Downtown Gatlinburg wasn’t always filled with cheesy souvenir shops, wax museums, and fast food joints. In the years before Dollywood and the miles-long carnival strip of Pigeon Forge, this eastern Tennessee town was known for craftsmen and artisans who occupied shops and roamed the city streets, demonstrating their skills. As tourism grew, escalating rents drove … Read more
With growing anticipation I approached the town of Moore Haven in central Florida, where I expected to catch my first glimpse of Lake Okeechobee. As the second largest freshwater lake lying completely within the United States, Okeechobee ranks among the most famous landmarks of Florida. I negotiated a long curve into town, watching for the … Read more
After dinner, I stopped in the lobby to arrange for a 7:30 a.m wake up call the following morning. “We’ll be happy to do that, Ms. Weibel, and would you like a follow-up call 15 minutes later?” asked the woman behind the front desk. My jaw dropped open. I have always wondered why hotels don’t … Read more
Several months ago, author David Stanley offered to send me a copy of his guide book “Moon Fiji,” for which I wrote a glowing review. Since I was so impressed, Stanley offered to send me Moon Tahiti for review as well. Travel guides, while unquestionably useful, are hardly the kind of books one chooses for … Read more
I’ve lived in downtown Sarasota for nearly three years and thought I’d seen everything the city center had to offer until the other day, when I took a walk along the bay. Just two blocks from the heart of downtown I discovered an arched entryway leading to Bayfront Park in Sarasota, a half-mile long peninsula … Read more
