A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO CHAPTER THIRTEEN - PARIS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO

- CHAPTER THIRTEEN-

PARIS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - CAUSE WHY THE HECK NOT!

Ah, Paris, the most romantic city in the world; a place where anyone can get laid just by saying like, "Lets go to Paris, Idaho!" 

Welcome to the Thirteenth Blog of the Traveler's Guide to Everything!!!

"So how many cities are there named Paris in the United States?"

A lot apparently!!

I was going to write about Paris, Texas but thought, well, maybe I'd just be a generic tucker and write about all the Paris in the U.S.

Here's a list - as stolen from Yahoo! Answers!!

Paris, Georgia Paris, Maine Town of Paris, New York Paris, Tennessee Paris, Virginia New Paris, Indiana New Paris, Ohio New Paris, Pennsylvania Paris, Arkansas Paris, Dakota Territory Paris, Idaho Paris, Illinois Paris, Kentucky Paris, Michigan Paris, Missouri Paris, New York Paris, Ohio Paris, Pennsylvania Paris, Tennessee Paris, Texas Paris, Grant County, Wisconsin Paris, Kenosha County, Wisconsin Paris Township, Michigan South Paris, Maine St. Paris, Ohio West Paris, Maine

Ohhhhh, lookeeeee at them Paris!!!!

Which ones should we mock, oops, I mean explore??

PARIS, IDAHO ----

(Because we love Idaho!!!)

"Tell us about Paris, Idaho oh great guide of wonderful knowledge!! Should we visit there naked?"

According to the Wikipedia --- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris,_Idaho

Paris is a city and county seat of Bear Lake County, Idaho, United States. Located on the western side of the Bear Lake Valley, the city's population was 513 at the 2010 census, down from 576 in 2000.^[4] Paris was settled on September 26, 1863, by pioneer settlers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Paris was settled by a group of dedicated Mormons led by Charles C Rich. During early years, pioneers suffered difficulties with the harsh cold climate, however their determination and faith kept them from leaving the area.
Paris sports an impressive landmark for a city of its size: the LDS Bear Lake Stake Tabernacle, a sandstone church designed by Joseph Don Carlos Young and built between 1884 and 1889. It seats around 1,400 people.

So to answer your question --- yes, visit there naked!! The 513 people there as of 2010 will be very appreciative!!

"Really?"

No, probably not!!!

But maybe, while visiting Bear Lake ( https://bearlake.org/loc/paris/ ), you could run naked there!!

So get on the road my friends and go check out the Paris USA!! From Paris, Maine to Paris Idaho down to Paris Texas and all between, good travels!!

And remember, tell them we sent you, and get a free piece of apple pie!!

"Wait, isn't this entry kind of short?"

Well, kinda but what else is there to say?

"Can't we have another review of another Paris??"

Well, I guess!! 

PARIS, MAINE

Hello and welcome to Paris (Maine).

"Hi!!"

According to Wikipedia ----- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris,_Maine

Paris is a town in and the county seat of Oxford County, Maine, United States.^[4] The population was 5,183 at the 2010 census. The census-designated place of South Paris is located within the town. Because the U.S. Post Office refers to the entire town as South Paris, the town as a whole is commonly referred to as South Paris. The main exception is the area known as Paris Hill, which is a scenic historic district popular with tourists.

Excited yet?

"You bet!!! What else is there to do besides build a time machine so we can go back to 1909 to check out the scene where the above photo was taken?"

There's the McLaughlin Garden (https://mclaughlingarden.com/about/)

Also, there's the Stars and Strikes Bowling Center (https://m.facebook.com/starsandstrikesme/ )

And just butt loads more to see and do.

"Really?"

Sure!!

"Like what?"

You could go check out Norway, Maine!!

"Wow!! Do they have bowling too??"

Maybe!!

So are you ready now for a wonderful trip!?

"We sure are!!"

Safe Travels!!!

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO CHAPTER TWELVE KEARNEY NEBRASKA

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO

- CHAPTER TWELVE-

KEARNEY NEBRASKA - CAUSE WHY THE HECK NOT!

So another travel brochure made its way into my mail box so I decided HI TRAVELERS, WELCOME TO MY BLOG! COME ON IN AND ENJOY!

So what is the big deal about Kearney?

It's the midpoint between San Francisco, California and Boston, Massachusetts at 1733 miles from each place to the mecca of whatever!!

Isn't that exciting?

"You bet!!"

What else about Kearney?

LETS GO TO GOOGLE!!

Kearney is a city in and the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 30,787 at the 2010 census. It is home to the University of Nebraska at Kearney. The westward push of the railroad as the Civil War ended gave birth to the community 

Can you feel the excitement? 

"Like watching paint dry without the paint!"

That's the key!!!

You have the Classic Car Collection with over hundreds of cars! (Website can be found here ---- http://www.ccckearney.com/ 

There's the Archway!

"The what? Tell me more!!"

The Archway is a museum of and monument to Nebraska's and the Platte River valley's role in westward expansion. The Archway is directly over Interstate 80 three miles east of Kearney, Nebraska. 

There's Yanney Heritage Park -the finest family park between Omaha and Denver, Colorado!!  

FREE WIFI even!!! 

Life is good with free wifi!

"Isn't it though? What else is there to do in Kearney?? It sounds fun!!"

There's the Museum of Nebraska Art!!

The Museum of Nebraska Art is the official art museum of the state of Nebraska. The museum is located in Kearney, Nebraska, and is administratively affiliated with the University of Nebraska at Kearney. 

"Oh my!! So much better than watching paint dry!! Why wasn't I told about Kearney before now? Everybody is like LETS GO TO PARIS, FRANCE!!! when we have Kearney right here, in the good ole United States of America!!!"

I know!! What the hell!!

Visit Kearney, Nebraska, the sandhill crane capital of  THE WORLD!! (Offical website can be found here --- https://visitkearney.org/  Tell them we sent you and they'll chase you out of town with a broom, so maybe don't do that!!!)

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF TRAVELING TO - OMAHA, NEBRASKA, WHY NOT?

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO

- CHAPTER ELEVEN-

OMAHA NEBRASKA - CAUSE WHY THE HECK NOT!

The other day I received some more travel information in the mail.

HELLO OMAHA, NEBRASKA, this is your life!! How do you do?

"Not too bad!"

Awesome! Tell us some stuff about you?

AS STOLEN FROM WIKIPEDIA - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha,_Nebraska

Omaha (/ˈoʊməhɑː/ OH-mə-hah) is the largest city in the state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County.^[6] Omaha is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 10 miles (15 km) north of the mouth of the Platte River. Omaha is the anchor of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area, which includes Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha. According to the 2010 census, Omaha's population was 408,958, having increased to 466,893 as of the 2017 estimate. This makes Omaha the nation's 40th-largest city. Including its suburbs, Omaha formed the 60th-largest metropolitan area in the United States in 2013, with an estimated population of 895,151 residing in eight counties. The Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, Nebraska-IA Combined Statistical Area is 931,667, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2013 estimate.^[7] Nearly 1.3 million people reside within the Greater Omaha area, comprising a 50 miles (80 kilometers) radius of Downtown Omaha, the city's center.
Omaha's pioneer period began in 1854, when the city was founded by speculators from neighboring Council Bluffs, Iowa. The city was founded along the Missouri River, and a crossing called Lone Tree Ferry earned the city its nickname, the "Gateway to the West". Omaha introduced this new West to the world in 1898, when it played host to the World's Fair, dubbed the Trans-Mississippi Exposition. During the 19th century, Omaha's central location in the United States spurred the city to become an important national transportation hub. Throughout the rest of the 19th century, the transportation and jobbing sectors were important in the city, along with its railroads and breweries. In the 20th century, the Omaha Stockyards, once the world's largest, and its meatpacking plants gained international prominence.
Today, Omaha is the home to the headquarters of four Fortune 500 companies: mega-conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway; one of the world's largest construction companies, Kiewit Corporation; insurance and financial firm Mutual of Omaha; and the United States' largest railroad operator, Union Pacific Corporation.^[8] Berkshire Hathaway is headed by local investor Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world, according to a decade's worth of Forbes Magazine rankings, some of which have ranked him as high as No. 1.^[9] Omaha is also the home to five Fortune 1000 headquarters: Green Plains Renewable Energy, TD Ameritrade, Valmont Industries, Werner Enterprises, and West Corporation. Also headquartered in Omaha are First National Bank of Omaha, the largest privately held bank in the United States; three of the nation's largest 10 architecture/engineering firms: DLR Group, HDR, Inc., and Leo A Daly;^[10] the Gallup Organization, of Gallup Poll fame; and its riverfront Gallup University. Enron began in Omaha as Northern Natural Gas in 1930, before taking over a smaller Houston company in 1985 to form InterNorth, which Kenneth Lay moved permanently to Houston, in 1987. First Data, another Fortune 500 company, was founded in Omaha in 1971 and headquartered there until the late 90's. ConAgra Brands, yet another Fortune 500 company, was headquartered in Omaha until 2014. Both First Data and ConAgra Brands still have a significant presence in Omaha. MetLife and Pacific Life, two Fortune 500 insurance companies also domicile in Omaha.
The modern economy of Omaha is diverse and built on skilled knowledge jobs. In 2009, Forbes identified Omaha as the nation's number one "Best Bang-For-The Buck City" and ranked it number one on "America's Fastest-Recovering Cities" list. Tourism in Omaha benefits the city's economy greatly, with the annual College World Series and Triple Crown SlumpBuster providing important revenue and the city's Henry Doorly Zoo serving as the top attraction in Nebraska as well as being named the best zoo in the world by Trip Advisor in 2014.^[11] Omaha hosted the U.S. Olympic swim trials in 2008, 2012, 2016, and will host them again in 2020.
Notable modern Omaha inventions include: the bobby pin and the "pink hair curler", at Omaha's Tip Top; Butter Brickle Ice Cream and the Reuben sandwich, conceived by a chef at the then-Blackstone Hotel on 36th and Farnam Streets;^[12] cake mix, developed by Duncan Hines, then a division of Omaha's Nebraska Consolidated Mills, the forerunner to today's ConAgra Foods; center-pivot irrigation by the Omaha company now known as Valmont Corporation;^[13] Raisin Bran, developed by Omaha's Skinner Macaroni Co.; the ski lift, in 1936, by Omaha's Union Pacific Corp;^[14] the "Top 40" radio format, pioneered by Todd Storz, scion of Omaha's Storz Brewing Co., and head of Storz Broadcasting, which was the first in the U.S. to use the "Top 40" format at Omaha's KOWH Radio; and the TV dinner, developed by Omaha's Carl Swanson Co.^[15] Omaha was also the birthplace of Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States.

Gerald Ford??

"Gerald Ford!! Ain't we awesome!!?"

You truly are!

So what is there to do in Omaha, Nebraska??

(Follow along with us at https://www.google.com/destination?q=omaha+nebraska&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS814US814&site=search&output=search&dest_mid=/m/0chrx&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjzjY7Alr7dAhVym-AKHUYmB2sQ6tEBCFEoBDAC#dest_mid=/m/0chrx&tcfs=EhoaGAoKMjAxOC0xMC0wMRIKMjAxOC0xMC0wNQ

Omaha

City in Nebraska

Omaha is a city in the U.S. state of Nebraska, on the Missouri River close to the Iowa border. A stop on the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, it's known for its pioneer history, museums and cultural centers. The Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium spearheads conservation work and features a big cat complex as well as indoor jungle, rainforest and desert habitats.

On the edge of the Missouri River, Lauritzen Gardens is a large botanical garden with seasonal exhibits. Just north, the Joslyn Art Museum showcases works by Rembrandt and Monet in art deco and contemporary buildings. The Durham Museum exhibits regional photographs and artifacts in the art deco Union Station, a former railway station. Within the cobblestoned Old Market, a shopping and dining district, lies the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. The Omaha Community Playhouse, Holland Performing Arts Center and the Rose Theater are other performing arts spaces that contribute to the city's rich cultural scene. 

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, located at 3701 South 10th Street. It can be accessed by I-80, very easily. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Website -  http://www.omahazoo.com/ 

Old Market

Neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska

The Old Market is a neighborhood located in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, United States, and is bordered by South 10th Street to the east, 13th Street to the west, Farnam Street to the north and Jackson Street to the South. The neighborhood has many restaurants, art galleries and upscale shopping. 

Lauritzen Gardens/Kenefick Park

Lauritzen Gardens are a botanical gardens and arboretum located at 100 Bancroft Street in the South Omaha neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska. The gardens are open daily during business hours; an admission fee is charged.

Website - https://www.lauritzengardens.org/

Durham Museum

The Durham Museum is located at 801 South 10th Street in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. The museum is dedicated to preserving and displaying the history of the United States' western region. The museum is housed in Omaha's former Union Station.

Website - https://durhammuseum.org/

And so much more, so hit the open road and head to Omaha, tell em we said hi!!

Good travels!

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO CHAPTER TEN - FOUR MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWS SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

- A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING -

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO

- CHAPTER TEN-

 FOUR MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWS SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

Today, I received my HUGE package of tourism information from Oklahoma, a state we have already written about in this blog, but with this package of new information, I have decided to take one (or a thousand, we'll see!!) of the many articles inside the travel guides and place it here.

My eyes fell on one, FOUR MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA, and in that moment, it was decided --- TO THE GOOGLE!!!! for more information to pull and place on this blog!!!

1. THE WATER FALL AT TURNER FALLS PARK - 

TURNER FALLS PARK website can be found here.

Located near Davis, this 77 foot waterfall is breathtaking (according to the travel guide) and the area beneath it is one of the state's most beloved swimming holes.

A visit to the park's 777 zip line will provide even better views.

Turner Falls is just over an hour south of Oklahoma City and two hours north of Dallas/Ft Worth off I-35. Tulsa is just 2 1/2 hrs away as well. Make a weekend of it or come during the week and enjoy a smaller crowd. NO PETS are allowed inside Turner Falls Park.

From Dallas

continue North on I-35 and take Exit #47 for Turner Falls Park. Park is west of I-35 on HWY 77.

From Oklahoma City

continue South on I-35 and take Exit #51 for Turner Falls Park. Park is west of I-35 on HWY 77. 

Telephone 580-369-2988

2. Lake Murray from the top Tucker Tower

Visitors who climb the stairs to the observation deck at the top of Tucker Tower will be rewarded with some of the best scenery Lake Murray State Park in Ardmore has to offer.

For more information, check out the Tucker Tower - Lake Murray website at http://www.lake-murray.org/tucker-tower/

Telephone 580-223-4044

3. Lake of the Arbuckles

This clear lake in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area is especially stunning in the fall when the wooded surroundings are aglow with colors.

Built by the Bureau of Reclamation in 1966, the Lake of the Arbuckles is one of the best fishing lakes in Oklahoma for catfish, perch, bass, and crappie. Thirty-six miles of shoreline and protective coves are good for trotlines, the water is unusually clear, and trolling is popular. Facilities include campgrounds, trailer spaces, picnic areas, shelters, tables, public restrooms, drinking water, boat docks, and boat ramps.

The Lake is located at the confluence of the Buckhorn, Guy Sandy, and Rock Creeks. The area presents unusual opportunities, combining recreational use with scenic, scientific, and historic values.

Website located here for more information!

Phone number 580-622-7234

4. Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area

This roughly 6 mile stretch of Tishomingo's Blue River is one of the most beautiful parts, with the clean, clear water tumbling over the rocks to create small waterfalls.

The area north of Tishomingo has 2 Boy Scout camps, a fish hatchery, and the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. For those wanting to enjoy the outdoors, there is a dearth of camping areas. But, for anyone with an Oklahoma hunting or fishing license, they can use the Blue River campsites for free. There are 6 areas for camping. Area 2 has sites for RVs, the rest are for tent camping. All primitive campsites (no water or electricity; remote bathroom facilities). Some are located just off the Blue River.

Fishing is good all year around and anglers will find catfish, native bass, bream and panfish. From November 1 through March 31, Blue River is a designated trout stream.

Even though trout fishing and camping are the most popular activities on Blue River PFHA, hunting shouldn't be overlooked. Mixed upland habitat with native prairie grasses and interspersed with forests makes a diverse habitat for wildlife and provides hunters with plenty of hunting opportunities. The most popular seasons include deer, dove, turkey, and quail.

Good website for more information can be found here. The "official" website seemingly is gone and is just a place marker. Damn place markers.

Phone number 580-371-9288

Sounds like a good time can be had by all in Oklahoma!! LETS GO!!!

Until next time, safe travels!!!!

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO OR A PIRATE'S LIFE Chapter Nine Jean Lafitte

- A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING -

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO OR A PIRATE'S LIFE

- CHAPTER NINE-

JEAN LAFITTE

*singing*

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for meWe pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and lootDrink up, me 'earties, yo hoWe kidnap and ravage and don't give a hootDrink up me 'earties, yo hoYo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for meWe extort, we pilfer, we filch, and sackDrink up, me 'earties, yo hoMaraud and embezzle, and even high-jackDrink up, me 'earties, yo hoYo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for meWe kindle and char, inflame and igniteDrink up, me 'earties, yo hoWe burn up the city, we're really a frightDrink up, me 'earties, yo hoWe're rascals, scoundrels, villans, and knavesDrink up, me 'earties, yo hoWe're devils and black sheep, really bad eggsDrink up, me 'earties, yo hoYo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for meWe're beggars and blighters, ne'er-do-well cadsDrink up, me 'earties, yo hoAye, but we're loved by our mommies and dadsDrink up, me 'earties, yo ho

Tis a pirate's life here at the GUIDE and as part of our STATES WE WOULDN'T THINK WOULD BE A TOURIST DESTINATION, we present PIRATES!!!

I turned on the TV and there, as if by magic, was the story of the pirate Jean Lafitte and I decided, SWEET!! 

New chapter for the guide!!!!

WHO WAS JEAN LAFITTE?

AS STOLEN BY WIKIPEDIA -
Jean Lafitte (c. 1780 – c. 1823) was a French pirate and privateer in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century. He and his elder brother, Pierre, spelled their last name Laffite, but English-language documents of the time used "Lafitte". The latter has become the common spelling in the United States, including for places named after him.^[1]Lafitte is believed to have been born either in Basque-France or the French colony of Saint-Domingue. By 1805, he operated a warehouse in New Orleans to help disperse the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte. After the United States government passed the Embargo Act of 1807, the Lafittes moved their operations to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. By 1810, their new portwas very successful; the Lafittes had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy.
Though Lafitte warned the other Baratarians of a possible military attack on their base of operations, a United States naval force successfully invaded in September 1814 and captured most of Lafitte's fleet. Later, in return for a legal pardon for the smugglers, Lafitte and his comrades helped General Andrew Jackson defend New Orleans from the British in the final battle of the War of 1812.
The Lafittes became spies for the Spanish during the Mexican War of Independence and moved to Galveston Island, Texas, where they developed a pirate colony they called Campeche. Lafitte continued attacking merchant ships as a pirate around Central American ports until he died circa 1823, trying to capture Spanish vessels. Speculation about his life and death continues among historians. 

He died doing what he loved to do; breathing!!

I think we can all learn something from this;

Breathing is good.

Or be a pirate!!!!

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Till next time; be a traveler!! 

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO - CHAPTER EIGHT - ILLINOIS

- A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING -

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO

- CHAPTER EIGHT-

ILLINOIS

Illinois state motto - We aren't going to tell you, come find out yourself!! Or State Sovereignty, National Union

Illinois State Capitol - Springfield (yes, THAT Springfield!!!)

Here we are, the state of Illinois, Land of Lincoln, Chicago (which we will ignore because you already know about the great city of Chicago but not much else!)

So where to begin!

"How about stealing something from Google!"

Sounds like a plan!!!

STOLEN FROM GOOGLE:

Illinois is a midwestern state bordering Indiana in the east and the Mississippi River in the west. Nicknamed "the Prairie State," it's marked by farmland, forests, rolling hills and wetlands. Chicago, one of the largest cities in the U.S, is in the northeast on the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s famous for its skyscrapers, such as sleek, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower.

"Sounds like a piece of heaven!!"

It sure does!! And there's more to it than just Chicago, there's flat lands as far as the eyes can see.

If you squint hard enough, you'll be able to see the sea!!

I kid, maybe!

STUFF TO SEE AND DO IN ILLINOIS (besides watching paint dry and the grass grow!) 

Go check out https://www.enjoyillinois.com/ to find out more about Illinois; tell them The Blogger sent you and get a punch in the nose!!

• Orchards in Illinois!!!

During harvest season, take your family out in the country to one of Illinois' many orchards, all filled with fun and games, fresh goodies, and U-pick apples and pumpkins.

Yes, there's orchards!!! Nummy fruits all for the picking

• Quirky places to stay like tree houses and other fun places.   

Find quirky places to stay in Illinois, from treehouses to yurt villages to a school bus turned solar-powered home.

• Watch the grass grow and paint dry.

Yes!! It's a thing; don't believe me, go Google!! SEE!!???? Even the people living in Illinois are outside watching that stuff!!!

And now you can too!!! Get on the bus and head to Illinois and tell them, THE BLOGGER SENT ME!!!

And they'll punch you in the nose!!!!

TRAVEL ILLINOIS AND UH, OTHER PLACES TOO!!!

Travel well, travel light and come back here for more suggestions than you can shake a stick at!!!

 

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO Chapter Seven Arkansas

- A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO LIFE AND EVERYTHING -

A TRAVELER'S GUIDE TO STATES YOU WOULDN'T THINK OF VACATIONING TO

- CHAPTER SEVEN-

ARKANSAS

State motto: DON'T LOOK AT US!!! (Just kidding!!!!) "Regnat Populus"  "What does that mean?"  WE WILL KILL YOU IF YOU LOOK AT US!! Just kidding, it means, "The People Rule"

"And what does that mean?"

We have no idea!!!!

So here we are again, the greatest travel guide you didn't think you needed and well, we're not even sure why we're even writing it other than boredom and a map of the United States of America.

"As you already know, my wife wanted to go on vacation but I was like, I JUST WANNA GO SOMEPLACE DIFFERENT!!! And so we went to Google and found you!! What's an Arkansas??"

"Bill Clinton!!"

"Uh, I think we'll pass!!!"

"No, no, hold on, it's more than just the Clintons!! So much more!!! Here's what Google says about it!!!"

Capital (a forgotten piece of information from those other states we've already posted!! Sorry!!!) - Little Rock (motto - DON'T BEND OVER IN FRONT OF BILL CLINTON!!!)

AS STOLEN FROM GOOGLE -

Arkansas is a southern U.S. state bordering the Mississippi River. It's known for its abundant park and wilderness areas, with terrain encompassing mountains, caves, rivers and hot springs. The rugged Ozarks region in its northwest has hiking trails and limestone caves such as Blanchard Springs Caverns. Its capital, Little Rock, hosts the Clinton Presidential Center, housing Bill Clinton’s presidential archives.

THE OFFICIAL TOURISM OFFICE (in case you want a real tourism site and not just some bored guy's idea of a tourism site!! "But we love you Mr. Blogger!!!!" Thanks!!!!) : https://www.arkansas.com/ 

Blanchard Springs Caverns and Recreation Area

"Hiking trails??? That sounds fun!!!"

"And limestone caves??" Wifey throws in.  "Lets go!!!"

"Take me with!! TAKE ME WITH!!!"

There's also lakes, rivers, water front cabins where in a passionate moment and the breaking of a condom you can tell your kids they were conceived in the same state that Bill Clinton's illegitimate children were made!!!

"ENOUGH WITH THE CLINTON JOKES!!!! You had us at cabin!!"

 Of course, there's shopping!! So much shopping, that, after you're done, you won't want to shop anymore.

You'll literally SHOP TILL YOU DROP and won't want to stop!!! (I made a rhyme!!!!) 

"What if I did enough shopping back in the early 1980s?? And I'm hungry???"

Then Arkansas is for you!!!

There's eats!!! 

Tons of eats!!!

So much eats, you won't want to get up and do anything else after you're done eating!!"

"Can we eat in a cave or a large orange?"

You sure can!! You sure can!!! 

"Well we're set!!! But what cities are there??!'

Cities?? DOES ARKANSAS HAVE THE CITIES!!!! (Click here for a huge list of cities and towns here!!!! )

Of course, there's Little Rock but well, here's just a few as stolen from the above site!!!

ADONA

Adona, Arkansas is located in Perry County. Nearby Little Rock and North Little Rock form the vibrant heart of Arkansas. The two cities and their neighboring towns comprise a metropolitan area of some 500,000 people in central Arkansas. This metropolis, as well as Conway, Searcy, and Cabot, and nearby cities in the central region offer a cosmopolitan mix of historic attractions, imaginative shopping opportunities, fine dining, nightlife and creative arts and fine hotels.

A grand collection of museums offers something for every taste – from art to history to aerospace. And the Quapaw Quarter of restored 19th-century homes is one of the country's finest examples of bringing an older neighborhood back to life through adaptive reuse.

Be sure to visit the new River Market in Little Rock for tastes of exotic cuisines and the freshest of produce from nearby farms in season. Extensive park systems in both cities provide the chance to play golf or tennis, fish for lunkers in the Arkansas River or on area lakes, hike leafy trails, talk to the animals in the park-like Little Rock zoo or picnic in beautiful natural settings. Central Arkansas is an ideal staging area for your Natural State vacation. Its big city tempo exists side by side with small-town charm. Discover Central Arkansas's winning ways for yourself.

ALTUS

The small, rural town of Altus is a distinctive and important aspect of Arkansas's history and culture. Altus preserves the heritage of German-Swiss immigrants and the art of wine making. Its downtown pays tribute to its coal mining history while offering visitors unique shopping and dining experiences in a classic, small downtown square setting.
In the Arkansas River Valley rich soil gives life to vineyards. Thousands of visitors stop to savor Arkansas's award-winning wines, tour its wineries and soak up the history of Arkansas Wine Country each year. Six wineries – Post Winery, Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, Mount Bethel Winery, Chateau Aux Arc, Dionysys Wine and Brew, and Neumeier Winery - now operate in the Altus area. Each offers free tours and operates tasting rooms. Some offer extra amenities such as a gift shop, a restaurant, an RV park, or a bed and breakfast inn.

In nearby Paris, Cowie Wine Cellars offers tours and tastings and is home to the Arkansas Historic Wine Museum, which preserves the viticultural past of The Natural State with winemaking artifacts and biographical histories of winemakers. The pastoral landscape of the region, boasts more than 120 years of viticultural history with some historic vineyards run by the fourth and fifth generation descendants of the original wine families.

Arkansas is the oldest and largest grape juice and wine producing state in the southern United States. Drawn by the Benedictine of Subiaco Abbey, a colony of German-Swiss immigrants settled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains and began growing grapes in the 1870s at Altus in Franklin County. These early viticulturalists found great potential for grape production in this Arkansas River Valley region with mountains and valleys, and well-draining sandy soil that closely resembled the microclimates that had for centuries nurtured Europe's great wines.

In addition to wine, coal mining is a part of Altus' history. The centerpiece of the square is a beautiful city park containing memorials to coal mining memorial and veterans. In the late 20s and 30s, the coal mines played a very important part of the economy of Altus and a thorough recitation of the region's coal mining history can be found at the town's Heritage House Museum. Surrounding the park are shops containing antiques, collectibles and crafts, as well as restaurants. Enjoy a meal at one of several restaurants on Altus' historic square, such as Kelt's.
Two area churches also attract visitors. In Altus, St. Mary's Catholic Church is a 1902 Roman Basilical style church known for its paintings and ornate gold leaf work. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. About 25 minutes away, the Benedictine of Subiaco draws visitors to experience the beauty and solitude of its grounds, comprised of a sprawling campus of impressive sandstone buildings and a Romanesque-style Abbey Church set amid extensive farmland, finely manicured lawns, gardens and vineyards.

Other prime areas for exploring within an hour's drive are Mt. Magazine State Park, Lake Dardanelle State Park, the Ozark National Forest, and the Mulberry River. Mt. Magazine State Park, the highest point in Arkansas, rises out of the Arkansas River Valley to an elevation of 2,753 feet above mean sea level. The mountain's eight scenic overlooks have traditionally enticed visitors up the mountain. It also offers hang gliding, rappelling, camping, trails, and an extensive butterfly population. A visitor center contains exhibits and a gift shop, while a lodge offers a restaurant, swimming pool, meeting space and upscale rooms. Thirteen cabins flank the lodge.

For added value and fun, plan a tour to the Altus region during one of the annual wine festivals that offers more than a taste of delicious wine in a celebratory atmosphere, but also an experience of family heritage and tradition. Lodging can be found at several bed and breakfast inns and RV parks with traditional hotels just minutes away at Ozark and Clarksville. Or book a night at the bed and breakfast inn at Cowie Wine Cellars about 25 minutes away in nearby Paris. Altus is five miles south of Interstate 40, exit 41, on Ark. 186. Fort Smith is about one hour west, Fayetteville is about one hour north, and Little Rock is about two hours east. 

MAGNOLIA

The Columbia County seat, about 2.5 hours from Little Rock is a charming southwest Arkansas town with a quaint courthouse square. The town proudly displays its heritage with colorful murals on buildings around the square. Numerous shops and restaurants ringing the courthouse await visitors. Also highlighting the square are the stately trees which give the town its name. Founded in 1909, Southern Arkansas University, a liberal arts college that calls Magnolia home, offers a varied calendar of events and tours of its 658-acre Agricultural and Horticultural Farm. At 3,000 acres, Lake Columbia is one of the largest Arkansas Game and Fish Commission impoundments in South Arkansas and is popular with both anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. The Magnolia Blossom Festival and World's Championship Steak Cook-off draws thousands of visitors each May.

At nearby McNeil, Logoly State Park is an environmental-education park that is popular with school groups and scout troops. Twelve miles south of town is the tiny community of Emerson which every June hosts the World's Championship Rotary Tiller Race and Purplehull Pea Festival.

Natural resources have played an important role in the region. Cotton was the cash crop in the nineteenth century; timber, oil, and gas in the mid-twentieth century; and later bromine became instrumental. The first inhabitants of the area were Native Americans. Settlement of the area began after Arkansas achieved statehood in 1836, when small communities were formed. Columbia County was created from portions of Lafayette, Hempstead, Ouachita, and Union counties in 1852. The county seat, Magnolia, was incorporated three years later.

Columbia is the only one of Arkansas's seventy-five counties not situated on a river so transportation was an issue for the county. For early travelers, the county's creeks and bayous were too narrow and shallow to support water traffic. The arrival of railroads created a dependable transportation option. It was not until the construction of the St. Louis, Arkansas and Texas Railroad in 1882 that the first cotton was shipped from the county by railcar. Cut off from the planned railroad, leaders in Magnolia resolved to have a spur line built to the city. The branch was completed the next year. The Louisiana and North West Railroad was built between Magnolia and points in Louisiana in 1899. Magnolia grew steadily after World War II. Cotton remained the chief crop into the early twentieth century, and offshoots from the cotton industry provided the area with its earliest trade and manufacturing base. An important example was the Magnolia Cotton Mill in 1928, the first textile mill in southwest Arkansas.
The discovery of the Magnolia Oil Field ten years later was another monumental turn for the town.

This quickly led to the development of an oil and gas exploration industry within the county. While the importance of oil and gas drilling declined steadily, a new natural resources industry arrived in the mid-1960s as chemical companies discovered the high bromine content of brine, an element used in many chemical and manufacturing processes, located thousands of feet beneath the earth's surface. Columbia and Union counties sit on one of the largest brine reserves in the world. Timber also holds an important role in the area.

And so many other cities we just can't cover them all!!!! So are you packed yet?

"YES WE ARE!!"

So there you go, Arkansas!!!

Travel well, travel often, and remember, DON'T BEND OVER IN FRONT OF BILL CLINTON!!!! Have a great trip!!!

Until next time, we're off!!