Get Packin'

Vintage Postcard Blue Room Roosevelt Hotel, Flickr Photo by howieluvzus

I recently visited New Orleans with my 9 year old son. My Mother who was attending a conference there invited us to join her and we gladly accepted. We were three generations, each viewing this landmark city from a different perspective. My mother, who grew up in rural Mississippi has memories of a post war era boom when the Fairmont Hotel was host to the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. For her, a trip to New Orleans represented glamour and glitz, shopping at the big department stores on Canal Street and shows at the Saengar Theater. We stayed in the newly renovated Roosevelt Hotel, formerly the Fairmont Hotel. After an extensive renovation, the hotel re-opened last year. The ubiquitous Sazerac Bar, restored to its former grandeur still boasts the bullet hole from a failed assassination attempt on famed Louisiana Politician, Huey P. Long. 

My memories of this great city are somewhat different. As a young woman, I remember the 1984 World’s fair and the revitalization that came with it. New luxury hotels were constructed alongside the former Grand Dames and the Riverwalk became a new center for tourism. Of course the famous Vieux Carre remains constant, with its mysterious courtyards and secret alleyways, world-class restaurants and street performers; it remains an ever-changing panorama. Having lived for several years, later in my life, in the Riverbend district of New Orleans, I wanted to share my memories of walks in Audubon Park, rides on the St. Charles Streetcar and breakfast at the Camellia Grill with my son. 

St. Charles Streetcar, Flickr Photo by Mr. Littlehand

He had opposing ideas. New Orleans from a child’s perspective is a little different. As a product of the technology era, he sulked the entire streetcar ride from Canal Street to Audubon Park because I wouldn’t let him bring his Nintendo DS. Even though the Spring weather was as perfect as it gets in sultry New Orleans, he complained about the noise and having the windows down. “Why we can’t we have air conditioning?” he lamented.We persevered to the Audubon Zoo and Botanical Gardens which, despite a few of the exhibits being closed for renovation, seems to have rebounded quite nicely post-Katrina. 

Later as we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the French Quarter the allure of the Big Easy began to gradually creep in. As the noise and inconvenience of public transportation receded, the ambiance of New Orleans began to take over. From the freshly baked French bread to the alligator sausage gumbo, to the jazz music humming in the background, my son began to feel the unmistakable magic. Although, the secret alleyways sometimes seemed more frightening than mysterious, and he had to avert his gaze from some of the more risqué establishments on Bourbon Street, a new generation discovered the overwhelming allure of the Big Easy. On our last day he pleaded for just one more night, and another chance to ride the St. Charles Streetcar! 

Beignets at Cafe Du Monde, Flickr Photo by chuckyeager

Here are some tips for traveling with children. It you are on a budget there are affordable options for lodging. Be sure to include a streetcar ride, you can take the Greenline down St. Charles Avenue to Audubon Park and catch the free Zoo Shuttle to the Zoo. Also, not to be missed are the Aquarium of the Americas and the IMAX theatre located near the Riverwalk. There is a new Insectarium in this complex as well. Tickets are available which cover all four attractions. Just a few blocks from Canal Street, accessible from the Greenline, is the new Children’s Museum which provides hands on exploration and interesting exhibits for the kids. Dining out need not be difficult, there are so many options in all price ranges and  I found most restaurants offer children’s menus to please even the pickiest eaters. Don’t miss the Cafe DuMonde for beignets, a delicious fried doughnut drenched in powdered sugar. With all this activity remember to include plenty of down time for swimming and relaxing by the pool.

Talladega Superspeedway is “over-the-top excitement – on and off the track,” so says the folks at www.nascar.com.

Talladega, AL Flickr photo by Pamarama73

Construction began on the 2,000 acre site now known as the Talladega Superspeedway, on May 23, 1968, on what was once termed soybean farming land.  And ever since that first race in September 1969, the track has surpassed “every initial expectation in terms of sheer size, speed and competition.”  Talladega has been known for setting precedents (the first 500 miles were run without an incident); establishing records and developing careers (with names like Brickhouse, who was the first winner of a NASCAR Cup Race at Talladega; Pete Hamilton, who won the first two major events and David Pearson becoming the first three-time winner at Talladega).  This list goes on and on, including Buddy Baker, Darrell Waltrip and Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott for his world stock-car record when he posted a speed of 212.809 mph; and Dale Earnhardt who posted 10 NASCAR Sprint Cup victories at Talladega over the years.  We also can’t forget Dale Earnhardt Jr., who followed in his father’s footsteps to victory lane.

The 2.66 mile long track with four lanes is banked at 33 degrees at each end, with an 18 degree banking in the tri-oval.  This set-up, along with the 4,000 foot long backstretch has produced some of the fastest and most competitive racing in history where speeds have reached in the excess of 220 mph in competition.

There is so much more to the Talladega Speedway than what we’ve presented here, and you can find it all at: http://www.talladegasuperspeedway.com/This-Is-Talladega/History.aspx

Mark your calendars – Sunday, April 25^th when the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series visits the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway for the first time in 2010.

Most everyone knows that April 1^st is considered April Fools Day, but the month of April has some pretty serious events taking place besides Tom Foolery.

Ukranian Easter Eggs, Flickr photo by Amanda Niekamp

Although Passover began on March 30^th this year, it is often recognized in the month of April.  This celebration for the Jewish people is an important event in their lives.  Likewise, Palm Sunday is deemed an important day to remember for Christians throughout the world, and of course it precedes Easter Sunday; a Christian holiday that has a lighter side associated with it; featuring Easter bonnets, the Easter Parade and of course the Easter Bunny, baskets and colorful eggs.

Other important events include Youth World Day, started in 1986 by Pope John Paul II, Patriots Day commemorating one of the earliest battles of the American Revolutionary War, Earth Day which was established in 1969 to inspire attentiveness and admiration of the Earth’s surroundings, and Arbor Day, which had its beginning in Nebraska all the way back to 1855.

Sterling Morton, who settled in southeastern Nebraska, saw a need for planting trees to sustain the land and their livelihood.  In 1872, when Morton became a member of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture he was instrumental in setting aside one day a year for annual tree planning, which was in the month of April.  This was the prelude to Arbor Day and the celebration of trees.

Chandelier Tree, Flicker photo by hoslisticmonkey

Trees actually can promote tourism.  Think about the National Redwood Forest, and the ability to drive through a tree.  Did you know there are actually three drive-thru trees?  There is the Chandelier Tree located near the junctions of Hwy 101 and Hwy 1 in Leggett, California, while the Shrine Drive-Thru is located in Myers Flat, California and the Klamath Tour-Thru Tree can be found in Klamath, California.  All are privately owned, and there is a fee to drive through them, but think of the tales you can share of this awesome experience.  Want more information, just visit here:  http://www.drivethrutree.com/