trip

"WHAT A TRIP!"

We've decided to add this page to our web site to give insight into the places we've been . We'll tell you about any cool restaurants we've been to, the best hotels we've stayed at...and the worst. And we'll throw in bits about some of the more "outstanding" characters we've met along the way. Hope you enjoy!

We kicked off our first year with a trip to the Florida Keys and Key West. It was off-season, so the heat and the mosquitoes were annoying, but other things more than made up for that. Spectacular scenery was part of it.

Perhaps the best part for us was snorkeling at Bahia Honda State Park. Sorry, no underwater pictures. But the colorful fish and amazing array of sea life was incredible. We spent a day in Key West taking in the sights, lunched at Hard Rock Cafe, walked for a while & cooled off at Sloppy Joe's and tried to imagine Hemingway hanging out in the vicinity. We had a fabulous time at Crabby Dicks on Duvall St., where the very best conch fritters are served, and came away with t-shirts.

I found a wonderful place called Baby's Place Coffee Bar at milemarker 15 on Hwy. 1. Lots of goodies in there for aficionados of the bean. A visit to No Name Pub (motto: great place if you can find it) gave us an up-close sighting of the more popular denizen of the island, an iguana. Once inside the pub, we were totally amazed. The walls, ceiling and pillars were covered in $1 bills, marked with names of people who have visited there and stapled anywhere and everywhere. They'll bring you some markers and the stapler while you wait on your food. We had a good pizza there, and once again came away with t-shirts.

On the downside, we stayed at the Ivanhoe Beach Resort in Ormond Beach on the way down and it was the pits. We gravitate toward those middle-of-the-road places where you get reasonable accommodations that are a good value for the money. Nothing fancy, just fair. When nothing works like it should, there's no hot water, and guest treatment is shabby to say the least, then it's not a good value at any price. This was one of those. Another bummer on that trip was Cabot's on the Water in Marathon, FL. We had done the requisite reading on decent dining and had high hopes for this place. I'm sorry, but when I ask for things that are on the menu and am repeatedly told they don't have it, can't make it, something is broken, etc., I start to wonder what's up. If it was just that they didn't have the capacity to make iced tea, that would have been overlooked. But this went on and on. When we were finally served, the food was ill-prepared and the service was abrupt. If you work at a restaurant and one of your tables has half-eaten food & they're not touching it, that's a sign...have the good sense to ask if everything is ok! Well, they didn't ask and it wasn't. When we tried to find a nice way to let the staff know, our food was whisked away and our check was immediately forthcoming. We paid, we left, we won't go back.

The wildlife more than made up for it, however, and we found all sorts of things to photograph. It was hard to know when to stop, a difficulty we have when shooting digitally! I've never seen anything quite like the osprey nests on top of telephone poles or the wildly colorful lobsters that were hard to spot and quick as lightning. A stroll on the dock was all it took to see a manta ray, barracuda, sharks and an unbelievable assortment of fish, including a tarpon that seemed so pleased to see Jeff every morning. Jeff fed him all sorts of bait and the tarpon would help Jeff unwind lots of fishing line before soaring up out of the water to wave good-bye as he took off. Quite amusing, I must say.

We've made uncountable trips to Charlotte, NC and surrounding areas thanks to some incredibly talented interior designers in that area, and I just have to tell you about this restaurant in Pineville. It's the Waldhorn Restaurant and if you find yourself anywhere close to it, do yourself a favor and go there. The food is consistently excellent, the service is unquestionably top notch, and the people are genuinely friendly. We've never had a bad experience there and we've been often. The Bratwurst Vorspeise appetizer is an assortment of German sausages with sauerkraut, and it's Jeff's favorite. Nothing on the menu comes in small portions, so go with a healthy appetite or plan to take some home for later. My favorite is the Krauterschnitzel, an herb-crusted pork loin served with Spatzel and a vegetable. I've even ordered something I typically do not like, bread pudding, and absolutely loved it. The restaurant is easy to find. Just take exit 64A off I-485, go past Carolina Place Mall, turn left on Lancaster Hwy. and you'll see it on the left in a few minutes.

FLORIDA KEYS/KEY WEST

CHARLOTTE, NC

SANFORD, NC

Now I know you're probably asking where in the world Sandford, NC is. But if you play golf, you probably know because North Carolina is known for some pretty famous golf courses, such as Pinehurst, Oyster Bay, and Tanglewood. But Sanford, NC has it's fair share of courses, and for a small town some would say more than it's fair share, with seven courses including Carolina Trace, which is where we photographed a home and captured an image that helped an interior designer win awards. Sanford also has several parks and the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve, just in case anybody is interested. The first time we went to Sanford, we drove around trying to find a place to stay for the night and ended up at the Econo Lodge on N. Horner Blvd. on the outskirts of town. Sounds creepy, huh! But actually, the hotel is run by very nice people and there is a family owned and operated Mexican restaurant adjacent to the hotel lobby (now we come to the real reason we stayed there!). Jeff and I are always searching for more authentic Mexican restaurants, and this one is just great. If you order a chili relleno at most chain restaurants, you get a sliver of pepper covered with the same seasoned ground beef they use for everything else on the menu, covered with a white cheese. Not so at the Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant. This is a true family owned and operated place. I love a chili relleno and this place does it right! There's a substantial amount of pepper, not just a tiny sliver. The flavor of all their dishes is very distinctive (we've eaten there many times now) and it seems that they season things individually so you don't end up with everything you order having the same taste. Very nice people, excellent service. And the hotel isn't the dive you might think either. It's always been a quiet, comfortable stay for us. Nothing fancy, nothing special...but no bugs, no gun shots, nothing to keep us awake all night worrying.

WISCONSIN

Driving from Greenville, South Carolina to Kenosha, Wisconsin in one day is not for the faint of heart. We started in the wee hours and watched the sun rise on I-40. Kentucky was breathtaking and we plan to go back when we have time to spend, but this particular trip was all about getting there, getting the job done, and getting back. Getting through Chicago was a treat on the way in because we managed to forget about the time zone change and made it into the thick of things right about 5:00 p.m. I got to see multiple examples of road rage, but only as a spectator and not a participant. Despite our lack of free time, we had a few moments to squeeze in a little sight-seeing around town in Kenosha and Racine. Three buildings in Racine were built by Frank Lloyd Wright and there is lots of character downtown. The people of Kenosha were so gracious to us and we enjoyed their hospitality. On our third day there, the homeowner of a house we photographed served us possibly the best chicken salad sandwich we've ever had...it had roasted red pepper incorporated into the sandwich and was just yummy! Homeowner and interior design hospitality wasn't all we found to love about Wisconsin. We discovered a fantastic place in downtown Racine called Shillings. It's an Irish pub with great atmosphere and an engaging crowd. One evening, we were treated to homemade chili, made by the pub owner and served free of charge to all who wanted it. We only wished that our hotel had fallen in line with the rest of our experience. Unfortunately, they gave us a room close to the lobby and the night desk clerk had raucous friends who camped out in the lobby all night. We reported it not only to the hotel manager, but we called the company that owned the chain and basically got blown off all the way around. The manager did offer us a coupon for half off our next stay there, after telling me point blank that he thought I was lying about the noise and preferred to believe his 19-year-old desk clerk that it was completely quiet and she had not let anyone in the lobby all night. Not cool. So we don't mind telling you that it was the Microtel Inn on Durand Ave. On the way home, as we exited Kenosha, we stopped at Tim & Tom's Cheese Shop on 120th Ave. They have an unbelievable selection and were very helpful (and patient toward those of us with no idea what we want). Even gave us one of those plastic ice blocks for our cooler! Very cool guys.

ORLANDO/TAMPA

One of our trips took us to Orlando and then went across the way to Tampa. One of the places we found most fascinating was The George & Dragon on International Drive in Orlando. They serve up authentic Fish & Chips and the Bangers & Mash was excellent. Glen waited on us at the bar and we enjoyed lively conversation with him while we ate. Then we went outside to be entertained by Steve Bonsor whose music is a bit unique by normal standards. He's a one-man band and apparently can sing and play just about anything. "Margaritaville" with a British accent was something to marvel at!

We also discovered Bahama Breeze Restaurant on International Drive. If you've never had their barbeque chicken flatbread, you simply must. Needless to say, this place was packed every minute they were open, but we accepted seats at the bar for lunch and got more than we bargained for. I don't know beans about bartending, but I know their bartender, Juan, was amazing to watch. This guy moved so fast it was hard to follow. I've never seen anything quite like it before, and the whole time he was juggling bottles, glasses, ice cubes and plates of food, he kept up conversations with anybody who wanted to talk and never missed a beat. After watching him for 15 minutes or so, you couldn't help but wonder how he kept up that perfect rhythm and fluid motion with a friendly attitude regardless, and realizing that he had to do that for hours at a time.

In Tampa, after a long hard day of shooting, we dragged ourselves back to the hotel and asked the front desk for a restaurant recommendation. They pointed us to the Cherry's Grille on Bearss Ave. It's a franchise, decorated like a '50s diner. They have a huge menu with everything from wings to meat & three. I'm a wing nut (pun intended), and I like wings that have been cooked so that some of the flavor of the sauce gets into the meat. Anybody can cook a wing, drench it in sauce and throw it on a plate. Cherry's has a slightly different hot sauce that I really enjoyed and the teriyaki had a definite kick. Also we got excellent service, which you come to really appreciate when you haven't got the energy to flag down your server for a refill. It's nice when they keep track of you and you don't have to ask for anything.

JACKSONVILLE/LAKE MARY

We made a trip to Jacksonville, FL and then down the map just a little to Lake Mary. Our first stop was a Howard Johnson hotel that was hard to find, to say the least. When I had booked the hotel, I asked the usual questions: is there dining nearby, do you have wireless internet that works, is the hotel new or recently renovated...and was told that there were many restaurants and shopping centers close to the hotel, the wireless internet was consistently working and that the hotel was freshly renovated. So when it took a miracle to find it, there wasn't the first restaurant or even a McDonald's without getting back on a major highway and going up at least one exit, and the room smelled heavily of mold, you can imagine my disappointment. We decided to give the room some air, see just how far away from everything we were and come back later to give it another try. We ended up buying a GPS just so we had a chance of finding the hotel again. The short version of the story is that the night clerk made the veiled accusation that the room didn't stink to heaven of mold but refused to come see for himself. He finally agreed to put us in another room , where the wireless internet did not work (that's a must-have for us), and basically refused to be of any service to us at all. We were planning to stay there a second night, but checked out in the morning. I contacted the hotel manager who apologized for our poor treatment but wouldn't compensate us for any part of the night we had paid for. He offered us a suite at the same price as a regular room for our next visit, which I carefully explained to him was likely never to happen. So I spent hours and hours contacting Howard Johnson's customer service people and finally received a check for $40 compensation. I just don't think you should have to spend $200 a night in order to get a little rest on the road. It's not like I'm asking for luxury accommodations at the places we stay. I just want somewhere relatively clean and somewhat odor-free to sleep. And if you advertise that you have wireless internet, make sure it works please. Oh, and don't put someone on duty who is dumb as a box of rocks. And it takes a lot of stupidity to essentially call a redneck a liar and then tell him he needs to calm down.

We did go to the beach in Jacksonville and got to see a lovely afternoon storm come up. We also stopped in at Fiona MacCool's Irish Pub, and if you like unusual and original decor, the upstairs part of the pub is worth seeing. If you decide to sit outside on the patio, just make up your mind that you will have to go inside to order your food, and then go back in to get it when it's ready. Or just sit inside where they can see you and not forget you're there.

Our experience in Lake Mary was quite a lot better. First, we checked into a Homestead Suites which is a sister company to the Extended Stay hotel chain. We have always had good success with Extended Stay and Homestead was the same. The internet worked with no hassle, the room was clean and the hotel staff was very friendly. Lake Mary has lots of well-maintained landscaped areas so it's very pretty just to drive around and look. We paid a visit to Jax's Fifth Avenue on Greenwood Blvd. for a sandwich one evening. It was noisy and obviously the twenty-something hangout place, but we chose to call it a "lively" atmosphere and enjoyed some great mozzarella sticks and split a huge sandwich. The next day, while purchasing fuel we got to see a canary yellow Mazeratti close-up. It's always fun to see the cars you race on your XBox 360 game in real life. And it's hard to watch & hear that car go down the highway from behind the steering wheel of a rented Chevrolet.

ATLANTA

Ok, not my favorite city as a general rule, but being there with someone who has lived there before makes it better. Although it's changed dramatically since Jeff lived there, at least he knew his way around somewhat. And he finally got to take me to a few places that I've heard him talk about for years. If you've never been to Dante's Down The Hatch, please allow yourself the experience just once. I'd never been to a fondue restaurant before, and never to one with such eclectic surroundings. On the walk in, you pass the final resting place of Throckmorton, the owners adored crocodile. Don't let it throw you. The owner may be a tad to the left of center, but he is highly intelligent and very particular about what goes on in his restaurant. You will not have a bad experience, I don't think. Everyone who works there is indoctrinated in the notion that they are there to provide you with whatever you need and do it efficiently while being genuinely friendly to the most important people in the place...you, the customer. Our waiter, David Sapp, was so on the ball that we never had to ask for anything or wait for him to come around. And he actually seemed to really take pride in his job. That's so rare these days to see in a restaurant. The food was really good and the atmosphere was intimate and romantic, but the highlight of the evening was getting to meet the man himself, Dante. What a character! And you can see from all the photos everywhere that he has met very nearly every rich and famous person on the planet, including a large handful of presidents. However, that doesn't stop him from making the rounds to all the tables and greeting his patrons as if they were royalty. Dante had prepared his famous chocolate fondue dessert for a party that evening. When we got ready to leave, he invited me over to that table, hand dipped a strawberry in the chocolate and gave it to me. Delicious! The chocolate is hand made there by Dante himself and has a flavor you won't find in commercial chocolates. Visit their website to learn more at dantesdownthehatch.com.

VIRGINIA

Once again this year, we were pleased to have work in Virginia which is one of our favorite states apart from our own. The drive is so picturesque and pleasant and the people are always warm and welcoming. Our job took us to Leesburg, but we chose to stay in Sterling. As usual we ferreted out a wonderful Irish pub called O'Faolain's. Our first impression before entering was that it seemed to be a rather up-scale place, with no real relation to a true Irish pub. We were pleasantly surprised with the comfortable, neighborhood feel and discovered that casual attire was perfectly acceptable. We had that moment of transportation that everyone who loves an Irish pub is looking for...that moment where the lines are blurred a bit and you feel for a moment that you might actually be across the water. We were greeted by Dorean Condren, whose cheerful disposition made us feel right at home. A large percentage of the staff spoke with authentic Irish accents (not a requirement according to manager Conor Gately, it's just worked out that way), so one immediately feels a sense of ancestral familiarity listening to the lilts of general conversation. We chose to sample the Reuben sandwich. It was huge, with thick slices of corned beef cooked on premises, and it was delicious. In talking with Mr. Gately, we learned that O'Faolin's is not a franchise (always a plus, in our opinion), but is owned by Patrick Wheelan of Dublin. O'Faolin's is one of the few establishments in the Route 7 area that can boast of traditional, live Irish music. In addition, they have a patio bar in the summer, and a particular point of pride for Gately is their Sunday brunch with a Bloody Mary bar...you make your own concoction with a vast array of hot sauces of every description so you can have a little kick or a nose-hair-removing blowout. Despite the present economy, O'Faolin's unique atmosphere, friendly and attentive staff, and their attention to detail has helped them remain busy at a steady pace. If you're in the area, drop in and thoroughly enjoy yourself! O'Faolin's in located at 20921 Davenport Drive, Sterling, VA 20165. (703) 444-9796.

IOWA

Oh dear, what a long, long drive, but how well worth it! This trip took us to the charming town of Cedar Falls, Iowa. We had the good fortune to stay at the Black Hawk Hotel on Main Street. If you're ever anywhere near this area, you really owe it to yourself to have a stay here. The good folks at the Black Hawk have not forgotten what customer service is. They seem to be the last hotel on earth that truly understands the needs of travelers and they went so far above and beyond our expectations. There are two parts to the Black Hawk...the main building dates back to 1853 and was started as a wooden-framed stage coach hotel known as the "Winslow House". Behind this is the Black Hawk Motor Lodge, which was renovated with an updated 1960's feel. We stayed at the motor lodge, which had a king size platform bed, leather lounge chair, glass-top desk, wall-mounted flat screen TV, and came complete with a cute little rubber duck on the tub next to the Gilchrist & Soames sea kelp soap. The first thing we noticed was that we would not have to request extra pillows, as the bed was loaded with them. And the second thing we noticed was that it was by far the most comfortable bed we've ever slept in. The staff was very professional and friendly. We loved it. Next time, we'll stay in the main building which is furnished with antiques. The Black Hawk Hotel is listed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places. Walking into the lobby is a little like stepping back in time. The town of Cedar Falls is home to the University of Northern Iowa. We enjoyed walking downtown, visiting a variety of establishments and watching the college crowd. Our favorite spot was The Pump Haus Pub & Grille at 311 Main Street. We were treated to great service and good conversation by Jason Basalyga. I had the best Monte Cristo sandwich ever there, and Jeff seemed quite partial to their chili on more than one occasion. Everyone pardoned our distinctly southern accents, and treated us like locals. It was nice to find such a comfortable place so far away from home. While there, we took a Sunday drive over to Waterloo, Iowa, and checked out Bertch Cabinets (since we've photographed so many kitchens and baths with their fabulous cabinetry in them). We were so gratified to see a manufacturing facility here in the USA that seems to be doing quite well. This is one place that takes pride in their craftsmanship and in the fact that they are an American company. They are also committed to reforestation, recycling and general environmental issues. Kudos, Bertch!

GEORGIA

If you ever happen to be outside of Atlanta, GA, in the charming town of Carrollton, see if you can find Millie's Pub & Eatery. It's the typical old (been there 20 years), long and narrow local watering hole with a couple of exceptions. First, the food is truly good and not overpriced. There are specials such a prime rib nite with a price that will make it impossible to turn down. Second, the wait staff is good at what they do. They get busy taking your order, bring your food hot, make sure you don't run out of anything, and make you feel like a welcome guest instead of an outsider. We met Sharon Tate there. She always gets the usual comments...about Manson, why in the world did her mom name her that, etc., etc. But she doesn't mind. She's too busy collecting tidbits of information and pics with her cell phone camera to send back home to England or to her family scattered all over the US. And if you live in that area, just know that you have one fantastic interior designer in the person of Karen Hartley. She can work magic. We know, we had the privilege of photographing it.

WARWICK, NY

We would never have guessed that we would find one of those "other places you could live" so far removed from our southern home. Tucked in the mountains is this delightful little town. There were an abundance of charming and gracious old homes turned into bed & breakfast inns. However, being on a tight budget, we discovered The Warwick Motel. Now here is a little hidden gem. No it didn't have all the charm of the local bed and breakfast inns. It didn't sport a glamorous facade. It was simple, clean, less expensive than any other place around, easy to find, and independently owned. What that means in this particular case is that the owner, Harry, genuinely cares that you have a great stay. It was nice to have someone fuss over us a little. He had been to one of the local orchards and had fresh apple juice, would we like some? Oh no, you can't have a bagel and not heat it! Here, let Harry heat it for you. Do you need more pillows? Soap? Towels? Are you warm enough? Is the bed ok? Yes, Harry, everything was more than ok. We were really comfortable and we so enjoyed meeting you!

If you're going to be in the area more than a day, you simply have to pop out to the cemetery. It's old, a tad creepy, and rich with history and monuments, crypts, tablet tombstones so old they can no longer be read, and it's big. Click over to our blog to see photos. Also while in Warwick, you really should experience Blarney Station for a very quaint, cozy atmosphere and some really good, traditional Irish food. The Shepherd's Pie is scrumptious!

CLARK, NJ

What? A part of Jersey that we really like? Yes indeed! Despite the ridiculous toll roads, not being allowed to pump your own gas (nope, gotta let them do it), the traffic and unsightly areas, New Jersey has a little place of quiet charm and grace in Clark. We stayed at the Crown Plaza there. You can't fault them on their etiquette or efficiency there, but they haven't the personal warmth we're used to here in the South. Ok, so we're all different. We went out on our usual hunt for traditional Irish cuisine and found Molly Maguire's. Normally I can work up a conversation with one of the wait staff and have something nice to write about them. All I can tell you about Molly Maguire's is that the food is fair and if you're there at the right time, you may get some free hor'sdoeuvres. What we did find was that the general public were kind by nature and helpful to strange people with an odd southern accent. And we found a friend in the person of Karen Sanders, a gifted and talented interior designer whose rooms we will photograph with great delight any time!

INDIANA

There are lots of things to say about Indiana. It's beautiful there. If you happen to be interested in the quilt barn trails, there are some good ones painted on barns here and there in Indiana. If we keep going in that direction once or twice a year, I may have to start photographing these things as a side project. While working with Cathi Lloyd from St. John, IN, we stayed the night in a little place called Lansing, IL, which is right across the state line. Just down the street from our hotel was a delightful restaurant called Poppolano's. The atmosphere was intimate and cozy, the wait staff was exceptionally friendly, and the food was just excellent. We happened to be there on a Monday night, which was great because it's what they call their "Perfect 10" night. Choose an appetizer, soup or salad, your entree and a dessert all for $10. Talk about a deal! Everything was delicious. I'm no food critic or expert on what is made from scratch as opposed to coming from a food service, so I could be wrong but I could just about bet you money I don't have that the food was made right there in the back by a darling little Italian Mama with a spattered apron and a big wooden spoon!

VIRGINIA/VIRGINIA BEACH

As most of you know, we're not well-to-do and when we travel we often have to stay in the most affordable place around, provided it isn't literally the bottom of the barrel as far as hotels go. I do have my limits. So we found an Econo-Lodge right on the beach and were completely surprised all the way around. It was really quite nice, very clean, and had everything we needed. But it was the staff at this hotel that just blew me away. They were exceedingly friendly and made certain that we had everything we needed. The young lady at the front desk was bright, articulate and witty. Check-in was a blast, I kid you not. We had been to Harpoon Larry's the night before, and it is respectable as sort of a college crowd hang-out with good food. They had a fireplace in the corner of the restaurant area which was sectioned off from the bar, so we could hear ourselves talk. But the next night, we wanted to celebrate Jeff's birthday so we asked for a recommendation at the front desk and were given printed directions to a place called Tautogs that is something of a local secret. There IS no sign, the restaurants is in an old 1920s beach house, and if you weren't directed to it you'd never find it. Well, you would if you were driving with your window rolled down because it smells delicious right around that end of the block! From start to finish, that was probably the most enjoyable, delectable and totally rewarding dining experience we've had in a long, long time. Was it inexpensive? No, and it shouldn't have been, either. We both ordered chef's specials and were rewarded with taste and texture sensations that were incredible. Have you ever had food so good that you just wanted to be left alone with your plate? No interruptions, no need to talk, just you and food that has taken over all your sensations? Well, if you have, then you know what I was going through. Jeff said I made noises that truly ought not be made in a restaurant, but I don't recall that. All I recall is savoring every moment. Whoever owns this place has service down to a fine art as well. We were never bothered by repeated inquiries as to our needs, but we were never left alone long enough to need anything. And the wait staff was young, I'm telling you. They just constantly walked around and regardless of whose table they passed, if they saw something that needed attention, they just hopped right on it. As a consequence, we were constantly full-up on beverages, when I dropped my fork another appeared in seconds as if by magic. My napkin was replaced as soon as it got a tad messy, and we were only interrupted a couple of times by our waitress asking if we needed anything further. All that 5-star service in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Totally cool! Oh, and since it was a few weeks before Christmas, there was an awesome light display all along the boardwalk. You could drive it for a nominal fee per car, but we could see so much of it from our hotel that we didn't bother.

While in Sterling, VA again, we stopped in at O'Faolain's Irish Pub since we had been there the previous year. In true Irish fashion, they were economical with their greetings but full of dry wit and smiles. It was refreshing to find that the same young man we had met there last year was still there and actually remembered us! The food was just as good as it was the last time which tells you that somebody is consistent there. And as always, we enjoyed chatting and trying to keep up to the banter being rattled out with a thick accent. Incidentally, we had originally thought we'd try something new and go to Sweetwater Tavern across the road from O'Faolain's. Were were there about 30 minutes and opted out. Service was entirely too slack.

WISCONSIN--The Second Time Throught

OK, I have to say that the second time around was just as good as the first. I just love Kenosha! It's spread out nicely so that nothing feels crowded, but still everything you need is close to you. We took the time to visit Uke's Harley Davidson on 120th Avenue. It is one of the oldest Harley dealerships, certainly Wisconsin's oldest, dating back to 1930...so the t-shirt we bought says. It was fun to just wander around and compare the dealership there to ours here in Greenville, SC. After that, we stopped in at Uncle Mikes since it wasn't there the last time we came through. Any way you could possibly think of to have a burger, they have it. And apparently 40 trillion different kinds of beers including a big selection from local micro breweries. It was a game day so the place was packed with folks who didn't mind a bit letting on which team they were pulling for. Unfortunately there were a lot of heavy drinkers who seemed determined to have one of each of those 40 trillion beers. I went outside to take a phone call and narrowly missed the side-spray from a guy who came outside for the sole purpose of throwing up. Check please!!

We toured the Jelly Belly warehouse, which was not quite as cool as it would be to tour the factory where the jelly beans are actually made. But they did the best they could at the warehouse and had a little tour, given by a young man who was either very nearly out of his little mind or he was as high as a kite. Humorous, but completely off his beam!

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA

We had the pleasure of visiting Stone Mountain, GA, again thanks to Barbara Elliott and Jennifer Ward Woods of Decorating Den Interiors. Thank you ladies! We have always loved this area. It's so close to Atlanta, but so less hectic. If you have the opportunity to visit Stone Mountain, do try to take in the laser light show. Atlanta, as always, is frantic and crazy. While there, we photographed the most awesome condo for Barbara and Jennifer. When we were finished, we realized that we were quite close to The Varsity. Anyone who ever has read any of Lewis Grizzard's books knows all about The Varsity. I personally had never been there, and it was one of those places that Daddy and I had always talked about going but it just never made it to the top of our "to-do" list. Jeff and I went, and it was just fascinating. They see you coming in the door and start hollering "Whatta ya have, whatta ya have". Whatever you do, get onion rings. And napkins, lots of napkins. Oh, and put the little healthnut in your head out the window and tell him or her to have a rest because this is just something you gotta do. I took photos of the place with my iphone so I could show them to Daddy when we got back. He said, "Um hmm, that's great. Where's my hot dog?!"

ARLINGTON, TX

Sandwiched between Fort Worth and Dallas is sweet, li'l old Arlington, and smack in the middle of Arlington is Six Flags over Texas. If you've never quite grown up and you still love the thrill of the roller coaster, you really need to go. There's Batman and Mr. Freeze, both maximum jolt rides, Judge Roy Scream which is a glorious out-and-back wooden roller coaster, Shockwave, and the Titan. Ok, Batman is one of those suspended on rails, turns you every which way but loose and causes you to lose pocket change kind of roller coasters. We followed that with Mr. Freeze, which goes from 0-70 in about 4 seconds, shoots you up almost 24 stories high and scares the living daylights of out you. We took a break from the mind-numbing rides to go on the more sedate Judge Roy Scream. For is, it was a throw-back to our childhoods when the wooden out-and-back roller coasters were in their prime. It only goes about 50 mph and covers roughly an acre. We rode that one twice. The Titan was the last roller coaster we rode, and it was the worst (or best, depending on your perspective). It takes you up 245 feet, drops you down and into a tunnel that makes the drop 255 feet, churns you around for 3 and a half minutes and leaves you a blithering wreck with very bad hair. Jeff loved it. I shut my eyes as soon as I saw the first drop coming and didn't open them again until the ride was more than half over. He got the t-shirt. I want a survivors patch!

If you're on a tight budget, which we were, the Econo Lodge on Wet-N-Wild Way is a very good choice. If you have kids, be aware that it has the smallest pool I've ever seen but still you can get your toes wet. If you plan on staying several days and want to eat in, they do have a room with a kitchen but they don't seem to understand how frustrating the lack of cookware and utensils can be. Most of us don't pack pots, pans, knives and a soup spoon with us.

We did our usual hunt for a British Isles establishment and were gratified to find J.R. Bentley's at 406 West Abram Street in Arlington. The fish and chips are excellent. They have a dart board, and that's all Jeff needed to get involved in a game with a young local fellow who was so good that everyone else who knew him insisted that he play left-handed just to give them a fair chance. I'm proud to report that, right-handed he narrowly beat Jeff by one throw.

Our next stop was Austin, TX. We had hotel reservations further into Austin but traffic was so bad going in that we dashed off on a exit and picked the first hotel we came to, a Red Roof Inn. Another budget-conscious choice that turned out surprisingly well. Again, small pool, but hey...you can swim. Red Roof Inns don't have even continental breakfasts, but this one was situated two doors down from an IHOP, so it wasn't so bad. And just down the street was a little gem of a find...La Margarita Mexican restaurant. Oh boy, how handy! It's a very popular place, we found out. When we arrived, there were people lined up and out the front door. We chose not to wait and got a seat in the bar area. Sean was bartending the first night, but he took good care of us and made sure we got our food order while it was still hot and never let us run out of beverage. We went there several time during our stay in Austin and were not disappointed once. Another night, we were taken extra-good care of by a lovely young lady named Karly. Seems that good service with a friendly smile is part of their training there.

On the way home, we spent the night in Palestine, TX, which is sort of a wide spot in the road it would seem. We are Choice Privilege members, so we try to select hotels that are part of that group. We stayed at the Quality Inn. Bad choice. Sometimes you just don't have much choice!

AUSTIN, TX...AGAIN

We revisited Austin in October 2011. After a photo shoot, one of our clients took us to a fabulous restaurant/sports bar, Cover 3. Matt Dodson, part owner, showed us hospitality Texas-style. Yes, it's a sports bar, yes there are TVs everywhere so you won't miss a moment of the game, BUT...these guys are serious about food! If you like seafood, try the jumbo scallops. They have a surprisingly smooth texture, great flavor, and come in a goat cheese sauce with applewood smoked bacon, toasted almonds and white wine. You won't be disappointed. While there, if you don't have the mac & cheese, you're just missing out on the only truly "to-die-for" mac & cheese on the planet. I know, your grandmother made something that was just out of this world...but Cover 3 has grandma beat. The secret? Crushed red pepper and a slightly spicy, salty pancetta. We were treated to samples of lots of things on the menu and every bite was pure genius. We also toured the kitchen and having been in a few restaurant kitchens, this one took the biscuit. It was clean, organized, and filled with mouth-watering aromas. Matt and his friends at Cover 3 are about as picky as they come in the restaurant business. If you live in Austin, please go.Tell them we sent you. If you don't live in Austin, make a trip just for this place and do some other stuff while you're there. I'm not kidding, it really IS that good. You can find Cover 3 on the web at www.cover-3.com.