Let’s hit the road . . .
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many tourist destinations have put in place a variety of safety measures. Be sure to inquire in advance about any changes in their hours or availability. Contact information and links are embedded in our blogs. Meanwhile, travel safely and virtually on this site.
” Never underestimate the intelligence of your audience, but never overestimate their knowledge . . .”–John Whiteley
Museums and Monuments to African American Science
When we consider African American contributions to the body of science, we traditionally recall the incomparable George Washington Carver. However, there have been many Black scientific overachievers. Here is a nod to just a few of them – and, of course, to the travel destinations where you can go in search of their genius.
10 Wildly Offbeat (And Romantic) Places to Spend the Night Across Texas
When planning a romantic escape, Texas may not be the first state to come to mind. But, while Texas doesn’t have the reputation of Paris or Venice when it comes to l’amour, the state does lay claim to everything bigger and better – and that includes its diversity of love nests. Here is a brief introduction to 10 of the Lone Star State’s dreamiest accommodations.
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Just Hangin’ With the Hatfields and McCoys
Hatin’ hillbillies and backwoods bickering – feuding families who just couldn’t get along: Visit Pikeville, Kentucky to follow in their footsteps or Pigeon Forge, Tennessee to catch a dinner show based on their epic feud. Spurred on by real historical events, this quarrel cost numerous lives, worked its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and almost set two states at war!
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Tour the French Quarter With NOLA’s Original Bad Boy!
The city of New Orleans has seen a lot of history since its founding in 1718. But it is, perhaps, the nefarious pirate, Jean Lafitte, who has left the most indelible mark upon the Crescent City. Here are 10 destinations he may have “touched.” From upscale shopping to bar hopping, from Beignets and Café au Lait to the mysteries of voodoo: “Laissez les bon temps rouler!”
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Sun, Fun, and the Battle We Won At Put-In-Bay, Ohio!
From active outdoor recreation, to romance, to entertainment for young families, or memorable senior moments, Put-In-Bay seems to have something for everyone! Dine, play, or attend a wine tasting overlooking beautiful Lake Erie, where a key battle turned the tide toward American victory during the War of 1812.
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Saving America’s Epic Lighthouses
Lighthouses have guided sailors away from danger and toward safe harbors since earliest historical times. Today it is the lighthouses themselves that are endangered. Here you can read about how to visit two dozen of the approximately 700 lighthouses sprinkled along all four coasts of the United States. Find out how you can help save them from extinction.
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Silverton, Co: A Place Where the West Still Runs Wild
Silverton, Colorado – This, the heart of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, offers endless entertainment to outdoor adventurers and history buffs alike! Here tourists test their mettle against the challenges of nature. Rail fans ride the rails, shoppers search for souvenirs, and history buffs can lose themselves in the poignant vestiges of the past.
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No Passport? No Problem!
As we begin to recover from COVID-19, we’re eager to pack our bags and get our travel on. But journeying abroad may still lie outside our comfort zone. Fortunately, there is plenty of “foreign” ambiance to explore right here in the U.S. Check out these 24+ American destinations representing 12 foreign countries!
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Bright Lights And Cool Nights At Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier
There’s something especially exhilarating about the Pleasure Pier at night. Thousands of colorful lights elevate the experience into the realm of the surreal. But the sparkling new Pleasure Pier can’t really call itself ‘Historic,’ can it? Well, as a matter of fact . . .
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Cool Vibes At the Texas Broadcast Museum In Kilgore
From Morse Code to Social Media: follow along with Jim Zura as he traces the history of recorded media and broadcasting, from its halting beginnings into the present. This museum is thoroughly different – a zany playground for nostalgic techno-geeks. . . .
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Tuskegee Institute: A Roll-Call of Self-Made Men
In the late 1800s, Tuskegee Institute attracted a series of self-made men. These men lifted themselves out of slavery and rose above the systemic racism that followed. They are a study in perseverance. Introducing Frederick Douglass historian, Nathan Richardson . . .
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One Thousand Years at Taos Pueblo
One of the most incredible examples of adobe architecture survives to the present day in the 1,000-year-old Taos Pueblo, a National Historic Landmark, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the oldest continuously inhabited structure in North America. But for the cunning and bravery of one man, this gift to the eons might have been lost forever . . .
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Dirty Dealings On Display At the East Texas Oil Museum In Kilgore
When an apparent plot to swindle East Texas locals turned into the accidental discovery of a huge deposit of oil, it unleashed a frenzy of greed, requiring the imposition of martial law. The discovery resulted in unprecedented wealth and changed the course of world history! . . .
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Houston, TX is Puttin’ On the Ritz at the Majestic Metro
The Roaring Twenties was a decade of post-war euphoria, economic prosperity and general optimism. ‘Flaming youth’ began testing sexual mores as they set out to live life to the fullest while they could. Flappers raised eyebrows by raising hemlines . . .
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12 Galveston Time Capsule Adventures
Galveston, Texas – In a sense, the narrative of an entire nation is distilled in the sands of this diminutive 200-square-mile barrier island. Meet shipwrecked explorers, brazen pirates, and barons of industry as you browse 12 year-round destinations, 30 photos, & 5 videos to preview this remarkable . . .
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A Photo Essay on Jalopies – Send Us Your Pics!
They may not constitute a destination, but what could be more iconic of the American experience – or necessary to a road trip – than the American automobile? Help us identify these treasures and add to our photo collection! Send us your photos of jalopies!
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Vicksburg National Military Park In Mississippi: The Civil War Sinking of an Ironclad
Were they awestruck as they boarded her? Or skeptical perhaps, those Union soldiers? All those feelings and more must have been tossed aboard alongside the artillery. Follow the story of one of America’s first ironclad gunboats as it takes part in the Vicksburg Campaign during the Civil War. . . .
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Asheville, NC: Luxury and Excess at America’s Castle
The grounds sprawl out impressively, and at the distant end of an expansive lawn, the chateau anchors the horizon, resplendent as a crown jewel of the Gilded Age. Step back in time to experience the luxury and excess afforded by the amassed fortune of the Vanderbilt family in this castle built for three. . . .
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Smoky Mountain Grist Mills Were a Tech Thing?
What?! Those picture postcard mills weren’t all alike? Great Smoky Mountains National Park preserves 4 historic mills with different technologies. You can visit 2 more in Pigeon Forge – 1 at Dollywood! See how clever frontiersmen used scant resources and homemade technology to feed their families!
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Responsibly Sourced – Wildly Different!
American History Road Trip 