Panama City Beach in the Florida panhandle is one of those places that remind you of a combination of other places, a blend of kitschy charm found in Myrtle Beach, Atlantic City and Key West. It’s a place unto its own, though, and one where you’ll soon find, by dialect and design, a place apart from what you might usually think of as the Sunshine State. South Florida, more a mindset than geographical location, is arguably from the middle of … [Read more...]
Hundreds of volunteers made Oakland kids’ dreams come true
Children at the Community School for Creative Education in Oakland saw their ideal play space designs become reality on Saturday, August 18. In just six hours, the “my dream playground” posters the kids had drawn were transformed into a creative, colorful play environment. Teams of volunteers assembled a steel and plastic playground structure with a twisted slide, monkey bars and lots of components for climbing and exploring. Some built a … [Read more...]
New Orleans Wine & Food Experiences sets Plans for 2011
Kindred local ingredients and chefs top the program; champagne makes a huge splash ( www.nowfe.com ) (December 9, 2010) New Orleans, Louisiana - Grab your fork and your corkscrew, the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, which ranks in the Top 10 Food & Wine Destinations in the U.S. and fourth in the World according to the TripAdvisor Annual Travelers Choice Destination Awards, has announced plans are underway for the upcoming 2011 event. The … [Read more...]
Weep for the Living
Weep for the Living by Anne Butler is a mystery writer from the small town of St. Francisville in southern Louisiana. She was married to a respected retired criminologist who used to work for the infamous Angola prison nearby. One day while relaxing on her porch her husband comes home with a .38 gun. Amazingly she survived multiple gunshots without hospitalization for 2 hours before help arrived. Anne is a survivor and this story provides … [Read more...]
McGees Landing, Louisiana – January 2009
McGees Landing Louisiana - McGee's Landing is located in the heart of Cajun country and is a must visit for anyone traveling in the southern part of Louisiana. Floating guesthouses, a full restaurant serving a variety of authentic "swamp meals" including crayfish and alligator, live music at times, and their infamous swamp tours makes any visit here a memorable experience. On private high powered fan air boats you go deep into the heart of one of … [Read more...]
New Orleans
Welcome to Southern Louisiana! Or if you prefer, Laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll). Here, in the "south" the people are friendly, the food is amazing and music is an ingrained part of people's daily life. It has been many years since the disastrous events of Hurricane sisters Katrina and Rita. Today there is little evidence of their disastrous swaths - now you actually have to look to find it. Time heals physically but … [Read more...]
Day 1 – New Orleans
Any trip to this part of Louisiana should start with a stay in New Orleans, specifically in the French Quarter. What better a place to call home for a few days than the Hotel Monteleone . This hotel dates from 1886, is still family owned and is located in the heart of New Orleans's French Quarter. It is definitely "the" hotel to stay at in this part of the city. In the mood for decadence and elegance - Hotel Monteleone serves this up by the … [Read more...]
Day 3 – Donaldsonville
Donaldsonville is a small town along the Mississippi River about 55 miles west of New Orleans. With friendly locals, quaint shops, galleries, two museums (Historical Donaldsonville Museum and the River Road African American Museum & Gallery), a historical district and good restaurants, one can easily spend a half day here. The nation's first African American mayor was elected to office in Donaldsonville in 1868, merely three years after the end … [Read more...]
Day 4 – Plantations, Bayou
Rosedown Plantation is located at 12501 La. Hwy. 10 in the West Feliciana Parish; this is the quintessential Southern Louisiana plantation experience. Rosedown was established in the 1830's by a wealthy couple. At the height of their prosperity this plantation contained over 3400 acres and several hundred slaves. The grounds are gorgeous - in the summer full blooming pink crepe myrtle trees are draped with long hanging Spanish moss. In the … [Read more...]
Day 5 – Breaux Bridge, Music
Travelers who enjoy crawfish and or Cajun and Zydeco music, a visit to the town of Breaux Bridge is mandatory. Restaurants in this town were among the first in Louisiana to offer it on their printed menus, the crawfish etouffe, now common in southern Louisiana was invented here and the annual Crawfish Festival is held in the first week of May. You haven't seen a festival like this one before; features a crawfish eating contest (current record is … [Read more...]