APtravelnews-Bob and Barb, 12/10,-Stuart, FL.- At Pusateri’s Chicago Pizza–Coming to the table right now is a Chicago Beef Sandwich, a pure beef Chicago Vienna Hot Dog done up with pickle, peppers, bright yellow mustard, tomato, sport peppers, fresh chopped onion, the famous “Bright Green Relish” and a dash of Celery Salt. My mouth had a party! We also dug into a real Chicago Pizza.
APtravelnews-October 25th- Florence, Alabama-Barb and I travel quite a bit all over the place. You would know this if you’ve been a regular visitor to our APtravelnews.com. Once in awhile we stumble across a place in time and space that just makes us marvel at all the great things a tourist, or local can experience without going to a big city, or taking a cruise, or visiting anywhere else in the world!
Florence, AL. ( Florence is Firenze in Italy) and the American city of Florence, in many ways is reminiscent of that special city in Italy known for the Renaissance and the “Enlightenment” period that pulled much of Europe out of the Dark Ages! Florence, AL.is known as a place that birthed the Blues, and visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum pulls at the heart strings of anyone who thinks they can whistle a tune about crying over losing their wife, their dog or their boat, that so many Country songs draw on for song content thematic’s. We visited several venues that featured all manner of music history and up-to-date music digital publishing of the latest songs coming from the souls and lips of would-be and hopeful stars and those that already have made a name for themselves in the music industry as well. We spent some time at FAME Studios2 for a tour of the facility and found out that anyone who wishes can cut a digital mastered song for hourly or daily fees that seemed quite reasonable to us. For more information go:http://www.fame2.com after visiting this studio we headed for the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio at 3614 Jackson Highway. This location is known by anyone interested in Country Music as the small studio that the likes of Cher, Wilson Pickett, Rolling Stones, Paul Simon,Bob Segar, Aretha Franklin and so many others too numerous to mention. This location is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The location is being renovated at this time thanks to a very generous million dollar gift from a music maker and lover! Their website encourages donations. Check out their website: www.msmusicfoundation.org
After heading over to Bunyan’s BBQ in Downtown BBQ sandwich.
Have you ever been spooky scared? Do you enjoy Halloween? Would you like to be frightened out of your shorts and pay 20-bucks for it? Would you make a donation to serious children’s causes (that’s where the 20-bucks go)? Go do it, but my caveat: Its not for the faint of heart. Arx Mortis is probably the greatest haunted attraction anywhere. Well over one hundred volunteers are actors and enjoy scaring the pants off of you. Promise; this is the best spooky spot in America. People drive their families here for over one hundred miles to get scared nearly to death! www.arxmortis.com
.Frank Lloyd Wright designed and had built some of the most iconic homes in the world. The Rosenbaum home in Florence, AL. is but one of them. Fantastic experience to visit this home that balances form so well with function! The Rosenbaum House will be featured in our next article: “Florence, AL. Adventure 3”
APtravelnews-October 23rd—Florence, AL. and Lauderdale, County is quite progressively moving forward with offering locals and visitors some of the best historical, modern as well as iconic music entertainment and even spiritual attractions, excellent restaurants and accommodations that AL. has to offer. Barb and I, thanks to the very professional, yet extremely friendly, Georgia Carter Turner from Florence and Lauderdale Tourism Development Council, brought us in to familiarize us with many opportunities that all visitors can take advantage of as well.
We stayed at the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Conference Center, which offered excellent buffet breakfasts, lunch and dinners at Swampers Restaurant (see images of our meals) comfortable rooms and even an indoor and outdoor impressive swimming pool and spa. The staff was very pleasant and friendly; the elevator never kept you waiting- it was as fast as any I have ever experienced. The beds were perfect! It’s tough to be comfortable traveling and bed-hopping, but here we slept comfortably and bedded down on the 6th floor watching vast sunsets and sun-ups over a panoramic view of hill and dale, viewing the nearby waters of Muscle Shoals and the Tennessee River. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/msimc-marriott-shoals-hotel-and-spa/
Early Monday morning, writer Rebecca McCormick from Hot Springs Arkansas and I were scheduled to fish Pickwick Lake with Guide Lance Walker. It sure was cool traveling at 75-miles per hour with his Skeeter Boat powered by a 250-hp Yamaha, but we got to cover plenty of water and with a bit of a cold-front, the fish had a bit of lockjaw. Fortunately, we carried Click-It Hot Hand Warmers. Lance loved using these near instant reusable units in his hands and on his back too. Fortunately we had the right guide. Lance knew where they lived and we popped a 9-pound largemouth, a 4-pound smallmouth and a few additional bass in the 4-pound range. Plenty of great fish to photo and release (see images). Overall a fabulous fishing adventure! www.scout.com/outdoors/wired2fish/story/1466300-pickwick-bass-fishing-showing-out-again
After a wash-up, we headed for lunch and ice cream at Trowbridge’s on Main Street in Florence. The diminutive place is an iconic, very reasonably priced lunch spot with ice cream to cry for “more. Along with the lively crowd, we enjoyed sharing this long-time fun-spot that felt like a throw-back to the 50’s. Pimento Cheese sandwiches were long time favorites, and I had a Butter Pecan Milk Shake that I can’t wait to taste again-WOW! www.yelp.com No there was more to come: Stay tuned for our dinner at Ricatoni’s Italian Grill and later; Arx Mortis Haunted attraction, back door tour. It was so spooky and really scary! Note: See lots more in next posts about our whirlwind adventures in Florence and Muscle Shoals, AL. Check out their website at: www.visitflorenceal.com We’re Going back for sure!
APtravelnews-Saluda, N.C-Beautifully located in the quaint town of Saluda, the Orchard Inn is the perfect western North Carolina bed and breakfast for you if you’re looking for a relaxing mountain getaway. These great hosts offer carefully designed bed and breakfast rooms and rustic cabins in the western North Carolina mountains, you’ll experience Southern hospitality right at their doorstep. We’ve been there twice and love this place!
Nestled in the foothills of western North Carolina, the Orchard Inn is a historic structure surrounded by the splendor of Mother Nature. If you’re coming from the north, you’ll descend through the lower Blue Ridge mountains and valleys to just below the village of Saluda, whose entire downtown area has been designated on the National Historic Register. From the south, you wind from the upper piedmont into the foothills; then, by the “old road”, a Scenic By-way, up through the Pacolet River gorge past rocky falls so close they mist your windshield. Either way, as you approach the Orchard Inn up the long winding driveway, the rest of the world falls away and you enter a mountaintop escape on 12 peaceful acres. The elegant intimacy and warm hospitality of the Orchard Inn create the perfect atmosphere for an unforgettable stay in their bed and breakfast in western NC.
(800) 581-3800
(828) 749-5471
There is holiday each fall that children and adults look forward to, Halloween. We at Orchard Inn love the fall here in the Western North Carolina mountains and…Learn More
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