By Marilyn Jones NATCHITOCHES, La. — At the corner of Pine and Cypress streets is a small memorial park dedicated to Susan Harling Robinson, whose name may not mean anything to you, but the film her story inspired almost certainly will. The play and beloved movie “Steel Magnolias” was written by her brother, Robert Harling, about her life and death
Archives
“Abandoned Italy” Chronicles forgotten beauty
I often drive by deserted houses, factories and businesses and think about what they must have been like when they were brand new and their owners were full of hope for their families and their livelihoods. I wonder what I might find if I stopped and trudged through overgrown lawns, past no trespassing signs and enter these buildings. Would I
The Christmas Market Tradition
Northern European Christmas markets have been around since the fourteenth century originating in the German-speaking part of Europe. Although they have been popular with world travelers for a long time, the river cruise industry has shown a new spotlight on the fun, holiday shopping experience. When I sailed with Viking River Cruises, I visited markets in Nuremberg, Kelheim, Regensburg and
In central Turkey’s Cappadocia, a landscape of fairy chimneys and cave dwellings
By Marilyn Jones In the predawn hours, an employee from Voyager Balloons meets me at my hotel and drives to a large facility where dozens of other would-be flyers wait. Each of us is assigned a number, and we are soon directed to corresponding vans. Our driver weaves along a bumpy dirt road lined with hot-air balloons in various stages of
Exploring Canada by Rail
I want to again visit Canada in the New Year. I’ve read about and spoken to friends about taking the train to tour this country as well as researched sailing its waters. I came across Vacations By Rail offering dozens of rail options in Canada as well as the rest of the world. The company uses rail travel as all
Traces of Hollywood in North Carolina
By Marilyn Jones I’m greeted by a middle-age man draped in Mardi Gras beads and sporting a megaphone, waiting for others to join his Hollywood Location Walk in Wilmington, N.C. Spiel Stevenberg (Mike Hartle) thrusts a scrapbook at me of author Nicholas Sparks’ movies filmed in the area, including A Walk to Remember, The Notebook, and Nights in Rodanthe. He also shows me
Charleston Plantation offers a glimpse of yesteryear
A few miles from Charleston and Wild Dunes Resort where I am staying is Boone Hall Plantation; a gracious, beautiful plantation lovingly restored and open for tour for anyone wanting to grasp a little of yesteryear. I have wanted to visit since I saw a young Patrick Swayze ride a horse up the long entrance lined with live oak trees
This computer is a laptop and a tablet!
I just discovered a great new computer! The HP Envy x360 laptops are 2-in-1 devices that can transfer from a laptop to a tablet in seconds. HP Envy Highlights Featuring Windows 10, it brings back the start menu from Windows 7 and new features, like the Edge Web browser that lets you markup Web pages on your screen. The full
There’s nothing like a road trip to see America
I set out to see America on May 27. With my bags packed, gifts for family and friends ready, and a 2018 Kia Niro to try out, I set off on a three-week solo adventure. I left my home in Texas and headed east to Birmingham, Alabama. The Westin Birmingham in downtown was my base. Between raindrops the next day,
Vulcan – Always Watching Over Birmingham
Vulcan Park and Museum should be the first place you visit when you arrive in Birmingham. With its spectacular view of the city and the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau information center, it’s the best place to learn about the city, its rich history and its many attractions. Vulcan, at the center of the park, is the world’s largest