The Weekender Extended Magazine

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Table of Contents Places to Go: Douglass County Parks, in Georgia See P. 22

Things to Do: Hike, Bike, Enjoy the View in Pennsylvania Parks See P. 40

People to See: Shania Twain in her new Movie See P. 29 Editor Columns: Pages 4-7 Product Reviews Page 10 Amusement Park Predictions P. 12 B&B Accommodations P. 14 Go, Do, See Louisianna P. 16 See Medium Jay Lane p. 20 -4- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

Go, Do, See Wyoming P. 24 Go, Do, See Ohio P. 34 Coasters to Alligators in Florida P. 38 Pennsylvania Parks P. 40 Hikes in Kentucky P. 44 People to See: Lizzy Long P. 46

The Weekender Extended Magazine is Published Monthly by BarnettPRO Publishing 15 East Main St., Shiloh, OH P.O. Box 96, Shiloh, OH 44878 PHONE; 419-687-0002 Email: info@barnettpro.com Publisher - Michael D. Arnold mike@barnettpro.com Sr. Managing Editor- Kathy Barnett kathy@barnettpro.com Places to Go Editor: Sheeree Oney Things to Do Editor: Kandy Derden People to See Editor: Lisa Garcia Assistant Editor: Rebecca Embry Assistant Editor: Samantha Bradley Photo Journalist: Kelley Ramsey editor@weekenderextended.com Technical Director - Norman Reed Managing Editor : Social Media Norm@weekenderextended.com Visit our Website for event coverage between regular issues at www.WeekenderExtended.com Subscriptions are FREE! Submit name and email address HERE and also be entered in our drawing for a FREE weekend getaway!

Copyright 2020 by BarnettPRO Publishing All rights reserved. Reproductions of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher. Advertisements in this publication do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the publishing company.

Cover Photo:

Up Close: From the Editor

The news, email press releases, online charts and Facebook communications tell us the World is beginning to step out of lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic. Those who have obeyed the warnings and practiced social distancing for the past seven weeks have successfully helped to curve the fast-paced spread of this infectios disease. It is my hope as we take precautious steps to rejoin public gatherings that social distancing (six feet of separation), restricting the size of gatherings and diligent hand-washing continue as a primary means to combat the spread of this dangerous virus.

With that in mind, staying alone indoors indefinately isn’t the normal answer either. There are still safe and healthy ways to enjoy an extended weekend getaway. This month’s theme is parks because many national, state and even local parks are opening for various activities. Hiking, biking, sight-seeing, bird watching, flower smelling, and simply enjoying nature are all ways of enjoying the outdoors. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help protect more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts and connect all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.

So take a look at the folling suggestions, grab your tents and bikes and let’s go to the park.

Even if you prefer to stay home, there are ways to turn your own back yard into a temporary park. See page 39. You could even combine your trip to the park with Mom for her special day. So as different locations, activities and businesses reopen, be sure to stay safe. See you next month.

Kathy Barnett Senior Editor Take a walk through the park and enjoy nature, fresh air and Mom for her special day! See P. 33 for the rest of the story on Fork State Park, Ohio’s

largest state park.

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Column Feature-People to See

By Lisa Garcia People to See Editor

Mom On Mother’s Day

During our nation’s shutdown for COVID - 19, many will not get to personally visit with Mom this year on her special day. Whether they live down the street, accross town, or miles away, there are still ways to spend time with her.

Spending time with a loved one parked in the KFC parking lot in three different cars can seem a bit drastic, but in these times that’s the way of life. Looking at my Mom with her face mask on was something I never ever thought I would see. As I watched her. I new there -6- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

was a smile underneath that mask. The next week we pushed it a little further. We had recently lost our Dad and his things were packed in a garage. We decided to put on our gear and go through his personal items and decide what his grandkids would want to remember him by.

Again all of us fully masked and practicing social distancing. One thing I have learned through all of this. Appreciate the hugs from your loved ones. Appreciate every minute you have with the ones you love. Even though life has slowed down to a crawl

for most of us. Most of us are still able to see our loved ones even from a distance, Thank God for new technology so I am able to see mine through video. Mothers day is Sunday. We will yet again visit our Mom making sure we practice not more than 10 in the room. Definitely looking foward to the time when families can be under the same roof. With that I leave you with a prayer and happy thoughts of next year hopefully things will be different. I love you Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.

Column Feature-Places to Go:

By Sheeree Oney Places to Go Editor

For the Bargain Hunters

Free Activities for the Kids

“Experience what it’s like to have park ranger knowledge with National Park Service’s free downloadable Junior Ranger activity booklets,” said Union Pacific Railroad Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations Scott Moore.

“And, stay tuned because soon they’ll be releasing a new booklet all about trains and railroads!”

Visit www.nationalparkweek. org for more information and additional ideas for celebrating.

Shoe Stores are Opening

Be sure to practice safe social distancing and watch for modified hours. Shoe Carnival announces it has online only discounts and many others will follow their lead.

So you may prefer to save time and gas money (prices kreeping up as we speak) by continuing to shop online. See their buy one get one half off specials as well as the summer sandal blowout szle with more than 1.5 million pairs offered up to 70% off! Visit https:// www.shoecarnival.com/

Cruising Credits

When cruise vacations and travel are cancelled by the travel supplier, “Future Travel Credits” are often offered to guests so they use the value of their vacation investment to rebook their next vacation, often with some added perks or value. Cruise Planners refers to future travel credits – and these added perks -- as “Golden Tickets and encourages clients to take advantage of timing by rebooking that vacation now. Securing a new reservation now has advantages, such as beating the rush, special rebooking offers and securing preferred itineraries and staterooms. Many cruise lines and travel providers are even offering a no-risk booking guarantee. This allows consumers to cancel their trip up to 48 hours before departure. See https://www.cruiseplanners.com/ AT-HOME ENTERTAINMENT Here is a number of great ideas for binge-watching and repeat viewing wonderful PBS programs found on PBS Distribution’s AMAZON PRIME VIDEO CHANNELS: MASTERPIECE PRIME VIDEO CHANNEL: For the ever-romantic hopeful – Jane Austen’s “San-

diton,” starring Theo James and Rose Williams, for the British mystery lovers “Inspector Lewis,” starring Kevin Whately, Laurence Fox and Clare Holman, “Jamestown,” a period drama set in Jamestown, VA where the first settlers in America from England are shaken up by the arrival of the first women to the New Land. “Mrs. Wilson,” Ruth Wilson’s (also starring) biography about her grandmother’s discovery of her late husband’s secret lives. “Les Miserables,” the new adaptation of Jean Valjean’s story -- a former convict unable to escape his past life, starring Dominic West, David Oyelowo, and Lily Collins. For fans of “Big Little Lies,” “Walter Presents: Deep Water,” is a compelling drama that takes viewers behind closed doors where three ordinary mothers are struggling with extraordinary moral and ethical dilemmas, and Walter Presents “Professor T,” the perfect crime drama for today, featuring the eccentric criminal psychologist -- a successful police advisor whose unpredictable nature – including his extreme OCD -- drives his colleagues away. And so much more….

PBS LIVI Prime Video Subscription is $2.99 a month. The PBS Living Channel is also available on the Apple TV App. The subscription rate for PBS Kids is $4.99/ month with an Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription.

Every purchase helps support public television for all.

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Column Feature-Things to Do:

By Kandy Derden Things to Do Editor

Cooking With a Purpose I used to think the idea of going to one of those escape rooms sounded interesting. In the movies, they seem quite clever. Some appear to be easy and then others are so complex I am sure I would never be able to get out. Could I do it? Possibly. Within the time limit?

Maybe. Would it be fun? We may never know because I am a touch claustrophobic, especially now.

Newsflash: the entire country is in the midst of a pandemic! I’m sure you’ve heard about it. It’s in all the papers, magazines, books, television, social media of all types and word of mouth – from a six foot distance of course.

There are countless people who are beginning to feel like their house is an impossible escape room. With no end date in sight, they are becoming more and more anxious to get out.

Unlike most, I am thoroughly enjoying my time at home. Like so many others, I have been cleaning, sorting, purging and organizing. The results have been slow, because I have also spent time in the kitchen – a lot of time in the kitchen. You see, my family likes to eat. And no matter how many meals they have in one day, they still want to eat again the next day . . . and the next . . . and the next.

You get the idea.

After making all the old favorites, I began experimenting with new recipes. I found some which were so bad, I threw the recipe away. Then there were a few which were okay.

Not great, but okay. Once I work on them and tweak them a bit, they might be pretty good. The really exceptional ones though are quickly becoming part of my collection of favorites.

This month’s selection is a recipe sent to me from one of my Disaster Relief contacts. In all honesty, the -8- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

title sounded like a very sleepy cook mistakenly grabbed the Cheerios when intending to make oatmeal.

However, the comments attached convinced me otherwise.

“An old school classic snack: buttery, crunchy, salty goodness that’s ready in about 5 minutes. Simple to make and so good. Skip the popcorn and give this recipe a try. For movie night, whip up a batch to cure that crunchy, salty craving.”

Okay, now I’m interested.

HOT BUTTERED CHEERIOS All you need is 4 c. Cheerios, ¼ c. butter or margarine and salt to taste.

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add cereal, coating well in butter. Stir for approximately 3-4 minutes until nicely toasted and crispy. Remove from heat, sprinkle with salt. Enjoy!

Options: instead of regular table salt, use sea salt or seasoned salt. Try adding a ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce to the butter or substitute garlic salt for the sea salt.

Craving something sweet? Me too.

Cheerios to the rescue.

For this variation, you need 4 c.

Cheerios, ¼ c. butter or margarine, ½ teaspoon vanilla, ¼ c. sugar mixed with 1teaspoon cinnamon.

Melt butter, stir in vanilla. Add cereal, coating evenly. Cook 3 minutes until toasted. Remove from heat and sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over top, toss to coat evenly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Which version sounds best? I couldn’t decide so I made both.

The original was good but it was lacking just a little . . . something.

So I tried the cinnamon sugar version. It was tasty also. Decisions, decisions. One was salty but missing that touch of sweetness. The other was sweet but was needing that hint of saltiness. What to do, what to do? Do you know where I’m going with this? Exactly! I mixed them together and now we have a winner! It is a quick, warm snack and a cholesterol-reducing substitute for fried chips.

Unlike popcorn (which remains my favorite snack) this doesn’t lose its crunch after a few hours. This is an excellent alternative because the leftovers are still good the next day. It is easy to store in a zipper bag which means it is also convenient for taking with you. Remember that walk through the park you promised yourself you were going to take?

Munch on some as you walk to keep your hands busy as a reminder not to touch any playground equipment.

It’s been so long since I left the house, I’m sort of half afraid I won’t be able to find my way back. But not to worry. If needed, I can sprinkle the Cheerios as a trail just like Hansel and Gretel. Worst case scenario, the birds get a quick snack.

Nope, I’m no longer interested in visiting an escape room. Besides, once this is over, even though we didn’t pay for the experience, we’ll all be able to say, “Been there. Done that.”

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Product Review:

Things to Do:

Read a

A Trucker’s Tale

During a time where many of us are grappling with self-distancing, what better people to advise us on what it’s like to practically live in isolation than those who drive the highways of America for a living.

Author and 60-year veteran truck driver, Ed Miller reveals ‘behind the highway’ secrets, stories and gossip from driving tractor-trailers since the age of 13. Miller gives an inside look at the allure of the work and the colorful characters who haul our goods on the open road. He delivers colorful stories, some heartbreaking, some head-shaking, often hilarious and all true.

Price: $24 www.fablesoapco.com

Lead Like Walt

Whether you are building a small business from the ground up or managing a multi-national company, you can learn the 7 key traits for leadership success from one of the greatest business innovators and creative thinkers of the 20th century: Walt Disney.

Author Pat Williams began studying the life and leadership example of Walt Disney as he struggled to build an NBA franchise, the Orlando Magic.

Since he was trying to accomplish a goal similar to so many of Walt’s—starting with nothing and building a dream from the ground up—he realized that Walt could teach him what he needed to know.

And indeed he did.

Price: $15.95 Available at bookstores

Yellow

Return to the hectic, sometimes unscrupulous, newsroom of the 1980s in this tension-filled story, by Jeanne Charters. Would you defy a superior’s direct order to preserve your professional integrity — even if it meant risking everything? In Jeanne Charters’ newest thriller, a principled news director clashes with her ruthless manager and asks herself this same question. Will she pay the highest price? Charters expertly weaves a suspenseful web of ambition-fueled deceit, financial desperation and corruption that ultimately culminates in a grisly crime. A veteran of broadcast television, Charters draws from her own experiences to inform the character development and story arc, lending authenticity to every page.

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Price: $xxx

Amazon.com / BarnesandNoble

a Good New Book!

My Pinewood Kitchen: A Southern Culinary Cure

Introducing healthy ways to eat the one thing we all reach for when stressed … chocolate! Contains 130+ gluten-free recipes to reduce inflammation and make your gut happy. This book is packed with tasty, microbiome-friendly meals, including recipes for delicious and healthy ways to include chocolate.

Author/Chef Mee McCormick is an expert whose personal experience healing her Crohn’s disease, gut issues, and immune system challenges makes her well equipped to share the whole food recipes doctors couldn’t prescribe to help her Price: $26.95 www.eggshellskitchencompany.com/

Girl Sailing Aboard the Western Star

The year is 1979, and 12-year-old Annie’s life has been upended. Her parents have announced that their home for the next nine months will be a 53-foot sailboat in the Atlantic Ocean. The thought of leaving behind her pets, friends and a life she loves—plus coexisting in close quarters with her older brother—has left Annie spiraling through a kaleidoscope of emotions. Heartbroken at first, Annie turns to writing, and through her detailed journal of daily life aboard the Western Star, she reveals a remarkable transformation.

Price: $11.99

https://Amazon.com

To Trust In What We Cannot See

The author takes readers on a dimensional spacetime journey into the heart of an ethical dilemma.

Set in Vienna, Austria, in the present and past—with a specific focus on January of 1913—this work of historical science fiction raises the possibility: What if you could kill not only Hitler, but also Stalin, Lenin, Trotsky, and Tito, before they became tyrannical monsters and took the lives of millions? How would the world be different if the future father of the Nazi Party had been murdered when he was a young aspiring artist? Available in hardback and paperback Price: $14-24

Target; Walmart; Ebay May, 2020 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -11-

Things to Do:

Amusement Park Predictions

CLEVELAND, PRNewswire/ -- US amusement park visits are forecast to rise 2.2% yearly through 2024, according to Amusement Parks: United States, a report recently released by Freedonia Focus Reports. Visits are expected to increase due to the addition of new rides and attractions as well as the ongoing growth in the use of season passes. Rising numbers of visits and increases in per-visit spending as ticket, parking, and food prices continue to rise are projected to boost revenue growth. In order to generate additional revenue, many parks are expanding other services such as dining options and offering season passes for admission, food, or drinks.

However, ongoing uncertainty in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak has driven many parks to shutter or delay opening for the 2020 season, heavily impacting visitation and revenues and limiting season pass purchases. Regardless of when parks open, visits over the near term will likely be restrained by consumer concern about congregating in public places.

dollars are also forecast to 2024. Total visits are segmented by park type in terms of theme parks and water parks.

Total revenues are segmented by source as follows: • Admission • Other sources such as beverages, food, and merchandise To illustrate historical trends, total visits, total revenue, average revenues per visit, and the various segments are provided in annual series from 2009 to 2019.

These and other key insights are featured in Amusement Parks: United States. This report forecasts to 2024 the number of US amusement park visits and revenues in nominal US dollars. Average revenues per visit in nominal US

More information about the report is available at: https://www.freedoniafocusreports. com/Amusement-Parks-United-StatesFF95017/?progid=91541

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Venues such as arcades, carnivals, fairs, family entertainment centers, laser tag facilities, museums, pools, ski resorts, and zoos operated independently of an amusement park are excluded from the scope of this report. In addition, operating rides on a concession basis in amusement parks or fairs and carnivals, or operating a single attraction, is outside the scope of this report.

Also excluded are the revenues from park-affiliated hotels.

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Places to Go:

Make it an Extended Weekend Getaw

B&Bs and Inns Offer the Perfect Option for the “New Normal” Getaways AUSTIN, PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of millions of Americans are currently dreaming of travel from the comfort of their home while observing quarantine and social distancing orders. While many state and national parks are opening sections for hiking and biking, most overnight options are still closed.

Therefore, another option for an extended weekend getaway must be found.

Hoping that someday soon it will be safe to travel, armchair travelers are looking to inns and B&Bs to jumpstart their vacations once it’s safe to dip their toes into travel once again. A survey of registered bnbfinder.com travelers recently revealed that more than 83-percent of respondents plan to travel again as soon as it is deemed safe. In addition, nearly -14- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ March, 2020

70-percent of survey respondents rank B&B lodging as their preferred lodging as soon as they can vacation again, beating out hotels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds by a sizable margin.

Blue Lantern Inn, A Four Sisters Inn located in Dana Point, CA is a member of the bnbfinder Diamond Collection. The bnbfinder Diamond Collection is an exclusive group of professionally inspected and highly rated luxury inns. Each member of the bnbfinder Diamond Collection is required to have passed a professional inspection from a third party industry recognized inspection agency.

Concurrently, innkeepers around the world, accustomed to providing guests with a superior level of high-touch comfort and service, are prepared and poised to provide their guests with a safe and much-needed gateway filled with rest and relaxation. Offering a clean, private and personalized setting once travel resumes, innkeepers are ready for the new normal in travel, filled with personalized

way - Stay at a Nearby B and B or Inn

service at a safe distance.

Once travel can once again resume, smaller boutique properties such as bed and breakfasts and inns will welcome travelers back with customized, value-filled and romantic settings filled with the hospitality they’ve missed. Already sticklers for cleanliness and luxury amenities, innkeepers plan to exceed CDC recommended cleaning requirements and prerequisites for food service and social distancing.

In the new era of travel, innkeepers have shared with bnbfinder that they will offer touchless check-in and check-out over the phone, breakfast in bed at no additional charge, above-and-be-

yond cleanliness, and/or private dining options.

For travelers seeking value, inns and B&Bs provide all the extras, often including multi-course breakfasts, free snacks such as home-made cookies, fresh fruit, and in some cases, wine and cheese amenities. Most also provide free parking, free wi-fi, free bottled waters and soft drinks, and no “resort fees”, “daily surcharges” or “cleaning fees”, making B&Bs and inns an excellent value for travelers.

Best of all, with gas prices the lowest they have been in decades, travelers surveyed have told bnbfinder that off-the-beaten-path and drive-to destinations will top the list once they are

able to travel once again. Tens of thousands of B&Bs and inns throughout the country await travelers with a perfect one-tank getaway.

Travelers seeking to vacation beyond the walls of their homes will find thousands of inns and B&Bs at bnbfinder.com Look for special offers and ideal drive-to accommodations throughout North America on bnbfinder. com, offering the most comprehensive list of B&B lodging in one place on the web. As travel resumes, travelers seeking value, bespoke and safe vacation destinations can turn to bnbfinder for ideas. For more information, visit https://www.bnbfinder.com/

Go, Do, See:

Home of Recipes,

By Mindy Bianca MBPR It’s another Thursday morning – Day Number “We Stopped Counting Two Weeks Ago” of the don’t-travel thing – and that means it’s time for the team at Mindy Bianca Public Relations to share a few things we hope will make you happy.

Let’s turn to coastal Louisiana to provide your fun. It includes alligators AND drinking! In fact, speaking of drinking, maybe just pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea and settle in for a few minutes. You won’t want to miss the ending of this little novel.

I love fun facts, so we’ll kick off with one of those: Louisiana is one of only two U.S. states that don’t have counties as their political subdivisions. (The other one is Alaska, but they’re not a client ... so you’ll have to rely on another PR person to provide you with happy things from The Last Frontier.) Anyway, in Louisiana they have “parishes.” When you see me reference the name of a parish, that’s the equivalent to what you’d know as a “county” in your area.

(Unless, of course, you’re from Alaska. And then you’d have “boroughs.” But I digress ...)

If you want to geek out with me, here’s a map from the Louisiana Department of Transportation & Development that shows you the parishes so you have a frame of reference. (The map is -16- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

several years old, but the parishes haven’t changed!) Feel free to follow along as you read this. Your attention should be focused on the bottom part of the state.

We’ll start our tour of Louisiana with Lafourche Parish, which is about 45 minutes from New Orleans and which is named for the giant bayou that bisects the parish, Bayou Lafourche. Translated from French, “Lafourche” means “The Fork” – and it’s a reference to the Mississippi River.

But when your parish is named for an eating utensil, you must have amazing food, right? And they do.

Food Trail, which is comprised of several restaurants, some special events and a really kickin’ butcher shop.

That shop is called Bourgeois Meat Market and they bill themselves as specializing in “Miracles in Meat.” They’re not lying. This family business has been around since 1891 and I’ve lost count of which generation they’re on. But I know this: Grandpa Lester, who’s in his 90s, lives across Main Street and pedals his bike over several times a day to catch up with patrons, keep an eye on the current generation running the place, and see if anyone might want to go fishing with him.

For tourism purposes, Lafourche Parish is branded as “Louisiana’s This family specializes in “bouCajun Bayou.” Two years ago, din,” which is basically the Cajun they debuted their Cajun Bayou version of sausage ... only better.

s, Rascals, and Reptiles Boudin can be made with a variety of protein ingredients, but right now we’re in crawfish season and my very favorite of their boudins is, in fact, made from crawfish.

They’ve shared a very simple recipe using that.

What? You don’t have crawfish boudin in your fridge? No problem. They ship! Ready? This one ain’t hard.

Bourgeois Boudin Stuffed Bell Peppers • 1 pound Bourgeois crawfish boudin • 1 large green bell pepper • Bread crumbs

right near New Orleans. In fact, if you’ve ever flown into The Big Easy ... congrats! You’ve been to Jefferson Parish! It’s where Louis Armstrong International Airport is located.)

The town of Lafitte is named from the legendary pirate Jean Lafitte, a total rascal who did a lot of really horrific things in these swamps ... but he also helped Andrew Jackson kick some British butt in the final battle of the War of 1812, so he’s also a bit of a local hero. As a bonus, he’s my

favorite pirate of all time. (For the record, my second-favorite pirate is Calico Jack, so named for his fancy underpants. But he’s associated with Jamaica and we’re not talking about our client there until next week.)

The Wetland Trace is a one-mile raised boardwalk that allows you to explore the region’s scenic swamps without being in a boat of any type. When our pals from the local tourism office walked the trail recently, they captured these images so you can see some

1.

Preheat oven to 350.

2.

Cut bell pepper in half lengthwise and clean out the seeds.

3.

Remove the boudin from its casing and stuff it into the pepper halves.

4.

Sprinkle bread crumbs on top and put in the oven for 2 hours or until the peppers reach desired softness.

When I’m physically in Louisiana – eating my way through boudin and crawfish and fried shrimp and oysters and gumbo and bread pudding and king cake and all the other deliciousness that IS this state – I try to get my exercise in when and where I can. A great place for a walk is the Wetland Trace in the town of Lafitte, which is in Jefferson Parish. (If you’re following along on your map, look May, 2020 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -17-

of the natural beauty of the region. It features the area’s famous giant blue irises, flowers that bloom for four to six weeks each spring and which are only found in Louisiana’s swamps. And you’ll also see some alligators and a snake ... so consider yourself warned if you’re freaked out by reptiles.

I find it’s helpful to have a “gator spotter” in your group.

The shot below was taken along the Creole Nature Trail in southwest Louisiana. To get there on our virtual tour, check your map and go all the way left ... over there to the border of Texas.

OK ... let’s get real about alligators. I’ve spent a lot of time in Louisiana, at all different times of the year, and I’ve seen at least one gator on every single trip. Believe me when I tell you that “social distancing” is not a new concept in the swamps. I love watching alligators ... from a safe distance.

There are parts of Louisiana – including places MBPR represents -- where the alligator population outnumbers humans by about ten to one. That would explain how the tourism team at Visit Lake Charles, which helps visitors explore “Louisiana’s Playground,” came up with this entertaining social distancing chart: Though a portion of the area represented by Visit Lake Charles is nicknamed “Louisiana’s Outback,” this place is about way more than wildlife. In the Lake Charles area, they’re also lucky enough to have a rum distillery called Bayou Rum. When we’re not in the midst of a pandemic, you can tour the distillery and participate in a tasting. If you’re lucky enough to live in one of the states Bayou Rum can legally ship to, you can have a tasting in -18- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

your very own home. If you’re like most of the MBPR team and you live in Pennsylvania and are therefore forbidden from receiving alcohol from Louisiana, try another white rum in the recipe below. I can assure you it might not be as good, however; Louisiana is sugarcane country, and it’s that local ingredient that makes this rum so delicious.

Bayou Mojito

INGREDIENTS: • 2 ounces Bayou White • 1 ounce lime juice • .75 ounce simple syrup • 1 ounce club soda • 8 mint leaves • Build, mix, add ice and garnish with mint. Optional: Add unsweetened cucumber and mint they were naming this drink. And sparkling water. yes, it’s another recipe that’s perOK ... now we’re zipping back fect in its simplicity.

across the state, eastward again Contraband Quarantini – back toward Lafourche ParINGREDIENTS ish – so we can discuss another • 3 ounces Contraband (you distillery. This one is in Houma, which is the biggest city in Ter- can substitute your favorite moonshine or whiskey) rebonne Parish (that translates • 1 ounce simple syrup from French into “good earth”), • 1 ounce lime juice a brand new distillery that just 1 ounce cranberry juice opened in an old shrimp process- • Shake and pour! (SOOO easy!) ing plant. Bayou Terrebonne Distillers is run by the great-grandWe talked about crawfish earlier sons of Lily, the town’s first and I referenced the old shrimp Mardi Gras queen ... and an illegal moonshiner. See ... THIS factory that’s home to this new is one more thing we love about distillery. I should tell you that the shrimp in Louisiana is amazeLouisiana! They have badass balls. As in “this-came-right-offroyalty!

The guys make Contraband, a this-boat-over-there” fresh. Most 90-proof clear corn whiskey that self-respecting and all hardworkwas inspired by Miss Lily. Sadly, ing Louisianans have a pair of they’re not able to ship their whis- white rubber “shrimp boots” that key anywhere yet ... so to recreate can get mucked up while you’re this recipe you’re going to need doing whatever it is you need to to check your cabinet to see what do. If you’re ever in Houma and you need some travel guidance, high-proof spirits you have on hand. They had a little fun when stop by their tourism office. You

can’t miss it. It’s the place with the giant shrimp boots out front.

We’re going to end today’s tour of Louisiana with the place where it all began for me, the parish that first introduced me to the rest of the gang ... St. Tammany! Their alter-ego is “Louisiana Northshore,” giving you a sense of their geography. They’re located across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans.

(On your map, look for New Orleans and then head north.) The two places are connected by the Causeway Bridge, which – at 24 miles – is the longest over-water bridge in the whole world. (Yes! It’s another fun fact!)

I’ve never had a bad meal in Louisiana, but I’ve had some of the very best in St. Tammany Parish. They’ve had a complete dining revolution there in the past 10 or 15 years, and everything from seafood (my favorite) to Brussels sprouts (totally not my favorite) has been elevated to a higher level.

That’s why I’m super-excited about Sherri Hansen’s Culinary Kids program, because she’s training the next generation of culinary professionals. In fact, two former students won “Chopped Junior” and one was on “Top Chef.” She instills a passion for cooking among young residents and visitors alike, and these days since the kids can’t come to her, she’s been hosting Stir Crazy Cook-Along parties every Sunday at 4 p.m. Central/5 p.m. Eastern. She livestreams it on her Facebook page.

Here’s a link to last week’s live cook-along, which welcomed participants from such far reaches as Iowa, Colorado, Michigan, Austria and Dubai. The classes have been led by Culinary Kids’ Chef Clare Reding, and other guest chefs have shared their culinary expertise, giving some of the parish’s stellar restaurants a little shout-out.

Sherri releases the menu and ingredient list about a week in advance so families can make sure they have what they need, and she encourages participants to write in for recommendations for ingredient substitutions.

This Sunday’s class will feature homemade tortillas, corn and bean pico de gallo, dulce de leche, and bread pudding. (Yes, most of this menu is Mexican ... but the bread pudding is a nod to a Louisiana favorite.)

Here’s one of Sherri’s four children working a tortilla press ...

So, there you go ... your virtual tour of the Louisiana coast, where you’ll find delicious food and drink, stunning natural beauty, and some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

As a PR person who promotes all kinds of destinations, I say

this all the time: “The people make the place.” I don’t know any place where that more resonates with me than in coastal Louisiana, where multiple cultures have blended to create a rich human gumbo – it all works together well, but each ingredient also retains its own special personality. You’ll find French, Spanish, African and Native American cultures here ... and lots of Cajun.

The people of Louisiana have faced a whole lot of drama in their history, especially over the past two decades. But facing adversity and winning – and coming out with a smile on their face – seems to be in Louisianans’ DNA, which is one more thing I love about them.

Today I’m going to give you what the Cajuns call “lagniappe” – a little something extra, a gift from us to you. In this case, the folks in Lafourche Parish’s tourism office did the heavy lifting.

Here’s a video they put together to remind people where Louisianans came from ... and that brighter days are ahead.

Until next time, take care of yourself, be kind to others and dream of whatever makes you happy. For me that’s a glass of sweet tea and a po-boy – half fried shrimp, half fried oysters – in the company of some of the finest people I know.

All the best from Mindy, Ashley, Mallory, Moneé and Sara The MBPR Team

For more articles on Louisianna

>CLICK HERE May, 2020 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -19-

People to See:

Medium Jay Lane

Mysticism and the discovery of the unknown are potent draws for many people. Who doesn’t want to know that the future may hold something better?

“Grief and closure is a big thing for people,” says Jay Lane. “Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through. I am blessed with a gift to offer comfort and knowledge to help find closure.”

In the current pandemic status, Jay Lane’s business has grown exponentially as people has wanted to discuss suicide and how it would affect them and their loved ones. “Since this pandemic, the number of suicide inquires has more than tripled. I educate people about the souls journey and why they should reconsider their path. I give people hope to see the brighter side of life.”

SUDBURY, Ontario - Medium Jay Lane is not your ordinary psychic! Jay Lane is a clairvoyant, clairsentient, clairaudient medium. This means that she has the ability to see, sense, and hear those who have crossed over into spirit. Hailing from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Jay Lane has worked with local law enforcement to solve crimes, appeared on national news outlets in America, has brought much hope, healing, and closure to so many who have met her.

Medium Jay Lane is scheduled for the following “Virtual Events”: May 2; 6 pm – 2 hour Zoom Event – open to 100 people – get tickets here: zoom.us/webinar/ register/WN_1U5kObuoTlKkGWxD7-G1TQ May 15; 7 pm – 2 hour Zoom Event – open 100 people – Buskirk-Chumley Theatre in Indiana “I am really excited about these virtual events,” adds Lane. “I am going to demonstrate readings for viewers from family and friends in the spirit world and discuss how I communicate with the other side. I know it sounds weird to some, but lets be honest! Everyone is curious and I have made believers out of non-believers on many occasions.”

During the two-hour show, Lane will speak to as many people as she can. Her purpose is to Psychic mediums are very popular these days spend time with, and pay special attention to, with television shows from celebrities like Long her guests, providing hope and closure.

Island Medium Theresa Caputo, Meet the Frasers, and others bringing mediumship into the mainCheck out Jay on CNN: youtu.be/lYeXg2OT_ stream.

For more information, visit mediumjaylane. com/media.

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W

hen the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the sky is bright blue, there’s no better place to be than outside. More than 8,000 acres of recreational activities and trails await you just outside of Georgia’s capital in Douglas County.

The Douglas County Parks and Recreation Department welcomes you to explore nearly 2,000 acres of park land and other recreation facilities in Douglas County. You will have no difficulty finding an activity that suits your interest. The Department offers a variety of activities in our parks, seasonal and special events at local school facilities, and other activities in cooperation with local clubs and civic organizations. The Department sponsors summer day camps; activities for seniors, adults and youth; and various athletic leagues and tournaments.

We work with area youth associations and facilitate them through yearly park use agreements in order to provide supervised activities for Douglas County youth.

Sweetwater Creek State Park

With over 15 miles of trails, it’s no wonder that Sweetwater Creek State Park is Georgia’s most visited state park. Comprised of seven, color-coded trails of varying degrees of difficulty and points of interest, this park is a beauty at any time of year. If this is your first visit, we recommend the Red Trail, which is the shortest trail to the Civil War-era textile mill ruins and best showcases the stunning creek valley.

A rich array of biodiversity, geology and history make this park a feast for the eyes and senses, which is why hiking and birding are two favorite pastimes here. Geocaching is another great way to while away the hours at Sweetwater Creek State Park, giving you an entirely new adventure—and possibly even bragging rights with your friends and family!

However, you’ll also find plenty to keep you busy off the trails. The 215-acre George Sparks Reservoir is one of the more popular spots in the area for outdoor recreation such as fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and picnicking. Fishing equipment and equipment rentals are even available on-site, in case you forgot -22- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

something or were inspired to stick around a little longer.

With so much to do here, you may even decide to camp out or rent one of th

The Clinton Nature Preserve

The city of Villa Rica is home to one of Georgia’s prized ecological beauties, the Clinton Nature Preserve. Known by locals and visitors as a terrific place for mountain biking, there are 10 premium miles of trails to traverse.

Grab a friend, your family or your accountability partner because there are trails for both leisurely and challenging rides. You decide what the day will bring!

The 200-acre park has a wide variety of terrain to discover, from single track pathways to granite slabs to grassy plains to rolling hills to dense woods. You’ll also

running, biking or even horseback riding. With both paved and unpaved trails, you can find just the adventure you’re looking for.

In addition to the trails, there are plenty of other ways to test your mettle, improve your skills and burn some calories, all while having a lot of fun. Baseball, soccer and football fields are all available on-site, as are two, 18-hole disc golf courses. Additionally, there is a children’s playground and 10-acre fishing pond, complete with ducks to feed.

When you’re ready to come inside, the aquatic center is at your disposal. Featuring an eight-lane heated competition pool, a four-lane therapeutic and teaching pool and a fitness center, you can cool off, cool down or just cool your jets in this expansive facility. Once you stop by Boundary Waters Park for the first time, you’ll see why so many others come back again and again.

Foxhall Resort

If the word “luxury” is synonymous with the outdoors in your mind, then you’ll jump at the chance to visit Foxhall Resort. Play here, stay here or just find any excuse to get away here, this is 1,100 acres worth seeing for yourself. Hike through the gorgeous Georgia countryside, walk along the Chattahoochee River or whiz through the wilderness on an ATV—no matter how you take in the scenery, it won’t disappoint.

Looking for other ways to occupy yourself outdoors? We suggest the shooting grounds and sporting clay courses, which are a rare treat. You can even take up archery here!

Kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding are also a wonderful option due to their 16 spring-fed lakes. Of course, if you’re looking for something more traditional, there is fishing, hunting, swimming, tennis and golf. Foxhall Resort is the ideal place to pick up a new hobby or perfect an old one. You’ll need some nourishment after all of that activity, and their farm-to-table restaurant serves up local and seasonal delicacies made to please. Finally, resting and relaxing after a long day will be a breeze in their charming stone and timber lodgings. You might even walk into Boundary Waters Park your room or lakeside villa and wonder how soon you can Though Boundary Waters Park is often known for its return! From start to finish, Foxhall Resort is an al fresco amazing aquatic center, it also has plenty of outdoor activities to keep you moving, occupied and entertained. Ac- experience unlike any other.

For More on Georgia, tually, the nearly 500-acre park is pretty much a one-stop> CLICK HERE! shop when it comes to expending energy. Twelve miles of multi-use trails wind through the property for walking, find a couple of pre-Civil War cabins and farm structures along the way, of which the Carnes Cabin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Whether you bike, hike, stroll or ride your horse through the Clinton Nature Preserve, you’ll call it a good day.

When you’ve finished your two-wheel tour of the trails, be sure to take advantage of the ADA accessible playground, dog park, picnic tables and amphitheater. No matter what brings you here, you’ll likely find another reason to stretch your time out once you see it in person.

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Places to Go:

By Mona Mesereau Mesereau Travel PR Scenic Drives from Cody. If travelers haven’t had enough road tripping by the time they arrive in Cody, they can always use the town as a home base and drive one of five scenic loops. Can’t get enough of authentic small towns?

Think about the Bighorn Basin Loop. Interested in historic sites and breathtaking sights? Choose the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway.

The East Yellowstone Loop follows the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway along the North Fork of the Shoshone River then through the East Gate and the eastern half of Yellowstone National Park. Visitors on this loop will see wildlife, astonishing rock formations and many historic structures and popular viewpoints, such as the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

In order to stay informed about any road construction closures or other updates, travelers are advised to consult this map of the scenic drives. The printed version of the map is available at the Cody Visitor Center. Upon entering the park, visitors will also receive a detailed map of Yellowstone National Park.

Travelers from the Northwest and Southwest will frequently enter Yellowstone first before moving on to Cody, while travelers from the East, Northeast and South often pass through Cody before Yellowstone National Park.

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Cody and Yellow

Here’s what travelers can expect when they take the most direct routes from these regions to the town of Cody.

Here’s how to get to Cody Yellowstone from the Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, South and East: The Northwest. Travelers from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Northern California will often enter Yellowstone National Park through the North Gate at Mammoth Hot Springs, travel through the park’s wildlife-rich Lamar Valley and depart the park through the Northeast Gate.

After leaving the park through the Northeast Gate, travelers briefly enter Montana and drive through the small towns of Silver Gate and Cooke City before circling back to Wyoming on the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Sights along this route include the single-span Sunlight Creek Bridge, the highest bridge in Wyoming and Dead Indian Pass overlook area where the Nez Perce tribe evaded the U.S. Cavalry for several months in 1877. History buffs should also consider taking a side trip on the Sunlight Basin Road (a gravel road) to see the Sunlight Ranger Station, a Civilian Conservation Corps structure built in 1936. After driving down from the pass, you will continue to Cody in the shadow of Heart Mountain.

The Southwest. Travelers from

the Southwest typically pass through Grand Teton National Park before entering Yellowstone through the South Gate. After exploring the park road-trippers will drive up and over steep and scenic Sylvan Pass before exiting the park through the East Gate, Recently widened over the years, the road is much more drivable than it used to be. The original road – visible from a pullout today – was so steep that it circled back on bridges over itself to create a corkscrew effect.

Immediately upon leaving the park, travelers will pass Pahaska Tepee, the rustic hunting lodge where Buffalo Bill Cody entertained friends and dignitaries including the Prince of Monaco.

Driving on, travelers will pass through Wapiti Valley along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway known for rock formations and lava flows with descriptive names like “Old Woman and Her Cabin,” “Laughing Pig Rock,” “Snoopy the Dog” and “Chinese Wall.” Before entering Cody, motorists will pass Buffalo Bill State Park and the Buffalo Bill Dam. The Northeast. Travelers arriving from the Northeast are in for a special treat as they drive through the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation and Prior Mountain Wild Horse Range, home to more than 120 free-roaming wild horses.

Motorists can also see the mys-

wstone National Park

terious 74-foot stone circle called the Medicine Wheel, which some people think had religious or astronomical implications to ancient tribes. Before arriving in Cody, travelers with an interest in history often stop at the Heart Mountain WWII Interpretive Center, situated at the site of the Heart Mountain Internment Camp, where 14,000 Japanese-American citizens were confined during WWII. The visitor center celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2021.

The South. From the south on Highway 120, travelers will drive through the town of Thermopo-

lis, home of the world’s largest free-flowing hot springs. Stop at Hot Springs State Park for a leisurely soak before continuing on to Meeteetse, a tiny Western town known for its charm, its chocolate, its museums and its discovery that it is home to the Black-Footed Ferret, once thought to be extinct.

The East. Motorists on a cross-country road trip will travel through the town of Greybull, named for a legendary albino bison bull that was sacred to American Indians in the region, and will also pass some of the world’s finest dinosaur fossil beds before

arriving in town.

Home of the Great American Adventure, Cody Yellowstone is comprised of the northwestern Wyoming towns of Cody, Powell and Meeteetse as well as the valley east of Yellowstone National Park.

The region is known for rodeos, authentic guest and dude ranches, world-class museums and recreational adventures that reflect the adventurous spirit of the visionaries and explorers who brought the remote region to the world’s attention.

For more on Wyoming > CLICK HERE

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Signal Mounta inside Gra will ope Ju

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ain Lodge and Campground and Teton National Park en for its 2020 season une 5 – Oct. 17.

ext page...

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Continued:

Located in on the shore of Jackson Lake, 30 miles from Jackson, Wyoming and 27 miles from Yellowstone National Park, the lodge offers guests the chance to immerse themselves in the invigorating mountain air and encounter extraordinary wildlife while surrounded by exquisite vistas.

To comply with current public health guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), state and local public health authorities, the lodge will open with certain operational changes, including offering limited accommodations in approximately 30 units, as well as to-go-only food and beverage service from its General Store. In addition, staff will no longer share living quarters and will be housed separately in observance of social distancing mandates. Additional services and facilities may be phased in as the season progresses.

“Our company has always adhered to the highest standards and we are continually monitoring new health developments to ensure the health and safety of our guests and employees,” said John Schoppmann, executive vice -28- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

Grand Teton National Park

president, Forever Resorts, the concessioner operating Signal Mountain Lodge. “We have enhanced our cleanliness and sanitation standards to follow the latest recommendations.”

In addition to using cleaning and sanitizing chemicals recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)m, the lodge has implemented the following supplemental standard operating procedures: • Increased cleaning and sanitizing frequency for all public and staff areas.

• Sanitizing stations located throughout the property for employee and guest use and are checked frequently.

• Public touch points such as doorknobs, railings and faucets are cleaned and sanitized multi-

ple times throughout the day.

• Public surfaces such as counters and bathrooms are cleaned and sanitized regularly.

• All guest room surfaces are sanitized thoroughly prior to new guest arrivals.

• Increased staff training and awareness regarding maintaining cleanliness and hygiene as related to current public health considerations.

To make reservations, visit www.signalmountainlodge.com or call (307) 543-2831.

ABOUT SIGNAL MOUNTAIN LODGE The only resort located on the shores of Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park allows guests to experience invigorating mountain air and rugged wilderness. Enjoy staying in one of a variety of accommodations, including country rooms, lakefront retreats and cozy log cabin units. Its marina offers boat and kayak rentals, while other activities include a Grand Teton National Park scenic float trip, whitewater rafting with Mad River Boat Trips, guided fishing tours on Jackson lake, wildlife viewing and nearby hiking. For more information, follow on Facebook and Instagram or visit www.signalmountainlodge.com. momo

People to See:

Shaniah Twain in Las Vegas

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Shania Shows the H

By Allison Kugel How did a child growing up in poverty in the small mining town of Timmins, Ontario, Canada emerge to become the best-selling female recording artist in history? It’s a question that often rolls through Shania Twain’s mind. Throughout the course of my in-depth conversation with Shania in which we cover everything from her Las Vegas residency and burgeoning film career to her upbringing, her family relationships and her spiritual guideposts, we collaboratively put those pieces together and the answer is clear. The talent, perseverance and laser-like determination of this woman are unparalleled, yet so are serendipitous encounters along her journey that were put in place as if by divine order.

With multiple diamond-certified albums to her credit including 1995’s The Woman in Me (2020

marks the 25th anniversary of its release),1997’s Come on Over (the best-selling album by a female artist in any genre) and 2002’s Up!; she’s soothed and inspired countless fans around the globe with her soulful country twang, pop star appeal and the rich storytelling in her lyrics.

In 2017, Shania Twain emerged from one of the darkest hours of her life, losing her first husband and longtime creative collaborator, famed music producer Robert John “Mutt” Lange, and her voice to nerve damage she suffered as a result of Lyme Disease. Her story was far from over. Twain reemerged to find love with second husband, Frédéric Thiébaud, and the prodigious singer re-trained and strengthened her voice for a musical comeback. Her 2017 album, Now, is a mostly up-tempo celebration of healing, independence, love and pure joy. It’s a personal and

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professional triumph.

Shania remains steadfast and plain-spoken in emphasizing her humble roots, though she is now unapologetic in celebrating her storied career, and excited about all she has yet to accomplish. Twain extended her second Las Vegas Residency, Shania Twain Let’s Go! through the end of 2020, and she takes on her second major film role in I Still Believe, playing Terry Camp, the mother of Christian singer-songwriter Jeremy Camp, in a moving story inspired

by Camp’s personal life and career.

Allison: Looking back over your five decades of life, what events and experiences have been most formative for you?

Shania: My youth, growing up in a small northern mining town in Canada was very formative. That upbringing has stayed with me in many ways, I would say permanently. My parents dying was a personal earthquake in my life, and life shattering. My first marriage was formative. Everything changed in my life as a result of my first marriage, both personally and creatively. That partnership created a change in my life forever. And having a child was an incredibly life changing experience, and a very beautiful one. My son has brought a lot of consistency and stability to me, emotionally. Then, of course, there was the loss and weakening of my voice.

Humor and Strength of a Star Allison: How do you turn challenges into blessings?

Shania: If I start with losing my voice and my divorce, the silver lining during all of that was falling into love with somebody (Twain’s current husband, Frédéric Thiébaud). He has been an incredible support through those difficult times. My second marriage has been an incredible re-strengthening of my confidence, of my will to even want to sing again. It is just amazing, the power of love, and I am very grateful to have found that again. I had been going along and enduring so much of what I had lost for a very long time. Finding

Moment On, The Woman in Me, God Bless the Child. Your music would keep me company, comfort me and make me feel hopeful. I can only imagine how many other millions of people your music has done that for. You’ll never know who they are, and you’ll never know their stories. Do you ever stop to think about the enormity of that?

Shania: I relate to it very, very well, because that’s exactly what music does for me. I understand completely what you’re talking about and what role music plays in the lives of people, and sometimes for the artist as well. If you can

the courage to regain my voice and getting back on stage again, taking all those risks. How about even taking the risk to fall in love again (laugh)?!

Allison: In my early 20s, I was living in Los Angeles, trying to find work as a writer and broke (laughs), and I would drive around listening to your music for inspiration. I would listen to From This

relate to the artist as well as to their music, it’s such an essential and it is such a huge part of my daily life.

I’m very affected by it. My moods are affected by what song I’m listening to. I’m very easily influenced by music. I’ve never, in all my years, even when I was very young and getting into this business, I’ve never fallen into substance abuse. I was never into drugs or taking any-

thing to enhance my creativity, and I was never a partier. I was always extremely serious, and the music, itself, was where I would get lost. I would literally get high on music or go into the state of mind of wherever a piece of music took me. If I can make people feel that way, if I can have that effect on people through my music, I’ve achieved everything I could ever ask for.

Allison: The one thing that so many people I’ve interviewed have in common, people who have reached the top of their field or craft, is that they are masters at manipulating energy and matter, and manifesting things into physical existence; into the material world. Would you put yourself in that category?

Shania: Definitely! I think I’ve had a one-track mind, even now I still have this. Certainly, when I was developing [my career] and I was on my path, I was unreasonable. There was no distraction, there was nothing else. My focus was absolute, and all my energy went into whatever goals I was setting for myself.

I think that is the only way you can even use the word “master.” Certainly, if you can master your own development in your craft and get that good at something, that it’s completely… you’re inseparable from it. You’re inseparable from that ability and that skill. I’ve spent so much of my life in that mode, if you will. I still see so much of that in myself now, when I’m pushing myself as a songwriter or with whatever it is I’m doing. I’m always 100 percent in it.

Allison: I would think that frame of mind leaves little to no room for doubt, or for looking to the left or

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to the right, and all of that.

Shania: And it is a frame of mind. It’s almost a type of meditation and a very focused process, for sure.

Allison: You’re now in your second Las Vegas Residency.

The show is titled, Shania Twain Let’s Go!. What’s different from the first Las Vegas Residency you did?

Shania: This Las Vegas Residency at Zappos [Theater] (at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino) is very much geared to the spirit of the room. The atmosphere of the room is very informal. I designed the show so that when I bring people up onto the stage, they’re part of the story, in that vignette, and in that moment of the show.

For example, I’ll have a couple come up and sit in the most romantic seat in the house, which is on the stage, and I wrote a white glove [experience] for them into the show, while they’re up on stage.

So, they’ve got the best seat in the house, the white glove treatment, they’re given champagne, and their serenaded with From This Moment On (from Twain’s 1997 record breaking album, “Come on Over”).

I did that, obviously, because so many people have been married to my song, From This Moment On. Allison: I’ve also heard your show described as a “musical party.”

Shania: And that’s the more country influenced part of the show, where I’ve organized a saloon set for people to come up and dance. I created a specific choreography of a line dance can-can. It’s quite funny and light spirited, and very much built for the audience to be in the show. It’s a stand-up room, it’s a party room, so I thought Let’s Go! would be the perfect trigger title to capture that mood.

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was your greatest champion and your greatest cheerleader for your career when you were a child. She died, along with your father, in a car accident when you were only 21. If you could magically cross dimensions for just a moment to have a conversation with your mother, to either tell her something or to ask her something, what would you say?

Shania: I would probably ask her how she recognized my talent at such a young age. I always wondered what made her feel that I was so capable, and how she recognized that in me, because she was not musical, herself, at all. And to sacrifice and push so hard for me, she must have believed in it intensely.

I mean, it must have been really obvious to her, but I still can’t imagine. I guess if you have a three or four-year-old downhill skier who’s, right before your eyes, skiing better than everybody else, you can bet that with training they’re going to be a champion. But with music, I’m not sure it’s as obvious. So, I ap-

plaud her for that, and I’d want to talk to her about that. She sacrificed so much to develop my music. So yes, it was her conviction. I’d want to ask her, “Where did that conviction come from?”

Allison: Let’s talk about your second movie, I Still Believe, recently released.

The trailer made me cry. It’s inspired by the true story of Christian singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp, and depicts the love story between him and his first wife, Melissa, who died of ovarian cancer a year after they married. You play Jeremy’s mother, Terry Camp, in the film. Do you think you could ever be 100% all in a relationship knowing you would likely lose the person like that? Would you, Shania, take that risk?

Shania Twain: Yes! I would do that. It’s a heartbreaking story, but I think it’s just best to jump in sometimes and live in the moment, not knowing where it will end, and even if there is a probability that it will end badly. I think love is never a waste of time. It’s never a loss, but always a gain. This movie proves that in the most magnificent way, and in the most selfless way possible. And true love is selfless.

It was very moving, very inspiring and the ultimate act of selflessness, which love should be.

Allison: You’ve had two great experiences on film, so far. Your first movie, 2019’s Trading Paint, you worked opposite John Travolta, and in I Still Believe you worked with Gary Sinise; two incredibly gifted actors. What have you learned so far?

Shania: They are both so experienced as actors, and they influenced me a lot. I learned a lot from them. They were kind and very helpful and made me feel very

much at ease; and I just loved being on the set. John Travolta made me feel very comfortable, and a film set is somewhere I feel I belong. It comes to me very naturally. I have no nerves about it or anything like that, and I really would love to do more on film, so it sparked an interest I didn’t realize I had. It’s a newfound joy in my life where I can be creative and step out of myself like no other element in my career.

Allison: Have you started thinking about what your legacy is going to be? Shania: Well, I don’t think too much about the end (laugh).

Allison: ...when I was watching this year’s Oscars coverage, somebody made a comment about Brad Pitt, stating he is at a point in his career where he is starting to think about his legacy. And I’m thinking, “When do you get to that point? When does that happen?”

Shania: I’m not sure what my legacy would be. I think I would be better off asking people what they thought, and what they think Shania Twain represents. What is she to them or what is her music to them?

Is it the music that’s the legacy to them?

Allison: Do you still have a bucket list at this point? And if so, what’s on it?

Shania: Ah yeah! I have a few things (this was Shania’s favorite question. She absolutely lit up!).

One thing on my bucket list is, I want to ride horses in The Bahamas out in nature in The Exumas. That’s on my bucket list. I want to live somewhere in nature, really remote and cut off from the rest of the world for like a month (laugh). And it would be fun to get an Oscar…

Allison: Ha! I was going to ask you about that, but I didn’t want to put you on the spot…

Shania: That would be a bucket list thing, of course! Why not? I would definitely add an Oscar to

my bucket list (laugh).

Allison: Do you pray, Shania?

And, if so, who or what do you pray to?

Shania: Yes, I do. I pray in the form of meditation. I believe very much in a greater force and a creator. I pray about life, the world, and all existence; and it’s very much a part of my daily reflection. I make a point of never asking for anything.

I believe that the creator is doing everything at will, and that my role is to fulfill that will. That’s what I really believe.

Allison: ...what do you think you came into this life to learn? And what do you think you came here to teach?

Shania: Well, I always see my one purpose as fulfilling the will of the creator. That is, again, a genuine deep feeling, and I don’t always know what that is. It’s not always clear and I have no idea where I’m going in that sense. But whatever I do, I do it as best as I can and completely commit myself. I think I’ve probably come into this life to understand how powerful music is, and how much more powerful communication through music is, beyond my own personal plan. ...It doesn’t belong to me and I don’t feel ownership of it, if that makes sense.

Allison: It makes perfect sense.

What do you think you’ve taught your son, Eja, about woman through him observing your life?

Shania: That women are completely capable of their own independence; independent decision making, independent financial support and independent dreaming. I’ve always been this strong independent female figure in Eja’s life, but I’ve reminded him often that I’m not perfect, that I have my flaws and my weaknesses, and that it’s important to have empathy for the people who are there in your life. I hope he’s learned that and

takes that away with him, because I want him to also realize that he has to be a support to the woman in his life. I want him to understand that we women are not always the pillars of strength. We’re not always the rock. A lot of strong women give that impression, that we are and that we can always do everything. It’s good for sons to know that we are all human, and we all need each other.

Allison: At some point when a movie is made about your life, what is the one thing you pray to God they get right?

Shania: I would really want the conflicts in my life to be depicted respectfully. There’s been so much up and down in my life, that the way those moments are handled, in my opinion, would be the foundation of a good movie about my life.

It would be difficult to cope with all these things that have been so important to me in my life becoming sensationalized. I wouldn’t want the integrity of what I’ve been through to be compromised for the sake of sensationalism, or for my actual story to get abused or exploited.

Allison: Before we say goodbye, I’d like to say thank you. Thank you for the incredible music.

Shania: Thank you, I appreciate that.

Shania Twain Let’s Go! The Las Vegas Residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino is running through December 2020. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster and Planet Hollywood. Follow @shaniatwain and ShaniaTwain.com.

Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment columnist, author of memoir, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record, and owner of Full Scale Media. Follow her on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonKugel.com.

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Things to Do:

NASHPORT - The wooded hills and scenic valleys surrounding Dillon State Park offer a picturesque setting for outdoor adventure.

Whether boating the quiet coves and inlets of the lake or hiking the forest trails, you’ll have an outstanding recreation experience at this 2,285acre park.

The archery range is located at the Sled Hill parking lot. 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-yard targets as well as a 30-yard broad head target are available.

Backstops are made from recycled plastic from Coconis Furniture.

The 1,560-acre lake allows unlimited horsepower boating. Two boat ramps provide access to the lake. The state park marina offers 95 docks for lease on a seasonal basis, as well as four overnight rental docks. Canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards are available for rent at the Campground Store.

Regular public events have been suspended

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through May 15 due to COVID - 19. A Wet and Wild Fishing Derby is tentively scheduled for June 13 beginning at 9 a.m The fishing derby will be followed by free canoeing plus water safety instructions, fly tie demonstrations and more at the beach area.

A total of 29 cabins, nestled in the woods near the north lake shore, offer cozy overnight accommodations year-round. Each cabin has air conditioning, cable television, gas heat, two bedrooms, one bath, living room, all-electric kitchen, dining area, screened porch with custom-built Adirondack chairs, some have microwaves.

For more information, visit online at https:// www.facebook.com/DillonStatePark/

For more information on Ohio >CLICK HERE!

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Places to Go:

Parks Near Logan

Are you looking for a way to enjoy some fresh air? With so many operations closed, it’s hard to know where to go for some much-needed alone time with nature. Here are some parks and trails in the Logan, Ohio, area that are still open for exploration:

• • • • •

Zaleski-Lake Hope Rockbridge Clear CreekMetro Park Rock StallsNature Sancturary (Near Hideaway Hills) Lake Logan Please note that anything on Hocking Hill State Forest Land remains closed.

The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, conveniently located near all the above parks, will be open to overnight guests beginning Monday, May 4, 2020! Additionally, Kindred Spirits will be open for carryout orders per our new reopen plans.

You’ll see options for complimentary breakfast de-

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livery to your accommodation, an expanded brown bag lunch menu as well as an option to have dinner and drinks delivered to your accommodation. This means you can enjoy your delectable meal and your favorite adult beverage from the comfort of your room, cottage, cabin, or yurt!

For your safety and peace of mind, other re-

open plans at the Inn include more email communication regarding your reservation, no contact check-in/out, and additional cleaning supplies.

For more information, visit online at https://in-

natcedarfalls.com/lodging

For more on Ohio

>Click here

Go, Do, See:

Guernsey County

We may be in quarantine from one another, but we still have the beautiful outdoors to enjoy. The landscape of Guernsey County threads together an amazing tapestry of forested hills, open meadows, misty valleys and clear streams. It is home to some of Ohio’s largest lakes and state parks When we are able to travel again, plan your first vacation of the season at Salt Fork State Park, Ohio’s largest state park. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Cambridge, the park boasts 17,229-acres of recreational facilities available including 2,952 acres of water. The grounds include the Kennedy Stone House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Check out their website for current information at http://parks.ohiodnr. gov/saltfork. Public outdoor spaces at Ohio state parks, wildlife areas, forests and nature preserves remain open,

including trails, dog parks, and docks with a few exceptions: Keep in mind that public restrooms and all overnight facilities at Ohio State Parks are currently closed. Please visit ODNR’s operations page to keep up-to-date on changes in the COVID-19 situation.

There are some beautiful hiking trails that may be new to you and are still open. However, if you head out, use common sense, adhere to social distancing guidance, and remember to plan ahead While our events are postponed for now, we encourage you to look ahead and see what’s coming up! Make plans to visit us again, soon! For a complete listing of events, cancellations and postmonements, log on to VisitGuernseyCounty.com.

June 5, 12, 19, 26 Rise & Shine Farmers Market, Tractor Supply Parking Lot

June 12-Living Word Banquet and Auction, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center June 13-Touch A Truck, Deerassic Park Education Center June 13-Ducks Unlimited, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center June 13-National Road Bike Show & Ribfest June 13-Ruff Truck, Guernsey County Fairgrounds, Old Washington June 19 -The Living Word Outdoor Drama Season Begins June 26-27- Kicking Bear One-OnOne, Deerassic Park Education Center June 26-27-National Cambridge Glass Collectors Show & Sale, Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center

For more on Ohio

>CLICK HERE May, 2020 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -37-

Go, Do, See:

From Roller C ORLANDO - A trip to Orlando doesn’t have to feel so far off with the addition of new Orlando-centric backgrounds for Zoom, the remote-conferencing service gaining in popularity for everything from virtual staff meetings to happy hours and family gatherings. From backgrounds featuring iconic roller coasters and dinosaurs to peaceful nature shots, there is a “thrill” or “chill” for every Orlando fan.

In addition, Visit Orlando launched a weekly series of 360-degree photos on its Facebook channel that allow guests to immerse themselves into locations throughout Orlando, including world famous theme parks. The 360-degree photos can be viewed through mobile (tilting/shifting phones to change the view), on desktop by clicking with the mouse or through ocular lenses for a complete immersion.

“Visiting” Orlando is easy with Zoom. Users can download any of the following high-resolution pictures from Visit Orlando to a computer or mobile advice, then set the image as a background in Zoom. The 23 options range from iconic theme park roller coasters, the world’s tallest swing ride, a tropical paradise scene, a chic gallery setting, peaceful gardens or even a massive dinosaur skeleton.

Theme Parks Roller coasters fans of all ages can pretend they are about to launch into an adventure or for a milder take, enjoy a serene tropical paradise.

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Universal Orlando Resort Coaster fans will love the view of the big green The Incredible Hulk Coaster.

SeaWorld Orlando – Relax in a tropical paradise or fly like a ray on SeaWorld’s Manta coaster Disney Parks have also launched a separate series of Zoom backgrounds ranging from Disney princesses to Pixar.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort - The family-friendly Dragon coaster will zoom into your living room

Attractions Attractions along Orlando’s iconic International Drive including the world’s tallest swing ride, classic favorites like Gatorland and backdrops from the destination’s arts and culture scene make for a fun guessing game with friends or remind family members of fun vacation memories.

The Wheel at ICON Park - Beautiful sunset over Orlando’s iconic 400-foot observation wheel Gatorland - The infamous al-

Coasters to Dinasaurs

ligator mouth entrance at one of Orlando’s oldest attractions SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium Go under the sea to explore a few of the species from the oceans of the world.

Madame Tussauds Orlando E.T. himself appears in this wellknown bike shot Orlando Starflyer - Swing your way through the day on the world’s tallest swing ride Ripleys Believe It or Not! - Show you found Big Foot with this background

Fun Spot America - A classic wooden coaster reminiscent of days past Drive Shack Orlando - Show you’d rather be on the links with this beautiful sunset shot over one of Orlando’s golf-themed entertainment venues Orlando Science Center - Dinosaur lovers will love this massive T-Rex skeleton Orlando Museum of Art - A clean and sophisticated gallery backdrop Orlando International Airport

- Avid travelers may enjoy this classic Orlando airport scene Local Neighborhoods Those looking to immerse themselves in a relaxing Orlando scene will love options from local neighborhoods ranging from the beautiful fountain at Lake Eola Park to the picturesque foliage at Leu Gardens.

Lake Eola Park — Downtown Orlando’s iconic lake with both day and night options Harry P. Leu Gardens - Reflect in the peaceful garden of this 50acre botanical oasis Park Avenue in Winter Park – The “Rodeo Drive” of Orlando Winter Park Chain of Lakes - Clear kayaks navigate one of Orlando’s most beautiful lakes Plant Street in Winter Garden - One of Orlando’s rising up-andcoming neighborhoods Boxi Park - One of Orlando’s newest dining & entertainment venues created out of repurposed shipping containers For more immersion in yourvirtual getaway, Visit Orlando has a list of 20-plus virtual thrills from the theme park capital of the world, including a 200-ft. roller coaster drop, fireworks over the famous Cinderella Castle, a zipline ride over alligators and more, all aggregated on Visit Orlando’s blog, VisitOrlando.com/ blog.

For More Articles on Florida > CLICK HERE

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Places to Go:

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Award-Winnin

WEST MIFFLIN, PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Even though the amusement park sounds of summer may be silenced right now, the National Amusement Park Historical Association’s (NAPHA) annual member survey gives Kennywood Park something to smile about. The Pittsburgh-area national historic landmark earned top billing as NAPHA’s favorite traditional amusement park. Three of its roller coasters also received major recognition.

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favorite parks and rides of some of the amusement industry’s most devoted patrons. According to NAPHA, their typical member has visited more than 140 different parks, riding an average of 330 roller coasters. These coaster connoisseurs voted Kennywood’s Phantom’s Revenge as their favorite steel roller coaster, with The Steel Curtain, the park’s record-breaking collaboration with the Pittsburgh Steelers, named the Best New Attraction by the association. Steel Curtain, which set a world record for tallest inversion (197) and North American record for most in-

ng Kennywood Park versions (9) when it opened last summer, was also voted 2019’s Best New Roller Coaster in the Golden Ticket Awards, another well-recognized amusement industry survey. A clean Kennywood sweep of the coaster rankings was just missed, as the wooden classic Jack Rabbit, celebrating its 100th year in 2020, tied for second-favorite wood coaster.

“Winning Favorite Traditional Amusement Park and Best New Attraction shows our commitment to developing new thrills while still preserving historic attractions is paying off,” said Kennywood Assistant General Manager Rob Henninger. “We thank NAPHA and their members for recognizing these efforts, and our team at Kennywood for making it all possible.”

While Kennywood’s 2020 Summer Season remains on hold due to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the park remains committed to the health and safety of its Team Members and Guests above all. For more information on Kennywood, please visit http://www.Kennywood.com.

Kennywood is America’s Finest Traditional Amusement Park! The Pittsburgh-area park offers a unique mix of modern thrills and classic rides, including seven roller coasters, a 12-ride Kiddieland, and several attractions that cannot be found anywhere else. Kennywood, founded in 1898 and named a National Historic Landmark in 1987, continues to provide unforgettable fun for all ages.

Palace Entertainment is one of the leading leisure park operators in the United States and is owned by Parques Reunidos. Palace Entertainment owns and operates 21 major entertainment venues across 10 different states, offering a wide range of family friendly rides, shows and attractions.

For more information For more on Pennsylvania

on Here New York, >Click >Click Here May, 2020 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -41-

Things to Do:

W

ith countless trails carving through the mountains and woodlands, hikers can embark on a new journey through a variety of terrains – all while maintaining social distancing. Most of the time, this can be done at locations within 15 minutes of your home! Whether you prefer to hike, bike, bird watch, or sightsee, here are some amazing trails that will leave you breathless.

HIKE THE STANDING STONE TRAIL The Standing Stone Trail is a hiking trail stretching 84 miles through Fulton, Huntingdon, and Mifflin counties; the trail traverses central Pennsylvania ridges and valleys from Cowans Gap State Park in the south, to Rothrock State Forest’s Detweiler Natural Area and the Mid-State Trail in the north. It was also named the state’s 2016 Trail of the Year. Standing Stone Trail is part of the 1,600-mile Great Eastern Trail, which starts at Flagg Mountain, Ala., and extends to the Finger Lakes Trail in New York. More than 80 percent of the trail traverses state owned forest and Pa. Game Commission game lands. The popular Thousand Steps portion of the trail is located near Mount Union.

BIKE THE ALLEGRIPPIS TRAILS With endless combinations of routes and more than 30 miles of single track trails, the Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all hiking levels. Adventure lovers will enjoy a challenging trek with stunning views of Raystown Lake and local wildlife. At nearby Trough Creek State Park, be sure to hike your way to Balanced Rock, a boulder that has hung on the side of a cliff for thousands of years – and Rainbow Falls, a waterfall along the footpath leading to Balanced Rock.

D&H TRAIL AT LEHIGH GORGE STATE PARK The varied trail surfaces and beautiful surroundings are what make the unique D&H Rail Trail a treat for any outdoor enthusiast. This 38-mile pathway stands in place of the historic Delaware and Hudson railroad, a small but -42- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

vital rail line during the 1800s. The multi-use trail runs for several miles along the Lackawanna River and alternates between tree-lined sections and open stretches.

HERITAGE RAIL TRAIL COUNTY PARK The 21.5-mile Heritage Rail Trail runs from the City of York to the Maryland border and includes seven railroad structures on the National Register of Historic Places, as well as an operating tourism train along 10-miles of track.

This rail-to-trail was once a prime target for the Confederate Army prior to the Battle of Gettysburg. Known for its historic roots, the trail offers visitors a unique hiking experience.

PINE GROVE FURNACE STATE PARK Nestled deep in Michaux State Forest near Chambers-

Hike, Bike, and View the Trails

burg, Pine Grove Furnace State Park is a perfect spot for an outdoor adventure! Featuring four miles of looping trails, scenic overlooks, and Laurel and Fuller lakes, the park’s wooded, mountainous atmosphere attracts hikers of all skill levels. The Pole Steeple Trail, the most famous in the park, is a steep, .75 mile trail that ends at the Pole Steeple Overlook, a quartzite outcropping that overlooks the entire park and the surrounding valleys.

RICKETTS GLEN STATE PARK A National Natural Landmark, Ricketts Glen State Park is best characterized by the Falls Trail System, a difficult, 7.2 mile trail that provides views of 22 named waterfalls.

Ranging from 11 feet to the towering 94-foot Ganoga Falls, the waterfalls are each unique and provide tranquil resting stops along the rocky trail. Other trails roam

through the park’s 13,193 acres, including the short Beach Trail that runs by the park’s swimming area and the Grand View Trial, which leads to the highest point on Red Rock Mountain. Each of the 26 miles of trails offers something different and are well worth the challenge.

PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK Presque Isle State Park offers 10 miles of hiking trails that will take you through scenic views of Pennsylvania’s only seashore. These sandy trails offer hikers a glimpse at the beautiful coastline of this National Natural Landmark, known as a favorite For more on Pennsylvania spot for >CLICK HERE migrating birds.

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Things to Do

J

J

Hiking at the Park

ohn James Audubon State Park in Henderson’s great selection of hiking trails make for a wonderful escape to the woods, with trails ranging in skill level and distance.

The 700-acre park sits directly off of busy Highway 41, but once you’ve entered the park the hustle and bustle of the highway is only an afterthought. If you’re looking for fresh air, the cheerful chirping of birds, and a nature-inspired getaway while practicing social distancing, check out the trails at this gem right here in Henderson.

First Things First: The Trails Museum Trail (2.5 miles) Difficulty: Easy Trailhead located behind Audubon museum, mostly paved surface.

Kentucky Coffee Tree Trail (0.5 miles) Difficulty: Moderate Begins with Museum Trail, Coffee Tree Trail breaks off to the right into lush valley, trail ends on hilltop, hikers may make loop with woodpecker trail, trail is hilly.

Woodpecker Trail (0.4 miles) Difficulty: Easy Begin by walking on Warbler Rd., see seven species of woodpecker, descends into valley, cross bridge and begin steady climb up hill, may return to museum by traveling back to Coffee Tree Trail.

Warbler Road (0.7 miles) Difficulty: Easy Paved road, serves as location for many trailheads/ trail endings, named for the 20 species of Warblers migrate to park during spring and summer, begins at main office parking lot.

King Benson Trail (0.3 miles) Difficulty: Easy Begins at set of steps off main office parking lot, trail winds and joins Warbler Rd., relatively easy.

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Begins off Warbler Rd., travels around Wilderness Lake-a state nature preserve, follows ridge line before descending to lake by way of steep stairway, various wildflowers and wildlife, trail is hilly at times.

Scenic Overlook Trail (0.22 miles) Difficulty: Easy Trail diverges from Wilderness Lake Trail at CCC shelter,

good view of lake from above.

Back Country Trail (1.6 miles) Difficulty: Moderate Accessed through Warbler Rd. and Wilderness Lake Trail, travels over hilly terrain in northern section of Nature Preserve.

Eagle Glen Pet Trail (0.9 miles) Difficulty: Advanced Only trail that allows leashed pets, begins in museum parking lot, difficult due hilly terrain and amount of steps.

Audubon Wetlands Trail (1 mile) Difficulty: Easy Short trail loop that features a wide wooden boardwalk that spans about .25 of a mile. he Rules The Kentucky State Parks system has rules in place to protect the natural habitat, animals, and you!

• Please stay on designated trail.

• Trails are open from sunrise to sunset • Do not hike alone.

• Proper footwear recommended. This helps preserve the trail’s natural resources.

• Be sure to carry out any items, including garbage, that you carry in with you.

For more on Kentucky

> Click Here

Things to Do:

Even though social disntancing is still encouraged and many park adventures are still not open to the public, summer weather is enticing us to get outdoors. If you are still hesitant to head to a public park, a second alternative is to turn your own backyard into a mini-park.

After all, the number one reason for an extended weekend getaway is to relax and escape from the normal daily routine. Enjoy life and members of your family by planning a special activity-filled weekend right at home.

Get the tents out and begin with a race to see who can set theirs up first.

Next, create a cooling oasis with some clever water-centric activities.

Amp up the joy of running through the sprinklers by tossing beach balls

back and forth through the spray. A water table filled with plastic bowls, measuring cups, and floating toys will keep toddlers engaged for hours. A water slide with a large plastic sheet also provides an afternoon of fun.

Another idea is building a sandbox playground in old tractor tires ro simple wooden frams. A toddler swimming pool is another choice for sand.

Fasten a rope swing to a tree. Fasten an unused gate to a pole so it rotates like a merry-go-round.

Now for my favorite part of the weekend: FOOD! Depending on where you live and what local ordinances provide, some may choose to cook over an open fire. If preferred, use a simple grill and throw on the hot

dogs. The hot coals can still provide a source for roasting marshmallows to make those delicious s’mores.

Load the picnic table with your favorite snacks and you have an instant snack bar. Or better yet, plan a picnic for the whole family and eat on a tablecloth or blanket spread on the ground.

Just remember: It doesn’t take much to make a kid happy as long as they are outside. Give them a tree and it’s a forest. Give them the sandbox with old pots and pans and you have a restaurant or bakery. Give them a clothesline and blankets and they may build a whole campground.

The most important thing is to have fun, stay safe, and renew relationships with your loved ones.

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People to See:

Bluegrass Icon, Lizzy Long

A

new album has been released entitled, Dream Again.

NASHVILLE -- Bluegrass and Americana phenom, Lizzy Long, releases her sophomore album, Dreaming Again, today as the follow up to her freshman effort, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Bluegrass Chart. This album further showcases Long’s talents as not only an acclaimed instrumentalist, but a vocalist and a songwriter, co-penning five of the songs. The multiple Dove award-winning artist also puts her own unique, rootsy spin on covers of Queen’s “Keep Yourself Alive,” as well as Broadway hits “Memory” from Cats and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” from Phantom Of The Opera.

Produced by Wayne Haun and released as the debut project from Vine Records, listen to the album here.

Lizzy shares, “I’m thrilled to be releasing my new solo project on the Vine Records label.

The team at Vine has been so supportive and great to work with. I loved being able to cowrite with Wayne Haun and Joel Lindsey on several of the songs, and it was an awesome experience to record vocals at the iconic Capitol Records -46- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ May, 2020

chance to play with legends such as Mac Wiseman, Jim and Jesse, The Lewis Family and Earl Scruggs.

Having carved out her own niche in bluegrass, it is no wonder that Long has seen so much success. Keep up to date with Long on her website.

studio in Los Angeles, Calif.

I can’t wait to tour again and share this music with my fans!”

“Lizzy has a unique way of borrowing songs from other genres and reimagining them to fit her perfectly,” states producer, Wayne Haun, adding, “such is the case with Andrew Lloyd Weber’s ‘Memory,’ from the hit Broadway musical Cats, and rock sensation Queen’s ‘Keep Yourself Alive,’ the first single shipped to radio from the project. But originals, including the genuine and homespun ‘Old-Fashioned Heart,’ perfectly round out the album to make it undeniably commercial, undeniably Bluegrass and undeniably Lizzy.”

Long is one of the youngest fiddlers to be inducted into America’s Old-Time Country Hall of Fame and has had the

1. Fireflies and Falling Stars (Mark “Brink” Brinkman and Louisa Branscomb​) 2. Keep Yourself Alive (Brian Harold May) 3. Dreaming Again (Lizzy Long, Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun) 4. Old-Fashioned Heart (Lizzy Long, Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun) 5. Cherry Pickin’ (Lizzy Long, Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun) 6. Woman Scorned (Lizzy Long, Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun) 7. Memory (Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trevor Nunn, T.S. Elliot and Zdenek Hruby) 8. Final Curtain (Lizzy Long, Joel Lindsey and Wayne Haun) 9. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Clinton Hart, Richard Henry and Zachary Simpson Stilgoe) Her newest release, Dreaming Again, is sure to be another chart-topping addition to her extraordinary repertoire.

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