White sand and blue water at the Gulf Coast

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This past weekend was my birthday, and I was in sore need of some relaxing. I booked a room at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa, located inside the Sandestin Beach neighborhood of Florida’s South Walton beaches. My husband and I hit the road early Friday morning and left our worries behind. See the full [...]

Relaxing Retreats

Wine glass at Houmas House (c) Shannon Hurst Lane

I’ve been on a mission to find some of the most peaceful retreats and destinations spas around North America. I’ve also been fortunate to visit a good many of these places during the course of my travels over the past decade.  Here are few places that stand out for me. El Monte Sagrado in Taos, [...]

Road Trip Stop: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant

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My family lovingly calls Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Restaurant “The Time Warp”. Any time we stop at this establishment, we’re sure to lose at least an hour of our road trip. This nostalgic establishment serves hearty country fare and has an onsite store full of items that will delight all ages. See the [...]

#SeLaGumbo Express at Memphis @Amtrak

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Last night the Southeast Louisiana Gumbo Express stopped in Memphis, TN to meet with Memphis area media. There was a reception held offering bacon wrapped coconut shrimp, fried catfish, seafood gumbo, and Plantation Punch.  The historic Memphis Station was filled with the sound of laughter and Louisiana music. I had fun meeting some of the [...]

Boarding @Amtrak’s City of New Orleans #SeLaGumbo

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I just boarded Amtrak’s City of New Orleans in Hammond, Louisiana for a media tour with http://www.selagumbo.com, an organization of Louisiana parishes in the Southeast region of the state. We’re sharing a bit of Louisiana cuisine along the way with stops in Jackson, MS and Memphis, TN. I haven’t been on an Amtrak train since I [...]

Community Coffee is my Travel Companion

Community Coffee on the Road

It may sound weird to hear that a coffee brand is my travel companion, but it’s true. I’m not a paid spokesperson for the company. I’m just a life-long loyal consumer of Community Coffee. Here in Louisiana, especially south Louisiana, we’ve been raised on this coffee. I’m the fourth generation in my family to start [...]

Traveling to Europe with my parents

A Bellini at Harry

This was written while on the Carnival Magic during her inaugural cruise. I lost track of time while writing and didn’t have time to publish while on the ship. I’m currently sitting on the balcony of my cabin onboard the Carnival Magic, the newest ship in the Carnival Cruise Lines’ fleet. This ship is a [...]

The Slanted Door in San Francisco

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http://slanteddoor.com See the full gallery on Posterous

The Alabama Tourism Ambassador – Pinetta the Squirrel #roadtripmama

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This is Pinetta the Squirrel. She’s a greeter at an Alabama Welcome Center on I-10. See the full gallery on Posterous

Video of Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele

This is a video recap of what I experience at the