Haunted Places

Not too long ago I visited Eureka Springs, Arkansas and was immersed in yesteryear. Puting aside the long, hot bus ride up the mountain, this charming town captured my attention, even to this day.

Most people are fascinated by spirits, or hauntings, something related to the supernatural. Whenever I travel I am usually always interested in haunted places as well. Eureka Springs, Ark., has their share of unusual events as any other, especially considering they have more than 2,000 pre-1900's structures. (Can you say haunts?)

One famous place is the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa. While on tour here myself, I felt and saw something unusual upstairs and in the basement. (Not for the faint at heart.)

The Crescent Hotel & Spa is the premier resort in Eureka Springs, and is recognized as one of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Crescent is of Victorian period with modern-day amenities, including a full-service spa, and 15 acres of formal gardens and nature trails. 

Tours are scheduled by appointment and often times, your guide will be in period costume. As I recall most of the tour was all conducted inside the hotel. Be prepared to stand or sit on steps, occasionally, if guests are present you will need to move. I believe the tour lasted more than an hour. An interesting history of the property will enlighten and surprise you.

Irish construction workers referred to the hotel as "The Grand Old Lady of the Ozarks". the newly completed railroad brought in thousands of tourists. There was even a stables with more than 100 horses, so everyone could ride.

At one time the palatial hotel was an all-girls school and later became a cancer hospital, before closing in 1940. It re-opened after World War II and in 1967 a fire destroyed most of the fourth floor including the center penthouse. 

As for the spirits...

It is rumored that during the construction of the hotel one of the Irish stone masons fell to his death in what is now room 218. And not surprisingly, this room proves to be the most 'spiritually active" room in the hotel. Guests are reported to have seen "hands coming out of mirrors", cries of a falling man in the ceiling, the door opening and then slamming shut. Naturally, many guests request this room. (During our tour, it was occupied so we didn't get a peek or feel anything unusual.) Guests have reported seeing playful spirits dressed in Victorian garb and employees have seen packages and furniture in the dining room move from one place to another. Others have witnessed Victorian era apparitions and have seen them or heard them speak. 

In a hallway upstairs, I thought I saw an apparition of a boy and a girl playing near a window.

The more eery feeling I felt, was in the basement where the morgue was, when the hotel was a cancer hospital during the 1930's. "Dr." Norman Baker, claiming to be a licensed physician, examined cancer patients while charging their families exorbitant fees. The stylish doctors apparition has been reported around the hotel too. The autopsy room was in the basement with a walk-in freezer, the braver of us walked in and around. I chose to stay outside the freezer as just being in the presence of the original autopsy table gave me the creeps, even as I think about it more than a year later.

A cancer patient is also reported as being seen in room 419, and has been known to talk to guests. 

Many more stories and apparitions can be seen or heard at the Crescent Hotel & Spa.

http://historichotels.org/hotel/1886_Crescent_Hotel_Spa/54

Winter Wonderland

One of my favorite states in the union is North Carolina. They have an abundance of land just ripe for adventure lovers like myself. I enjoyed the barrier islands. Hang gliding in the dunes in teh Outer Banks, kayaking along the coast and now skiing the slopes in High Country. Be sure to bring your camera so you can take dozens of photos to remember and share all the exciting adventures on your next trip to North Carolina. I guarantee you'll want to come back again and again. Majestic mountains offer a winter wonderland of activities for the novice to the experienced double diamond skiers. North Carolina offers an array of slopes to accommodate thrill seekers. Haven't skied in a a while? Maybe never? Don't worry, these resorts have experienced instructors who are patient and will help you learn to walk, glide, parallel ski and you will be skiing like a pro by noon! The conditions are perfect. Try skiing, snowboarding and/or snow shoeing. Not only will you be impressed with the instructors, the slopes, blissful snow, but you will make new friends to share your adventures with! Try out Cataloochee, Sapphire Valley, both are great for families too! Rent a beautiful cabin at Wolf Ridge Ski Resort for couples or family get togethers, with twenty ski runs, lessons and more coming! And you won't want to miss Sugar and Beech Ski Resorts! Sugar has the highest run in the state at 5,300 feet, Whoodedoo! Awesome slopes, great instructors. They also have ice skating and tubing for couples and families to enjoy. There's still time! The conditions are perfect! These resorts know how to make the most of snow and the weather conditions. www.visitnc.com 

Soar with the Eagles at Eagle Island

Breathe deeply. Do you smell the fresh pine trees and smoke from cedar logs burning in the fireplace. Cold, damp air is refreshing. Energizing to both physique and mind. Total seclusion. No traffic coursing by. You're not at a resort with organized chaos outside your room. You are far removed, accessible only by boat. The Private Isles of Georgia. A slice of heaven is waiting your arrival. From the moment you board your vessel off the dock near Skippers Restaurant on the Altamaha River, you will be leaving your worries behind and embarking on a respite you deserve.

Bait your hook, step into a kayak or simply take a walk in the woods. Relax on a hammock in the southwest corner of the wooded area and read a novel. Free your mind to release your spirit on Eagle Island. Marvel at how quickly your senses will allow you to embrace your home away from home. 

Don't worry about dinner, your meals can be prepared and brought to you or a chef can create your culinary delights upon your request, at the lodge. although it is recommended guests bring their own food to prepare as a family or couple, when they are ready for it. Enjoy the outdoor kitchen or the spacious lodge kitchen for fun, creative memories! The perfect anniversary, family reunion or girlfriends (or guys) getaway for a week, or weekend. Explore the many islands, drenched in history, with as much or as little adventure as you wish. Learn how to go crabbing, steam oysters, go birding and walk along a private beach.  

http://www.privateislandsofgeorgia.com

Secrets Hotels Don't Tell You

Want a few good tips about hotels (from booking to lost and found)? 

1. You can get the best rate by calling the hotel's local number, not the 800 number. Ask to speak to the Manager on Duty, Director of Sales or the GM, they have the authority to negotiate room rates. 

2. Rooms are more expensive in the morning. The best time of day to make a reservation by phone is right after 6 pm. This is when hotels wipe out all the no-show reservations that were unsecured by a credit card. They can offer those rooms at bargain rates. 

3. Everything is negotiable. Think parking is overpriced? If the lot looks half empty, offer less than the daily rate. Planning to make a lot of local calls? Some hotels offer a per-day flat fee for long distance in the US and local calling (usually $9.95) but you may ask for it. 

4. Rooms are available even when a hotel has no vacancies. In any large hotel, a few rooms are usually listed as "out of order" at any given time. The problems might be something as simple as a stain on the carpet or a chair that has been sent out for repairs. If you're desperate for a last-minute room in a hotel that claims to have non available, tell the manager  you are willing to take an out-of-order room with a minor problem. 

5. It pays to tip the housekeeper everyday. Exchange a few pleasant words with the housekeeper if you see him/her and leave a $2 or $3 tip each day. You'll get better service. Housekeepers  are overworked, underpaid and underappreciated in hotels. Knowing the housekeeper also reduces the chances that your room will be burglarized. Dishonest housekeepers are less likely to target guests they have met.  (more tips at www.NewTravelAdventures.com) 

Mardi Gras in Lake Charles

Colorful beads, beautiful sequenced costumes and lively music will welcome and surround you in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday, which comes before Ash Wednesday. A year ago I had the pleasure of being in Louisiana for Mardi Gras. I was directed to a great family town, Lake Charles, for parades, decorating a king cake, lively music, the Krewe of Krewes and delicious seafood; like gumbo. I've watched many unique and beautiful floats over the past few years, but it is nothing compared to actually being on a float in the parade and tossing beads to kids and adults along the street/parade route. It was a little chilly and raining the day we participated in the parade. If you aren't aware, they have a parade for each krewe, it's quite interesting. Mardi Gras has evolved from one day to week long celebrations. There's even a parade of boats on the lake. We were in the Red Hat Ladies parade (no, I'm not that old, not even quite), however there were men driving the floats and keeping the music going, and even a few kids onboard. I've never seen so many beads in one place!  A rainbow of colorful beads draped on the nails inside the floats. We tossed to young children, to men and women, to people who used to be strangers, who are now friends. "Throw me something!" Was the chorus along the streets where tailgating came to a whole new meaning. There's symbology, or meaning to everything about Mardi Gras. The throwing of beads didn't actually start until the 1920's. The purple represents justice; the green symbolizes faith and the gold exemplifies power ad they come in a plethora of shapes and sizes. Krewes even give out their own unique trinket, or doubloons with their logo embossed. The King Cake for example, when you bite into a king cake and if you get the golden baby, means you are the king or queen of the party and it also means you have to bring the king cake to the next party. King Cake is traditionally oblong or oval shaped cinnamon dough, glazed and sprinkled! Most have fillings of strawberry, cream cheese or apple. King Cake season officially opens January 6, the feast of the Epiphany. this is only a small portion of what Mardi Gras means and has to offer. Millions of people participate and enjoy Mardi Gras around the globe, with various cultures coming together to celebrate the things that make them unique. For a list of events go to: www.visitlakecharles.org

Jekyll Island

As you drive across the bridge, you can almost feel yourself stepping back in time. Don't be surprised when you witness men and women dressed in fine attire on the front lawn. They are partaking in the tournament play of croquet. As the mallet chucks the ball through metal rings, you can circle the lawn and admire the brick, old-style mansion. A playground for the rich, from a private hunting club to a state park gem. From tee time to tea time, this 240-acre, riverfront compound is a National Historic Landmark District and one of the largest ongoing restoration projects in the southeastern United States. 

A romantic getaway for couples, a respite, or girl-friends or guy weekend retreat, you will never be bored with this line up: fishing, boating, kayaking, biking, tennis, golf, birdwatching, soccer, camps for kids and more! Feel as though you are one of the America's elite families on winter retreat when you visit. As you will be treated with the hospitality as royalty.

After a rousing game of tennis, or hiking on the trails, meander over to the Cafe on the Wharf for a fresh, fruity, frozen beverage. After a refreshing repast, explore the grounds in the Pier Roads shops or the Historic District for treasures for sale. Or seek out hidden cache with a high-tech GPS for geocaching on the island. 

In addition to the beautiful grounds, also a resting place for migrating birds on the Atlantic Flyway, and architecture, I loved the loggerhead turtle rehab facility. The island is a major site for conservation and education.

Jekyll Island is also a superb location for business retreats with the only distractions coming from your participants anxious to enjoy Jekyll Islands paradise of sea fishing or sailing.

Visit them now.. while gas prices are still going down! Worth the drive! www.jekyllisland.com

Hit the Road

Whenever I travel I always look for an opportunity to paddle a kayak or peddle on the trails. Not only is this  a great way to stay in shape, its a great way to see parts of the city or town where you are visiting. Getting up an hour earlier or skipping the television in your hotel room for beautiful foliage, learning to identify birds and feeling great are worth the one-hour of less sleep.

While in Springfield, Missouri, I found a beautiful gathering place for people of all ages, River Bluff Cave House is just one of the cities beautiful areas for respite and recreation. This family-friendly park offers trails and a cave to explore. Other city parks offer playgrounds, rose gardens, rock walls and picnic/grilling areas.

The morning air is fresh and exhilarating along the bike/walking paths. Springfield parks offer a plethora of recreational opportunities as well; from skating rinks to rugby fields. Feel free to rent a bike and hit the trails all over the city and into the charming neighborhoods.

Another one of my favorite past times is fishing. Missouri has a wealth of lakes, rivers and streams to cast your bait or fly. If you need to practice your casting technique you might want to visit Dogwood Canyon where you can catch plenty of Rainbow Trout. There are 2,200 acres of beautiful paradise here in the Ozarks, to explore on foot, by bike, on horseback or with a guided tram tour.

The Ozarks are also a great place for paddling. Whether you enjoy pleasure kayaking or canoes, you wont be disappointed with the scenery, wildlife or tranquility of Missouri/Arkansas's Garden of Eden. Borrow a canoe or kayak at Lake Springfield Park where you can paddle James River Water Trail.