For many of us this year has meant staying close to home. As a travel writer, I decided to get to know the communities close to me while I had the opportunity. One I enjoyed exploring was my own—Henderson, Texas. I moved to Henderson more than 10 years ago after I retired from my fulltime writing position. I wanted to
What to get the Traveler on your Gift List
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
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
Appalachian Outreach helping West Virginia’s poor
John Denver sang a beautiful ode to West Virginia with his hit Take me Home Country Roads: “Country roads, take me home to the place I belong. West Virginia, Mountain Mama, take me home, country roads.” West Virginia is a naturally beautiful state with a rich and interesting history. Once part of the state of Virginia, tourists travel here to
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
Appalachian Outreach, Inc.
Appalachian Outreach, Inc. is a non-profit organization fighting poverty for West Virginians living in rural areas. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at 13 W View Lane, Glen Dale, West Virginia 26038. Personal items needed: Soaps, Hand Sanitizer Shampoo, Brush, Combs Toiletry Samples Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Dental Floss Denture Cleanser, Mouthwash Shaving items Toilet Paper, Tissues Feminine Hygiene Adult Diapers
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
Gloucester Cathedral: a Monument English History
Located between the Cotswolds and Wales, Gloucester is a great place to stay when exploring this area of the United Kingdom. Don’t just use the city as your base though, make sure and take the time to explore it. With a lovely pedestrian center, Beatrix Potter museum, Gloucester Docks and Roman ruins, it is an interesting destination in and of
Book offers a vivid view of theaters past
Matt Lambros does it again with a beautiful new “abandoned” coffee table book: “After the Final Curtain, America’s Abandoned Theaters.” What I appreciate about Lambros’ abandoned theater book is he shows the reader the haunting beauty of the past – long before today’s multiplex. Shredded curtains, torn seats, weeping plaster and grimy statues fill Lambros’ photographs. In this book, he