TRAVELS NEAR AND FAR
Visitors entering Oxford, Mississippi's historic Square will come face-to-face with its famed Courthouse. The stately white building stands in the heart of town, creating a scene that looks like it came right out of one of John Grisham's legal thrillers.
BY DEBBIE STONE | February 26, 2018 at 6:00 a.m.
Fall under the spell of the nation's oldest city
I greedily drank from the Fountain of Youth and patiently waited, but alas, the wrinkles and crow's feet remained etched on my face. The magical spring that was said to restore the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters didn't have the powers of transformation I had …
History comes alive at Chaco Canyon
You can almost hear the voices of the ancestral people as you stand amid the ruins at Chaco National Historical Park in Northern New Mexico. They seem to echo within the walls of this monumental architectural site that was once home to a vibrant center of Puebloan culture some 1,000 …
Let the good times roll in Lafayette, Louisiana!
"Laissez les bon temps rouler!" is an expression you'll hear often throughout the parishes in southern Louisiana. More than a sentiment, it's a true representation of the joie de vivre spirit that is Cajun culture.
Retiring ABROAD? What You Need to Know about Getting Benefits Outside the U.S.
Did you ever want to retire to another county. Will your Social Security payments follow you?
The hills are alive with culinary treasures
The act of toasting in Austria is a custom with its own set of rules. As a visitor to this land of sophistication and unassuming elegance, it's important to know the correct protocol before you say, "Proust!"
A 'spirited' overnight at La Posada
An overactive imagination can really play a number on you, especially when it concerns ghosts. I confess I'm not one who believes in the paranormal world, as I'm a skeptic at heart. I rely on science to explain the unexplained, choosing to go the rational route when in doubt.
Mountains, monasteries and more in the mystical 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'
A revered lama and leading astrologist, Master Wengdi of the Paga Monastery in Bhutan, told me that I'm a fire monkey, born under a metal sign that imbues me with confidence and energy. Driven to success, I often gravitate towards leadership roles where I can exercise control and call upon …
Discover the beauty of Appalachia on a Smoky Mountains hiking trip
The humidity was so thick you could cut it with a knife, even a plastic one would easily do the job. At this point I was trudging up a trail, sweating profusely, swatting at annoying gnats and solely focused on my discomfort. Ian, our guide, suddenly stopped the group and …
Mayberry meets Manhattan in Bentonville, Arkansas
Telling friends and family I was going to Bentonville, Arkansas was akin to informing them I was going to Siberia based upon their reactions. I received baffled looks, followed by questions like, "Why?" "Whatever for?" and my favorite, "You're doing this on purpose?"
The allure of off-season on Cape Cod and Nantucket
There's nothing like strolling on a pristine ocean beach with nary a soul in sight and only the occasional gull or plover to share the space. It's April on Cape Cod and the crowds have yet to make their way to this captivating destination. Come Memorial Day, however, they will …
Surprises abound in OKC
It's the initial ascent that provides the buildup to the exhilaration you know you'll soon experience. At the precipice, you look down and your heart starts thumping because you know what's going to happen next. You scream when the first shock of cold water hits and then before you can …
Beads, glorious beads! Mardi Gras in Mobile, the city that was 'born to celebrate'
One minute I was a very sane, controlled woman watching a parade. Then, before I knew it, I had joined the masses of men, women and children jumping up and down screaming for beads. Yes, beads! And oh, did I want them.
A journey through history along the Birmingham Civil Rights Trail
"It began at Bethel." With these words, historian and educator Dr. Martha Bouyer proceeded to take me back in time to the birth of the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.
