The Weekender Extended Magazine

SPRING, 2016 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -1-

-2- | WEEKDEREXTENDED.COM ~ SPRING 2016


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Table of Contents

FEATURESGarden Getaway Tour

National Parks Centennial Celebration

Western Region

Midwest Region

South Region Classy Tallahassee 34

Beech Bend Park Expanding - Ky 38

Bald Head Island 40

Our regular column “Top Ten” focuses on a Spring getaway for the

whole family.

A U.S. National Park in celebration of its Centennial . Free Admission and Festivities for All during National Park Week April 16-24.

10 14

26

34

18

14

6

TOP TEN SPRING BREAK DESTINATIONS PLACES TO GO;

A chance to win the ultimate getaway to a new Hilton

Garden Inn located in Hawaii.

Sleeping Bear Dunes - Traverse City, Michigan 16

Cruise a Park 18

Yosemite 24

A real Dude Ranch 20

Yosemite 24

Osthoff Resort, Wisconsin 26

Tulip Time in Topeka, KS 30

People to See: Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain 32

Niagra Falls 44

People to See: Jerry Seinfield 48

Published quarterly by BarnettPRO Publishing

71 Plymouth St., Plymouth, OH 44865. PHONE/FAX419-687-0002

Email: [email protected] - Michael D. Arnold

[email protected] Editor - Kathy Barnett

[email protected] to Go Editor: Kandy DerdenThings to Do Editor: Norman ReedPeople to See Editor: Sheeree Oney

Assistant Editors: Mindy SnipesLisa Rhoden

[email protected] Design Editor

Norman Reed

Visit our Website for event coveragebetween regular issues at

www.WeekenderExtended.comOnline Subscriptions are FREE! Submit your name and email address & we’ll also enter it in our monthly drawing for a FREEweekend getaway! Copyright 2016 by BarnettPRO Publish-ing All rights reserved. Reproductions of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher. Advertisements in this publication do not nec-essarily carry the endorsement of the publishing company.

Northeast Region

People to See 5050

10 Top TenDestinations for a Spring Break for one, a couple, or the

whole family

44

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Up Close: From the Editor

In Classy Tallahassee

I love Spring! It’s time to pack away the hats,

winter coats, gloves and boots

and trade the closet space for the

pretty floral patterns and cool pastel

colors. Smell that fresh air! Enjoy the

fragrant blossoms on the trees. Wel-

come the chirping of the robins!

I’m already refreshed, just knowing

that being couped up in the house is

almost over. I look forward to those

Spring breaks even when I only have

time for a weekend getaway. I firmly

believe everybody needs, not one, but

THREE spring breaks. Let me explain:

The first is for rest. Get away from it all

- the work, the busy schedules and the

stress of everyday life. The body, mind

and soul needs pampering. One great

choice is an escape to the Osthoff Re-

sort in Wisconsin. See page 26.

Country Entertainer of the Year, Luke Bryan, begins his new “Kill The

Lights” Tour this month.

30 51

THINGS TO DO: PEOPLE TO SEE

Next, plan a getaway to refresh and

renew. A change of scenery will help

replentish lost energy. How about a

shopping trip? My choice is Ft. Wayne

to the annual Vera Bradley sale. A

girl’s only weekend helps renew old

friendships or helps catch up and bond

closer with those you see more often.

For the guys, how about a camping or

fishing trip? So many offers as all the

U.S. National Parks celebrate 100

years this Spring. Start on page 14

Last, but certainly not least, it’s time

for recreation and adventure! Take

the whole family and do something

new! So many ideas in this issue. You’ll

just have to see every page. It’s so hard

to decide. Let us know which one you

like best and enter to win your next

getaway on us. See the home page, top

right corner on our website.

Kathy Barnett Managing Editor

The annual Vera Bradley outlet sale in Fort Wayne is April 13-17. it will be hosted at the Allen County War Memorial Colliseum. The first 3 days are $5 admission per session, but with all the great bargains available, it’s worth it. Saturday and Sunday are free. I am shown above, seated front-left with new friends during a me-dia trip for Travel Media Showcase at the Vera Bradley headquarters. See www.verabradley.com for more information.

ABOUT THE COVER: Yosemite National Park is known as America’s first wilder-ness preserve. This nearly 1,200-square-mile wilderness is located in the Western Sierra Nevada. See more on page 24.

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Admiring the Statue of Liberty up close, hanging 10 in the Pacific Ocean or exploring Europe’s

most charming cities are just some of the experiences that may rank high on your travel bucket list. Creating that list is just the beginning – the real fun begins when you start making your travel dreams a reality.

Inspiring people to make those getaways happen is the goal of a new effort by Hilton Garden Inn, which is helping plant the seed for travelers to embark on their next great adventure.

“Through the Garden Getaway Tour, we are reminding people of all the exciting possibilities available for their next trip,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of global brand marketing, Hilton Garden Inn & Hampton by Hilton. “Trekking your way through a list of all your favorite places is a great way to feel peaceful and alive, whether you spend your time discovering new places or recon necting with loved ones.”

As part of the Garden Getaway Tour, consumers will have the chance to win the ultimate getaway to a new Hilton Garden Inn located in Hawaii. To enter, consumers in each tour market must capture a photo with a Garden Getaway Greeter and share on Twitter, Instagram, or on the Hilton Garden Inn Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/HiltonGardenInn) using #HGIGardenGetaway and #entry, and they will automatically be entered for the chance to win. Each tour stop will also feature fun giveaways of travel essentials, including Neutrogena® lotion and QR-coded luggage tags, giving consumers an additional nudge to take that weekend getaway they have been dreaming about. Those not able to attend the in-person events can win prizes as well via the brand’s Facebook

page; prizes include Keurig® brewing systems, Neutrogena® gift sets and Hilton Garden Inn blankets. Take part in the conversation at www.Facebook.com/HiltonGardenInn.

The four-city Garden Getaway Tour will kick off in New York City, during National Garden Month on April 10 and 11, at the Hilton Garden Inn New York/Central Park South-Midtown West before visiting the city’s most popular areas, such as Central Park, Columbus Circle, Times Square and Union Square. The tour will continue on to Dallas on May 15 and 16, Los Angeles on July 3 and 4 and wrap up in Chicago on September 4 and 5.

Get on your way to creating the travel experience of your dreams with these tips:Chart your course.

If you haven’t already, make a list of all the destinations you hope to see, and post it someplace prominent so you are reminded of your travel goals frequently. You may choose to prioritize your most desirable locations, or simply keep your ideas random so you can seize opportunities when they arise.Be sensitive to the seasons.

Be aware that many destinations have peak seasons when the attractions they boast are in top demand. Crowds are

The Garden Getaway Tour

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Great Getaway DestinationsStart planning your getaway to one of these top destination picks from the travel experts at Hilton Garden Inn:n The Colorado River at Yuma,

Arizona: Spend a few days exploring the lake, spectacular scenery and canyons. n Everglades National Park,

Florida: Explore one of the most unique ecosystems in the nation, and look for your chance to spot a manatee in the wild.n Krakow, Poland: Explore cultural

attractions, such as the Cloth Hall, the world’s first shopping mall, or the Rynek Market and Kazimierz historical district.

Hilton Garden Inn Krakow Airport

Get on your way to creating the travel experience of your dreams with these tips:Chart your course.

If you haven’t already, make a list of all the destinations you hope to see, and post it someplace prominent so you are reminded of your travel goals frequently. You may choose to prioritize your most desirable locations, or simply keep your ideas random so you can seize opportunities when they arise.Be sensitive to the seasons.

Be aware that many destinations have peak seasons when the attractions they boast are in top demand. Crowds are

An Adventure to Remember:Turn travel dreams into Reality

heavier and prices are steeper, but on the flip side, there are more options for things to see and do. If avoiding the hustle is your ultimate goal, visiting out of season may be more your ticket.

Don’t ignore your own backyard.

Though the temptation may be strong to journey far and wide, when your time away is short, you don’t want to waste precious hours on travel. A bucket list excursion doesn’t have to take you far from home. In fact, you may be surprised by what you find when you seek out the hidden gems near home.


Book accommodations wisely.Look for a hotel that you can count on to deliver amenities and services that make your experience enjoyable – but know that doing so can be affordable. Options such as Hilton Garden Inn (hgi.com), with nearly 640 hotels worldwide, offer a Satisfaction Promise, along with all the amenities you need to remain comfort able and connected while on-the-go: full service restaurants, free wireless internet access, fully-loaded fitness centers and more.

Rely on local experts.The knowledge able staff at Hilton Garden Inn can also be a resource when looking to do as the locals do. Once you arrive at your desti na tion, stop by local visitor centers and ask what is unique to the region; ask for things to see that you can’t find in guide books.

Set a leisurely schedule.Save the frantic pace for the office, and leave your itinerary loose for your time away. If you must, plan one or two must-do activities each day, but give yourself permission to go with the flow. Wander and explore and take advantage of the freedom to pass the day at your own pace. Take in incredible new sights, sounds and flavors, and don’t allow your mind to be distracted by anything but having a good time.

Leave the beaten Path.In each new location you visit, challenge yourself to try something new. Whether you gather the courage to parasail for the first time or sample the unfamiliar flavors of a favorite local dish, test the limits of your comfort zone and create truly unique experiences as you make your way across the country, or even around the globe.

Document the adventure. Take time to collect photos and mementos representing all the

An Adventure to Remember: Continued...

places you visit. If scrapbooking isn’t your thing, consider a wall collage in your home office, or devise another way to capture all the memories you create

Check for special dates.Timing your travel to coincide

with unique local events is a way to make your visit extra special. The jovial vibe of a fair or festival in your dream destination only adds to the excitement. Check the local calendars for events that are sure to deliver fun eats and lots of quirky, good times.


#9 Las Vegas, NV

#10 Los Angeles, CA

While it may still have a reputation as Sin City, Vegas has become

a family-friendly destination in recent years. Although it’s easy to

spend a lot of money in Vegas, you can also find reasonable flights

and save on a hotel if you’re willing to stay off of the strip.

So many flights go in and out of Los Angeles every day that the ad-

ditional spring break demand has little impact on prices. There’s

plenty for a tourist family to do — from touring Hollywood to vis-

iting the zoo. There are some great beaches to visit, too, although

the weather may still be a bit too cool for swimming in the ocean.

Top Ten I’s time to start planning your spring break getaway. To save money and avoid fighting the crowds at the popular hot spots, consider traveling to a destination that’s not typically associated with the spring break and doesn’t experience the same travel surge. Since school districts in different regions have spring break at different times from mid-March to mid-April, look for a destination where the local spring break doesn’t coincide with yours. That way you won’t have to contend with local crowds at family-friendly attractions in the area.

9

10

Spring Breaks


#6 Southern Florida

New York City, NY

#8 Phoenix, Ariz.

Airfare to this spring break mecca is discounted right now, with

flights to Miami and Fort Lauderdale both trending about 25 per-

cent less than they cost last year, according to Hopper.com. In

addition to the beaches, there are a ton of family-friendly attrac-

tions, including Everglades tours and several children’s museums.

The strong U.S. dollar has softened demand from international

tourists and a recent hotel boom has pushed prices down nearly

50 percent in the last two years. Take the kids to Times Square for

a Broadway show or explore the nooks and crannies of Central

Park.

Phoenix, Arizona

The warm weather in Phoenix will be a relief to Northeasterners

after several months of winter, and the city doesn’t get the same

surge in traffic and prices that Florida sees, Klee says. If you time

the trip right, baseball fans can catch some spring training games.

7

6

8

Spring Breaks


#4 Washington, DC

#5 Yellowstone National Park

There’s nothing quite like catching the cherry blossoms in full

bloom along DC’s Tidal Basin. Visit the nation’s capital this spring

and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the National Cherry Blos-

som Festival. Several special events are scheduled during the 16-

day festival. The Natl. Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates

Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo giving 3000 cherry trees to the city

of Washington in 1912

Hitting a national park during spring break promises to create

memories for the entire family, at prices that are more reasona-

ble than many other tourist destinations. For example, a four-day

tour from Mammoth Hot Springs to Old Faithful, including lodg-

ing and two meals a day, costs about $1,000 per adult and $579

per child.

CONTINUED...

And here are the Top Five...

FROM PAGE 7

4

5


#1 French Lick, IN

#2 San Antonio, TX

#3 New Orleans, LA

Take a break with your family or getaway with your significant

other. It doesn’t matter at French Lick Resort because we have

activities to for every guest! Hop aboard at the Wizard of Oz train

at the nearby French Lick Scenic Railway. Inspect, discover and

explore amenities and activities planned specifically with you in

mind. You never know what you might see. Not visiting with kids?

We’ve got plenty for adults too. Brush up on your golf game or

relax at the spas. Dine in a variety of restaurants or shop, bowl

and play in the arcade. Hike, bike and saddle up at the stables by

day and unwind at the Casino, Power Plant Bar & Grill or Ballard’s

in the Atrium at night.

Best known for the Alamo, visitors are welcomed year-round. Vis-

iting in the spring months, however, attractions may be enjoyed

before the summer heat and humidity set in. In April, Fiesta San

Antonio, one of the country’s oldest festivals, celebrates the he-

roes of the Alamo with a variety of parades and free entertain-

ment. Be sure to visit The River Walk, lined with restaurants,

shops and entertainment. It’s a great place to experience the

city’s history and culture.

From the French Quarter to the Garden District, history

abounds. The city is full of charm and soul year-round, featuring

museums, entertainment and adventure. While Mardi Gras is the

most noted festival in the city, other family-friendly spring parties

are the Jazz and Heritage Festival, the French Quarter Festival

and the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. Get a taste of

authentic Cajun cuisine.

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In Celebration of America’s National Parks Centennial

Things To Do

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Na-tional Park Service, Weekender travelers are in-vited to discover the meaning of national parks to their lives and inspire others to experience and en-joy these special places with free admission duringNational Park Week April 16-24.

The centennial will kick off a second century of stewardship of America’s national parks and en-gaging communities through rec-reation, conservation, and historic preservation programs.

We invite you to find your park to visit and discover the attractions and programs it offers. The Na-tional Park Service has launched a movement to spread the word about the amazing places they

manage, the inspirational stories that the national parks tell, our country’s natural resources, and our diverse cultural heritage.

It is called: FindYourPark.com. Visit your destination, then share your story with us and qualify to win an Extended Weekend Geta-way for the whole family! Simple email to [email protected] See the following articles on national parks for inspiration...





In Celebration of America’s National Parks Centennial


TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- Those of us who live here on the north-west coast of Michigan feel a spe-cial love for the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

A breathtaking 64-mile curve of beaches, coves, islands and hills at the edge of Lake Mich-igan, the Sleeping Bear Dunes have been part of the national park system since 1972. Still, we locals tend to think of it as “our park.”

Of course, so do thousands of people who visit us each year, whether they’re from Grand Rap-ids or Cleveland, Lansing or St. Louis. After all, in 2011 viewers of Good Morning America vot-ed it the Most Beautiful Place in America. People are constantly telling us how much Sleeping Bear means to them, how they keep returning to it year after year, and how it has become part of their lives.

I know this from personal ex-perience, because I married one of those people.

As a little girl in pigtails, my wife would travel up from Ohio with her family every summer to stay at the Platte River Camp-ground, at the southern end of the park. All her best memories were of sunsets and sunburns on that beach, s’mores and songs around

that campfire. Sleeping Bear be-came “her park,” and she made up her mind that when she grew up there wasn’t any other place she wanted to live.

I think that’s what the National Park Service is getting at with their new “Find Your Park” campaign. As a way of celebrating their 100th birthday in 2016, the Park Service has mounted a nationwide public awareness and education effort to get us all thinking about the places we think of as “our park.” Over the next year, we’ll see lots of remind-ers of this massive campaign – and the folks at Sleeping Bear will be creating a great many events and

activities to help strengthen that connection between the park and those of us who love it.

“Find Your Park invites the pub-lic to see that a national park can be more than a place – it can be a feel-ing, a state of mind, or a sense of American pride,” wrote Sleeping Bear’s Gary Vanderziel. “Beyond vast landscapes, the campaign highlights historical, urban, and cultural parks, as well as the Na-tional Park Service programs that protect, preserve and share nature, culture, and history in communi-ties nationwide.”

The truth is, “your park” doesn’t

PlacesPlaces to GoPlaces to Go:Welcome to “My Park”

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

By MIKE NORTON


even have to be a national park. It might be a state park, a nature pre-serve or a town commons or other open space. It can be as small as a woodlot in your neighborhood or a playground down the street – some place of beauty and seren-ity where you can recharge your energies and restore your sense of being human. Some of us do that through solitude and contem-plation, while others prefer large amounts of sociability, noise and fun. But the end goal seems to be the same.

So there will be folks whose fa-vorite way to enjoy Sleeping Bear is to join the procession of cars on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, rollerblade the Heritage Trail from Empire to Port Oneida, or gather at the North Bar Lake beach with a few hundred other sun-worshi-pers. And there will be others who prefer to backpack the lonely trails of North Manitou Island, explore the empty beaches of Platte Bay or seek out winter solitude on Alliga-tor Hill. There’s room for all kinds of people here. It’s their park, too.

When I first moved to Traverse City 37 years ago, the National Lakeshore was in its infancy, and those beginnings weren’t with-out controversy. But every time I hike to the top of Pyramid Point or stand at the water’s edge at Otter Creek, I can’t help but feel a great sense of gratitude that this place now belongs to all of us. Forever.

Over the years, my family has camped, hiked and explored in national parks across the country, from Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee to Zion in Utah, from Olympic in Washington to San Juan in Puerto Rico. We’ve loved them all. But Sleeping Bear is something

very special. It’s “my park.” It’s where I go when I really want to get away – and it doesn’t bother me to share it with other people who want to do the same thing.

So welcome to my park. Wel-come to your park.

PS. If you want to find out what new Find Your Park activities are

going on at Sleeping Bear, the best place to check in is the park’s offi-cial Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sbdnl. And for de-tailed information about other parks and attractions in the Trav-erse City area, contact Traverse City Tourism at 1-800-TRAVERSE or visit their website at www.traversecity.com.

https://www.facebook.com/sbdnl

https://www.facebook.com/sbdnl


While Alaska has the whale’s share of cruises in National

Parks, and thus choices of ship size and amenities, the San Juan Islands and Oregon’s Columbia River are key players as well.

ALASKAGlacier Bay National Park and

Preserve covers over three mil-lion acres with open ocean and fjord coastlines spanning most of its perimeter. This means that the small vessels that Adventure-Smith Explorations employs ac-cess many of the coves and land-ings around hundreds of miles. Examples of itineraries here are three eight-day programs: Ex-ploring Muir’s Wilderness on the 84-guest Safari Endeavor; North-ern Passages & Glacier Bay on the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer, 74-guest Wilderness Explorer or 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer; and Discoverers Glacier Coun-try on the 22-guest Safari Quest, the 36-guest Safari Explorer, the 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer or the 84-guest Safari Endeav-our. Itineraries have themed de-partures the week of Aug. 25, 2016 celebrating the Centennial, with commemoration gifts, guest speakers, evening onboard pres-entations focused on the history of the National Parks, surprise birthday celebrations and special presentations by Park Rangers on board while in Glacier Bay.

For those that want to see as much of Gla-cier Bay National Park as possible on a cruise, the six-day Glacier Bay Adventure Cruise is the only Inside Passage small ship cruise that spends most of its itin-erary inside the park. The itinerary travels from waterfall-laden Geike Inlet to the bar-ren mountain faces of the East and West arms of Glacier Bay Nation-al Park, then routes outside the park to Point Adolphus for whale watching. Hundreds of miles of glacial fjords are here for kayak-ing, hiking and small ship cruising. The base of exploration is the his-toric 12-passenger small ship M/V

Sea Wolf, owned and operated by Alaskans.

Kenai Fjords National Park, on the edge of the Kenai Peninsula south of Anchorage, covers an area of nearly 670,000 acres, 51 percent of which is ice. A number of lodge-based itineraries allow guests to

things to Do:Cruise A ParkWith Small Ship Cruise Expert Adventure Smith Explorations


spend ample time on the water boating through Kenai Fjords. To access most of these remote lodg-es, guests embark by boat from Seward on a five-hour wildlife and tidewater glacier journey. Kenai Fjords Backcountry Explorer over seven days reveals by raft and boat and on shore the many of the activities and animals on the Na-tive-owned, 1,700-acre Pedersen Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary. The eight-day Ultimate Alaska Adven-ture pairs backcountry adventure and wild Alaska by sea kayaking in Kenai Fjords National Park, a helicopter landing onto a glacial snowpack, a floatplane journey to a remote mountain lake and more.

LOWER 48Olympic National Park, at near-

ly 1 million acres along Wash-ington’s coast, is famed for its diversity of ecosystems and rich cultural history. Olympic Wilder-

ness & San Juan Islands is an eight-day-expe-dition along this coast-line from the comfort of the 60-guest Wilder-ness Adventurer or the 76-guest Wilderness Discoverer. Kayaks and paddleboards sail aboard, allowing guests to actively explore the park’s coves and canals.

Lewis & Clark Na-tional Historical Park at Fort Clatsop in Astoria, Oregon, is a hub focus-ing on the lore of early explorers. Two small

ship itineraries visiting here her-ald the legacy of two great west-ern rivers: the Columbia and the Snake. Columbia & Snake Rivers Journey over seven days embrac-es culture and history with food and wine bounties of the Pacific

Northwest. This trip recently ac-quired Food Alliance affiliation ensuring that local and sustaina-ble are prominent in in every cu-linary presentation. Guests will be on board either 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Bird or 62-passenger National Geographic Sea Lion. Over eight days on Leg-acy of Discovery guests aboard the 88-guest S.S. Legacy that emulates a turn-of-century steamer traverse the nearly 1,000 miles of history on the Columbia River Gorge.

ARRIVE BY TRAIN OR PLANESome of AdventureSmith Explo-

rations’ itineraries define remote to its core, with guests going be-yond the boat, being transported to a National Park by small plane or train. There are fly-to itineraries accessing Katmai National Park in-cluding Brown Bears of Katmai, a five-day program recommended as a cruise extension. On Denali Backcountry Explorer guests ex-plore the wilderness from a lodge deep in Denali National Park and Preserve with access that may in-clude a bus or train from Anchor-age.

Alaska Coast to Denali is a cruise-a-park highlight, visiting two national parks over seven days via boat and train. The itiner-ary starts with a small boat cruise into a Kenai Fjords National Park lodge, travels overland to Denali National Park and Preserve and then concludes with a scenic train ride on the Alaska Railroad to An-chorage.

See this blog post for a compre-hensive list of 18 ways to “Cruise a Park”:

http://www.adventuresmith-explorations.com/cruise-a-park-national-centennial-small-ship. Learn more unique ways to travel our National Parks by following AdventureSmith’s #cruiseapark hashtag.

For current cruise specials and early-booking offers worldwide see: http://www.adventuresmith-explorations.com/special-offers. For information on all of Adven-tureSmith’s small ship cruises, itin-eraries, availability and 2015-2016 reservations, Phone: 800-728-2875 toll-free or visit www.adventure-smithexplorations.com.

Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith

Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA, along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. A recognized leader in small ship cruising, in 2012 owner Todd Smith joined the ranks of Conde Nast Traveler’s prestigious Annual Travel Specialists List as the world’s expert on small ship expeditions.

http://www.adventuresmith-explorations.com/cruise-a-park-national-centennial-small-ship





http://www.adventuresmith-explorations.com/special-offers



http://www.adventure-smithexplorations.com




http://www.workranch.com

http://www.facebook.com/workfamilyranch


but adventures on a dude ranch don’t stop there. Some ranches offer overnight pack trips, rodeos, target shooting, zip lining and white water rafting.

Enjoy exclusive fishing Casting your line has never been more relaxing than at a dude ranch. The vast acres on these private properties often include secluded rivers and ponds ripe with fish. Forget about battling overcrowded hot spots - the water will be all yours.

“More people are visiting dude ranches due to the desire to do something out of the ordinary,” says Colleen Hodson, from The Dude Ranchers’ Association. “These aren’t the ranches from ‘City Slickers.’ High-end ranch-es across the country average 45 guests. You get to know everyone. By the end, you’ll have friendships and mem-ories to last a lifetime, and you will reconnect with your family in a way you never thought possi-ble.”

Travelers enjoy getting a taste of the dude ranch experience blend-ed with a heaping serving of other popular vacation-type activities. Today’s dude ranches cater to a diverse crowd with attractions, services and things to do that trav-el far beyond the trail.

“Dude ranches are the original Western adventure vacation,” says Colleen Hodson. “Though guest expectations have changed and ranchers have had to change with them, the core principles of dude ranching remain the same: horses, hats, hospitality, heritage, honesty and heart.”In addition to discovering the beauty of nature and gazing into a crackling fire, here are other top reasons dude ranch vacations are a top trend for 2016:

Indulge the taste buds Home cooked cuisine that often-times features ingredients from the ranch brings new meaning to farm-to-table eating. From family-style meals to gour-met al fresco dining, the food is a central part of the dude ranch experience.

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure

You can learn traditional ranch-ing skills like riding a horse, driv-ing cattle and throwing a lasso,

Continued...


Embrace an R&R mindset While the unique dude ranch activities will keep you busy, there comes a time when cowboys and cowgirls just want a little rest and relaxation. Fortunately, many ranches now offer luxury spa services so you can enjoy a little pampering.

Bond over some friendly competition Looking for a fun way to connect with your family and oth-er guests? Friendly competition can be found in many forms on dude ranches, from roping contests to talent shows. If lassoing a speeding calf isn’t your forte, you can sing, tap or joke your way to local stardom in a talent show.

There are a lot of dude ranches to choose from and The Dude Ranchers’ Association can help you find the perfect one to suit your fami-ly’s unique personality. Visit www.duderanch.org or call 866-399-2339 to work with someone directly to find the dude ranch right for you and your family.

http://www.duderanch.org

http://www.clazyu.com


Submitted by Noel MorrisonYosemite/Mariposa County Tourism BureauYosemiteMariposa, Calif. March 15,

2016 – Yosemite/Mariposa Coun-ty, home to Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove, is experienc-ing one of its wettest winters in more than four years, making this spring the ideal time to visit for waterfalls and wildflowers.

Come early in the season to see the ephemeral falls that are at their fullest this time of the year. Among these brief, but stunning attractions, are Horsetail Fall and Ribbon Fall. Yosemite’s most icon-ic waterfall, Yosemite Falls, whose multiple cascades can be seen from numerous places around the valley, leaves onlookers in awe of its power and force. Don’t miss Yosemite Falls “moonbow” or lunar rainbow, visible on a clear spring night with a full moon, guided photography tours are available. To see rainbows during the day, check out Vernal or Brid-alveil Fall, when sunlight hits the mist below the falls and creates a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors.

A return in rainfall also means a return in some of the area’s best attractions such as whitewater rafting. Enjoy a guided whitewa-ter half-day or full-day excursions down the sinuous Merced River to experience class IV whitewater

Places to Go:

El Nino Brings Waterfalls Roaring Back To Yosemite

rapids. Best time for whitewater rafting is typically April-June. Wildflowers are also making a big return this spring. The famous wildflowers of the Wild and Sce-nic Merced River are blazing color along the canyon in shades of poppy orange, amethyst lupine and magenta redbuds. Begin-ning in late April and early May, delicate white dogwood blooms

begin budding all over Yosemite Valley. Spring is the best time for taking guided nature walks to ex-plore the beautiful profusions of wildflowers and enjoy the return of dozens of species of songbirds.

After the sunsets, gather the family for a different story every night and cozy accommodations at Yosemite and within Mariposa


County. Families can also explore Yosemite under the starry sky on the Night Prowl guided adven-ture, taking place April through November, with permitting weather conditions.

With something for everyone, it’s easy to start making memories in Yosemite/Mariposa County. Bring the kids, visit with friends or plan a work or group retreat. To book your spring adventure in Yosemite/Mariposa County, visit YosemiteExperience.com today.

You can also “Like” Yosemite-Nation on Facebook at Facebook.com/YosemiteNation or follow on Twitter or Instagram at @Yosemi-teNation.

About Yosemite/Mariposa County

Located in the heart of Cali-fornia and home of Yosemite Na-tional Park, Mariposa County is a world class destination for all seasons. Combining the rich his-tory of California’s gold rush with its engaging events, international iconic landscape, and welcoming locals, it’s no wonder Yosemite/Mariposa County attracts mil-lions of travelers from all over the world each year. For more infor-mation, visit the Yosemite/Mari-posa County Tourism Bureau at YosemiteExperience.com or call (866) HALF DOME.

Places to Go:

El Nino Brings Waterfalls Roaring Back To Yosemite

mailto:@Yosemi�teNation.About

mailto:@Yosemi�teNation.About

http://www.yosemiteexperience.com

http://www.yosemiteexperience.com


EscaPE to thE

MidwEst!

Submitted by Tammy PetersenLuxury Marketing Partners


ELKHART – Spring break is

right around the corner, and Ost-hoff Resort located on beautiful Elkhart Lake just one-hour north of Milwaukee, offers a variety of adventures the entire family will appreciate.

Families that don’t want to

spend hours at the airport stand-ing in line, hours flying to their destination or waiting to rent a car can save more and enjoy more family time on the slopes, ice-skating or splashing around in the resort’s indoor pool. Ost-hoff offers a host of indoor and outdoor activities that include:

- Downhill skiing at nearby Sunburst Ski Area

- Ice skating on the resort’s reflection pond

- Snowboarding at nearby Sunburst Ski Area

- Snow tubing at nearby Sunburst Ski Area

- Snowshoeing at nearby Quit Qui Oc Golf course

- Bowling at Anchor Lanes

- A day spent poolside at the resort’s indoor pool

- An afternoon at the re-sort’s own indoor arcade

- A day relaxing at Aspira Spa

- Cooking Classes at L’ecole de la Maison

You know the adage, if

mom’s happy, everyone’s happy, and the resort provides plenty of “fun” for moms to relax, shop, and even become a student for a day enjoying:

- Hands on workshops preparing traditional French desserts, delicious pasta dish-es accompanied by tantalizing sauces at the Osthoff Resort’s famed cooking school, L’ecole de la Maison.

- Head to town and stroll

the shopping and dining area, at the Village Square. From unique collectibles and gifts, Elkhart Lake shops and gal-leries offer an interesting and diverse shopping experience.

- Go back in time and

get a glimpse of what life was like in the 1850’s at the Visi-tor Center and Wesley Jung Carriage Museum at the Wade House, a historic stagecoach inn; a true local treasure and a national landmark.

sPring brEak at thE osthoff rEsortSouth Region

Above: lobbyAt Right: Guest Bedroom


”sPring brEak at thE osthoff rEsort

- Mom’s that need a break from spring break can

relax at Aspira Spa, a 20,000 square foot oasis, named one of the Top 100 Spas by Spas of America, and ranked #3 in North America 2013 by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine’s Spa Poll. This spa provides a holistic, organic approach to treatments ranging from massage, facials and salon services to the healing arts, dynamic envelopments for the body and spa classes.

About The OsthoffThe Osthoff is located on beautiful Elkhart Lake, just

one-hour north of Milwaukee, less than two hours from Madison and approximately three hours from Chicago. This AAA Four Diamond resort features spacious and luxurious all-suite accommodations, four restaurants, a 20,000 square foot spa, classic cooking school, year-round recreation and events, gift boutiques, and a grand con-ference center. The resort has been featured on Travel + Leisure magazine’s list of the Top 500 Hotels and Resorts in the world, was included in Conde Nast Traveler’s #3 resort in the Midwest and is the recipient of a Certificate of Excellence winner by TripAdvisor.com.


http://www.visittopeka.com

mailto: rose!visittopeka.com


http://www.itinerariesmidwest.com/tiptoe-through-the-tulips


Hal Holbrook: Mark Twain Tonight will be playing at the Holland Performing Arts Center - NE, at 1200 Douglas Street, Omaha, Nebras-ka. The next perfor-mance is April 8.

Mark Twain Tonight Is a one-man play de-signed by the very pop-ular American actor Hal Holbrook, in which he plays Mark Twain.

Hal Holbrook is gen-erally known for his roles on TV, like his character of Abraham Lincoln, in the series called Lincoln.

Mark Twain Tonight became extremely pop-ular since debuted at the Lock Haven State Teachers College in Pennsylvania in 1954. There are 59 consecu-tive years already Hol-brook’s performed the show.

Hal Holbrook debuted “Mark Twain Tonight” in 1954 at the Lock Haven State Teachers College in Pennsylvania, now having performed the one-

man show for more than 60 years.

A versatile stage, tel-evision and film actor, Hal Holbrook is an Emmy and Tony win-ner, and a longtime Mark Twain imperson-ator.

Actor Hal Holbrook was born on February 17, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio. Highly respect-ed for his stage perfor-mances of Mark Twain,

which he began as a college student, Hol-brook’s career has also crossed heavily into film and television. A multi-Emmy winner, at the age of 82 he be-came the oldest actor ever nominated for an Academy Award, for his performance in Into the Wild (2007).

8 p.m., April 8. Tickets are now on sale for $216 and up.

at the Holland Performing Arts Center

Early YearsBorn Harold Rowe

Holbrook, Jr., on Feb-ruary 17, 1925 in Cleve-land, Ohio, Holbrook was raised predomi-nantly in South Wey-mouth, Massachusetts. He was the son of a re-tired vaudeville dancer.

After attending Cul-ver Military Academy, Holbrook enrolled at

“ ”

PEOPLE TO SEEHal Holbrookas Mark Twain


Denison University in Granville, Ohio, to study theater. His time at Denison was interrupted by a three-year stint in the Army, which stationed him in Newfoundland as an engineer during World War II.

Following the war, Holbrook returned to Denison, where he turned an honor’s project on Mark Twain into career defining perfor-mance of the iconic American au-thor. Dubbed in 2001 by The New York Times as the “undisputed monarch of Mark Twain imperson-ators,” Holbrook literally launched his Hollywood career with his one-man show Mark Twain Tonight, which he’s continued to do well into his 80s.

To supplement his income dur-ing the Twain show’s early years, Holbrook appeared on the CBS soap opera The Brighter Day. In 1956 Holbrook caught a huge break when Ed Sullivan asked the young actor to bring his Twain

performance to his CBS variety show. That in turn led to a series of off-Broadway productions. In 1966, the show debuted on Broad-way earning Holbrook Tony and Drama Desk awards. He’d later go on to write a book about his experi-ence entitled Mark Twain Tonight! An Actor’s Portrait. In 2011, Twain inspired another Holbrook book, this one being the actor’s memoirs, called, Harold: The Boy Who Be-came Mark Twain.

Film & TV SuccessThe mid 1960s and early 70s

proved to be an important period for Holbrook, not just for his Twain show but also for his film and tel-evision work. His credits from this period included roles in such films as Wild in the Streets (1968), The People Next Door (1968), and the first sequel to Dirty Harry (1971). In 1976 he took on perhaps his most famous film role, when he played Deep Throat in the thriller, All the President’s Men.

On the small screen, Holbrook’s presence continued to mount as well. He was cast in 1973’s Pueblo and 1976’s Lincoln, both of which earned the actor an Emmy. In fact, television proved to play a vital role in Holbrook’s career as the years passed and his film opportu-

“Holbrook is not simply an impersonator of Mark

Twain, he is an authority on the writer about

whom Hemingway said, “American literature

began.” nities proved to be inconsistent.

He co-starred with Katherine Ross in the TV movie, Murder by Natural Causes (1979), and a year later, took on the role of a father whose teenager has run away in Off the Minnesota Strip. His cred-its also include Civil War mini se-ries North and South (1985) and its sequel North and South Book II (1986). Around this time, Holbrook had a regular role on the CBS com-edy, Designing Women, which saw him play opposite his third wife, the late Dixie Carter.

Later YearsAt an age when most actors show

a desire to slow down or hardly work at all, Holbrook has contin-ued his steady career. In the 2000s he made appearances on The West Wing and The Sopranos.

On the big screen, Holbrook made history in 2007 when the 82-year-old became the oldest actor ever nominated for an Academy Award, for his role in the Sean Penn directed, Into the Wild.


As befits the capital of a southern state, Tallahassee is pretty classy. There is nothing plastic or theme park-ish about this city. It’s filled with attractions that are for real and

brimming with history and culture.

C ulinary choices of-fer anything your heart can desire.

Of course, like any flirtatious southern belle, Tallahassee has its quirky side. The mix makes it an unforgettable city. Spend a day there and you will agree.

Start off with breakfast at ei-ther Canopy Road Café or Up-town Café. Both will leave you happy and very full. At Canopy Road Café, They are famous for their Sweet Potato Pancakes. All of us sampled something differ-ent and all were happy. So get quirky and try their Funky Mon-key pancakes with chocolate chips and banana or the Fat Elvis with–what else–peanut butter chips, bananas and bacon. Oth-er choices include great omelets like the Big Daddy or Big Man on Campus. If that repetitious “big” gives you the idea that the serv-ings are very generous, you are not wrong.

Uptown Café can whole its own. They serve breakfast/brunch all day long and have been do-ing it for 30 years. Must be doing something right. Their Banana

Bread French Toast is one of the things they brag about. One taste and you’ll know why. Another special is Uptown Apricot Glazed Smoked Salmon. Take a bite, close your eyes and you are transport-ed to Heaven. The other choices run the gamut from simple bis-cuits and gravy–perfectly sea-soned– to their Mancakes, a pan-sized pancake stuffed with bacon, ham and sausage and tipped with two eggs cooked your way.

Now that you are fueled up, it’s time to see the city in a spe-

cial way. Tallahassee Tour by Seg-way will begin in Cascades Park, a special attraction in itself, and view spots like the Korean War Memorial and Smokey Hollow. Smokey Hollow was once a thriv-ing African American community that was torn down to make way for urban development. None of the original homes still stand but three “Spirit Houses,” roofed and studded areas offer a glimpse of what life here was like. Each of the houses is named for feelings the community valued, “Community

Things to Do in...

By Kathleen Walls, Managing Editor of American Roads Ezine

Classy Tallahassee


Spirit,” “Family Spirit” and “Enduring Spirit.” There are also gardens and fruit trees representing the com-munity’s agricultural spirit.

You will view the Capitol and the Historic Capi-tol. You will want to return to these sites and explore farther. For the working capital be sure to take the special elevator to the 22nd floor where is the high-est place in the city and has a wonderful view from the four sided observation deck. The Historic Capitol merits a longer tour for the history that is enshrined there.

The really quirky Railroad Square Art District will make you want to return there as well. It is so colorful and filled with shops, art and artists at work. If you are there on First Friday of each month, it’s a mini Mardi Gras.

Speaking of art, if you’re an art connoisseur, don’t

miss LeMoyne Center for Visual Arts. When I visit-ed, it was hosting a show for a very talented couple, Debra and Randy Brienen. The Brienens do a show called Side by Side. They each paint the same scene but each in his or her own style. The center hosts var-ious art events each year.

If you are ready for lunch now, try Paisley Café or Kool Beanz Cafe. Paisley Café Has a unique person-ality you will love. It’s quiet and relaxing. I liked the Sample Plate as I got to try several of the menu items. Kool Beanz is a hip modern bistro with lots of seafood as well as meat dishes. The Cornmeal Fired Oysters are delicious. Their motto says it all, Eat, Drink & Talk Loud – You’re Among Friends!

Classy Tallahassee


Tallahassee_Cont. Florida’s past comes to life in the Pioneer Village and Big Bend Farm. Big Bend Farm takes you into rural Florida in the 1880s. Experience

life on a farm and visit the Turpentine commissary. Pioneer Village gives you a feel for the plantation lifestyle in the 1800s with Bellevue plan-tation house, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Seaboard Airline Caboose, and Concord Schoolhouse.

Mission San Luis takes you way back to the earli-est days of Florida History. Costumed docents dressed as Spanish settlers make the experi-ence realistic. Rec-reated structures perfectly represent both native and settler’s homes and culture.

Another place that recreates early Florida is Tallahas-see Museum. This treasure combines environmental history and cultural history. The wildlife exhibits are set on a chain of lakes with cypress forest and native plants as a background for Florida native wildlife. Bears, wolves, deer, panthers and other wildlife are set in natural environments. Be sure to see the young cougar cubs. Florida’s past comes to life in the Pio-neer Village and Big Bend Farm. Big Bend Farm takes you into rural Florida in the 1880s. Experience life on a farm and visit the Turpentine commissary. Pioneer Village gives you a feel for the plantation lifestyle in the 1800s with Bellevue plantation house, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Seaboard Airline Ca-boose, and Concord Schoolhouse. Moving forward, Jim Gary’s dinosaurs all created from old car parts are a different kind of art.

If plantation life at Pioneer Village had sparked an interest in looking into African American Histo-ry, visit Meek-Eaton Black Archives at Florida A&M University. This is a combination of research facility and historical museum.

By now you probably need a little pick-me-up. There is no better place for that than Lofty Pursuits.

It combines an old fashioned ice cream parlor with a candy making operation, If you time it right you can see the candy made right in front of your eyes while you sip a root beer float or a old fashioned soda. Various types of ice cream abound in the cases for you to choose. Should the little ones get bored while you are fasci-nated watching hot

masses of sugary ingredients pulled and chopped into delicious candy, there are lots of toys available for them to enjoy.

Goodwood Museum & Gardens for another trip into the past. Our docent really was into her role as Margaret Hodges Hood. She tells how her first hus-band bought the most expensive bed in history and ended up owning the 1830’s Goodwood estate.

There is another home you must see. Spring House was built by Frank Lloyd Wright for the Lewis fam-ily in 1954. Byrd Lewis Mashburn, the daughter of the family who grew up in the house, will share her life experiences growing up in Florida’s only private home in Florida designed by Wright with you. It is also one of only two pod type houses Wright de-signed.

By now you are ready for some refreshment and relaxation. You could amble over to Proof Brewery or go more sophisticated and enjoy Happy Hour at Level 8 Lounge in Hotel Duval. Proof gives you an opportunity to have a quiet brew in the tap room or enjoy live music, bocce ball, table tennis, and other activities in the outside Beer Garden. Food trucks


You can fill a day (or a week) with fun activities and will leave understanding why the city’s tag is “I Heart Tally.”

are usually set up just outside, You’re in the Railroad Square Art District so you may want to explore.

Level 8 Lounge offers some interesting cocktails and a extensive tapas menu. My choice is the Meat Board. The atmosphere is sophisticate and fun in a rooftop lounge. You can choose glass enclosed or out-door surroundings.

For supper, choose between Nefetari’s Fine Cui-sine & Spirits Uptown Café, The Edison or

Cypress. All good choices so if you are staying longer you might try them all. Nefetari’s is almost a museum. It’s also an entertainment venue as, along with unusual food that you can tailor to you needs, there are local bands playing their original music. If it’s a special occasion when you visit you might con-sider reserving The Queen’s Table and enjoy being an Egyptian Queen for a Day.

The Edison offers a look at Tallahassee’s history as well as superb food. It was formerly a 1921 pow-er plant converted coal into gas to providing lighting and heat for the city’s residents. Today, it is a smart contem-porary restaurant with a his-toric feeling. It is located in Cascades Park where you started your segway tour. My favorite dish was the Brick Chicken.

Cypress is the two times winner of Florida Trend “Golden Spoon” so you know you will get quality food and great service. The food is Southern Regional. It’s locally owned and op-erated David and Elizabeth Gwynn and has been in busi-ness since April of 2000. Da-vid is a graduate of the Culi-

nary Institute of American. If you are in Tallahassee on Friday or Saturday,

check and see who is playing at the Capital City Am-phitheater. This is located in Cascades Park, OAR preformed the nioght I attended and I can tell you acoustics are great.

After the show, head out to the Bradfordville Blues Club. This is a real old-fashioned juke joint. It’s way out in the woods down a narrow dirt road but it is well worth the drive. Some of the best blues bands play on weekends and between sets there is a bonfire blazing in the back yard where you can buy some cat-fish fried as you order right out there in a small wood hut. This has been named as the only stop in Florida on the Mississippi Blues Trail.

You can fill a day (or a week) with fun activities and will leave understanding why the city’s tag is “I Heart Tally.”

Tallahassee_Cont. Florida’s past comes to life in the Pioneer Village and Big Bend Farm. Big Bend Farm takes you into rural Florida in the 1880s. Experience

life on a farm and visit the Turpentine commissary. Pioneer Village gives you a feel for the plantation lifestyle in the 1800s with Bellevue plan-tation house, Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, Seaboard Airline Caboose, and Concord Schoolhouse.


Beech Bend Park has announced the largest wa-ter park expansion in park history! The multi-mil-lion dollar expansion includes Cyclone Saucers, the FIRST EVER North American installation of ProSlide’s FlyingSAUCER ride. This history-mak-ing, ground breaking water slide will offer a very unique ride experience. Riders will fly around the edge of three “flying saucers” at high speeds. At nearly 500 feet long with a 55 foot elevation change, Cyclone Saucers is truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Joining Cyclone Saucers in 2016 are three more new iconic rides. Tidal Wave positions riders face to face as they surge up a thrilling wall and hang weightless before rocketing back down. Rip-tide features an intensedark ride section, before plummeting into two separate funnels. Polyne-sian Plunge drops riders from the top of the slide

tower into a swirling bowl. All four slides are being custom designed for Beech Bend Park by ProSlide Technology, Inc. The new rides are expected to open in June, 2016.

Beech Bend Park is a family owned park which employs approximately 300 people per season.

The new expansion will increase those numbers by approximately 25 people, which includes positions for life guards and slide attendants. Beech Bend is also seeking a ride mechanic/safety inspector su-pervisor, a food and beverage manager, an aquatics manager, and a marketing manager. Beech Bend Park is part of a large entertainment complex that includes Beech Bend Raceway and Beech Bend Campground, and brings almost one million visitors to the Bowling Green area each year.

Renderings of new rides: Cyclone Saucers, Tidal Wave, Riptide, and Polynesian Plunge,

HISTORY MAKINGWATERPARK EXPANSION ANNOUNCED

http://www.beechbend.com


http://www.euclidbeachpark.com

http://www.euclidbeachpark.com/


Visit Bald Head IslandAnd You Won’t Want to Leave!

Plan your Spring getaway to Bald Head Is-land, leaving behind your worries - and car. Once you take the 20-minute ferry ride from Southport, you’ll embark on a journey of quiet beaches, scenic tours, and feels a world away.

There is wildlife exploration and oceanfront views and not to mention the world-renowned seafood that awaits, and two beach clubs offering the leisure-ly amenities you desire. While lush nature preserves cover more than 80 percent of the island, protect-ing views seen by the Spanish explorers who first mapped it about 500 years ago, there’s still room for the lodging, activities and amenities to make your vacation memorable.

The island has its own transportation system, and this will be your first encounter with the true definition of “getaway” you’re embarking on. Cars are prohibited, so park yours in secure lots at the mainland terminal. But before you board the ferry, reserve seats on the island tram. It will take you and your belongings from the ferry to your vacation rent-al. Each person can bring up to six pieces of luggage on the ferry at no cost. The ferry, tram, island and many rentals are dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your pet and its leash.

Some rentals include a golf cart, which is the pre-ferred means of getting around the island. If not, rent one or a bicycle for your entire stay or a quick

sight-seeing tour. The quiet, narrow streets make walking a great way to explore. You’ll need less than 30 minutes to stroll the main branch of M. Kent Mitch-ell Nature Trail, though walking its secondary paths can turn it into a longer hike. It is level and has wood-en boardwalks that cross protected salt marshes that are perfect for kayaking.

Unique plants and animals thrive in Bald Head Is-land’s subtropical climate. The island is the northern-most point in the U.S. where sabal palms naturally grow. Walk among them and stands of live oaks, ce-dars, junipers and wax myrtles at Bald Head Woods State Reserve, one of the East Coast’s largest maritime forests. The many greenspaces make the island feel cooler than other beach destinations, which is espe-cially desirable during summer months.

Bald Head Island is home to alligators, foxes and

Things to Do:

By Pete Anderson VisitNC.com


Bald Head Lighthouse is the oldest still standing

in North Carolina.

Fishing and crabbing are popular beach activ-ities.

Nesting site for loggerhead see turtles.

Dining at Mojo’s on the Harbor

more than 260 species of birds. Watchers flock here to see snowy egrets, brown pelicans and vibrantly colored painted buntings. Have Bald Head Island Conservancy naturalists point them out during a tour. They can introduce you to another special resident that they work to protect. The island is an important East Coast nesting site for endangered loggerhead sea turtles. Sign up for a Turtle Walk and you could see a female turtle nesting in early summer or her hatchlings racing to the ocean a few months later.

Climb all 108 steps of Bald Head Lighthouse – the oldest still standing in North Carolina – for a 360-degree view of the state’s southernmost bar-rier island and its offerings. Commissioned by Thomas Jefferson, “Old Baldy” was built in 1817, and it was a recognizable location in the cult clas-sic Weekend at Bernie’s. Hear more of the iconic lighthouse’s story at the Smith Island Museum and on the history tour, which includes Fort Holmes, used by the Confederates to keep Civil War supply lines open, and British Fort George, site of a Revo-lutionary War amphibious attack, the first in U.S. military history.

Watch boats from the patio at Mojo’s on the Harbor, whose varied menu includes the popular toasted coconut shrimp. Arrive early for coffee or breakfast at Maritime Market Café because it gets crowded fast. Choose from daily specials or its popular breakfast sandwiches and grits.

Visit Bald Head IslandAnd You Won’t Want to Leave!


If you desire to prepare a meal or two during your stay at the va-cation rental, you’ll find fresh in-gredients – from local produce to seafood – at the market, which also offers grocery delivery. There’s shopping in the area, too. Bring home a local artist’s work from All About Art or island-inspired fash-ions from Bald Head Blues.

Start exploring Bald Head Is-land’s 14 miles of beaches at Cape Fear Point, where notorious navi-gation hazard Frying Pan Shoals extends offshore for 30 miles. But the shoals you’ll want on your radar is the Shoals Club, where there’s fun for the whole fami-ly, including the clubhouse, pool, and boardwalk extending to South Beach. The club also hosts special events such as scavenger hunts and outdoor movie nights.

Beachcombing is best on South Beach, which runs east and west. It also is the site of a special win-tertime spectacle. You can watch the sun rise, glide low across the southern sky and set from the same spot. Fishing and crabbing are popular beach activities. Take a swim or try surfing with a rental and lesson from The Sail Shop or a stand-up paddleboard from Coast-al Urge.

Between the beach and the lighthouse is Bald Head Island Club. Play its tennis courts, cro-quet course or golf course, which

Bald Head Island - Continued

recently underwent a $4 million renovation. The redesign incor-porates many island inspired el-ements such as sand dunes and freshwater lagoons. It even helps your score – the fairways were widened to compensate for cross breezes from the ocean, which you can see from seven tees.

Schedule the tram to return you and your belongings to the landing when it’s time for your Bald Head Island trip to end. If you’re leaving anytime between Memorial Day and Labor Day, sit on the ferry’s upper deck, where you can savor the ocean and is-land views one more time.


http://www.tuckertonseaport.org

-44- | WEEKDEREXTENDED.COM ~ SPRING 2016-44- | WEEKDEREXTENDED.COM ~ SPRING 2016


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http://www.niagara-usa.com

-46- | WEEKDEREXTENDED.COM ~ SPRING 2016-46- | WEEKDEREXTENDED.COM ~ SPRING 2016

SPRING, 2016 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -47-SPRING, 2016 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -47-

http://www.graylineniagarafalls.com


Seinfeld Will Per-form Once a Month with his new show en-titled , “Jerry Seinfeld: The Homestand”

NEW YORK, (GLOBE NEWS-

WIRE) -- The Madison Square Garden Com-pany (NYSE:MSG) has announced that legend-ary New Yorker and co-median Jerry Seinfeld will perform once a month at the Beacon Theatre in 2016 as part of a residency entitled, “Jerry Seinfeld: The Homestand.” Tickets fare now available for the following perfor-mances, April 14, May 5, and June 8.

“Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most influential and respected co-medians of all time and through both his groundbreaking hit se-ries, Seinfeld, and his newest venture, Comedians in Cars Get-ting Coffee, he has permanently changed both the modern comedy and television landscapes,”

said James L. Dolan, executive chairman, The Madison Square Garden Company. “As a renowned New Yorker whose brand of com-edy is rooted in the Big Apple, we

People to See: Jerry Seinfield at Madison Square Garden

winning numerous Emmy, Gold-en Globe and People’s Choice awards, and was named the great-est television show of all time in 2009 by TV Guide, and in

2012 was identified as the best sitcom ever in a 60 Minutes/Van-ity Fair poll.

Seinfeld has also starred in, written and produced movies (Comedian, Bee Movie), directed and produced a Broadway hit (Colin Quinn Long Story Short), and even wrote a best-selling book (Seinlanguage) and a children’s book (Halloween).

Seinfeld’s latest project is critically-ac-claimed web series Co-medians in Cars Getting Coffee, seen exclusively on Crackle and comedi-ansincarsgettingcoffee.

com, which has garnered over 100 million views, and which the New York Times describes as “impressively complex and artful” and Variety calls “a game changer.”

Seinfeld most recently direct-ed the off-Broadway production of Colin

Quinn: The New York Story with a limited engagement at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Green-wich Village.

are honored to welcome Jerry to The Beacon, his neighborhood theater, for ‘Jerry Seinfeld: The Homestand.’”

“My favorite theater in New York to perform in has always been The Beacon. Comedians live for certain houses that just feel ‘alive’ for some reason,” said Jerry Seinfeld. “The Beacon is

that place for me and I am so ex-cited to make it my new home.”

Entertainment icon Jerry Sein-feld’s comedy career took off af-ter his first appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Car-son in 1981. Eight years later, he teamed up with fellow comedian Larry David to create what was to become the most successful com-edy series in the history of

television: Seinfeld. The show ran on NBC for nine seasons,

“Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most influential and respected comedi-ans of all time and through both his groundbreaking hit series, Seinfeld, and his newest venture, Comedians in Cars Getting Cof-fee...”

James L. DolanMadison Square Garden Co.


Seinfeld resides in New York City with his wife and three chil-dren. He remains active as a stan-dup comedy performer, continu-ously touring both nationally and internationally.

Acquired by The Madison Square Garden Company in 2006, the Beacon Theatre is one of New York’s most revered theaters and is a beloved New York landmark. In 2008, the 2,800-seat venue lo-cated on the Upper West Side underwent a seven-month resto-ration period focused on bring-

People to See: Jerry Seinfield at Madison Square Garden

ing the venue back to its original 1929 grandeur. For the past two decades the Beacon Theatre has operated as a successful concert and special events venue, hosting some of the biggest names and events in entertainment.

The Beacon Theatre is part of a portfolio of world-class venues under The Madison Square Gar-den Company including Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden and Ra-dio City Music Hall; the Forum in

Inglewood, California; The Chi-cago Theatre; and the Wang The-atre in Boston, MA.

Ticket prices for “Jerry Sein-feld: The Homestand” are $175, $99.50 and $79. Tickets for the first six shows go on-sale December 7, 2016 at 10 a.m. and will be avail-able online at beacontheatre.com and ticketmaster.com and Ticket-master Charge By Phone at 866-858-0008.

Tickets will be available at the Beacon Theatre box office.

http://www.beacontheatre.com


April 8 - Grand Rapids, MIMay 6 - Virginia Beach, VAMay 20 - Roanoke, VAMay 21 - Gastonia, NCJune 11 - Columbus, OH

Mar 30 - Denver, COApril 1 - Las Vegas, NVApril 18 - San Antonio, TXApril 27 - Tulsa, OKMay 5 - Green Bay, WIMay 8 - Cleveland, OHJune 11 - Country Fest North Lawrence, OH

The Gaither Vocal Band will crisscross North America in

all directions bringing some of

gospel music’s most-loved songs to

audiences in 12 states, beginning

in Texas this January.

Jeff Dunham has turned

a life-long obsession with

ventriloquism into a highly

successful career performing

stand-up around the world. Laugh

the night away with Achmed,

Melvin, Walter, Peanut, Sweet

Daddy Dee, and the rest with Jeff

Dunham tickets for an upcoming

show.

April 7 - Portland, ORApril. 8 - Spokane, WAApril 20 - Broomfield, COApril 22 - Omaha, NEMay 2 - Las Cruces, NMMay 5 - Austin, TXMay 6 - Tulsa, OKMay 19-20 Niagara Falls

Carrie Underwood is

an American singer, songwriter

and actress. She rose to fame

as the winner of the fourth

season of American Idol in 2005.

She has expanced dates to her

“Storyteller” Tour. See www.

carrieunderwoodofficial.com for

more information.

People to See In Concert

http://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com

http://www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com


April 14 - Toledo, OHApril 20-21 - Missoula, MTApril 30 - Fresno, CAMay 11 - Holmdel, NJMay 12 - Burgettstown, PAMay 13 - Wichita, KS

Grab your Mickey ears and get

ready for the ultimate Disney

experience as Disney On Ice

celebrates 100 Years of Magic.

With a cast of over 50 and Mouse-

ter of Ceremonies Mickey Mouse,

Relive the magic of Disney’s

Frozen with Anna, Elsa and

the hilarious Olaf!

Lynyrd Skynyrd Undeniably

one of the most resilient bands

in music history since forming in

1964. Lynyrd Skynyrd remains

a constant force in the touring

circuit and continues to release

new albums with a stable of talent

that includes the late Ronnie Van

Zant’s brother, Johnny, on lead

vocals.

April 6-11 - Hidalgo, TXApril 14-18 - Houston, TXApril 21-24 - Corpus Christi, TXApril 27-May 1 - New Orleans, LAMay 12-15 Tampa, FL

April 9 - Fort Worth, TXApril 16 - Ft. Lauderdale, FLApril 30 - Live Oak, FLMay 6 - Live Oak, FLMay 7 - Fredericksburg, VAMay 21 - Dana Point, CA

Luke Bryan kicks off his

brand new “Kill The Lights” Tour in

2016 at Evansville, IN. A country

music singer-songwriter known

for such hits as “Drink a Beer” and

“That’s My Kind of Night,” He won

Entertainer of the Year in 2015.

What better way is there to spend an evening other than with friends, family or loved ones at a concert? Here are a few of my favorites...

By Norman Reed, Assistant Editor


14th Annual NC Railroad Expo9 - 4, April 16

Hickory, North Carolina

Briefly

Celebrate the National Park Service’s centennial by visiting Gettysburg National Military Park, just one of PA’s 18 national parks, 7 national heritage areas, and 167 national historic sites. -

Things to Do:See more at: http://www.visitpa.com

Six wineries on the Indiana Wine Trail will pair their wines with a variety of

breads, cheeses, and dips. For information call 800-559-2956,

indianawinetrail.com.Those participating are: Ertel Cellars–Batesville

Stream Cliff Farm – CommiskeyLanthier Winery – MadisonMadison Vineyards Estate Winery & Thomas Family

Winery – MadisonThe Ridge Winery – Vevay

Spring Into the ValleyApril 16 @ 11 a.m. / April 17 @ 5 p.m.

Starting at Ertel Cellars Winery

Downtown Traverse City Art Walk Various Locations

5 p.m., May 6

All scales- HO, N, O and more! Lanterns, locks, paper, slides and photographs, plus videos, DVDs

and books. At the Hickory Metro Convention Center. Approximately 250 tables of items, and over 1000 people expected to attend. For more

information, call 828-527-6520.

PENNSYLVANIA

INDIANA

NORTH CAROLINAEnjoy an evening of art, refreshments, food and music on a self guided tour throughout Downtown Traverse City. Walking maps are available at each participating location and the Downtown Traverse City office.

MICHIGAN

http://www.visitpa.com

http://www.indianawinetrail.com


Big Spring FestivalMay 15, Noon - 4 p.m

Talleyrand Park, in Bellefonte.

49th Annual Hampton Jazz FestivalHampton Coliseum: Tickets at ticketmaster

June 24-26, 2016

Spring Wildflower Event - April 16Montauk State Park, Salem

Phone: 573-548-2225

Kentucky Derby is May 5-7Born & Bred Derby Experience

Galt House Hotel, Louisville

Spring Activities Across the U.S.

List your event to be featured in one of the spaces below by emailing

information with a photo to the [email protected].

THE OFFICIAL HOST HOTEL OF KENTUCKY DERBY™ 142 - featuring Local, Authentic & the most exciting 3-night race stay starting

with a call to the Post Party Thursday evening! Fashion, mint juleps, roses and extras you’ll only experience here. Only a few pkges still available.

Celebrating bountiful supply of water with

entertainment, water sports, crafts, fish stocking of Spring

Creek and children’s activities. Food

vendors will also be on hand. Non Profit Group Activities & Fundraisers will be

part of the day.

Classic performances by R&B, Pop, and

Soul Legends- for yet another soulful weekend

of unforgettable entertainment includingGladys Knight; Michael McDonald; Trombone

Shorty & Orleans Avenue New Edition; Babyface; Judith Hill, Forte Jazz

Band , Charlie Wilson and more!Tickets: $65 per

seat each show.

9-11:30 a.m. Enjoy spring wildflowers at Montauk State Park. For this educational activity,

meet at the park naturalist’s office. From there, the park naturalist will lead a group in a hands-on wildflower search. Wildflower books will be

available. Bring your camera.

PENNSYLVANIA

KENTUCKY

VIRGINIA

MISSOURI





http://www.howbigisgod2u.com


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ON OUR WEBSITE - BETWEEN ISSUESPlaces to go, things to do, people to see

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