Southern Byways

By now you probably know that it’s physically impossible to keep me away from the beach.
This past weekend, I was back down heading back down south to my favorite place, the Florida Panhandle. This time I was going to be exploring the Beaches of South Walton, located along 30-A.
On this particular journey, my stop would be at Redfish Village, located in Blue Mountain Beach.
However, since I was back at the beach (can’t say that enough), I wanted to take my time and enjoy every minute. So, I decided I would stop places that caught my attention.
One such …read more

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Oxford, Mississippi is like that understated cool kid that was a couple years ahead of you in high school; you know, the one you wanted to be like, but never could quite emulate their style.
The town’s background is somewhat like other southern towns. It survived near-devastation during the Civil War, and rebuilt itself to become a force in both the academic and arts world.
Today, Oxford is perhaps best known for being home to  Ole Miss (that’s University of Mississippi to you non-SEC fans) and the beautiful Grove (where tailgating takes place); however, this town is going to …read more

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Who doesn’t love to travel? Well, JetBlue, along with Ebay is making a little simpler to get away. You can bid on JetBlue’s various flights and packages. Whether you want to get away or have someone to come see you, it’s worth taking a look at what the airline is offering.
Here’s a quick sampling of what you can bid on:

Roundtrip flight for two from  New York JFK to Raleigh, N.C.
Roundtrip flight for one from Orlando to San Juan
Roundtrip flight for two from Ft. Lauderdale to New York LaGuardia

 
If any of these have piqued your (travel) interest, better act soon, …read more

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Thinking about arranging a quick getaway somewhere in the region this fall? Here are some deals to take a look at:

The Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld is offering variety of packages that are good through the end of the year and the beginning of 2009.

The deals are aplenty in Dahlonega, Ga. Forest Hills Mountain Resort’s “Fall in Love” package (good until December 31) includes an hour long couple’s massage and a picnic lunch. Lily Creek Lodge’s “Great Autumn Getaway” package (good until November 30) features fudge from the Dahlonega Fudge Factory and two tickets for wine tasting at …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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Starting later this morning through Wednesday afternoon, be sure to keep up with my travels to Florida’s Gulf Island as I post my many adventures on Twitter. If you don’t read what I’m up to, you’ll miss out on such things as meeting Snooty at South Florida Museum, and learning exactly what an “Old Salty Dog” is.
And of course, keeping visiting Southern Byways as well to read Katherine’s latest posts and as well as mine. You don’t want to miss any of that, either!
 
Photo credit: Computer, b&w, flickr, creative commons by Kevin Zollman.

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Being that I spend a good portion of my time researching (and tasting) food and wine, I thought I’d share some insight into the best food and wine experiences in the south. Yes, an entire trip where you are surrounded by some of the best food and wine in the area – a gastronomic adventure.

Keswick Hall  at Monticello – Located in the heart of Virginia’s Wine Country, this impressive mansion is located where the beautiful country landscape meets the mountainside. They have devised a package,  The Wine Escape Package, especially for those who want to surround themselves with wine and gourmet delights. Upon …read more

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What does an inn, a bowl of soup and an astronaut have in common? No, this isn’t the opening line of a joke, but serious question. Hmm…intrigued? As for the answer, well, all three have more in common than you may think.  Read on to find out exactly how..
The Inn
Build it and the visitors just might come and in the case of Chalet Suzanne, they did. For over 70 years, the Swiss-style chalet property has been welcoming guests into its 30 guest rooms. Located in Lake Wales, Fla., (also home to the Historic Bok Sanctuary), Chalet Suzanne is found …read more

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Don’t let the summer slip away without visiting the South. Plan a quick weekend getaway or a four-day jaunt with any of the following deals and savings…

When planning a trip to anywhere in the region, don’t overlook the city’s CVB sites. If you don’t click, you just might be missing some specials. For instance, you can find lodging packages in Lexington, Ky., or Dallas, Texas. On Birmingham, Alabama’s site, you can locate attraction coupons.

Did you realize that Palm County, Florida’s value season runs mid-April – mid-December. Visit during this time and you can save up to 40 percent at …read more

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We southerners have always known is there is something special about our Gulf Coast. Whether it’s the natural beauty, beautiful beaches, great food or the abundance of activities, there is something for everyone along the Gulf Coast.

Louisiana’s Best Kept Secret
If Grand Isle hasn’t been a blip on your travel radar, perhaps it is time to look closer at this barrier island. About a two-and half hour drive from Baton Rouge, Grand Isle is different from any other place in the state.
Situated at the mouth of Barataria Bay where it meets the Gulf …read more

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