatic fireworks display over the Hampton River! This year the Hampton Blackbeard Pirate Festival will officially kick-off the OpSail 2012 Virginia™ activities in the Hampton Roads region of coastal Virginia. The events include OpSail 2012 Virginia™ Sea and Air Parade on June 6; OpSail 2012 Virginia™ Parade of Sail on June 8; and OpSail 2012 Virginia™ Parade of Sail Up the Chesapeake on June 12. OpSail 2012 will visit six ports April-July, including New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Hampton Roads, VA; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; and New London, CT. For more information call 757-727-1102 or visit online at www.blackbeardfestival.com Page 17
Roanoke Boasts a Unique Rail Past ROANOKE - Rail lines weave romantically throughout Roanoke, tying the town to ports and portals, far from the beckoning Blue Ridge. Once a place called "Big Lick," Roanoke took its present name - for an Indian word meaning "shell money." Not long after the railroad arrived in western Virginia in the 1850s. Today, the city skyline glistens in the starlight, as well as Roanoke's man-made wonder the Roanoke Star - while, at the city's heart, rail lines shine in the summer sun, providing a continuing link to the city's past. In nearly all ways, the railroad has spurred a sophisticated spin within this city and continues to inspire wonder through the mystique of its museums, train-side thoroughfares, architectural gems and the fabulous Hotel Roanoke. Roanoke spotlights its heritage as a manufacturer of steam engines - at the must-see Virginia Museum of Transportation on Norfolk Ave. Situated alongside a much-active rail, the museum boasts life-size and legendary locomotives at the site of the historic Norfolk & Western Page 18
Railway freight station. Here, you can spend a day exploring railroad exhibits, including two of the most powerful steam locomotives in existence today: the Class A 1218 and the Class J 611. As the Official Transportation Museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the facility tells the story of what it takes to keep Virginia moving, especially by land. Exhibits feature antique automobiles, a restored dining car and train collectibles plus model trains with tracks at everybody's eye level. More crowd-pleasers include horsedrawn buggies and a trolley bus. Outside, take a stroll on the David R. and Susan S. Goode Rail Walk, paralleling the railroad for a third of a mile, with www.weekenderextended.com
kiosks explaining the details of Roanoke's iron horse history. Then cross the Market Square Walkway, an enclosed glass pedestrian bridge built in 1994 to catch a bird's-eye view of massive tracks cutting through the heart of Roanoke, the "Capital of the Blue Ridge." At the center of it all, feast your eyes on the elegant Hotel Roanoke. Dating to 1882, this historic hotel offers a conference center, fine dining and endless amenities, plus antiques, making it the ultimate showpiece of the Roanoke Valley. Over a century, as the city grew, so did the hotel and its reputation for excellence. Now, thanks to a multi-million-dollar restoration in the 1990s, funded by a package of public and private financing in conjunction with the City of Roanoke and Virginia Tech, the handsome hotel remains a draw all on its own, whether it's for the Hotel Roanoke's romantic "Train Lover's Package" or for a busy schedule in the conference center's 63,000-square-foot, hightech meeting space, able to accommodate up to 1,200 people. Spring, 2012
From Hotel Roanoke, the Market Square Walkway slips past generous samplings of public art to reach Roanoke's central downtown business district. It is highlighted with a farmer's market, shopping opportunities, and the eyecatching Taubman Museum of Art, reaching for the sky with its pointed architecture, providing a conversation piece amid bustling urban streets. The city's active arts community even extends to the world of trains, with nationally renowned rail artist Andy Fletcher joining the Virginia Museum of Transportation as its first artist-in-residence. Fletcher's output has included drawings of over 2,500 trains from steam locomotives to modern diesel engines, rail cars and cabooses. No visit to Roanoke can be complete without stopping at the O. Winston Link Museum inside the century-old Norfolk & Western Railway passenger train station. Named for the famed New York photographer, this museum demonstrates why a picture is worth a thousand words. The late Link, the man behind the camera, traveled the tracks of Virginia's railroads during the 1950s, artistically catching the dying days of steam locomotives. Decades later, Link's famous frames are celebrated, along with his cameras and his recordings of the high lonesome wails of train whistles. Galleries bearing local names like "Radford," "Pocahontas" and "Shenandoah" encapsulate Spring, 2012
the richness of railroads in the surrounding mountain villages, scattered like satellites from Roanoke's shining star. The Mill Mountain star stands eighty-eight and a half feet tall. It uses 2000 feet of neon tubes and 17,500 watts of power, so it puts out a pleasant little hum. It's best appreciated at night, but before midnight, please, because that's when Roanoke goes to bed and turns the star off.
Music calls quite naturally across the Rail Heritage Corridor of Virginia, including the Roanoke Valley, with notes inspired by the tapestry of tracks crisscrossing the corridor where Southwest Virginia meets the Shenandoah Valley. Roanoke serves as the gateway to both fabled regions, and it's not just by geographic happenstance; it's simply the path of pioneers - and progress. Stretching across Western Virginia, from Lynchburg to Clifton Forge, Virginia's Rail Heritage Region encompasses the largest concentration of historic rail facilities in Virginia, including the shops in Roanoke, where the most modern steam locomotives in the world were designed and built. www.weekenderextended.com
Headquartered in Roanoke, the famed Norfolk & Western Railway made its own locomotives and employed thousands of craftsmen in a multitude of trades, designing and maintaining the cars and engines that kept trains moving. These craftsmen were simply the best - and helped make Norfolk & Western the most profitable railroad in America. Today, a celebration of history remains the mission of the Norfolk & Western Historical Society, headquartered in Roanoke, with archives of drawings, photographs and documents open to the public. The Roanoke Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, meanwhile, also strives to educate, offering train excursions while restoring the antique rail equipment of Roanoke and the Virginian Railway's historic Roanoke passenger station. Home to more than the Link museum, the historic Norfolk & Western Railway passenger train station represents the railroad's royalty in Roanoke. Rebuilt and redesigned, continually, as Roanoke grew, the depot's earliest portions date to 1881, though the station's distinctive columns, with a Greek design, come from a 1905 reshaping. Passenger service ended in 1972, and while the station was abandoned in the 1990s, the cherished structure was lovingly saved and restored, finally entering its current life as the site of the Link Museum and the Roanoke Valley CVB. Page 19
N
Submitted by Schuyler Bull
ew York State’s capital city will play host to 212,000 tulips boasting a vast mix of crèmes, blues, greens, and reds among other colors, all blooming in Albany’s historic Washington Park. The 64th Annual Tulip Fest will take place May 12 & 13 and will be attended by approximately 100,000 people from throughout the Northeast. Each year begins with teams of residents fully clad in Hollanders attire using soap, brushes, and buckets of water to physically wash State Street in preparation for the festivities ahead. As the festivities begin, the Tulip Queen Coronation gets underway. This is another original tradition that acknowledges hardworking young women in the community as ambassadors for Albany. During their year-long reign, the Queen and her court take part in community service projects throughout the Albany area. Spring, 2012
Tulip Fest takes place Mother’s Day weekend – so Sunday is devoted to moms, and one deserving mom will be crowned Mother of the Year. Tulip Fest is also packed with musical entertainment on several stages throughout the park. An eclectic mix of popular local and international bands will be playing all weekend. Albany, NY – 2012 is shaping up to be a fun year in New York’s Capital city, and we wanted to share our excitement with you. In 1948, Erastus Corning II, the Mayor of Albany declared the Tulip the “official flower of Albany”. Following that, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands honored the Mayor’s request and designated the variety of tulip, known as the “Orange Wonder” to be the tulip of Albany. The following year, the first Tulip Festival was held in the same place in which it resides today. More than 60 years later, the original traditions still occur. A plethora of food vendors www.WeekenderExtended.com
will be on hand, from traditional carnival snacks to international cuisine. Fried dough, lemonade, Souvlaki, and pasta e fagioli are some of the choices for Tulip Fest attendees. Close to one 100 crafters bring their creations from paintings and toys, to furniture and art work for festival goers to enjoy and take home. A family-friendly Kids Zone will include live music, magicians, a chess tent, a rock climbing wall, and so much more. The Tulip Fest is a FREE event with traditions dating back more than half a century. From the scrubbing of State Street to kick-off the festival, to the crowning of the Tulip Queen, the weekend is filled with an array of entertainment, food, and activities for all. There’s no question why so many come to enjoy the beauty and wonder of Albany. Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. 25 Quackenbush Square, Albany, NY 12207 www.albany.org | 800-258-3582 Schuyler Bull is the marketing manager for Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. He may be reached at sbull@albany.org
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Things to Do: Relax, Repose, Recline Whether it’s a summer day spent on the golf course, or hitting the slopes after a winter snowfall – resorts across northern Michigan offer a splendor of spa services to sooth sore muscles and bring about a serene state of mind. The full service Solace Spa External Link in the Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa at Boyne Mountain Resort was named one of the “Best Spas in the World” by Spa Magazine. Experience a European Spa Bathing Ritual, a fitness package that includes private training followed by a sports massage or body treatments such as a Hot Toddy for the Body or a Water Lily
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Wrap. Get a taste of adventure snowmobiling or extreme tubing at Treetops Resort in Gaylord and then indulge in a visit to the Treetops Spa External Link. From a Four Layer Facial to a Steaming Stone Massage you will leave feeling remarkably renewed. Spa Grand Traverse External Link at the Grand Traverse Resort just outside of Traverse City takes inspiration from the cherries the area is known for. Enjoy a Blissful Cherry package, a Cherry Honey Glow, or a “Cherry” Infused massage among their wide array of spa services.
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Crystal Spa Oasis External Link at Crystal Mountain Resort and Spa in Thompsonville is the only LEED certified spa in the Midwest. Seasonal specials include a Pumpkin Peel Facial and Sugar & Spice Scrub with a wide variety of year-round services including the Signature Crystal Balance and the Healing Hands Ritual.
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By Mike Norton Media Relations Director TRAVERSE CITY, MI – Today, this bustling resort community on the shores of Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay is a four-season tourist magnet visited by more than two million people a year. Looking at the town’s modern-day influx of tourist traffic, it’s hard to imagine that there were no dependable roads into Traverse City until well into the 20th century. Visitors could reach this part of Michigan by steamship or railroad, but motorists were warned to prepare for a major adventure along “cow paths, dirt trails, and twin ruts through dune sand.” That all changed in 1913, when civic leaders from the coastal communities along the Lake Michigan shoreline began agitating for a new highway that would carry tourists from Chicago all the way up the coast to Mackinaw City, at the tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The West Michigan Pike (as it was eventually christened) opened Traverse City to an entirely new clientele, making it suddenly affordable for young working-class families to enjoy an “Up North” vacation. Historians Christine Byron and Tom Wilson, authors of "Vintage Views Along the West Michigan Pike", say the new road transformed the economy of northern Michigan, which had been devastated by the decline of the lumber industry and had lost much of its population. “The automobile made it possible for more people to become involved as tourists, and the Pike was really the first road that brought them into northern Michigan,” says Wilson. “It was a Spring, 2012
true grass-roots initiative -- which is exactly the opposite of the way we do highways today.” The 400-mile route, now known as U.S. 31, begins at the Michigan-Indiana state line and wanders through a litany of storied beach towns -- New Buffalo, Saugatuck, Holland, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Ludington, Manistee, Frankfort, Traverse City, Charlevoix and Petoskey – to its terminus at Mackinaw. This year, communities up and down the shore are preparing to celebrate the 2013 centennial of the Pike with parties, tours and ceremonies – exactly the same kind of observances that were held when it first opened. Sometimes called the “Route 66 of Michigan,” the Pike was first conceived by William
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Antisdale of Muskegon, who called a 1913 meeting that included two passionate advocates from the North: Traverse City’s Frank Hamilton and D.H. Day of Glen Haven. They drew up potential routes – including a long “scenic loop” around the Leelanau Peninsula that skirted the edge of the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and campaigned for state funding to make it a reality. Determined to stay as close as possible to the water’s edge, their slogan was “Lakeshore All the Way.” It didn’t happen overnight. As late as 1919, young Ernest Hemingway was urging Chicago pals to drive up to his family cottage at Horton Bay, assuring them that it would take them “less than three days” to make the trip. But by 1922 the graveled road was completed, and excited boosters announced that it was now possible to drive up the coast as fast as 35 mph. They promoted the new road with annual group excursions, published detailed guidebooks and set up the state’s first highway visitor center. It would be years before the road was actual-
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ly paved – the pavement didn’t reach Traverse City until 1926 – but its mere existence created a galaxy of gas stations, rest stops, tourist courts, state parks, campgrounds, restaurants and roadside stands. Some of them can still be found along the road’s quieter stretches. Although the official centennial of the Pike isn’t until 2013, plans are already taking shape for a number of early-bird events. More than 100 classic automobiles will drive a portion of the Pike on June 23 on the first leg of The Great Race, a nine-day international road rally through Ontario, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio that will end in Henry Ford’s hometown of Dearborn on July 1. Local car aficionados and officials of Hagerty Insurance (the world’s largest insurer of collector cars and boats) are preparing a wide array of events and celebrations to mark the start of the rally. Participating autos must have been built between 1911 and 1969, and most are prewar vintage. For information contact the Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800TRAVERSE or on line at www.traversecity.com
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Things To Do: Wheel Through History Michigan's fascination with the automobile and its birth and continuous association with venues around the state includes museums, collectable, historic documentation, hands-on activities, and even an assembly line and plant tour. Start with the Gilmore Car Museum - Take a drive down memory lane at Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners (about 15 miles northeast of Kalamazoo). Visitors can eyeball 200 vehicles, spanning more than 100 years. The newly expanded car haven now features an additional 21,000 square feet in three buildings. Guests weave their way through 90 acres of pastoral countryside featuring eight restored 19th-century barns, a 1930s gas station, a new 1940s-style diner and an old train depot-all showcasing automotive history from the 1899 Locomobile to the 2002 Camaro. If a 1935 London taxi or a 1950 double-decker bus offers you a ride along the way, go ahead and hop in. Among the automobiles you'll see are the 1929 Duesenberg Model J; the DeLorean, made popular by Back to the Future; and the 1948 Tucker, thought at the time to be the car of the future. Remember to mark your calendar for the numerous car and motorcycle shows the museum holds each year. At Dearborn's Automotive Hall of Fame, guests are invited to meander through the exhibits area where they can experience interSpring, 2012
active displays and authentic artifacts about the global automotive industry, its pioneers, inventors, innovators and leaders. The onsite gift shop offers many unique automotive related books, posters, miniatures, clothing and other gift items. The MotorCities National Heritage Area affords visitors an opportunity to discover the nationally and internationally significant story of the American automotive industry, which had its beginnings here in Michigan. Nearly 1200 auto-related resources have been identified in the motors Cities heritage region--the largest concentration of auto-related sites, attractions and events in the world. Don’t forget The 1950s CorvetteSoutheastern Michigan's Ypsilanti Automotive Heritage Museum, which is housed in the last operating Hudson dealership in the world. Displays include Tucker, Hudson, Kaiser, Frazer, Corvairs (General Motors) and much more. The collection features both authentic and restored automobiles, as well as a wealth of other artifacts and records. Along with automobiles at The Henry Ford, you can find a celebrated indoor-historical museum, fascinating outdoor displays, a factory tour, an awesome motion picture theater, an unparallel research center, and a factory tour. Everything from inventions, products, and displays, to comical and peculiar memorabilia
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~ Wheel Through History, Cont. ~ pack Henry Ford Museum. You'll see the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, for example, along with the chair in which President Lincoln was assassinated and a test tube containing Thomas Edison's last breath. Restored in 2003, Greenfield Village stages seven outdoor-themed areas, each celebrating chapters of America's story. Porches and Parlors commemorate old neighborhoods with their original houses. Working Farms re-creates 19th-century rural life, while a 1800s smalltown train depot, steam-powered rail line and working roundhouse at Railroad Junction salute the nation's railroading legacy. Throughout the village, interpreters in period costumes and live demonstrations help recapture the past. Other sections include Main Street, Edison at Work, Henry Ford's Model T and Liberty Craftworks. Be sure to plan enough time to examine doc-
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uments at the Benson Ford Research Center, or watch the transformation of materials come together during an exciting Ford Rouge Factory Tour. A stop at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills with its more than 70 vehicles on display is also a must for the automobile enthausiast--especially drag racing fans. Explore the interactive kiosk stations, and enjoy three short films that feature a look at the Chrysler Tech Center, drag racing in the 1960's and Walter P. Chrysler’s early years. You’ll also want to plan a visit to Flint’s Sloan Museum to check out the area’s part in the automotive revolution as well as the Buick Gallery and Research Center was opened. The gallery is home to nearly 30 of the museum’s automobiles, an automotive restoration facility and the Perry Archives. For more information, visit michigan.org.
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Places to Go: Greenville, SC Submitted by Taryn Scher President of TK PR Public Relations Nothing says family vacation quite like Memorial Day Weekend. And no other destination offers quite as much for the entire family as Greenville, South Carolina. From festivals and cycling championships, to free concerts and outdoor movies- there is literally something for everyone- and many of the activities are free! For example, every Wednesday night in May families can watch FREE classic movies under the stars during Moonlight Movies downtown. Every Friday night during the summer, Downtown Greenville comes alive with an outdoor street party featuring live musical entertainment with varied sounds including rock, blues, funk and cover bands. Every Saturday morning shop the Farmer’s Market. But aside from special events - there’s always something exciting to do in Greenville- like catching The Greenville Drive, the Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox whose field is a mini replica of Boston's Fenway Park, or take a ride on the free trolley up and down Main Street to aquaint yourself with the hundreds of locally owned and operated boutique shops and restaurants. Or enjoy a leisurely stroll through the 40 acre park that is in the center of Downtown Greenville. A visit to the Michelin Retail Store is a must- the only retail store of its kind featuring Michelin-inspired productseverything from coffee mugs to Christmas ornaments, stuffed toys to golf balls- all with the signature Michelin Man himself. Another must? The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball Library chronicles the life of one of America's greatest baseball legends in his childhood home. Page 28
May Festivals Artisphere - May 11-13, 2012- This artful weekend in downtown Greenville the arts, both visual and performing, from all over the US. USA Pro-Cycling - May 25-28, 2012- Part of the USA Cycling Professional Tour, hometown hero George Hincapie will try to reclaim the title one last time in his own backyard before retiring later this year. Freedom Weekend Aloft - May 25-28, 2012- The sky is filled with more than 80 hot air balloons during this 29-year-old annual event which offers attendees a relaxing, family-oriented, affordable and funfilled weekend. The Greenville Scottish Games May 2327, 2012– featuring the Masters World Heavies Championships, the games will attract more than 50 clans from all over the country- and the Duke of Hamilton himself. For more information you can also visit www.greenvillecvb.com
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Climb aboard a major adventure at Titanic Museum Attraction, in Branson. “The Year of the Titanic” marks the 100th anniversary of that fateful journey. Explore this remarkable museum; steer the ship; walk the hallways; and enjoy the opportunity to view more than 400 Titanic artifacts. USA Today says this is “not to be missed.” This is a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Experience life on board Titanic,
just as it was on her maiden voyage 100 years ago. Walk the hallways, parlors, cabins and Grand Staircase while surrounded by more than 400 rare artifacts. Touch an iceberg, steer the ship, be seated in a Titanic lifeboat and listen to actual survivors tell their stories. We strongly recommend that you pre-purchase your tickets online at www.titanicbranson.com/as most weekends are SOLD OUT very quickly!
Titanic Branson Presents “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic" Saturday, April 14, 2012 in Branson Titanic Museum Attractions is hosting “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic,” on Saturday, April 14, the 100th anniversary of the night the ship struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage.Musical performances, historic ceremonies and appearances by actual descendants of Titanic’s passengers and crew will highlight the production honoring the 2,208 people aboard the ship. Tickets are on sale now. Call 800-381-7670 to reserve. Page 30
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Things to Do: Recreate the Last Dinner ST LOUIS - Recreating the Titanic's final 11-course dinner menu is just one of the special events slated for St. Louis' Titanic Centennial Weekend, April 1315, 2012. Cruise into the Gateway City to experience the history, fashion, food and music of the elegant Edwardian era. One hundred years ago this April, a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch scored one of the biggest stories of the 20th century – the sinking of the H.M.S. Titanic. Today, the legendary ship continues to make headlines in St. Louis where a weekend of special commemorative events will take place to remember this ever-fascinating piece of history. On Friday, April 13, the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park serves up an Edwardian Champagne Reception prior to a screening of the classic 1958 Titanic film, “A Night to Remember.” Guests also will view Titanic-related artifacts from the Museum’s collection. The highlight of the weekend takes place at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on Saturday, April 14. The Fox’s executive chef Stephen Proctor along with the culinary teaching staff at L’Ecole Culiniare will recreate the original First Class menu served to Titanic guests on the actual 100th anniversary of the last dinner on the ship. The historic menu was meticulously researched to authentically recreate the elevencourse meal and accompanying wines. The Titanic-sized menu includes oysters a la Russe, poached salmon, filet mignon, chicken Lyonnaise, roasted squab and Waldorf pudding. Prior to dinner, a period-style cocktail reception featuring live music popular during 1912 will fill the Fox Theatre’s elaborate Grand Lobby. Between courses, guests will be enterSpring, 2012
tained with stories about the Titanic told by actors portraying passengers and crew who had been aboard the fateful ship including Missouri’s own “Unsinkable” Molly Brown. Proceeds from the evening benefit the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, a notforprofit which fosters and promotes the performing arts in the St. Louis area. On Saturday evening guests can partake in a special champagne brunch at the Piper Palm House, the oldest standing greenhouse west of the Mississippi River. The three events range in price from $10 - 500. For a special St. Louis Titanic Weekend, travel packages are available at the newly restored Cheshire Hotel, an AAA Four Diamond property that embodies the charm and authenticity of a traditional British inn. The $389 hotel package includes deluxe accommodations for two nights (Friday and Saturday/double occupancy), an English Continental breakfast on Saturday, complimentary high tea on Saturday., and round-trip transpo rtation to the events at the Missouri History Museum, The Fox Theatre and the Piper Palm House. For more information, contact the Convention & Visitors Commission at 314-4211023 or visit online at www.explorestlouis.com
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Things to Do: Catch the Big One
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orget about boring business trips. Instead, ditch the dull itinerary and plan an extraordinary adventure. In Missouri, the state's natural beauty provides the perfect backdrop for all kinds of outdoor activities. Set your sights on a spring turkey hunt. Or cast your line into a lake or river - the fish are definitely biting this time of year! Spend a night under the stars at one of Missouri's many scenic campgrounds. Fun awaits every member of the family this spring in Missouri. Whether you've been fishing for decades or you are just learning to cast a line, wonderful opportunities are found throughout Missouri. The rivers, lakes and streams are filled with countless species of fish. The beautiful Spring weather brings the perfect temperatures for a peaceful day on the water. Bass-fishing enthusiasts consider Long Branch State Park an excellent destination, with good reason — plenty of bass call the 2,430-acre Long Branch Lake
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home. In addition to stellar fishing, the park, located west of Macon, offers camping, swimming and hiking. Think you have what it takes to be a bassfishing competitor? Strut your stuff at the Big Bass Bash Fishing Tournament at the Lake of the Ozarks, April 21 and 22. Since 2006, the Big Bass Bash has grown to become the Midwest's largest amateur bass fishing tournament. This year alone, Midwest Fish Tournaments will award over a third of a million dollars in cash at the 2012 Spring and Fall events. There is even competition scheduled for the kids. Anglers involved in the tournament may take off from any location around the Lake of the Ozarks; weigh-ins are conducted at the following locations: Public Beach No. 2; Red Oak Resort; Alhonna Resort; and Red Fox Bar & Grill. This tournament is designed for amateurs only. For details on joining the competition, rules and entry forms, visit online at www.midwestfish tournaments.com. Spectators are certainly welcome.
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The working Bachrach Barn before Country Fabrics moved, renovated and reopened it for business. The Amish and Mennonite communities of the area delight in the wide variety of patterns serving their style and needs. “When our family moved to this Ohio area from Pennsylvania, the fabric shops were very limited and also did not carry the fabric that was needed by the Plain community,” explains Rachel Burkholder, owner of the retail store. “We would have to call our families back in Pennsylvania to have them buy and ship the needed materials. That was definately not practical.” In 1981, the original shop was opened in the Burkholder’s garage with a little over a wheelbarrow full of fabric to sell. Customers would come to the store asking for muslin material. Page 38
“I had absolutely no idea what they were asking for because I grew up as a seamstress and could sew almost anything that anyone wanted. But I
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was not a quilter,” said Rachel. As the demand for quilting fabrics and supplies grew, so did the inventory. Rachel and Harvey’s two daughters, Darlene and Marnita, began helping in the store. It was not long before they carried more than 1000 different fabrics and added notions and supplies. It became the goal of the shop to be able to provide whatever their customers needed to make that special quilt. “We look forward each and every day to spending time with our customers to help them with their sewing needs,” said Rachel. It is this helpful attitude, knowledge, and experience that customers travel for miles from all directions to Spring, 2012
More than 9000 bolts of fabric in stock.
Quilt classes, kits and ready-made quilts.
Kitchenware The mapleleaf Log Cabin quilt pattern is an original design created by Country Fabrics. The pattern and kits are now available. shop for their next sewing project. There are now six additional employees to help with the choices. Quilting classes of various styles are taught in an attached classroom of the new barn showroom. Beginner classes are proving to be quite popular. Their staff assists in putting together kits for those that are interested in creating their own quilts at home. A gift and book section, housewares, kitchen supplies, finished quilts, toys, musical chime clocks and other unique items are now available at Country Fabrics which contains 8,000 square feet of showroom space. Country Fabrics is located in a country setting at 6142 Ganges Five Points Road in Shiloh. This area is also home to many horse and buggy driving Mennonites who offer various products and services. With over 30 years in business of serving so many people from different walks of life, the Burkholder family welcomes you with a friendly smile and handshake. Once you’ve visited, you will have also gained a new friendship. The trip is definately worth the drive. . Spring, 2012
"BOLESLAWIEC" The Original Polish Pottery
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Dining in an Ohio Barn T he Barn Restaurant at Sauder Village offers a unique place to enjoy a home-style meal. Built around 1861 on a farm just a few miles away, more than 200,000 guests now enjoy dining under the hand-hewn timbers of this historic barn every year. Delicious fried chicken and mashed potatoes like Grandma used to make or slow roasted beef with noodles and gravy, there is plenty to go around for everyone when you select the all-you-can eat, 3-meat buffet from the menu. The breads, rolls and pies are baked fresh daily for the restaurant by the Doughbox Bakery right next door. The bakery is also famous for home-made cinnamon rolls, cookies and “Belly Stickers.” All items are made from scratch, no mixes or preservatives. Page 30
The restaurant created a new life for the working barn in 1976 when it was drug across frozen fields to its present location. The transfer added yet another bit of history to the shared past collected at Sauder Village. For those looking to extend their stay, overnight accommodations are available at the Sauder Heritage Inn or Campground. Guests feel right at home in the 98 room Heritage Inn complete with indoor pool and www.WeekenderExtended.com
hot tub, game and exercise room – all adjacent to the “Great Oak Tree”. A complete serve yourself-style breakfast is offered each morning under the tree, included in the cost of the rooms. Choose fresh fruit, cereal, or even bake your own waffle. The 47-site Campground is a great place to relax and enjoy time together while fishing, sharing stories around the campfire, riding bikes around “Little Lake Erie” or enjoying the amenities at the Heritage Inn. Spring, 2012
Places to Go: Ohio Quilt Barn Tour
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ourney back in time with a new trend for the heritage travelers – the Barn Quilt Tour, a program of the Miami County Visitors & Convention Bureau. Quilt patterns hand painted on barns decorate the scenic countryside. These true folk art renditions celebrate the historic, rural and agricultural experience while connecting the lovely historic downtown communities with the beautiful landscapes of Miami County. As visitors travel from town to farm, they won’t have to travel far to see over 67 barns adorned with unique patterns. Leaving the fast lane behind, this unusual driving tour takes the traveler off the beaten path and away from the major highways where they can enjoy a peaceful, leisurely drive on country roads that criss-cross all parts of Miami County. Sprinkled throughout the county, most of the patterns are 8 X 8 foot squares and can be viewed up close by driving into the farm lanes or driveways, where some of the owners may even personally welcome their visitors. As an added bonus, many of the farms have a wide assortment of horses, cows, goats, sheep, llamas, donkeys, roosters, and more – all waiting to greet you in their own special way. The concept of the barn quilts had its origin in 2001 in Adams County, Ohio. It was the inspiration of one woman who wanted to honor her mother’s enthusiasm for the craft of quilting and to highlight the shared cultural heritage of the Appalachian region. It quickly spread to other counties in Ohio and other states as well, creating Spring, 2012
a rich network of quilt barns, while also creating a boost for rural tourism. The Miami County Visitors and Convention Bureau offers a map brochure for this tour which is self guided, available year round, and free to the public. There is no set trail and visitors can create their own trail, striking out in any direction to see all 67 barn quilts, or just select a few. No two are alike. Besides the beauty of the barn quilts, the tour provides a connection to the region’s rural heritage and the still very important role of the barns today, helping to preserve a piece of American heritage. It also recognizes the traditional art of quilting, which in recent years has made a huge comeback. The patterns themselves pay tribute to crafts, nature, occupations, politics, events, various states and almost anything that inspires a connection with community and family. The barns and quilt patterns seem to be a natural partnership, linked in the rural fabric of American history. Plan your travels to allow time to visit other sites. Along the way, scenic parks and preserves such as Brukner Nature Center, Charleston Falls Preserve, Historic Eldean Bridge, Piqua Historical Area/Canal Boat Ride and the Stillwater Prairie Reserve will beckon you to stop and explore, or share a picnic lunch in a lovely natural setting where wildlife, wildflowers, covered bridges, glistening streams and waterfalls will welcome everyone. It’s a perfect way to experience the outdoors and see things you don’t normally find in the city. For more information visit VisitMiamiCounty.org or call 800-348-8993.
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Becoming more informed is the key to eating well with Boston Food Tours. Participants get an insider’s view of Boston's ethnic communities, alive with colorful immigrant history, undiscovered hidden gems and great food. Boston, MA – For 17 years Michele Topor, owner of Boston Food Tours, has been introducing tourists to Italian food culture on the North End Market Tour in Boston’s Little Italy. Knowing most people are a bit intimidated by the Chinese neighborhood and its markets, a Chinatown Market Tour was added 5 years ago. Both tours have become the most popular food tours in Boston. On these culinary walking tours the emphasis is placed on learning how the two cultures eat, how their food was adapted to this country and Page 42
most importantly how to identify and where to buy the very best ingredients. Along the way, your guide will also share a bit of neighborhood history, simple but special cooking tips, tastes of specific food ingredients and the best-kept secrets of neighborhood restaurants. Participants get an insider’s view of these ethnic neighborhoods, alive with colorful immigrant history and undiscovered hidden gems and great food. Tours are offered to the North End on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and cost $50.00 per person. Chinatown www.WeekenderExtended.com
tours are Thursday and Saturday and cost $65.00 per person (dim sum included). Trained as a professional chef, Michele Topor (a 40 year resident of Boston’s North End) has taught cooking, catered, and consulted on Italian food since 1979. Michele’s cooking classes, market tours and culinary trips to Italy have been featured on television (including TVFood Network, HGTV and CNN), on the radio, and in various national and international publications. www.bostonfoodtours.com, Phone: 617-523-6032 Spring, 2012
Rockport, MA - Imagine walking down a wharf stepping onto a tall ship, sailing away and becoming a pirate. Join the “Pirates of Fun” for an exciting, yet relaxing, sail with Pirate Ship Charters (about 1 1/2 hrs.) aboard the pirate ship ‘Formidable’ as it journeys off historic Cape Ann and Rockport Harbor. Join Pirate Ship Charters and watch the crew climb the rigging, set sail and share centuries old tales and sea shanties of pirates, privateers, and patriots. Guest sail aboard the Northeast’s only traditional square-rigged tall ship sailing the waters off historic Cape Ann. History becomes fun and alive as the captain commands the crew aloft, hoist the square sails and brace the yardarms. Your sailing experience is enhanced by the Spring, 2012
pirate crew’s entertaining and informative manner, which engages guests in an interactive way while, setting sails, telling sea stories and singing sea shanties. The crew portray what maritime life was like in colonial New England for patriots, privateers and pirates. Old Ironsides and other tall ships celebrating the Bicentennial War of 1812 (daily sails and private charters available). The company offers daily sails and private charters May through October. Rate start at $37.50 adult, $32 senior (62+)/student, $25 child 16 or younger (under 2 yr free). For more information visit online at www.pirateshipcharters. com, or call 978-729-2929.
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