Southern Byways

 While we may be used to rushing day-in and day-out, it is always nice to break away for a relaxing and revitalizing vacation. Whether it be a day trip, a weekend getaway or a trek cross country, escaping to one of the country’s national parks is a perfect choice, and your options are endless.
Let’s start in the north and make our way south:

Constitution Gardens in Washington DC: Do you need an escape from the bustling lifestyle of D.C.? Plan a visit to the Consitution Gardens. This memorial island (dedicated in 1976) is located in the middle of an artificial lake …read more

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From Jacksonville to Miami and from Palm Beach to Naples, you feel like you know Florida like the back of your hand. But when it comes down to it, How much do you really know? Here’s a quiz on the state of Florida. Test yourself first and then, scroll down for the answers below. Feel free to leave a comment as to how well you did. Good Luck

What is the largest city in Florida? What is the capital?
Who discovered and named Florida?
What is the state flower?
What is the state bird?
Who is the Governor?
What is Florida’s nickname?
What 2 states border Florida?
Will …read more

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Nearly every place  has a certain shopping district/area that you have to go to when you’re there. While they might be special in their own way, I bet they aren’t anything like St. Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida.
Before I provide you with some ideas on what to do on the popular Circle, let me give you a little bit of the background of the actual area. St. Armands Key was purchased by John Ringling (yes, the same Ringling of the Ringling Circus fame) in the early 1900s. He wanted to create a place that was reminiscent of what …read more

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If you haven’t been to the Tennessee Aquarium in a while, you might want to plan on visiting soon.Why? Well, the aquarium has recently introduced The River Gorge Explorer, an unique eco-cruise. Departing from the Chattanooga Pier (next to the Aquarium), this 90-minute guided excursion moves passengers along the Tennessee River Gorge. What makes this experience different is that it’s the first of its kind to operate  on an inland waterway in North America.
Southern Byways (SB) had an opportunity to ask Thom Benson, spokesman for the Tennessee Aquarium, more about this newest attraction at the aquarium.
SB: What’s special …read more

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  History comes alive in an entertaining way during El Dorado’s (Ark.) Showdown at Sunset. This annual event, which begins on the first Saturday in June and ends the first Saturday in August, recreates the 1902 shoot out that resulted from on-going feuds between two prominent local families.
The reenactment, taking place at the Union County Courthouse Square located downtown, features 12 period-dressed actors who provide the audience with the history of the time and the background of the families involved before the shootout occurs. 
 
 
 
 
 
Photo credits: Both photos are scenes from Showdown at Sunset, courtesy of Arkansas Tourism.

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Memorial Day 2008
photo credit: Memorial Day, flickr, creative commons by sister72
 

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Regarded as the “queen of summer resorts” in 1896, Amelia Island, Fla.’s beauty and charm made it a top vacation retreat for such families as the Rockefellers and Carnegies. Luckily, today you don’t have to have their bankrolls to enjoy the same 13 miles of Appalachian quartz beaches.
You can still see remnants of Florida’s golden era in Fernandina Beach, U.S.’s second oldest city. With about 450 ornate Victorian structures built before 1927, Fernandina Beach has 52 blocks of houses and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This barrier island, located about 30 minutes from Jacksonville, may …read more

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Celebrate Black History month during February by visiting some of the historical sites around the South:
 

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, in Tuskegee, Ala., was the site of the "Tuskegee Experience," where African-American pilots were trained for War World II.

She was probably best known for helping slaves escape to their freedom through the Underground Railroad. Learn more about Harriet Tubman, who was called the "Black Moses". The Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, Md., details her life and work.

See the longest running African-American newspaper in America. Based in Baltimore, Md., tours  of the Afro-American Newspapers are given by appointment.

Take a self-guided driving …read more

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The South played a pivotal role in the nation’s civil rights movement. Today, you can closer examine some of the key places and sites across the region. This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but provides you with a good start.
In Alabama: Selma, Montgomery, Birmingham

The 54-mile Selma to Montgomery National Voting Rights Trail takes you by the National Voting Museum and Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Along the way to Montgomery, you will pass the Lowndes County Interpretive Center, dedicated to the marchers and volunteers.

It was 1955 in Montgomery, and Rosa Parks refused to give up …read more

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1. Moonshine did not originate in the South, but in 18th century England! Source
2. It is thought that the name Moonshine originated from the fact that it was “brewed” beneath the moon. Apparently, there was a lot of smoke and steam involved and making Moonshine at night helped to hide the fact. Source
3. The perfect Christmas gift: your own copper moonshine still… Even if you never intend to fire up one of his products, they are works of art. Prices? The 20-gallon model pictured is $1,200. There is a 16-week waiting list, which means if you …read more

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