Before me in muted light is a life-size muddy street with a traffic jam. Going one way is a mule-drawn wagon and going the other way are two cars. The street is impassable because of its width and the axle-deep mud. Welcome to East Texas during the oil boom. The lobby reminds me of other museums; an old car, antique
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5 Nonstop Family-Friendly Destinations from Raleigh- Durham International Airport
By Marilyn Jones If you want your family to travel by air but dread connecting flights, you’re in luck. Raleigh‑Durham International Airport offers a wide range of nonstop flights to vacation destinations like Cancun, Paris, London, Montego Bay, Toronto, Montreal and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Want to stay in the U.S.? There are dozens of child‑friendly nonstop destinations
Travel: Taking Tours of Savannah
Bringing history to life BY MARILYN JONES 0 Centuries-old homes line the streets of Savannah. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARILYN JONES The Pirates’ House, serving meals and beverages to seafarers since 1753 — including pirates —is one of Old Savannah Tours’ hop-on-and-off stops. Characters from pop culture and Savannah’s storied past visit passengers at several locations along the tour route, including The
Try Cruising on Your Next Family Vacation
By Marilyn Jones “Dr. Seuss is on the loose!”, children, their parents and at least one grandmother (me) shout as we parade with the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and Sam I Am from one end of Carnival Fantasy to the other. With provided noise makers and banners, we march past shops, the casino, a café, and passengers
Ho Ho Holidays at Walt Disney World
“Want to go see Santa Claus?” I ask my 3-year-old granddaughter Ainsley as we wait for her parents and uncle to ride Twilight Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. She enthusiastically agrees this is a great idea, so we queue up with other preschoolers this balmy December day to meet the jolly old elf. You might not
DISCOVERING ANCIENT EGYPT
Fotolia TIME OFF DISCOVERING ANCIENT EGYPT MARILYN JONES | SEPTEMBER 2018 Bent at the waist, head down, step by step, I climb. It’s hot, and every few seconds I stop to allow someone coming down to pass. I try not to think about what I’m doing or the solid rock surrounding me because I’m claustrophobic. Instead, I
A most elegant hotel — Ciragan Palace Kempinski
During my travels I stay in lovely hotels all over the world, but none lovelier than the opulent Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul. After a 12 hour Turkish Airlines direct flight from Houston I am taken to the hotel by a representative of KD Tourism & Travel. The hotel reception area is charming and beautiful, but, as I will soon
Making a Sweetgrass Basket in South Carolina
I admit I am a little nervous when I sign up for a sweetgrass basket workshop. Making one of the traditional baskets associated with Charleston seems nearly impossible as I watch my instructor taking out amazing examples of her work to show me. This is an activity coordinated for Wild Dunes Resort guests. Located on Isle of Palms, South Carolina,
Time Travel in Wilmington, NC
Colonized in the 1720s, Wilmington prospered as an English settlement because of its location on the Cape Fear River. It grew into a busy port community with new residents flocking to the area from colonies throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. For anyone curious about what it was like for the wealthy during this time, they can tour Burgwin-Wright House and
Famous art is right at home in Alabama
By Marilyn Jones Alabama may not be synonymous with fine art, but our museums are home to some truly world-class collections and pieces. You can appreciate their beauty or perhaps their emotional power; some offer glimpses into our history, telling us about our culture and where we came from. Whatever the purpose, you can make new discoveries with a short drive