Amercian Press Travel News—-April 3rd, Goose Holler’ Farm and Ranch–Bob and Barb Have Stopped to Smell the Roses!!!
This is tough to write about so I’ll keep it short. This is truly a time that try’s men’s & Women’s Souls! For those of us who have a wife, husband or live-in mate, things are very tough, but not as tough if anyone is facing this alone. Barb and I are getting daily calls from our son, and my mom who is, about 100-years old, and totally mobile (so lucky for her and her spirit) but we are also being in touch with Barbs friend who is alone, after losing her terrific husband. People need to feel that they are thought of, especially when the bleak meets the road!! I ask everyone to call, email or skype, wherever possible to folks that need love and contact. We all do!!!!!!Barb and I have a daughter-in-law Doctor of nursing on the front line, my cousin Adam a doctor doing 12-hour shifts in the largest NY hospital, and my son; Director of Emergency Management at the Homestead, FL Air Base. Please keep them in your prayers and all the first and emergency personel. Fireman and law enforcement are doing double duty too!!! I went to a food store and saw how vulnerable workers, checkers, etc. were. As we checked out our groceries, the young woman looked at me and smiles. I told her how much we appreciated her doing her job so well in times like this. She began to tear-up and said: “Thank you so much, I needed that right now.”
Love alot, and cry a little!!! Please remember, Pray for our great president, Vice President and their team, trying to get and keep a handle on this Plague of unprecedented dimensions.
American Press Travel News--Flashback-—Bob and Barb Stopped to Smell the Roses —Just south of Mobile, Alabama, along the 32-miles of Gulf Coast coastline, lies an active beach community called Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Last month Barb and I had a chance to stay, play, be greeted and introduced to the areas attractions, accommodations and dining spots-from fine dining to waterfront vittles that warmed the cockles of our hearts, although Barb would say: “made no dent in our waste-lines.” Recently the area along with Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida’s Gulf Coast took a hit from a man-made disaster: the oil spill brought to us all by British Petroleum.
We went to Orange Beach hoping to find things getting back to business as usual and we found this to generally be the case. Unfortunately, far too many tourists and visitors just don’t know this yet, or assume the worst from the heavy media coverage recently broadcast around the world-rightly so, but now it’s time to tell it like it is today!
Our stay was well complimented by having been ensconced in The Beach Club ‘Resort and Condominium project that had everything you could ask for in a great vacation paradise. The beaches were clean and white, the pool complex rivaled anywhere we have ever been that had this amenity, the restaurant served seafood’s and various chef prepared dishes that were quite scrumptious. Our condo apartment rental was 1st class with a wide gulf- view right out our bedroom windows. Barb grew up living on or near the various saltwater shore locations in New York and Long Island in particular. Her dad, Herb wouldn’t have it any other way-he enjoyed and instilled in Barb the same love of the surf and sand at a few beachside communities that had been a boon to me too, as I love it all as well and got to fish into the bargain when visiting my then girlfriend, now 44-years my wife.
We’ve been to Orange Beach and Gulf Shores a few times and always loved the friendliness and cleanliness, and this time was like all the rest, except businesses had been suffering from lack of tourists. However, based on many of the restaurants with busy tables full of patrons, you’d never think this was the case right now.
One of the restaurants we ate at: The Hangout where Rt. 59 ends and as they say: “the fun begins.” Even Paul Simon came to entertain here at their Music Fest which featured scads of bands and entertainers such as Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue group, and the Flaming Lips too to name but a few! We were hungry for a great seafood dinner with king crabs too! We were not disappointed. Make a visit to their web site: www.hangoutal.com or call for more info. At (251)948-3030. The Hangout was one swinging place and everyone rousingly joined in the song and dance venues. The next night we we stopped by under the Perdido Pass Bridge at the Cobalt Restaurant. The views of Perdido Bay were spectacular and we ate in a sunset setting al fresco, just outside of the many windows of the inside restaurant. The foods were exquisite, can’t recommend this place more highly and I tend to be conservative when recommending food emporiums, but not here. You can come by any size boat, or by auto. I tried their yellowfin tuna and avocado stack served between fried wontons-scrumptious, Barb had Spanish Paella-all in all a very memorable meal topped off with fried apple pie with ice cream and carmel sauce. Chef Jack Baker really does it up well. www.cobaltrestaurant.net Call at 251-923-5300
We began our first day aboard a dolphin and nature cruise out in the back bay’s of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Dolphins always fascinate me and as I believe anyone having a chance to get up close and comfy wit them. These playful cetaceans (they are in the whale family) are around all year in this area and together with the bird and other sealife made for a great beginning to our visit. Contact: www.cetaceancruises.com Later in the day we visited the Orange Beach Art Center’s hot shop for a glass blowing demonstration. This the first and only glass blowing studio in Alabama open for public use. It was founded in cooperation with Bear Creek Glass and the studio now welcomes nationally known resident glass artist Sam Cornman. WOW! The many moves he made with 2000-degree molten glass to make a magnificent arty piece of table-top collectible well worth the watching and the buying. For more information: www.orangebeachartcenter.com
The following day I went fishing for red snapper with another writer Beverly Hogg, who was as interested in a great bite as I was. We were not disappointed! As the various trips were quite inclusive and exclusive, yet anyone reading this can enjoy all of the above, there are many more venues we experienced. So this is a two part article on Orange Beach, Alabama. Please look for an additional article that will tell the rest of the story next month.
Duck delight!
Planning a trip consider the real bargain that this area snuggled against Florida’s Gulf Coast tip has to offer. Contact Gulf Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau at 800-745-SAND (7263) or go: www.gulfshores.com
American Press Travel News–September 26th, Gatlinburg, TN.-“Bob and Barb Stopping to Smell the Roses” and ” On the Road Again.” So, here we are are in Gatlinburg. My sons, grand children and me and Barb. We are staying at a big log rental home and doing the rounds of Dollywood, Alpine tracking, mini golf, a walk through a really well done Titanic Museum, and stuff grand kids and Brian & his Professor wife, Diane like to do. This is a great opportunity for getting together for fun and reunification of family!!
AmericanPressTravelNews-June 25th, Roanoke, VA.–Bob and Barb “On the Road Again” and “Stopping to Smell the Roses.” As we walked along Campbell Street past the street vendors and towards the building on Campbell St. tht housed the Pinball Museum, fresh and saltwater live fish display and much much more, we passed the Nawab Restaurant. Well, Barb is not a fan of spicy stuff, I am if its incredibly good and the aromas emanating from the opened door as diners entered, lifted my olfactory factory production facility to new heights. I couldn’t resist, and promised Barb there are non -spicy items in their buffet. We met the owner, and he invited us to taste his family’s recipes. Zowwie!!! The cherry bread, garlic flat breads, and unreal other bakery table pieces were all, on their own, a fine meal with the various oils and mezzes laid out on the table. With the likes of Lamb, mushroom coconut curry, Punjabi Chicken Tikka, Konkoni Prawn curry, all kinds of incredible dips and sauces (go online to see them all at nawabrestaurant.com) The tastes of curry, spices with tumeric, and baby onions, garlic and rosemary-the veggies, that alone would make a great meal, and all things by way of a taste of India were so savory!!Nawab is located at 118-A Campbell Ave., SE Roanoke, VA phone: 540345-5150 email: [email protected]
Amercian Press Travel News—-April 3rd, Goose Holler’ Farm and Ranch–Bob and Barb Have Stopped to Smell the Roses!!!
