Bellingrath Gardens, fishing camp turned into gracious estate of Coca Cola mogul, Walter Bellingrath, located along the Fowl River in Theodore, Alabama, is just another reason to listen to people you meet in a bar! A casual conversation on the “top Deck” at the Pelican Reef on Dauphin Island led us here. Let the photos speak! Azaleas, cherry blossoms, and paper whites are in bloom; while gardeners scurry about planting Easter lilies and blue hydrangeas from Bellingrath’s own vast nursery, in time for the Easter egg roll on the great lawn. The garden tour was $11 each; we declined the boat cruise and house tour in the interest of time. Wide paths, unobtrusive (but functional) handrails, and alternate routes (when stairs are involved) show a great deal of thought in planning access for everyone. You exit ... read more

We're so excited about Dauphin Island in Alabama and getting to New Orleans with enough time to see the sights; that we're leaving Top Sail early. This park is so gracious and didn't penalize us for the cancelled part of the reservation. We didn't get to the Red Bar at Grayton Beach; we missed stopping in at Sally's Back Side, a fun and funky club behind a convenience store on 30 A. Catch them next year. But before leaving, we had a great day for NOT getting sunburned on Top Sail Beach and a wonderful dinner at Tango Cafe. ... read more

Heading out of St, George Island on our way to Top Sail RV Park, Santa Rosa Beach, scores of oystermen, their small boats brimming with oysters, come into view as we cross the bay. Heading west on Route 98, we skipped the sweet town of Apalachicola - been there and loved it and rolled on to Port St. Joe and a brief stop near the Marina. We had once stayed at a State Park on St. Joe Peninsula and loved its untamed beauty. We have often passed the intriguing looking Toucan’s at Mexico Beach but the timing is never right for a meal stop - too early for lunch and too late for breakfast. Some things have to be saved for next tiem! Passing through Panama City we are reminded that it’s a popular “spring break ... read more

We have a very cool itinerary to bring us home from our 2009-2010 winter RV trip. Our direct flight from Albany to Tampa was uneventful. Our drive up I75 to Ocala wet. We "dry camped" in the wet weather and woke up to a sunny day with a half dozen horses staring into the RV. On The Road We've learned to love those dotted lines on AAA maps. They indicate scenic byways, and Route 27 from Ocala to Williston is just that! The drive is beautiful. It’s spring and shrubs like "red buds" are in bloom as part of the landscaping of lovely horse farms all along the way. Going beyond Williston (neat and orderly) the scene becomes “USA at its rural, sincere best.” Ranching, logging, fishing, oystering and shrimping are the rugged industries. There are ... read more

A Long Island Surprise - Joanne DeVoe, June 23-24, 2004 This is one from the "archives." Before we started the travel blog. We have heard about how nice “The End” of Long Island is, but never took it seriously. Misconceptions regarding traffic, rude people, over commercialization, and the like have lingered like a lead balloon. “Misconceptions” is the operative word. We wound our way back home to Ballston Lake from Long Island by first heading for Montauk and eventually the Ferry from Green Port to New London, CT. Fortunately, we missed the turn for the old Montauk Highway, the scenic, ocean road. Fortunate because, if we had taken the scenic road, we might have pulled in at Gurney’s or one of the other lovely established resorts along that stretch and missed our delightful stay east of ... read more