Edited: This recipe for Summer Salad with Apricot Vinaigrette was originally posted in June 2016 and updated in June 2019. Summertime and the weather is warm, I want refreshing lemonade and summer salads. Lite crisp salads with loads of flavor. And no heavy dressings. This is the time for airy vinaigrettes. During a recent trip to Trader Joes, I found a box of organic apricots, a fruit I don’t see in the stores very often and also a fruit I feel is very underrated. I was inspired to create a [continue reading...]
Arnie’s Barn at Top of the Rock, Missouri
Top of the Rock is a name familiar with golfing fans. It is home to The Bass Pro Legends of Golf Tournament, a stop of the PGA Champions Tour. In addition to several courses designed by the likes of Tom Fazio, Gary Player, and Ben Crenshaw, there is a new course soon to come designed by Tiger Woods. Also on the property is the famous Big Cedar Lodge. The entire resort sits on the Missouri/Arkansas border, just outside Branson, and is owned by Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. The [continue reading...]
The Hughes Brothers Music Show – A Branson Must See
The World's Largest Performing Family The Hughes family has the distinction of being the world’s largest performing family. They (the Hughes brothers) have been performing together over 30 years and now have a show in Branson, Missouri at The Hughes Brothers Theater. The Hughes Music Show is a family event with four of the Hughes brothers, their wives, and children. To date there are over 30 children performing in each and every show. (note: there is a 5th brother that has performed in the past [continue reading...]
Stone Castle Hotel Branson – Unique and Affordable
In 1992 there was a boom of tourism in Branson, Missouri thanks to a story that aired on the CBS News TV Magazine “60 Minutes”. At the time, there were 27 theatres with live shows, over 53,000 seats to fill, and the likes of Loretta Lynn, Mel Tillis, and Boxcar Willie performing regularly. Branson saw an average of 4 million visitors a year filling theater seats, eating at restaurants, and booking hotel rooms. The Stone Castle Hotel Branson was built by three brothers from Wisconsin as a direct [continue reading...]
Titanic Museum Branson Murder Mystery
On the main strip in Branson, Missouri, there sits a big ship. A big ship with a black hull and familiar red smokestacks. History buffs will easily recognize the ship as a replica of the RMS Titanic, the famous ship that sank in the Atlantic Ocean 107 years ago after hitting an iceberg. The ship houses the Titanic Museum Branson. Some may remember the 1997 Hollywood blockbuster film, also called Titanic, a film that nearly grossed over $2.1 billion. No matter how you remember it, it’s a [continue reading...]
The Summer’s Best Sweet Corn Hummus Recipe
Sweet Corn Hummus. I mean, how could you possibly resist one of the tastiest vegetables of the summer season? Florida is just starting its summer season. It’s hot outside, the afternoons are bringing fierce thunderstorms, and the air conditioning has never felt better. We spend our days lounging by the pool (or sitting on the beach) and our evenings are spent in the backyard grilling up on the BBQ. As I bury my toes in the sand I think of all the veggies that make the summer season so [continue reading...]
Clingmans Dome in The Great Smoky Mountains
The highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains is Clingmans Dome, a mountain that stands at 6,643 feet (2.025 meters). Its location is seven miles west of Newfound Gap in the city of Bryson City, North Carolina. In 1959, a 54-foot tall observation tower was opened with a spiral walkway leading up to a 360-degree view of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On a clear day, you can see almost 100 miles into both Tennessee and North Carolina. Most days the visibility is [continue reading...]
The Clay Cooper Theater – Fun in Branson
I am not really sure what I was expecting when I went to the Clay Cooper Theater in Branson, Missouri. I had been to Branson once before my most recent trip and we only saw one show – and it was good, not really toe stomping foot tapping good, but entertaining. But toe stomping, foot tapping, and belly laugh aching is what I got watching Clay Cooper’s Country Express Show at the Clay Cooper Theater. Who is Clay Cooper? Clay Cooper has been a fixture on the Branson show circuit since the [continue reading...]
The Branson Scenic Railway: Day Tripping
First, let me say, this is not a review of the dinner train on the Branson Scenic Railway. I was aboard the regular excursion that is offered several times during the late morning and afternoon. Branson, Missouri is famous for its shows (like Andy Williams and the Welk family), outlet shopping, and having windy, hilly roads. The town is home to some pretty cool attractions like the Titanic Experience and the Branson Ferris Wheel. There’s a lot to see during the day and lots of shows to [continue reading...]
Exploring History in the Birmingham Civil Rights District
There is a six block area in downtown Birmingham, Alabama that is known as the Birmingham Civil Rights District. Much of the significant events that unfolded during Birmingham’s Civil Rights Movement happened within these six blocks and there is a lot to learn and explore over the course of an afternoon. First I visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute which opened in the heart of the district in 1993. A self guided tour takes you through short films, exhibits, and readings of the [continue reading...]
