I bought an ornament for my Christmas tree that says “2020, the year I stayed home.” I’m sure many of you found yourself in the same situation as did your family and friends. Staying close to home This year, as I offer ideas for the traveler on your gift list, I certainly kept 2020 in mind with a positive
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Gladewater: An East Texas Gem
Like many travel writers, I am staying close to home this year. Fortunately for me, many of the communities in East Texas have a lot of reasons to visit; many offering excellent museums and fun shopping. Case in point — Gladewater. Gladewater Museum I start my tour at the Gladewater Museum located in a 1939 Art Deco building used over
Book Your Bubble Travel Collection
If you’re like me, you miss travel – big time! One solution is traveling with your family and friends that you’ve been quarantined with. So how are you going to manage this family/friend-only trip? One company addressing the situation is G Adventure. They recently introduced “Book Your Bubble Collection” private group travel. Let me interject here that I have traveled
Visiting America’s Rose Garden
This summer day I decide to take my five-year-old granddaughter Ainsley to the American Rose Society Public Gardens, located just west of Shreveport, Louisiana. It’s only an hour’s drive from our East Texas homes. Ahead of our visit I read that the gardens exist to promote the culture, preservation and appreciation of the rose, and to improve its standard of
The historic battle between Portugal and Spain
I have no idea of the significance a tiny Portuguese village has in the history of this nation when I arrive on a tour bus with a 35 other passengers. I am sailing on the Douro River with Viking River Cruises. This day the shore excursion includes a visit to Castelo Rodrigo, a tiny medieval walled village. A visit here
Finding history in East Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas is the oldest community in the state. Around 1700, the Spanish began establishing missions in and around Nacogdoches to have a presence in the area and to bring Christianity to Native Americans. Naturally when you visit this East Texas city you expect to find several historic attractions and you won’t be disappointed. Two homes open for tour are
East Texas Animal Park offers education and fun
On a beautiful winter’s day recently I experienced a little bit of Africa and other exotic locations in the rolling hills of East Texas. My destination was Cherokee Trace Wild Animal Park, just east of Jacksonville, a 300-acre preserve and drive-thru safari. “The safari as it is today was started in 2003. It is still owned by the same family,”
Plan your family vacation now
If you are thinking about your upcoming summer vacation, try to find a destination offering natural beauty, history and lots of fun activities. When my children were young, we went all over the United States. Below are a few of my favorite places that cater to children, parents and grandparents all rolled into one. Williamsburg Williamsburg, the 18th century capital
New software offers the best in home video editing
Adobe has done it again. This time with amazing software to create beautiful effects, slideshows, and collages from photos, video clips or a combination of both! When Best Buy gave me the opportunity to try Adobe Premiere Elements 2020, I was thrilled. I have used Adobe Photoshop for years and have always been pleased with its versatility and ease of
Shreveport Aquarium; tiny and mighty
In the shadow of Eldorado Resort Casino – a 400-room hotel-gaming complex – is Shreveport Aquarium looking small and blue; like a tiny lake at the foot of a mountain. But what’s inside this welcoming haven for nature lovers and children of all ages is anything but small. Although it is blue. On this unseasonably hot October day I welcome