USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” ALABAMA

ALABAMA: HEART OF DIXIE

BY CLAY LARROY

Do you feel like it is time for a short vacation? Once you decide to travel, how good you plan the trip will help you feel comfortable and be comfortable at your destination. Not only will you feel less anxiety before the trip, but you can rest assured that once you arrive where you're going you will have a good understanding of what's going on there.  When you need to plan a vacation contact me!

Known affectionately as the ‘Heart of Dixie', Alabama thrills visitors with its fine antebellum architecture, white powdery beaches, hearty cuisine and rich sporting heritage.

History nuts also have plenty to get their teeth into, from caves used by prehistoric Native Americans to the spot where Jefferson Davis became president of the Confederate States of America. In the 1950s and 1960s, Alabama was at the heart of the American Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr first preached at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in Montgomery, and you can find sites commemorating the struggle across the state.

Alabama's landscapes are many and varied, ranging from mountains and forests to lakes and beaches. Take a road trip through sprawling farmland and plantation homes, hike the Appalachians or paddle some of the 2,600km (1,600 miles) of waterways, which meander through the state. Alternatively, head to the coast where watersports, wildlife and white sands await.

Foodies can dig into good ole Southern fare, chomping slow-cooked hunks of barbecued meat, scooping up fresh-from-the-Gulf crab, or splurging on unpretentious gourmet dining in the bright lights of Birmingham.

Alabama's largest city is also home to the country's oldest baseball stadium, built in 1910. Sport is huge in Alabama. Track and field star Jesse Owens was born here and the NASCA races at Talladega Superspeedway are world famous. The state also hosts the legendary Senior Bowl, an annual North vs South battle featuring the country's top college football players.

And if you like a good knees-up, Mobile has been celebrating Mardi Gras since 1703, longer than any other US city (yes, we're talking about you New Orleans).

Where to stay in Alabama

Hotels

From 4-star properties to inns and beachfront resorts, hotels in Alabama cover a broad range of styles and budgets. The biggest choice of hotels in Alabama can be found in the larger cities like Mobile and Montgomery.

Camping Caravanning

Alabama is sprinkled with a number of well managed campsites, from Bear Creek Lakes in the north of the state to the Gulf Coast region in the south. Set amid beautiful scenery, Alabama's campsites offer natural playgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts.

Other

Alabama's world-class hunting lodges offer a unique experience. Bent Creek Lodge in Jachin caters to hunters of deer, turkey, boar and quail and offers plantation-style meals and walk-in coolers. Alternatively, Marion's Donovan Lakes Fishing Club is set amid nine lakes and offers 17 fishing piers and the chance of hooking tiger bass, shell crackers, and catfish.

Things to see and do in Alabama

Adrenalin junkies

Enjoy heart-pounding action at Talladega Superspeedway (www.talladegasuperspeedway.com), site of Nascar records for speed and competition. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is adjacent to the track.

Beach life

Walk the white, sugar-sand beaches of Gulf Shores (www.gulfshores.com) or indulge in some serious beach resort rest and recuperation.

Delve back in time

Follow the history trail of the Civil Rights Movement that started in Alabama with Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Visit actual sites in Birmingham, Montgomery, Selma and Tuskegee.

Military history

Head south to Mobile, a major seaport, and touch living military history at USS Alabama Battleship Park (www.ussalabama.com). It includes the battleship, submarines, and aircraft from every war since WWII, even the Lockheed A-12 Blackbird.

Music and festivals

Visit Montgomery, Alabama's state capital and the first White House of the confederacy. The Hank Williams Memorial in Oakwood Cemetery Annex is a mecca for country music fans. Attend the sixth-largest Shakespeare Festival in the world held year-round at the Carolyn Blount Theatre (www.asf.net), and celebrate Mardi Gras in Mobile, birthplace of the Gulf Coast Mardi Gras in 1703 (www.mobilemardigras.com).

Play golf

Play golf at the Robert Trent Golf Trail in Mobile (www.rtjgolf.com), while the kids are entertained at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center (www.exploreum.com).

Space exploration

Launch into a space exploration experience at Huntsville's US Space and Rocket Center. Sign kids on for Space Camp (www.spacecamp.com), visit the IMAX theatre, or tour the museum showcasing rockets and space hardware from the US space programs.

Theme parks and museums

Explore Birmingham, Alabama's largest city, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Attractions include the Alabama Adventure theme park (www.alabamaadventure.com); McWane Science Center and IMAX theatre: (www.mcwane.org); the Birmingham Museum of Art (www.artsbma.org); and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

 

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I love what Alabama Shakes is doing - it's kind of like what grunge did to rock 'n' roll, they're doing to R&B.

John Oates

  

Live life and travel often, the more you travel, the more memories you create!
 

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” FLORIDA

FLORIDA: THE SUNSHINE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

It doesn't matter if you take a trip across the state line or the border, being far from home can be exciting and also a bit stressful. When considering traveling, it is important to think of the best mode of travel. Traveling by car can offer many more sights and opportunities for side trips. Traveling by train can offer a chance to relax and get some work done if they wanted. Planes can cover ground fast but don't allow much movement and one cannot get off the plane in flight. Each mode of travel has its own advantages and disadvantages to be considered. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

 

Miami “The Magic City”

About Miami

Famed for its tropical climate, Hispanic culture and art deco seafront, Miami has the glamour to rival LA but offsets any glitz with a gritty urban edge.

Dominated by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its tended golden beaches, the city may seem brash at first but it has much more to offer than bling, beach babes and celebrity fans.

Its eclectic architecture should present clues as to its cultural and historical depth. Just look at its diverse neighborhoods: Downtown Miami is a place of gleaming glass and steel skyscrapers, while Little Havana is home to a thriving Cuban community. The salty Port of Miami, meanwhile, is unlike either. This is where cargo ships and Navy destroyers moor alongside gargantuan cruise ships in route to the Caribbean.

Miami Beach is famous for its glittering strip of vast hotels, palatial homes and glamorous locals. The surrounding showy neighborhood of South Beach is instantly recognizable with its candy-colored buildings set against a pure South Florida backdrop of cloudless skies, dazzling blue ocean, pale sandy beaches and swaying palm trees.

The city is swiftly becoming a hub for culture too. The Wynwood Arts District and Miami Design District are a case in point, as is the Biscayne Bay museum quarter. Frank Gehry's New World Center is a spectacular example of post-modernist design, while the wonderful Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is alluring on a smaller scale.

There's no shortage of things to do outside Miami either. If the beaches lose their appeal, head west to the Everglades, a sprawling flooded wetland which is home to thousands of wild alligators.

Further up the coast is Fort Lauderdale, with its Venice-inspired canals and vast cruise terminal, while to the south is the wonderfully bohemian Florida Keys (or The Conch Republic as it is known to some independently-minded locals). So whether you're exploring the city center or relaxing in the sunny suburbs, Miami is one city that never gets boring.

Tours & Excursions

Tourist Information Centers

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

·        Address:

Brickell Key
701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2700
Miami
33131
United States

·        Telephone:  +1 305 539 3000.

·        Website:  http://www.miamiandbeaches.com

·        Hours of Operation:

Mon-Fri 0830-1800.

Excursions

Everglades

·        America's second largest national park, the Everglades is home to 6,070 sq km (2,344 sq miles) of marshes, mangrove forests, freshwater and saltwater areas and open grass prairies. Gator-spotting is one of the main attractions in this vast subtropical wilderness, which is also home to an abundance of rare plants, birds and animals - including wild orchids, Florida panthers, ospreys, manatees and giant loggerhead turtles. Visitor centers are run by the park authorities, which also lay on walking, boat and tram tours.

·        Telephone:  +1 305 242 7700.

·        Website:  http://www.nps.gov/ever

     The Keys and Key West

·        A cluster of small coral-and-limestone islands south of Miami, the Keys offer some of the best sport fishing, scuba diving, boating, swimming and snorkeling in the world. Key West is its quaint and festive jewel, offering myriad museums, Caribbean-influenced restaurants and art galleries. Back towards Miami, the main draw is Key Largo, which is home to a dolphin rehabilitation center. It also has a protected marine park that shimmers with tropical fish.

·        Telephone:  +1 305 352 5397.

·        Website:  http://www.fla-keys.com

Tours

Kayak tours

·        The Blue Moon Outdoor Center offers a unique way to see Miami and its outlying natural areas by kayak and bike. Self-guided tours and expedition packages of varying length and difficulty are offered, most of which start in the Oleta River State Park at the northern end of Biscayne Bay.

·        Telephone: +1 305 957 3040.

·        Website:  http://www.bluemoonoutdoor.com

 

Walking tours

·        Miami isn't always the easiest place to explore on foot but the Miami Design Preservation League is hoping to change all that with daily, 90-minute walking tours of South Beach's art deco historic district departing from its Art Deco Welcome Center. Self-guided audio tours are also available.

·        Telephone: +1 305 672 2014.

·        Website:  http://www.mdpl.org

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

Miami is one of these great places that is a really sensual, physically beautiful place.

Michael Mann

  

Travel to experience life and create amazing memories!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” FLORIDA

FLORIDA: THE SUNSHINE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

It doesn't matter if you take a trip across the state line or the border, being far from home can be exciting and also a bit stressful. When considering traveling, it is important to think of the best mode of travel. Traveling by car can offer many more sights and opportunities for side trips. Traveling by train can offer a chance to relax and get some work done if they wanted. Planes can cover ground fast but don't allow much movement and one cannot get off the plane in flight. Each mode of travel has its own advantages and disadvantages to be considered. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

 

Miami “The Magic City”

About Miami

Famed for its tropical climate, Hispanic culture and art deco seafront, Miami has the glamour to rival LA but offsets any glitz with a gritty urban edge.

Dominated by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and its tended golden beaches, the city may seem brash at first but it has much more to offer than bling, beach babes and celebrity fans.

Its eclectic architecture should present clues as to its cultural and historical depth. Just look at its diverse neighborhoods: Downtown Miami is a place of gleaming glass and steel skyscrapers, while Little Havana is home to a thriving Cuban community. The salty Port of Miami, meanwhile, is unlike either. This is where cargo ships and Navy destroyers moor alongside gargantuan cruise ships in route to the Caribbean.

Miami Beach is famous for its glittering strip of vast hotels, palatial homes and glamorous locals. The surrounding showy neighborhood of South Beach is instantly recognizable with its candy-colored buildings set against a pure South Florida backdrop of cloudless skies, dazzling blue ocean, pale sandy beaches and swaying palm trees.

The city is swiftly becoming a hub for culture too. The Wynwood Arts District and Miami Design District are a case in point, as is the Biscayne Bay museum quarter. Frank Gehry's New World Center is a spectacular example of post-modernist design, while the wonderful Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is alluring on a smaller scale.

There's no shortage of things to do outside Miami either. If the beaches lose their appeal, head west to the Everglades, a sprawling flooded wetland which is home to thousands of wild alligators.

Further up the coast is Fort Lauderdale, with its Venice-inspired canals and vast cruise terminal, while to the south is the wonderfully bohemian Florida Keys (or The Conch Republic as it is known to some independently-minded locals). So whether you're exploring the city center or relaxing in the sunny suburbs, Miami is one city that never gets boring.

Tours & Excursions

Tourist Information Centers

Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau

·        Address:

Brickell Key
701 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2700
Miami
33131
United States

·        Telephone:  +1 305 539 3000.

·        Website:  http://www.miamiandbeaches.com

·        Hours of Operation:

Mon-Fri 0830-1800.

Excursions

Everglades

·        America's second largest national park, the Everglades is home to 6,070 sq km (2,344 sq miles) of marshes, mangrove forests, freshwater and saltwater areas and open grass prairies. Gator-spotting is one of the main attractions in this vast subtropical wilderness, which is also home to an abundance of rare plants, birds and animals - including wild orchids, Florida panthers, ospreys, manatees and giant loggerhead turtles. Visitor centers are run by the park authorities, which also lay on walking, boat and tram tours.

·        Telephone:  +1 305 242 7700.

·        Website:  http://www.nps.gov/ever

     The Keys and Key West

·        A cluster of small coral-and-limestone islands south of Miami, the Keys offer some of the best sport fishing, scuba diving, boating, swimming and snorkeling in the world. Key West is its quaint and festive jewel, offering myriad museums, Caribbean-influenced restaurants and art galleries. Back towards Miami, the main draw is Key Largo, which is home to a dolphin rehabilitation center. It also has a protected marine park that shimmers with tropical fish.

·        Telephone:  +1 305 352 5397.

·        Website:  http://www.fla-keys.com

Tours

Kayak tours

·        The Blue Moon Outdoor Center offers a unique way to see Miami and its outlying natural areas by kayak and bike. Self-guided tours and expedition packages of varying length and difficulty are offered, most of which start in the Oleta River State Park at the northern end of Biscayne Bay.

·        Telephone: +1 305 957 3040.

·        Website:  http://www.bluemoonoutdoor.com

Walking tours

·        Miami isn't always the easiest place to explore on foot but the Miami Design Preservation League is hoping to change all that with daily, 90-minute walking tours of South Beach's art deco historic district departing from its Art Deco Welcome Center. Self-guided audio tours are also available.

·        Telephone: +1 305 672 2014.

·        Website:  http://www.mdpl.org

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I love Miami; I miss it so much. I miss the beach, the peace it brings you. I love the sound and smell of the sea.

Genesis Rodriguez
 

Travel to experience life and create amazing memories!

USA TRAVEL GUIDE, “SOUTHEAST” FLORIDA

FLORIDA: THE SUNSHINE STATE

BY CLAY LARROY

Travel is so much more that simply hopping on a flight to a new destination. If you plan it correctly, it could be a thrilling time you'll never forget. Planning a trip is fun as there are tons of things to do and see. Do you know how to plan a trip effectively? Packing light is key to making your travels as easy and free of stress as possible. Bring one carryon bag that includes everything you need, not necessarily everything you want. Your smart packing will pay off when you are happily carrying one bag around on vacation instead of lugging around multiple bags. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Orlando   “The City Beautiful”

 

About Orlando

If there was ever a city dedicated to enjoyment, then Orlando is it. Even the most cursory drive through the city will tell you one thing: there is no disguising the fact Orlando is a city built on theme parks. Lots of them.

Strange to think that until 1966, though, there was precious little here in central Florida. A few roadside attractions aside, it was one man, Walt Disney, who really changed the landscape. No matter which way you slice it, growth has spiraled thanks to a huge influx of tourists that followed the arrival of Walt Disney World Resort.

Almost all of Florida's cities and resorts are based around its long coastline, naturally capitalizing on the beaches or swampland national parks that attract so many international visitors. Orlando is the only real exception, a strange, idiosyncratic place in the middle of the Floridian wasteland, and coincidentally one of the most famous resort towns in the world attracting around 50 million tourists a year.

Most head straight to one of the theme parks, the biggest and most famous being Disney World. Beginning with the original Magic Kingdom, which opened in 1971, the park has expanded to encompass three more theme parks, two water parks, a mini town called Downtown Disney and a pretty lakeside stretch known as the Boardwalk.

But while theme parks dominate, Orlando has built a distinct character of its own. There has been a stab at giving the city some historic context with the promotion of ‘Old Orlando', a stretch of the increasingly gentrified Downtown which includes Orange and Garland Avenues.

There's also the pretty Lake Eola, with brick streets lined with old oak trees and 19th-century homes, as well as retro roadside attractions such as Gatorland.

Really though, Orlando is all about encouraging as many people to have as much fun as they can cram into a fortnight- whether that's at Disney, Universal or in the city center itself.

Things to do in Orlando

Activities

Skydiving

Central Florida has some great scenery to experience, whether you're a first-time jumper or a seasoned veteran. Just a short drive from Orlando, the Space Coast and Kennedy Space Center are visible via tandem or single jumps. Skydive Space Center is located on 476 North Williams Drive, Titusville. Even non-jumpers are welcome to take the ride up to altitude and just look out over the Space Coast.

Tel: 1 800 823 0016.
Website: www.skydivespacecenter.com

Rock climbing

Aiguille Rock Climbing Center, 999 Charles Street, Longwood, is an excellent facility for new climbers, and walk-in customers can rent the equipment needed to get started in the sport. Regular scheduled classes are also held throughout the year. The center is especially proud of its facilities for children, and it runs several kid-friendly programs for younger ones wanting to try out their skills.

 Tel: (407) 332 1430.
Website: www.aiguille.com

 

Airboating

Gliding across the swampland that makes up the vast majority of the local landscape is probably one of the most iconic activities associated with Florida. The Everglades in the south of the state are obviously the most famous place to do this, but Orlando has some adequate places close by. You'll have to ride out a little way to Kissimmee, but there you can look up Boggy Creek Airboat Rides, which offers a number of tours including night-time and safari rides.

Tel: (407) 344 9550.
Website: www.bcairboats.com

Ballooning

If the thought of skydiving turns your stomach, there's a more serene way to get up in the clouds and take in Orlando's surrounding scenery. Orange Blossom Balloons can help you start your day with a sunrise flight. The experience lasts around an hour and on landing, there's the traditional champagne toast and breakfast picnic.

Tel: (407) 894 5040.
Website: www.orangeblossomballoons.com

Horse riding

Disney has an outdoor-themed facility called Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Although it's hardly getting back to basics out in the wilderness, its riding programs are perfect for children and families who have never ridden before. The horses are gentle and the trails won't present any problems, even to beginners. Children must be at least nine years old.

Tel: (407) 939 7529.
Website: www.disneyworld.com

Diving and snorkeling

You may be inland, but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities to take to the waters. The Floridian waterways are quite accessible even away from the coast, and companies such as Fun 2 Dive run eco-friendly tours. The main attraction is the chance to swim and snorkel with the mysterious and shy manatees.

Tel: 1 888 588 3483.
Website: www.fun2dive.com

Fishing

Florida has an incredibly popular fishing culture, and Orlando is no exception. The main fishing excursions are run on the Disney-maintained waterways such as those at Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. Disney also stocks the lakes, so while you'll probably have the thrill of reeling something in, it's aimed at casual anglers rather than die-hards. The tour price includes refreshments, bait and your own guide.

Tel: (407) 939 3474.
Website: www.disneyworld.com

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

I have a home in Orlando. That's kind of my default 'getaway' city.

Carrot Top

         Travel  and create magnificent memories for your family!