HENDERSON, Ky. — The churning red paddlewheel propels the pearl-white steamboat along the wide Mississippi River, like a slow-moving time machine through a slice of Americana that harks back to Mark Twain and the history, culture and commerce of the 19th century. Inside the six-level steamboat, passengers enjoy tea time in the ladies’ parlor, … Continue reading →

The young, smiling couple in the old photo stands at the Grand Canyon, dad holding their bright-eyed 3-year-old daughter. Fast forward 40 years, as mom and daughter return to the canyon, one of them on a mission to scratch something off her “bucket list.” “That’s why I think I held that picture in my mind because that’s … Continue reading →

Three canoeing trails have been developed in northeast Louisiana in hopes of luring adventurers to experience its bayous lined with majestic cypress trees. The privately funded ecotourism project is administered by the LSU AgCenter, and was funded with a $115,000 grant from the Walton Family Foundation, LSU agritourism coordinator Dora Ann Hatch said. The foundation has funded … Continue reading →

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — The objects displayed in Michigan’s newest museum range from the ordinary, such as simple ashtrays and fishing lures, to the grotesque — a full-size replica of a lynching tree. But all are united by a common theme: They are steeped in racism so intense that it makes visitors cringe. That’s … Continue reading →

The West Baton Rouge Museum is now part of the Louisiana Office of Tourism’s African-American Heritage Trail. A regional history museum, West Baton Rouge Museum offers exhibits, tours and educational programs on a six-acre campus. The museum’s focus is on the African-American historical experience in South Louisiana. The campus includes six historical sugar plantation structures from West … Continue reading →

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Shadowbox with a silhouetted Muhammad Ali. Grab a bat and take a few swings in a batting cage at the Louisville Slugger Museum. Dig into a Hot Brown at the place where the savory sandwich was created. Sip Kentucky bourbons at a hotel where Al Capone played blackjack. Louisville is … Continue reading →

A colorful array of class A tall ships will line the east bank of the Mississippi River in New Orleans from Erato Street to Upper Poland Avenue Tuesday-Monday, April 17-23. The occasion is NOLA Navy Week 20212, part of a three-year national celebration commemorating the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner. New Orleans was chosen as the inaugural city for the celebration, which also will feature the Navy’s famed Blue Angels in an air show over Lake Pontchartrain 1:30-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The U.S. Navy’s amphibious warship USS Wasp … Continue reading →

NEW YORK (AP) — Two cruise ships on opposite sides of the Atlantic have embarked on journeys to visit the spot where the Titanic sank, but one that departed after a short stop on the Irish coast returned briefly when a passenger became ill. With the sickened passenger needing to be airlifted for medical care, the European … Continue reading →

Driving to Destin, Florida on Highway 98, a sign seems to say it all: “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.” Generations ago, locals used this sign to focus on one of the area’s favorite pastimes. But while anglers still enjoy this fishing paradise, the “village” has definitely grown up. “In the past 10 years, we have really … Continue reading →

There’s a lot happening in Pensacola. In fact, think of just about anything, and chances are Pensacola offers it. Miles of sugar-white beaches? Check. Historic sites? Check. Fishing & boating? Check. How about shopping & golfing? … Continue reading →

Tucked between the cities of Pensacola and Destin, Santa Rosa County, Florida offers a wide variety of activities for visitors. From swimming to fishing to kayaking and more, the area is a curious mix of thrill-seeking adventure and quiet relaxation. It’s a place that has picked up the tagline “beaches to rivers,” an obvious … Continue reading →

Alabama’s Gulf Coast draws millions of tourists yearly to its sandy beaches, championship golf courses and seaside condos. Others are drawn to the area’s historical roots, which date back to 1699 when French explorers Bienville and Iberville Le Moyne discovered Dauphin Island and Mobile. History Artifacts, forts and war memorials … Continue reading →

Gulf Coast vacationers don’t have to settle for small, cramped motel rooms during their seaside vacation trips to Alabama. Realty companies offer condo rentals and sales that provide a variety of amenities, including multiple rooms in a unit that can fit any customer’s budget. “When looking to rent or purchase a condo, guests and prospective … Continue reading →

If you have teenagers, especially graduating seniors, they’ve probably told you about Bonnaroo. It’s a four-day music and arts festival that takes place on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. This year’s event will be held June 7-10, and features a lineup that includes The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phish, Radiohead, The Beach Boys, Bon Iver, … Continue reading →

Gulf Shores/Orange Beach events and festivals: Orange Beach Wine Festival: May 5-6 at Caribe the Resort. The Hangout Music Festival: May 18-20, Gulf Shores public beach. The Eighth Annual Gulf Coast Hot Air Balloon Festival: June 15-17, Foley Sports park, 18507 Hwy. 98, Foley, Ala. Pepsi Star Series: … Continue reading →

Texas welcomes visitors with friendly smiles and plenty of fun. You’ll find numerous vacation options, from tubing on a lazy river to shopping for western wear or taking in a blockbuster art exhibit. Start by getting an official 2012 Texas State Travel Guide along with a state map and accommodations guide. Go Online and … Continue reading →

Moody Gardens on Galveston Island lifts your spirit the minute you drive into the beautiful park-like complex. Along with flowering shrubs and plants, the complex is immaculate and convenient. The complex is especially appealing for families that want to vacation together. The high-rise Moody Garden Hotel has more than 400 pleasantly decorated hotel rooms and a spacious restaurant, … Continue reading →

If you haven’t vacationed in Mississippi recently, you don’t know what you’re missing. The Mississippi Gulf Coast features 62 miles of coastline, yes, but visitors can also enjoy deep sea fishing, beautiful golf courses, fantastic seafood and many Vegas-style casinos known not just for gaming fun, but for excellent nightclub entertainment as well. The Southern hospitality extends from the … Continue reading →

Natchez, Miss., lures visitors with grand homes representing many styles of the Old South, intoxicating gardens and tales of romance. Travelers arrive on everything from large RVs to motorcycles to enjoy the hospitality of this town sitting on high bluffs over the Mississippi River. It takes about an hour and a half to make the 90-mile … Continue reading →

The Gulf Coast provides great deep sea fishing from Florida all the way to Texas. Some of the species fishermen come across are tuna, mahi, grouper, amberjack, Spanish mackerel, shark, tarpon and cobia. If you’re an avid fisherman, take note of these tips, offered by Addicted Angler website: When you fish, especially if you travel far from the shoreline, … Continue reading →

No matter how often you visit Disney World in Orlando, there’s always something new to see. Covering more than 40 square miles, Disney World is anchored by four theme parks -- Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot Center and Amimal Kingdom. Magic Kingdom, of course, is usually the first stop for Disney World visitors, especially families with young children. This … Continue reading →

BY STEVE WHEELER WHEELS and HOMES editor The Blue Angels will perform nearly 70 shows at 35 locations this season, including New Orleans in April and Pensacola in July. The precision Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron will again wrap up its season at its home base in Pensacola in November. If you’ve … Continue reading →

Men often find it difficult to explain the love they have for their favorite sports team to casual fans or those with no interest in sports. To nonsports fans, a devotion to a sports team is often puzzling, particularly when a sports fan devotes so much time and spends so much money in support of his favorite team. To … Continue reading →

Adventurous folks thinking about taking a road trip this season may consider renting or purchasing a recreational vehicle (RV) for the trip. Traveling by RV has its share of supporters and detractors, and it’s best for those new to RVs to consider their advantages and disadvantages. RV vacations have the potential … Continue reading →

It’s one of the most iconic places in the world ... New York City ... a place with an unforgettable personality and an irresistible charm. Aside from its global impact on the worlds of finance, media, commerce and government, New York is often called the cultural capital of the world. Add to that the city’s entertainment offerings … Continue reading →

While the neon lights, casinos and showgirls will always be part of the Las Vegas culture, there’s another wild side of Vegas worth exploring the whole family can enjoy. Animal lovers will enjoy the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo hotel or the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage. The secret garden … Continue reading →

If you’re goin to San Francisco, be sure to wear…some warm clothes. With apologies to songwriter Scott McKenzie, who urged young people to “be sure to wear some flowers in your hair” when they went to see “gentle people there” back in the 1960s, San Francisco today is still a fantastic place to visit. Continue reading →

Go ahead; give it a try. The ear-piercing, primordial Tarzan yell will be heard for blocks on Friday and Saturday, April 13-14, when Morgan City hosts the world’s first Tarzan of the Apes: Lord of the Louisiana Jungle Festival. There couldn’t be a more splendid spot to honor one of America’s first fictional heroes. The … Continue reading →

Spring is a great time to get out on the road and enjoy the Louisiana outdoors. Next week, travelers have two good excuses to head to Leesville in Vernon Parish. There’s Vernon Lake and the second annual Chill n Grill. Vernon Lake is located about 10 miles west of Leesville, north of La. … Continue reading →

Dancing to the beat of different drums will be common at next weekend’s Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival. The fifth annual event, held in Armstrong Park in New Orleans, will offer beats from the Congo to Cuba, Brazil to Basin Street. Presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the free celebration Saturday and … Continue reading →

Make a trip to Garyville next weekend to visit the historic San Francisco Plantation and you can take in a festival at the same time. The ninth annual Frisco Fest runs Saturday and Sunday, March 10 and 11, at the plantation, 2646 La. 44 (River Road). The spring garden and craft festival will offer more … Continue reading →

NEW ORLEANS — Inside Louisiana’s Civil War Museum, battle flags line the walls. Uniforms, swords and long-barreled guns fill museum cases beside homespun knapsacks, dented canteens and tiny framed pictures of wives that soldiers carried into battle. In the back, there’s a collection devoted to Jefferson Davis, one-time president of the Confederacy formed by … Continue reading →

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — A window of time just opened in Yosemite National Park when nature photographers wait, as if for an eclipse, until the moment when the sun and earth align to create a fleeting phenomenon. This marvel of celestial configuration happens in a flash at sunset in mid-February — if … Continue reading →

HOUGHTON, Mich. — You’re not much of a skier, and jouncing through the woods on a roaring snowmobile isn’t your idea of fun either. Is there any other reason to take a winter trip to Michigan’s cold, snowy Upper Peninsula? Actually, there are many. The lightly populated U.P. is dotted with villages that cater … Continue reading →

What jazz was in the 1920s, rhythm and blues was in the 1950s, and hip-hop was in the 1980s, are what ragtime was at the turn of the 20th century: on the cutting edge, music played in not-so-savory places and an art form that respectable people said was going to be the end of western civilization as we know it. Continue reading →

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne has announced the installation of 264 highway signs throughout the 14-parish Atchafalaya Heritage Area. The sign installation started in October and will conclude in the spring, a news release said. “The Atchafalaya Heritage Area is one of Louisiana’s most culturally diverse areas,” Dardenne said. “The new highway signs will continue to raise … Continue reading →

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Friends have taught Larry Sherlock two main things about Atlantic City: Bally’s, the Taj Mahal and the Borgata give out nice comps. And, don’t venture out onto Pacific or Atlantic avenues, especially at night. The retiree and his wife love Atlantic City enough to make the seven-hour drive from Hampton, Va., twice … Continue reading →

If you’ve never boarded the Creole Queen in New Orleans for a scenic ride on the Mississippi River, now’s a good time. The paddlewheeler recently launched its Sunday Bubbly Brunch. From 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., guests can indulge in a classic New Orleans style brunch buffet and libations while listening to the cool tunes of The Yat Pack and cruising the river. Continue reading →

MIAMI (AP) — While the parent company of the owner of the stricken Costa Concordia is based in Miami, passengers who want to file a lawsuit in U.S. courts over the cruise ship disaster will likely face choppy seas. That’s because of fine print on tickets purchased and signed by the 3,000-plus passengers before the ship capsized … Continue reading →

LOVELAND, Colo. — If you’ve ever gone skiing at an unfamiliar resort without getting lost, chances are you have James Niehues to thank. Niehues, 65, is the man behind the trail map. His hand-painted panoramas have been reproduced into millions of pocket-sized maps handed out by ski resorts in North America, Japan, Korea, China, … Continue reading →

LOVELAND, Colo. — If you’ve ever gone skiing at an unfamiliar resort without getting lost, chances are you have James Niehues to thank. Niehues, 65, is the man behind the trail map. His hand-painted panoramas have been reproduced into millions of pocket-sized maps handed out by ski resorts in North America, Japan, Korea, China, … Continue reading →

LOS ANGELES — In spring and fall, desert camping attracts thousands of tourists in Southern California. Joshua trees curve up out of the dry ground like spiky sculptures, and Mojave rattlesnakes sunbathe on rocks. Temperatures can peak into the triple digits. In the winter, though, as temperatures drop down to freezing at night, travelers … Continue reading →

What better way to get in the Mardi Gras mood than to tour the Louisiana State Museum’s Carnival Collection in New Orleans. The Friends of the Cabildo is presenting Hidden Treasures of the Louisiana State Museum: Carnival Edition on Tuesday and Thursday, Jan. 17 and 19. Tours start at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. as … Continue reading →

JOHANNESBURG — Johannesburg dates its beginnings to the discovery of gold in 1886. Its downtown, where skyscrapers tower over deep mines, was abandoned by business in recent decades, and squatters turned the office towers into high-rise slums. But now, as the city celebrates its 125th birthday, creative South Africans are seeing gold in warehouses and … Continue reading →

Eight zydeco bands will perform at the festival at the Offshore Lounge, 322 Perry Drive in Lawtell.
Among the musicians will be Grammy winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, Dwight Carrier, Corey Ledet, Brad Randell, Gerard Delafose, Lil Pookie and T. Broussard. Continue reading →