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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Free cruise contest ends Friday Febr. 29th
Want a chance to win a one week cruise?
Come up with a name for one of the two new largest Royal Caribbean
International cruise ships - Genesis I and II.
Set to debut in 2009
and 2010, the cruise ships will accommodate 5,400 guests at a time.
These cruise ships will be the largest ever built, and at a cost of $1
billion each it's reported.
Hurry though, as the contest ends February 29th. Visit namethatship.usatoday.com
to register.
We
have a survey contest in the works for a free chance to win a GO USA
attraction card for Orlando. Stay tuned for details...
Monday, February 25, 2008
Stay in a rustic 1850's log cabin: Lonesome Dove B&B
Recently, we had the opportunity of staying at the Lonesome
Dove Bed & Breakfast in Burton. Lonesome Dove B&B is a restored
1850s chinked log cabin with tin roof set in a relaxing location next to
a fishing pond. If looking for a restive and secluded getaway, this is
the place. Read all about it in our new B&B feature and video on the Lonesome
Dove B&B.
Edited on: Thursday, February 28, 2008 11:40 AM
Categories: Accommodations
Traveling thru Burton and Round Top, Texas
Located near Brenham (the tour to take is Blue Bell..) just off of Hwy
290, the small town of Burton has some interesting places. We visited
the Cotton Gin Museum, home of the oldest cotton gin still in operation.
One interesting fact learned was that cotton comprises 75 percent of our
U.S. paper money. If in the area, a fun event coming April 18-20 is the Burton
Cotton Gin Festival, which will include a parade, cotton gin tours,
antique tractors, auctions, and entertainment.
We
stopped in at Henry's Grocery to grab a snack. We asked how old it was
and got the reply "We don't know, but it's old." It appeared to date to
at least the early 1920s. In our journeys we'll be exploring more
general stores around the state in our search for hoop cheese, which
used to be commonly found but is now rare as general stores have become.
We
also visited the art colony of Round
Top, which we'll be having a segment on in the future, and heading
back to around the first of April for the huge antiques show. This area
has some of the most friendly people you will find. A music institute is
housed there. In fact, there was a large polka festival going on, with
dancers from all over the country there to hear several polka bands play
during the day. One of the most interesting buildings in Round Top is
the "new" library, which was moved to the new location in several
pieces, and renovated due to a generous donation of $700,000. It was an
old church building that had been sitting in a field, formerly Hope
Lutheran Church built in the 1920's.
In
our travels this spring and summer, we will be highlighting unique small
towns of Texas. Look for more of small town Texas places to see soon.
Know
of an old general store, soda fountain, or diner still in operation like
times of old in Texas that we need to know about?
The older the
better.
Let
us know their history and hours of operation and we may stop in and
feature in our travels.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Indiana Jones rides again
I admit it. I'm an adventure junkie. Just saw the preview for the new
Indiana Jones movie coming out May 22nd (see preview).
Can't wait to
see it. In June of 1981, I watched the first movie in the theatres a
half dozen times. Read the book. Had a movie poster in my room.
Didn't
everyone?? The other movies didn't do it for me like the original.
Edited on: Monday, February 25, 2008 7:40 AM
Categories: Entertainment
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Historic Star Drug Store in Galveston
From our recent trip to Galveston, we stopped in to the historic Star
Drug Store. Our ham and cheese sandwiches were most delicious,
topped off by a frosty strawberry shake served up from the old soda
fountain. In the early days, the drug store had hooks that were lowered
from the ceiling in case of flooding to raise the display cases and
cabinets, to keep from getting wet. Read more about our recent visit,
and meeting Chili. Chili is well known on the island, and hand makes
detailed sand sculptures and spun glass creations for his company. As a
native, he can tell you lots of interesting history about Galveston.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Villa B&B in Galveston
Built in 1914 as a residence, the Villa B&B is situated in a prime
location just 3 blocks from the Galveston beach. Perfect for a romantic
getaway, with heart shaped hot tub, with trolley that stops every 20
minutes in front where roses bloom year round. Be sure to watch our
feature video on The
Villa B&B, where we enjoyed meeting neighbors in the Silk
Stocking District. As with the other b&bs we feature in Galveston, free
cruise parking is provided for guests who stay while taking a cruise.
More features on Galveston coming soon, including attractions to see while on the island.
Springfield Plantation, oldest house in the Mississippi Valley
This weekend I had a telephone conversation with Arthur La Salle, the
longtime curator of Springfield Plantation, the oldest house in the
Mississippi Valley. As the house was where the controversial marriage of
Andrew Jackson (our 7th U.S. President) and Rachel Donelson took place,
it is only fitting that I post this on President's Day as a tribute to
"Old Hickory" and to Springfield Plantation. Andrew and Rachel loved
each other dearly, though tragically she died before he was in office.
Read about their great
love story.
Known as being a little eccentric, mainly due to
the fact that he is a walking encyclopedia of extensive historic
knowledge, Mr. La Salle at now 78, and is still laboring on with keeping
the house open. The visitiors have declined as a result of widespread
media attention of New Orleans, even though the historic areas and the
French Quarter where most tourists go are open for business as usual. I
had last seen him some 12 years ago. He has devoted the past 31 years of
his life to the preservation of Springfield Plantation in the hopes of
future generations being able to enjoy. Besides writing a book, he also
previously renovated Brush Hill plantation in Irwin, Pennsylvania, did
railroad locomotive renovation, and has some interesting paintings
displayed that he has painted over the years. On the National Register
of Historic Places, the house was built with bricks made on the site for
Thomas Green, Jr.
Springfield is considered one of the first
houses in America ever built with a full colonnade across the entire
front of the house.
Built in 1786-1791, Springfield
Plantation is a treasue to behold, and worth the $10 per person
admission to hear all about the fascinating history of the Mississippi
Territory as you tour the whole house. This would also be a perfect
field trip for school kids to learn history up close. The exterior looks
the same as it did when built. The interior woodwork and hand-carved
mantels from Virginia are all original. To give you a perspective of the
fascinating history here, when Andrew Jackson married here, the house
was in Spanish territory known as West Florida. If there are no others
coming in for tours, Mr. La Salle may speak with you for hours about
Springfield.
The house is the oldest major structure that survives
in the whole Mississippi Valley, and also the very first two-story
colonnade house to ever be built in the area. 
Consider
making a donation to help ensure the house can stay open. If you happen
to be near the Natchez
area, be sure to stop in for a tour. Say hello to Mr. La Salle for me.
His historic preservation efforts with Springfield Plantation are
admirable and need the full support of anyone that cherishs history as I
do.
See it soon while Mr. La Salle is still there. This is as
authentic and original as it gets, and you'll be entertained for hours,
and will be able to see, touch, and hear the most indepth about the area
when it was still a frontier.
Tell him Southpoint.com sent you and
you will never forget your visit.
Springfield Plantation
Historic Springfield Foundation
Highway 553
8733
River Road S
Fayette, MS 39069
Springfield Plantation is 24
miles from Natchez.
Exit off of the Natchez Trace at Milepost 20
(Fayette exit), turn right onto Hwy 553 and go a half mile till you see
the entrance.
Tours are arranged by paying at the door.
Adults -
$10
Children 12 and Under - $5
Hours are:
Monday - Saturday
9:30 a.m. till sunset
Sunday 10:00 a.m. till sunset
Google
Maps | Mapquest
Directions
If feeling adventurous while in the Natchez Trace area, drive through the ghost town of Rodney (the almost capital of Mississippi) and Windsor Ruins.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Lost Bayou Guesthouse in Galveston
Built in 1890 as a Colonial style residence, when the 1900 Storm came it
forced the house off it's foundation. An additional level was added on
to the house to make it a 2 1/2 story with front porches in 1906. In
2005 it was purchased and converted to a five room b&b. Be sure to watch
our feature video on the Lost
Bayou Guesthouse. As with the other b&bs we feature in Galveston,
free cruise parking is provided for guests who stay while taking a
cruise.
More features on Galveston coming soon, including more B&Bs visited, and other attractions to see while on the island.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Soda Fountain in San Antonio
I love old soda fountains. They are historic treasures, and provide a
snapshot of the way things used to be.
See our new special feature on
the Star
Drug Store in Galveston.
On a recent business trip to San
Antonio, we decided to stop in at the Olmos
Soda Fountain, which still makes malts and shakes the old fashioned
way. From checking their one page website for hours (7:00am - 5:00pm),
we thought we had plenty of time when we walked in on a Saturday at 4:32
and sat at a booth. To our surprise, we were told that they had shut
down the kitchen for the day. It appeared like they were getting it
ready for the evening, when it turns into a bar. So to at least salvage
our out-of-the-way visit to get there from across town, we decided to
order some shakes. No luck. We were 2 minutes too late. Forget what the
website said. Apparently, the restaurant has forgotten the first rule of
service, which is the customer is always right. That's unfortunate,
because it needs all the positive publicity it can get.
