A Week of Vacation Archives - Page 3 of 6

5 Ways Captiva Island Will Captivate You

02/05/2018 By: CCPearson4 Comments

With a total geographical area of a mere 10.5 square miles and a year-round population of only 379, you may wonder what makes Captiva Island such a special destination. I want to assure you that it is worth the airfare to RSW (Fort Myers airport), the rental car to drive an hour further and the $6.00 toll fee to access the impressive bridge connecting the land mass of the State of Florida with the sister islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Once you are on the islands, you will not want to leave.

SUMMERTIME WHEN THE CALENDAR SAYS WINTER. Winter in Alabama has been brutal this year. Yet, on Captiva Island, we had 70-degree balmy breezes and blue skies. We arrived during a relatively quiet lull in activity, but locals assured us the place would be in high gear from the first week in February until Memorial Day. Snowbirds regularly spend six months of the year flocking to Captiva and Sanibel. About the only months of the year that are NOT suggested for visits are August and September. During those months, it is hot, hot, hot, the mosquitoes love it, and many businesses take a break.
SERENITY. Bird-watchers, fishermen, and boaters will be thrilled with the environment. Nature abounds in the conditions found on the island. Nearby J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Sanctuary is a first-class educational facility for learning more about the wildlife and the many varieties of birds. It is SO peaceful. Golf carts and bicycles are more numerous than cars, so the noise pollution is practically non-existent.
SEAFOOD. Oh, my. Don’t worry about finding wonderful food in such a small place. There are lots of delicious choices with wide menus. Steve and I wanted seafood, and we were able to find it for lunch, dinner, and even breakfast. But, you can also find steak, chicken and vegetarian choices if you’d prefer. One word for fellow Southerners who visit — don’t look for sweet tea or many items that are fried. This island will help you with your attempts to be more healthy. In addition to the fish, you’ll find lots of fruit/veggies and flat trails and streets for walking.
SUNSETS. On a particularly beautiful late afternoon, we joined several dozen folks who gathered at the end of Captiva Road to watch the sun go down. The spectacle didn’t disappoint. In the last few minutes, the colors grew spectacular while seagulls and pelicans dove for their supper. When the sun finally disappeared below the horizon, the spectators broke out in spontaneous, respectful applause and then walked quietly away.
SEASHELLS. Without a doubt, this is the lure that draws me to the area. The number and quantity of seashells are unmatched in any other place I’ve ever visited. I would particularly recommend Bowman’s Beach (slightly across the bridge into Sanibel) and Turner Beach (right past Blind Pass at the Sanibel end of Captiva). In both of these places, you have to pay $5.00 per hour to park. When (not if but when) I return, I will spend lots of time on Turner Beach with a shovel, a net and plenty of shell-capturing tools.

Here are some websites to begin your own research for a future visit (click on each name): Captiva Island Inn (where we stayed), Keylime Bistro, RC Otter’s Island Eats, Old Captiva House, The Bubble Room and Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille where we ate.

Insights to Share From a Trip That Never Got Off the Ground :(

01/08/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

We got up at 3:30 a.m. in order to arrive at the Huntsville airport by 5:00 a.m. Only a long-awaited holiday trip could entice me to do such a thing with a smile. This was a Bucket List item for me, to which Steve agreed unbegrudgingly. Bless him. We were going to New York City at Christmastime. We had tickets to a Broadway musical, the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir was presenting their Christmas Celebration that weekend, holiday markets scattered throughout the city were on our itinerary, along with seeing the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, the store windows on 5th Avenue and the 9-11 Memorial. Favorite New York delicatessens, cafes and diners were mapped out, and I was even hoping to get a glimpse of the World’s Largest Menorah while we were in Brooklyn. I had subway and street maps marked and ready. We had reservations at a hotel in Midtown only a couple of blocks from Times Square. We both packed extra-warm gloves, socks, hoods, comfortable shoes and plenty of layers. We were ready. In earlier years, we explored NYC in late May of 2000 for my 50th birthday, and we stood on the second row among the throngs to watch Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2008, enjoyed Thanksgiving Dinner at Tavern on the Green in Central Park and shopped for the grandchildren at F.A.O. Schwartz. This time our plans were looser. We just wanted to take it all in.

The trip began to run off the rails when our Huntsville flight was canceled. I wasn’t too worried. If the agent could find us two seats, we’d drive to Birmingham or Nashville to catch another one. We got an hour toward Nashville when the 2nd flight was canceled, and we were booked on yet another one that would leave another hour later. About the time we arrived at the Nashville airport, we got a notice that the 3rd flight was delayed by about a half hour. I still wasn’t too worried. Beginning to fret a little, but not too worried. We parked, caught the shuttle from the lot to the terminal and strolled in with our bags. Then came the words, “I’m sorry, but I’ve just been notified that Flight #____ has been canceled.” Now, I was worried.

The agent tried and tried to find another way for us to get to New York City, but we could tell she was very doubtful. Do you remember hearing on the news about American Airlines mistakenly giving too many of their pilots vacation days during the busiest flying period of the year? Well, the “official” reason we received was “mechanical issues,” but I am 99.9% convinced that we were victims of the pilot shortage on that particular day. Really, what are the chances that THREE flights going to the same place would be canceled WITHOUT any kind of weather situation?

Then, you have to factor in the sense we had that God was trying to protect us from something. It just didn’t feel right to keep on and on pushing to make this trip happen when the deck appeared to be stacked against it. We left the airport, went out for a nice consolation lunch at Maggiano’s and drove back home. Steve, although he hated to see me so disappointed, was probably a little bit relieved. He wasn’t looking forward to being cold for 5 days. I, however, was lower than a snake’s belly.

“It was one of those times you feel a sense of loss, even though you didn’t have something in the first place. I guess that’s what disappointment is — a sense of loss for something you never had.” Deb Caletti in The Nature of Jade.

There were a few good things that happened and a couple of suggestions I’d like to share that might help you if a similar scenario happens for a trip you plan in the future.

The AMERICAN AIRLINES representatives were very quick in refunding all of the money on airfare and checked bags. I’m sure Delta, Southwest and Frontier would also have reacted similarly, but, in this case, I will have to give props to American. Let me add that I just needed to be “heard” by someone about my disappointment. I wrote a polite but pointed letter to their Complaint Department and got an equally polite, non-automated, response. It helped to know they were sorry.
The agent for EXPEDIA was a very able advocate on my behalf to get all of the hotel money refunded, as well as the trip insurance money I had paid. I fully expected to have to forfeit the first night’s hotel charge, but Expedia argued on my behalf for a full refund. Whew! 2 thumbs up, Expedia.
I was sure I’d just have to absorb the money I’d spent on two Broadway show tickets, but I didn’t. TICKETMASTER has a link on their website where you can go and list your tickets if you find you are not going to be able to make the performance. You can set your own price for your tickets, not just the amount you paid for them. I learned that often, especially during the holidays, ticket prices will go up as showtimes grow closer. So, some ticketholders have actually gotten MORE for their tickets than they paid for them. In my mind, this was no time to be greedy. I listed ours low enough to simply recoup my money, and a couple of hours before the show, I got a notice saying my tickets had been purchased. Woohoo!!! Thank you, Ticketmaster!

In my letter to American Airlines, I mentioned several items that the trip cancellation had cost me. No, I didn’t expect a refund on any of them, I just needed to type it all out.

PARKING AT AIRPORTS — We first parked in the Huntsville Airport lot. Because a lot of rain was predicted, we opted for a covered space — $10 per day. Then, we parked in the Nashville Airport lot, where we took a shuttle to the check-in counter. That would have been $18 per day. We ended up paying $4 in Huntsville and $12 in Nashville, even though our time in both airports was short. I just mention this to be sure you factor in this expense when you’re figuring your vacation/trip budget.

SUPER-ECONOMY AIRFARES HAVE HIDDEN COSTS. Beware. There is a new category of airfares that SEEM really good until you realize that you can’t carry on more than a normal backpack size without incurring baggage fees. Steve and I like to travel with only carry-ons whenever possible. But, with these fares, we were going to have to check even our carry-ons. Bummer. When you add $50 just by stepping up to the counter, you have to question what seems like a bait-and-switch deal.

PACK SNACKS, both for the airport as well as for the actual flight. First of all, airport food is notoriously expensive. Second of all, even if you get a small cup of Coke and a pack of pretzels on your flight, you are still likely to have to wait more than an hour for it to reach you. You’ll need to buy bottled waters or liquids after you go through security, but for other snacks, just have them in your allowed space to go with you on the plane. As hunger pangs hit, you’ll thank me for this reminder.

You will NOT be reimbursed for the hours you spend researching and planning nor for the books and maps you might buy in the process. I’m a planner. I’m sure that comes as a shock to you. 🙂 Nevertheless, before I go on a trip, I enjoy learning about what I’m going to see and do, how I will reach the attractions, where to eat, how much the costs will be, which shops are going to be the most unique, etc. etc. When a trip is canceled, those hours you spend on such things will NOT be added back to your life. They’re just gone, or in the best case scenario, they are delayed for a future trip.

New York City tickets, books and maps

You are also never going to be reimbursed for clothing you buy specifically for cold temperatures in New York City that are used very little in North Alabama. But, again, if I am able to go next year, I’ll be ready. Right?

Never fear. I am undeterred in my desire to travel and explore the world. We have another flight booked in a few weeks, this time in the opposite direction. I trust that Expedia will come through for me once again, and I plan to take my own advice regarding baggage, parking and snacks. Maybe some of these tips will help in your own planning.

Most Popular Posts and Favorite Articles from 2017

01/01/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Happy New Year, Everyone!

I’ve been looking back over my 104 blog posts from 2017 and thought you might enjoy revisiting some of the most popular ones. Here are the six that received more than 1000 viewers. The first one on this list was seen by 3470 people — a record for me, but not surprising considering the subject. Click on each line to read the post.

Also, in 2017, I had 54 articles published outside my blog about destinations we visited and enjoyed. I’m pretty proud of that fact, considering that it occurred WHILE life was happening at a fast and furious pace — major surgery, selling our home/packing/moving/starting construction on a new house, welcoming a new grandchild, etc.

Places we saw this year were primarily in the Southeast with the notable exceptions of Alaska and Port Townsend, Washington. Here are 10 main places we visited during the year and at least one article about each one. Just click on the links to read them.

Auburn, AL, “Loveliest Village on the Plains.” We were there for Steve’s 45th veterinary school reunion and for a football game showcasing our beloved Auburn Tigers. Here is an article about the Hotel at Auburn University published in Trip101.com.
Cincinnati, Ohio. “Four Ingredients for a Memorial Weekend in Cincinnati” in ShortWeeks-LongWeekends.com.
Shaker Village near Harrodsburg, KY. “Abundant History in the Heart of Kentucky – Harrodsburg/Mercer County” in ShortWeeks-LongWeekends.com.
Lexington, KY. “Lexington KY: Horses, History and Hot Browns” in MilesGeek.com.
Charleston, SC. “Slightly North of Broad – S.N.O.B. – Excellent Charleston Restaurant Without a Hint of Arrogance” in MilesGeek.com.
Alaska – Anchorage, Denali National Park and a cruise from Whittier to Vancouver. “Hotel Captain Cook in the Heart of Anchorage, Alaska” in Trip101.com.
Port Townsend, WA (a couple of hours and a ferry ride from Seattle). “Old Consulate Inn and Port Townsend WA: A Perfect Match” in MilesGeek.com.
Maggie Valley and Waynesville, N.C. “Frogs Leap Public House: Upscale Farm to Fork in North Carolina” in TheYums.com.
Orange Beach, AL for the 2017 World Food Championships. “World Food Championships Bring Food Fight to Orange Beach” in EdibleLowerAlabama.com.
LaGrange, GA. I just returned in mid-December, so I haven’t had my articles published yet, but here’s the blog post that appeared on Christmas Day. “Hills and Dales Estate in LaGrange GA: All Dressed Up for Christmas“

Now 2018 is here, and my travel schedule is quickly filling up. I can’t wait to share many more destinations with you in the coming months.

8 Facts I Learned at the 2017 World Food Championships

11/20/2017 By: CCPearsoncomment

Food Sport is SERIOUS business!! Take a look at some of these statistics: During the week of November 7-12, 2017 at the World Food Championships in Orange Beach, AL, 8862 dishes were created and judged. 448 cooking teams participated with 51 of those coming from outside the United States. The event utilized over 400 certified judges and 400 volunteers which included students in 15 area culinary programs. Contestants were both professional chefs and home cooks, and their ages ranged from 14 to 71. The much-touted and very popular Food Network even came to town to document and film the action.
The Food Network filming the action.
A lionfish is edible. Yes. Something with 18 venomous spines can be cleaned and eaten. This fish has become quite a problem in the Gulf of Mexico because it has no native predators, can only be caught by spearfishing, and the females can lay up to 40,000 eggs every 4 days. We may not be able to eat them into submission, but something has to be done. Lion fish are devouring and crowding out the fish we DO want in the Gulf. NUISANCE GROUP is affiliated with Alabama Gulf Seafood, which is one of the sponsors of the World Food Championships. Nuisance stands for “nuisance, underutilized, invasive, sustainable, available, noble culinary endeavors.” Read more about their efforts here. Chef Chris Sherrill, formerly of the Flora-Bama Yacht Club and now owner of SALT Restaurant in San Roc Cay, is spearheading this effort. Steve and I had dinner there last week, and Steve tried lion fish for the first time. It was NOT his favorite, but he was a good sport about it.
Chef Chris Sherrill, owner of SALT Restaurant and organizer of Nuisance Fish initiative.

Lion fish with wild mushroom risotto.

A lion fish — fierce-looking but edible.
A new sausage is now in production that is delicious and actually very good for you. Wampler’s has an All Natural Sausage that contains 327 mg. of omega-3 fatty acids and 15 mcg. of selenium per serving, plus it is rich in DHA and EPA. The hogs are raised completely without antibiotics or growth hormones. The sausage has no gluten, no MSG, no nitrates, nitrites, preservatives, fillers or artificial ingredients. Let’s ask our local grocers to stock it.
Southern oysters are good year-round — not just “in months with an R in them.” Lane Zirlatt, co-owner of Murder Point Oyster Farm in Bayou La Batre, is both fervent and zealous about that fact. He says that the water temperature is such that his guys wear wet suits all but two months out of the year. Every sack of oysters has a traceable tag, so the restaurants can know exactly where they came from. In the summer, the law says they have one hour from the moment they come out of the water until they are refrigerated — based on the outside temperature. At Murder Point, they can get their oysters from the water to mechanical refrigeration in 15 minutes. In terms of a personal testimony, Murder Point Oysters are the best Steve and I have ever tasted. Lane brought some in for the media people at WFC to taste. He shucked them on the spot. Oh, so good! I noticed a little more salt in the taste this year, but after that initial burst of salt came the rich buttery creaminess. Lane explained that Hurricane Nate had stirred up a lot of salt in their area when it roared through a few months ago.
Lane Zirlatt shucking oysters.

Bag of Murder Point Oysters.

Succulent Murder Point oyster — salty and buttery
There are times when it is perfectly acceptable to “play with your food.” In fact, WFC had a lot of fun food games set up especially designed for children. In addition to a cake walk, the Planters Peanuts van and Oscar Weinermobile, there were tents for donut stacking, pumpkin bowling, egg tossing and corn shucking with oven mitts.
Pumpkin bowling.
There is a competition to suit just about any interested foodie. This year Granny Grilling (obviously for older ladies and judged by 20 young people under the age of 16) and Thrilla at the Grilla (pitting 10 first responders against each other) were added to the traditional contests under the headings of Bacon, Barbecue, Burger, Chef, Chili, Dessert, Recipe, Sandwich, Seafood and Steak.
Food can kill you. I know. Food is necessary to sustain life, but for some people, certain foods cause reactions that result in death. In recognition of this reality, WFC hosted a Food Allergy Symposium and brought in Celebrity Chef Elizabeth Falkner to discuss some of the major factors to be considered when cooking for those with food allergies. She demonstrated how to prepare dishes for those who can’t have dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, sesame and corn and suggested many delicious-sounding substitutes. She strongly recommended that diners with such restrictions notify a restaurant ahead of time that you are coming in for a meal. Most chefs will do their best to accommodate the needs, but even so, people with severe allergies must educate themselves very thoroughly.
Chef Elizabeth Falkner at the Allergy Symposium.

Dish prepared for food allergy sufferers.

Dessert prepared for those with food allergies.
Bacon is far more than just a long, skinny strip of meat sitting beside some eggs or pancakes. Since I am a certified judge for the World Food Championships, I had the very fun assignment this year of judging the Top Ten entries in the Bacon category. The judge sitting next to me, by the way, was Bill Stitt, owner of Bill-E’s Bacon in Fairhope, AL. His card reads: “When Berkshire Red Pigs and Chantilly White Pigs Get Together, Magic Happens.” I, of course, didn’t see his score card, but my guess is that he knew a good bacon dish when he tasted it. Oh my goodness! It has been a long time since I saw such an array of imaginatively prepared and heavenly-tasting dishes. Here are a few to make your mouth water.

Do you love to cook? Do you think you have a dish that you make better than anyone else? Do you have a competitive nature? Are you creative and willing to put unusual ingredients together? Are you an adventurous eater? Do you think you’d like to become a certified judge? Check out the World Food Championships website and start asking questions. Maybe I’ve convinced you to find your own place in the Food Sport arena.

7 Outstanding Reasons to Visit St. Simons Island, GA

01/30/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Last April, Steve and I were invited to participate in a press trip to St. Simons Island, a place that was completely new to us. The purpose of the trip was to introduce travel writers and bloggers to a part of the Atlantic Coast which is unknown to many. We absolutely loved it! The setting, the resort, the historical connections, the quirks, the special people and the FOOD were all amazing. If you go — and I hope you will — let me mention 7 things you should not miss.

King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort. I have written about it extensively here. But, I want to mention it again, specially because of the over-the-top cuisine of Chef James Flack. It helps, of course, that he has abundant seafood literally in his back yard (the Resort IS oceanfront), but his culinary skills and imagination take dishes to new heights. I don’t think I had ever seen such beautiful food, without even considering the incredible taste.

One section of historic King and Prince Resort.

Bounty from the Atlantic.

2. Cap Fendig. Whether you want a relaxed trolley tour on land or a boat tour to spot dolphins on your way to Sidney Lanier Bridge, Cap Fendig should be your go-to source. He is a native of St. Simons and knows the place through and through. We got to experience his knowledge in both settings and enjoyed him thoroughly. Such a great personality.

Cap Fendig’s trolley

Sidney Lanier Bridge

Boat in the port on St. Simons Island

Sidney Lanier Bridge

Cap Fendig’s boat

Cap Fendig teaching his guests about his island

3. Visit Christ Church on Frederica Road. Read about its storied history here. Such names as James Oglethorpe and John Wesley immediately get your attention. You’ll find descriptions of stained glass windows, one of which is an authentic, unsigned Tiffany creation, and of the gorgeous needlework wall hangings. And when you sit in the pews, you will enjoy knowing that former U.S. Presidents Coolidge, Carter and Bush may have sat in the same spot. The adjoining cemetery is also a fascinating place to spend some time. Be sure to find the burial spot of Southern novelist,Euginia Price. The words on her tombstone are: “After her conversion to Jesus Christ, October 2, 1949, she wrote ‘Light … and eternity and love and all are mine at last.” Indeed.

Pew in Christ Church

4. Visit Fort Frederica National Monument. Yes, this is the place where the British defeated the Spanish in 1742, which meant that Georgia remained a British colony. But, the National Park Service has expanded the guest experience to include much more. It is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day from 9:00 to 5:00. Plan to spend a couple of hours, and I guarantee you’ll come out feeling smarter than when you went in.

Fort Frederica

5. Go to the beautiful Visitors Center and see the mermaid tree spirit carved by Keith Jennings beside the building. There are other tree spirits scattered throughout the island. Ask questions in the Visitors Center or read more here. Don’t worry. We were told that these carvings do NOT harm the trees. Seems implausible, but that’s the information we got.

Interior of the Visitors Center

6. Visit the St. Simons Island Lighthouse, take the colorful, informative tour, and climb to the top if you’re feeling energetic. Lighthouses are not a part of our Alabama culture. Maybe that’s what makes them doubly intriguing to me. This one is really beautiful. And, of course, my Silver Fox made the climb.

7. Enjoy dinner at Georgia Sea Grill. This is another place to find delectable seafood prepared by an accomplished chef. Check out a few of the dishes we sampled with our tablemates. So, so good.

Look at the size of those scallops!

Georgia Sea Grill

Look at your calendar. Pick out some dates. Start planning a visit to St. Simons Island. You’ll be glad.

Whitney Plantation — A Focus on the Slaves

06/01/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

I can’t leave Louisiana’s Plantation Country without telling you about Whitney Plantation, probably the “most different” of them all. Begun as a sugar cane operation in 1752, it was finally opened to the public for the very first time in 2014, and has the distinction of being the ONLY plantation in Louisiana that is dedicated solely to educating the public about the slaves and the conditions under which they lived and worked.

Located on Highway 18 in Wallace, LA, you will not leave from a visit to Whitney the same way you arrived. The tour, the exhibits, and the surroundings will make a lasting impression. It’s very sobering to be confronted so graphically with the cruelty these innocent human beings endured. There are many museums dedicated to telling the story of the Holocaust, but this is the only place in the United States where the issue of slavery is dealt with so passionately and vividly. Interviews in the 1930’s with more than 2300 former slaves were conducted as part of the Federal Writers’ Project. The information and quotes scattered throughout the Whitney grounds and in the narrated tour are derived from those interviews.

John Cummings, a New Orleans lawyer and multi-millionaire who has become one of the largest landowners in the area, owns Whitney Plantation and is vehement about the need to educate people, not about the rich white people who inhabited “the big houses” with their art and fine antiques, but about the people who actually sweated, toiled and were beaten in the process of making those big-house-dwellers wealthy. He believes that “racism needs to become an antique through education.”

Mr. Cummings continues to put money where his convictions are through the Good Shepherd School in New Orleans. They started with 12 black students and are now up to 88. Students attend classes 6 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. 11 months a year. Expectations are high, and black students are rising to the challenge. “What a change we can make (in this country) when we send more black men and women to college than to the penitentiary,” Cummings preaches.

Statues of slave children that are on the grounds are the work of Woodrow Nash.

Statue inside Antioch Church on the grounds of Whitney Plantation.

Statues of slave children by Woodrow Nash.

I strongly urge you to include Whitney Plantation in your itinerary whenever you are in this part of the country. An article in National Geographic calls it “The Plantation Every American Should Visit.” I agree.

Houmas House Plantation: Extraordinary Luxury and Natural Beauty

05/30/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

I just turned 66. Gasp! And, I’ve stayed in a lot of different hotel rooms. Notably, one was during a mission trip to Guatemala and cost $2.50 per night, which Steve deemed “highway robbery.” There was a bare light bulb hanging in the middle of the room, we slept on TOP of the sheets on the bed, and the shower had a crate on the floor to stand on rather than have cockroaches run across your feet. Seriously. I’ve slept under mosquito nets in Kenya where the outside grounds were being guarded by a man with a bow and arrow. On the other side of the spectrum, I’ve stayed in rooms overlooking Times Square, the crashing waves on the north shore of Oahu, the rolling surf of the Gulf of Mexico, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and one with the Capitol dome out the window. Most have been comfortable, convenient and served their purpose admirably.

A recent night in Louisiana stands out at the top, or certainly among the top 3 or 4 in my mind, in terms of purely luxurious furnishings in the room of an overnight cottage with astounding attention to details. Even the shower had a 12-foot ceiling and heavy crown molding!!! This was at the Houmas House Plantation and Gardens in Darrow, Louisiana. Oh my. Do you have a splurge occasion coming up? Maybe a 25th or 50th wedding anniversary? Give this serious consideration. Not only will you be amazed at the quality of your room, but your tastebuds will be wildly satisfied by any of the three restaurants on the grounds.

Kevin Kelly, the present owner of Houmas House, actually lives in the mansion and is present often to make sure that the quality of accommodations, meals, gardens and tours of his home remains high.

Scenes from the gardens on the plantation grounds:

Scenes from inside and outside of the guest cottages.

Guest cottages added to the property 2 years ago.

Susan was our costumed guide when we toured the big house. She did a fabulous job of pointing out the phenomenal collection of art and antiques that Mr. Kelly has brought to this property. She told a fascinating story of the history of the home and the people who have lived there. Betty Davis stayed in one of the bedrooms while “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte” was being filmed. As a special treat, I got to play that theme song on a very rare 1901 Steinway piano while Susan sang.

“Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte”

Steinway piano made in Germany in 1901

Scenes from the Big House:

100% free-standing, floating staircase

Houmas House Plantation is referred to as both “The Sugar Palace” and “Crown Jewel of Louisiana’s River Road.”

Read my article in Epicurean-Traveler.com here about the Carriage House Restaurant, and take a look at my article in Trip101.com about the accommodations at Houmas House.

The Mansion of Nottoway Plantation – “The White Castle of Louisiana”

05/25/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

John Hampden Randolph had a LOT of money. In fact, if his wealth in his day was adjusted into today’s terms, he would have been richer than Donald Trump! He commissioned for a house to be built on his 7116 acres in White Castle, Louisiana, that would be a visual showcase of his vast economic worth. It was to serve as a home for himself, his wife Emily Jane and their 11 children, as well as a place to lavishly entertain many influential guests. Mr. Randolph’s desire was for people passing by either by boat along the Mississippi River or by horse-drawn carriage on the road beside the river to want to stop and bask in the sight.

When the mansion of Nottoway Plantation was completed, there were 53,000+ square feet of living space. In that day, property owners were taxed on the number of doors in their homes. Nottoway had 265 doors, 200 windows and 64 rooms, of which 27 were just closets. Other features in this home were unheard of at the time — three flushable commodes, hot and cold running water, and gas lines for the lamps in each room. There were 12 Italian marble fireplaces and even levers by one of the fireplaces which served as a bell-calling system such as in “Downton Abbey.”

The side view of the mansion with a fountain and garden.

The exquisite white oval ballroom is probably the most stunning room in the mansion. It took six years to bend the cypress used to create this rounded room. Five of the seven Randolph daughters were married in this room with its 15 1/2-foot ceiling and 11 foot doors. Puddling drapes adorn the windows. The extra fabric purchased to allow for the puddling was yet another display of wealth.

The ceiling of the white oval ballroom.

The basement of the home originally housed a 2-lane bowling alley. Now, The Mansion Restaurant is located there with walls of windows looking out onto the immaculate grounds.

Mansion Restaurant table looking out on the grounds.

Cornelia, daughter number 7, wrote a book about her years living in this mansion under the pen name of M R Ailenroc, which is Cornelia spelled backwards with her maiden and married initials. The book is “The White Castle of Louisiana.”

The hour-long tour of Nottoway is filled with interesting anecdotes about the family and the cultural habits of the years from 1859, when the house was finally completed, to the present. Be sure to climb through the double windows on the second floor to stand on the porch and see over the levee to watch the ships glide down the river.

View from the upper porch looking toward the river.

If you have time to spend the night at Nottoway, I urge you to do so. You can choose between restored rooms within the actual mansion or deluxe hotel-type rooms in the cottages and carriage house behind the mansion. Steve and I had a room in one of the cottages and found it to be comfortable, relaxing and lavish.

The front porch of our cottage.

A plush kingsize bed.

Mansion Restaurant is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Chef Michael Loupe prepares amazing dishes. He has studied and cooked all over the world, even Paris. Nottoway is fortunate indeed to have his skills in the kitchen. We were there for dinner and for breakfast. Both times the food was wonderful, and the service was attentive and friendly.

Part of the breakfast buffet.

As you walk the grounds after hours, you will be entertained by the sounds of bullfrogs, trains, barges and ships.

I wrote more about the restaurant in an article for Epicurean-Traveler.com here.

And, this is a link to an article in Trip101.com describing the accommodations at Nottoway in more detail.

Spend the Night in One of America’s Most Photogenic Locations — Oak Alley Plantation

05/23/2016 By: CCPearson2 Comments

In late April, we took a break here on the blog from touring the plantations between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, but let’s go back there for the next several posts. Some of these plantations actually provide lodging and breakfast for guests. Imagine a Bed and Breakfast where iconic movies have been filmed (“Interview with the Vampire” starring Brad Pitt to name a recent one) and magazine covers photographed. Ahhhh. And by staying overnight, you can roam the grounds after the tour groups leave in the afternoons and before they arrive again the next morning, clicking away with your camera and basking in the ambiance of times gone by.

Close-up of the front of Oak Alley.

When you just say the word “plantation,” the front of Oak Alley is most likely to come to your mind. In person, it is every bit as beautiful as it is in pictures. It has been called “the most breath-taking sight in SE Louisiana,” and I would have a hard time arguing with that description. The alley of moss-draped, live oak trees was planted in 1722, long before the house was built. The French believed such an alley would form a funnel of air from the Mississippi River. Now, almost 300 years later, these live oaks are still expected to remain for ANOTHER 300 years.

The famous alley of oaks (Oak Alley) with my camera on the ground.

There are both old and new cottages on the grounds where guests can stay. Steve and I were assigned the Doctor’s Cottage which was built in 1905. After a long day of sightseeing, photographing and note-taking, it was a wonderful place for us to unwind and just “be” for a few hours.

Front view of the Doctor’s Cottage.

Cozy bedroom in the Doctor’s Cottage.

The furnishings and amenities were very modern and comfortable. Earlier in the day we ordered dinner to be delivered, and it was waiting in the refrigerator for us to take it out, microwave it and enjoy it leisurely. Like room service, only better. Great Louisiana specialties like chicken/andouille gumbo and bread pudding. We couldn’t seem to get enough bread pudding. We ate it every chance we got.

Dinner waiting in the fridge.

We took our time strolling the historic grounds and watching the ships and barges cruise down the Mississippi. There’s just something about those massive live oak trees that add such grandeur to the property.

View of the river from the upper porch.

After a restful night, we found the old carriage house where a delicious breakfast was served.

Breakfast at Oak Alley

Omelet, grits and biscuit. Delicious.

My breakfast drink of choice. 🙂

We wandered through the slave cabins that were set up to provide stories of life for the slaves, and then ended our time with a tour of the big house and a few minutes in the gift shop. Our costumed guide Bob did a masterful job of recounting the story of Jacques and Celina Roman and their days living in the mansion and on the grounds of Oak Alley. If you are in Plantation Country in the future, I highly recommend that you choose at least one of them for an overnight stay. It will literally transport you to the 1800’s — without the chamber pots and lack of indoor plumbing.

Bob, our costumed, well-informed tour guide at Oak Alley.

How slaves designated the outhouses for men and women.

A display about the typical clothing of slaves.

Row of slave cabins behind the mansion

P.S. I’d also like to give a special shout-out to the employees in the Oak Alley Gift Shop. Steve and I found them to be so friendly and helpful, truly seeming to enjoy their job. When I asked one lady what she enjoyed about working at Oak Alley, she said, “I can stay in one place and all cultures come HERE. Some say ‘prah-leens,’ others say ‘pray-leens.’ Some say ‘PEE cans,’ others say ‘puh-CAHNS,’ plus all the different languages!” I asked if she had any non-alcoholic suggestions for making the famous whiskey sauce to pour over bread pudding, and she went straight to the computer to try to look it up. I like it when people go the extra mile, don’t you?

I wrote an article for Trip101.com that includes more pictures and details. You can find it here.

Laura Plantation — No Greek Revival or White Paint Here

04/25/2016 By: CCPearson5 Comments

A tour of Laura Plantation, located at 2247 Highway 18 in Vacherie, LA, is different from all the other tours in two main ways. 1) This doesn’t LOOK like the stereotypical plantation mansion with its Creole colors of yellows, blues, reds and greens, rather than the typical white paint and columns found on most of the others. And 2) the tour itself focuses on the PEOPLE and their stories, rather than on the furnishings and the architecture.

A view from the upper porch.

Sign at the entrance to the Laura Plantatio

Laura Locoul Gore — the plantation’s namesake — has provided most of the narrative for the tour personally in the memoirs she compiled and wrote out by hand for her grandchildren — “Memories of the Old Plantation Home,” along with “A Creole Family Album” with Commentary by Norman and Sand Marmillion, who purchased Laura in 1993.

The bulk of the Laura story tells of 4 generations of strong successful women, starting with Laura’s great-grandmother, Nanette Prud’Homme widow of Guillaume Duparc, then to her grandmother Elizabeth and on to Laura. Interwoven with the history of plantation owners are stories of several notable slaves.

A wall of portraits mostly feature Laura Locoul Gore.

An interesting fact we learned is that Laura Locoul Gore was born when Abraham Lincoln was president and died when John F. Kennedy was president. One day when she was a child she was playing at the well when one of the slaves named Felippe came to get water for the mules. She noticed some letters on his cheeks and learned that he had been branded for running away when he was much younger. That made an indelible impression on Laura. Add that to the fact that she lived between the times of two presidents who both emphasized Civil Rights, and you get a person with definite feelings about the rights of slaves and how they should be treated.

Lonely Planet Travel has called the tour of Laura “Best history tour in the USA!” Much credit for that goes to Joseph Dunn, Laura’s marketing and public relations manager. He was the guide on the day we visited, and he is a walking encyclopedia of everything about the Duparc-Locoul Family and the culture and history during this plantation’s storied past. He could write a book — and I personally encouraged him to do just that!! Plus, he does a masterful job of pronouncing all of the French names in this plantation’s story.

Joseph Dunn in front of Laura Plantation.

There are 12 buildings on the plantation grounds that are on the National Register of Historic Places. In one of the 160-year-old slave cabins, the West-African folktales known in English as the Tales of Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox were recorded.

The back side of the Laura Plantation mansion.

I took pages of notes while Mr. Dunn narrated our tour, but I’d love to go back and take pages more. There is so much to learn. When you visit, expect to be inspired and challenged. There are 13 tours given each day — 10 are in English, 3 are in French. Be sure to check the website for ticket prices, directions, days when it is closed and many more tips to prepare you for your visit.

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