Discover Our Town

Stratos Jet Charters, Inc.

Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. Announces their Empty Leg Flight Match Program

Stratos Jet Charters has made available to their air charter clients; industry wide empty leg options for their chartered flights.

Orlando , Florida – May 5, 2008 – Stratos Jet Charters, Inc., an air charter service provider for private and business jet luxury charters, today announced that they will begin offering to their jet charter clients, the option to purchase empty leg chartered flights that are available industry wide. 

As a result of strong relationships within the jet charter industry, Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. is able to offer their clients a wide range of empty leg options for their charter flights.  With access to countless private jets, Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. has provided excellent service and competitive prices for those seeking a private charter plane.  By expanding their relationships with numerous air charter service providers, Stratos Jet Charters is now able to provide more one-way charter flight options than ever before. 

Joel A. Thomas, President of Stratos Jet Charters, Inc. commented on their new program saying; “By working together with charter plane operators and air charter brokers, Stratos Jets is able to take advantage of the private jet industries traffic; increasing the efficiency of the luxury jet charter market.”  He went on to say that, “We now have the ability not only to purchase empty leg charter flights, but also have the ability to create, market and sell these empty leg charter flights for the benefit of our charter clients.” 

Another great benefit of Stratos Jet Charters Empty Leg Flight Match Program is; that the program will contribute to the efficient use of charter aircrafts.  “The increase in efficient use of charter planes is a wonderful added bonus.  The program seeks to match clients with aircrafts industry wide that have the same or similar routing demands” said Thomas.  Mr. Thomas continued pointing out some of the highlights of their new Empty Leg Flight Match Program stating “That by matching clients with repositioning aircrafts that would otherwise fly empty we can cut down on wasted fuel and harmful carbon emissions.”

Stratos Jet Charters has long been interested in the environmental impact of private jets.  Early in 2007, Stratos Jet Charters began purchasing carbon offsets through TerraPass for their chartered flights and made available the option to fly carbon neutral to their clients. Mr. Thomas noted that “By matching clients with empty leg charter flights, we are maximizing the efficiency of each chartered flight, which reduces the demand on chartered aircrafts (as well as the costs), helping also to reduce the total amount of carbon emissions industry wide.

To learn more about Stratos Jet Charter Inc. Empty Leg Flight Match Program or their Eco-Jet Charter Program, visit them on the web at www.stratosjets.com.

2ndFriday Art Walk in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The next 2ndFriday Artwalk will be taking place in Carrboro and Chapel Hill on Friday evening, February 8th, from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. Many of the galleries will have live music and other art related entertainment. Admission is free. Nearly eighty 2ndFriday Artwalks have been held in the last six years with growing community involvement and national interest. This popular once-a-month event draws residents and visitors from all over the Triangle who enjoy the opportunity to see a large variety of artwork during a single evening while socializing with their fellow art lovers. 2ndFriday Artwalk brochures, maps and information are available at any participating art location. Please contact the individual venue listed below for more specific exhibition, special event or parking information.
OUR SPONSORS: Weaver St. Market The Carrboro Citizen	If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of or a participant in the 2ndFriday Artwalk, or have any art related business, suggestions or ideas in regard to the Art Walk, please click here for our feedback form. We appreciate the continued support of our community partners and sponsors. Your business can also become a sponsor!
Ackland Art Museum - South Columbia St. and Franklin St. Chapel Hill, 919.966.5736. Picturing the World: Carolina's Celebrated Photojournalists is the first major exhibition of internationally recognized photojournalists who have studied at UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Animation and Fine Art - University Mall, Chapel Hill, 919.968.8008. Pablo Picasso - Imaginary Portraits. Original works featuring Imaginary Portraits completed in the 1960's showing use of cubism and surrealism. The ArtsCenter - 300-G East Main Street Carrboro, 919.929.2787. Photography exhibit/ interactive installation: Because We're Still Here and Moving: Mapping a World of Black History in Our Own Backyard. The East End Gallery features Acrylic Paintings by ArtsCenter painting Instructor Juan DiGiulio. Bagwell, Holt, Smith, Tillman & Jones, PA - 400 Market Street, Suite 103, 919.932.2225. Paintings by Cat Moleski - Bright, insightful and comtemplative work. The Beehive Salon - 102 E. Weaver Street, 919.932.4483. Mixed media by Chief. Recent works in mixed media in tribute to the artist's new daughter. Caffe Driade - 1215A E. Franklin St., Chapel Hill, 919.942.2333. Paintings by Lynne Clarke. Heavy texture, inclusion of divergent, interesting found materials, strong color, and the shape of mass and volume - all converge and flow. Come enjoy a glass of wine or beer, enjoy captivating art and discover this unique, national award winning Caffe, that has been featured on the Food Network. Carrboro Century Center - 100 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510, 919-918-7385 UNDER THE BIG BLUE SKY - Valerie Tan is a self-taught artist who has had a lifelong interest in the arts. She paints with acrylics and oilbars and has developed a naive style using "poster" colors and house/neighborhood themes. Carrboro Town Hall - 301 W. Main St., Carrboro, 919-942-8541 Photography of Dave Otto - Bolin Creek and Woodlands: Natural Treasures. The exhibit includes more than 40 prints of the creek, wildflowers, autumn foliage, critters and reflections. Pictures will be on sale with 25% donated to the Friends of Bolin Creek and 25% to the Carrboro Art Committee. DeWitt Law, PLLC - 118 E. Main St Suite A, Carrboro, 919.338.8200. No show this month. FedEx Global Education Center 301 Pittsboro Street , Chapel Hill, 919.962.2435. The Faces of Child Trafficking. There are an estimated 27 million slaves living in the world today, the majority of them children. This exhibition shares the stories of children whose families sold them into slavery in Ghana's Volta Region. Fifth Season Gardening Co. 106 South Greensboro St., Carrboro, 919.932.7600. Call for info. Fleet Feet Gallery - 406 E Main St., Carrboro, 919.942.3102. Jamie Nervo. The artist's work depicts life's everday events and characters with a twist, focusing on positive and light-hearted issues we encounter each day. Her whimsical satirical work looks at life in a patchwork of pleasant ideas and colors influenced by family, friends and strangers. NC Crafts Gallery - 212 W. Main St., Carrboro, NC 27510, 919.942.4048. The Road Home - New paintings by Chapel Hill artist Melissa L. Miller. Open Eye Caf? - 100-C E. Main St., Carrboro, 919.968.9410. Paintings by Mary Charlton. Work reflects experiences and levels of emotions, dreams, environmental concerns, layered and uncovered yet left to interpretation. Side room features multimedia work by Miles Murray . Our space is larger than ever, featuring a new beer & wine list! Turning Point Gallery - University Mall, Chapel Hill, 919.967.0402. Come Celebrate Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras is celebrated in cities all over the world. Join us for a weekend of color and pageantry in art with a big kickoff Friday night. Experience the color and pagentry of world renowned artists at Turning Point Gallery. Masks and beads provided. Weaver St. Realty - 116 E. Main Street, Carrboro, 919.929.5658. Images from Chatahm County - b>Dwain Ritchie is a photographer living in Pittsboro, N.C, The photographs in this show reflects Dwain's love of nature, featuring flower macro photography, landscape photography, and other bizarre nature photos. Dwain also prints all of his photos at his studio in Chatham County. You can print the 2ndFriday Artwalk map and brochure for ease in locating participating galleries. Transportation to the various venues is up to those attending. Brochures are available at any participating gallery.

Weekend Getaway

With the post-Christmas blues and cold weather woes in full effect, January is a great time for a weekend getaway.  Below is a list of some great places to spend a weekend and the reasons why we love them...

Mammoth Lakes, California - From the minute you set foot in this mountainous paradise, you will feel those tense muscles relax.  Take refuge in a forest cabin or treat yourself to an ultimate lake adventure.  This is nature's answer to the rat race.

Biloxi, Mississippi - Post Hurricane Katrina, this area is rebuilding and everything is newer and better. Southern food is a soul soother and what could be more fun than a weekend at an historical bed and breakfast, basking in Southern hospitality and the charm of days gone by?

Austin, Texas - For big city excitment and small town comfort, Austin is a perfect blend of bright lights and green pastures.  The city offers a beautiful nature center and sparkling Lake Austin, incredible shopping and nightlife befitting the "Live Music Capitol of the World."

Jackson Hole, Wyoming - Winter is the perfect time for a ski vacation.  The need for speed can definitely be satisfied with activities like snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating and dog sledding.  After a day of physical exertion, refuel at renowned restaurants or relax by a crackling fireplace.

There you have it, a short list with endless possibilities.  Maybe these suggestions can get you started thinking about a mini vacation to beat the blahs.  No matter what time of year, the cure for the commonplace is travel!

"The Town That Wouldn't Drown"

"The Town That Wouldn't Drown" - Butler, TN, like the phoenix of old, has risen from the waters of Watauga Lake to become a thriving growing community nestled between the Iron Mountain section of the Appalachians and Watauga Lake.  Situated in the most northern section of the state of Tennessee, Butler is between Boone, NC and Damascus, VA and south of Mountain City, TN.

Flooded by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Butler citizens were determined not to let their town be forgotten.  Working together they built the Butler Museum which tells the story of the Watauga River Valley.  Here, Native Americans roamed, Daniel Boone rested on his way west, a college was founded in 1848 and generations of citizens plowed their fields, raised their crops, timbered the mountains around, raised their families and created thriving businesses along the river bottom land.

Then in the 1930's the TVA came along with a plan to dam the Watauga River for flood control and electrical generation, but it meant that Butler would not survive - it would be 300' under the new lake. And so buildings were bought and torn down, others were moved to "New Butler", families moved away or had to start new gardens, plant new trees, find new friends all in the name of progress. 

It is this small town and surrounding valley which is remembered in the Butler Museum with exhibits, artifacts and docents sharing with visitors what it was like to live in Old Butler. The Old Swimming Hole, the Bluebird Tea Room, walking down Main Street peering in the stores, learning about the history - it is a step back in time.

While visiting Butler, you may also rent a pontoon boat to sail over Old Butler, cast a line for elusive walleye and bass or just dive off the side to swim in one of the quiet coves along the 110 miles of shoreline.  80% of the shore is part of the Cherokee National Forest making Watauga the third cleanest lake in the US according to the TVA.  It also means that there is little traffic on the lake even on holidays weekends mid-summer.

Among other activities are: hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail - especially the Laurel Creek Falls trail or the Gentry Creek Falls trail; biking the 34 mile rails to trails Virginia Creeper Trail - be taken to the top of White Top and then coast down; taking scenic drives along back roads or the Blue Ridge Parkway; golfing at Red Tail Mountain Golf Course where the ball flies forever; enjoying "the green eyed snake" aka state route 421 with 469 curves, 3 mountains and 1 valley on a motorcycle or with your sports car; attending live theater at Heritage Hall  or Barter Theater ; live music in various locations throughout the county on weekends, bring your own instrument and jam at the Community Center on Friday nights; and there are fine restaurants so Mom doesn't have to cook every night.

Suba's is small and it is recommended that you start with dessert because otherwise you won't have room for it, the chefs graduated from Johnson and Wales Culinary School; Captain's Table offers fresh fish and tables overlooking the lake and the mountains, sunset is the time to go, Shirley's is known for "all you can eat" down home country cooking.Talons at the Red Tail Mountain golf course will be reopening this summer under the direction of executive chef Bill Morris. Farmhouse - reopening this summer with singing waiters and a cabaret show in addition to fine food high atop the mountain.Craig's Coffee House for lunch is the place to go. Angelo's Main Street Cafe is where you can enjoy al fresco dining and breakfast is served all day. At Cowboy's or Mike's Barbeque wear old clothes as the sauce drips deliciously down the front of your shirt. We hope you have enjoyed our short travelogue - once you visit, you never want to leave and many people haven't.

See Memphis Tours

Memphis, Tennessee … so much to see - so much to do. Where should we begin? If this is the question you are asking yourself See Memphis is your answer. See Memphis is a tour company that will show you places and history of Memphis that will make your visit the most memorable! See Memphis has tours for individuals or groups they even have package deals, which includes your hotel! There are so many tours to choose from… Graceland, History of Downtown; which includes Beale Street, & the historic Peabody Hotel just to name a few. Tours of Mississippi River, an Old Victorian Village, an African-American Tour and more. See Memphis is the way to see Memphis.

Visit Top of Townsend in TN

Townsend, TN is a wonderful place to visit. There are many things for the family to see and do. There are also many places to stay while you enjoy these sites. Top of Townsend is highly recommended. You will be close to Cades Cove, Dollywood, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. While you are there tell Ed the folks from DiscoverOurTown said HI!

Mountain View, Arkansas

I'm very excited. In a couple of weeks I get to visit Mountain View, Arkansas. I'm told it's quite a place, if you like old-timey moutain arts & crafts, music, and lifestyle. I just happen to.

Outside Magazine called Mountain View one of America's top dream towns back in 2004. Here's a quote from the magazine...

"WHEN YOU FIRST PULL into town," says a woman who moved to Mountain View 20 years ago, "you just feel like you came back home." Might be the human-scale topography of north-central Arkansas—rolling farmland mixed with steep sub-2,000-foot peaks and tall cliffs, prettified by blooming dogwoods and redbuds come springtime. Or it might be the down-home Ozarks mentality—especially the nightly impromptu pickin' sessions on Mountain View's courthouse square—which, on the hipness scale, registers somewhere between O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Hee Haw. You can hardly spit without hitting some grinning guy with a dulcimer.

Mountain View is the home of the Ozark Folk Center, the only place in America dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Ozarks.

Springtime is a great time to visit the town as well. Let me finish this blurb the same way I started it - I'm going to Mountain View, and I'M EXCITED!

Natchez Trace Parkway

If you really want to treat yourself to a beautiful drive this spring, travel the Natchez Trace Parkway through Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a National Scenic Byway - a two-lane highway that demands you take your time. (By that I mean, both the scenery and the Parkway police demand it! The speed limit is 50 mph, and even slower than that in parts of Tennessee, up around Nashville.)

The Parkway winds its way up from the Mississippi River in Natchez, MS all the way to Nashville, TN. Every few miles there are scenic stops replete with the history of the Trace, including some places where you can actually walk the Old Trace and visit with ghosts from 150 years or more past.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is definitely worth a weekend, which is about all it would take. And don't worry, it travels near many towns large and small, so there's never a shortage of places to eat, spend the night, or fuel up.

When Traveling to Major Cities, Get a CityPass

If you plan to travel to major destinations like New York, Boston, or San Francisco, let me urge you to get a CityPass. It's a simple way to vacation in America's most popular city destinations.

CityPass is a ticket booklet containing an actual admission ticket to the top attractions in each city. With CityPass, you pay one substantially reduced price and avoid main entrance ticket lines at most attractions.

CityPass is now available in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Hollywood Walk of Fame, San Francisco, Southern California and Toronto.

Seattle, Washington

I paid a visit to Seattle back in January to attend a conference, and you know what? It was warmer there than my home in Mississippi!

I arrived in the city a couple of days in advance of the conference and had one entire day to play tourist. I got a Seattle City Pass, which gave me access to several of the major attractions. One price for six attractions. It's a pretty good deal, in my opinion.

Being a private pilot I have to confess my favorite attraction was the Museum of Flight located at the Boeing airfield. When I entered the facility I asked the attendant about how long it would take to tour it. He said a couple of hours should do it. NOT! Three hours later I was still happily making my way through its halls gazing admirably at the vintage planes.

The Space Needle was, of course, a wonderful attraction. A friend had told me to try to get there just at sunset. She said it was beautiful at that time of day. I did. She was right. It was.

Since Seattle sits on the Pacific coast, naturally it attracts visitors from around the world, particularly those that live on the Pacific rim. You can stand in one place for five minutes and hear at least six different languages being spoken by passers-by.

Seattle Center was where the conference was held, and its a beautiful section of town located right next to Peugot Sound. According to DiscoverOurTown.com it features over "70 acres of arts, entertainment, sports, recreation, shopping, dining, educational, and cultural adventures, and is host to ballet, opera, theatres, and the Children's Museum. Over 5,000 events and performances are offered annually."

I must admit my least favorite attraction was the Seattle Aquarium. Not that it's that bad, it's just designed for kids. For a family with young children, it's a must see.

All-in-all, I'd say Seattle is one town I want to visit again, and soon. Oh, and did I mention the coffee?!

Hickory, Mississippi - My Hometown

I hail from central Mississippi, a little town of about 500 folks known as Hickory. It got its name because, according to the historical marker located next to the highway, Andrew Jackson came through the area on his way to the Battle of New Orleans.

There's not much left to my town any more. Highway 80, which used to be the main thoroughfare through the southern part of this country, passed right through Hickory. Because of that we had several gas stations, restaurants, a motel, and a thriving downtown.

The Interstate eclipsed that long years ago. Now the town is but a shell of its former self.

That's not unlike what's happening to so many of our small towns. Thanks to Interstate highways and our obessive need to get where we're going as fast as we can, so many small towns are wasting away. (Don't even get me started on the Wal-martization of America and how that's affected business in these little burgs.)

Though I live in another part of the state, I still visit there as often as I can. My mom and dad still live there, as does my sister. (Well, they don't live in "downtown" Hickory, you understand, but a few miles north in a little community we called Berry. Don't ask me why.) If you find yourself travelling between Jackson and Meridian sometime, look my little town up. The motto is "A little town with a big heart." I'd like to think that's still true. That "little town" raised me, and no matter where I lay my head at night, it will always be home.

Portland, Maine

I got the opportunity to travel to a place I've never been before, Portland, Maine. It was at the behest of a client who paid my airfare and lodging, so I couldn't turn down the opportunity.

Portland is a quaint fishing village basically. My client's office is what's known as the Old Port section, just across the street from the harbor. It's filled with shops, boutiques, restaurants, and pubs. (My favorite of which is Gritty McDuffs. I'll talk more about it in another post.) There is much to see and do there, especially if you like New England and history.

Though they tell me Portland can get extremely cold in winter, this time of year was beautiful. Spring had not quite sprung during my visit, the weather was a comfortable 50 plus degrees during the day, and the sun was shining brightly.

The only drawback is that security is extra-tight at the Portland airport. (That was the airport the 9/11 terrorists came through, so it's understandable they would be extra-cautious.) But, the TSA representatives were cordial, if not friendly.

I plan to visit again...if my client will foot the bill for another trip. :-) It's one place you'd enjoy as well, I know.

Winter Haven?

When you think of  Florida what do you think of?  Beaches, great amusement parks, NASA?  I want to intoduce a new place to consider for your getaway, Winter Haven, FL the "chain of lakes".  Not only is it a great place to get away from harsh winters but it is a perfect summer haven too. The Holiday Inn Cyperess Gardens is just waiting to take care of you while you enjoy the many things to do. Like golfing, shopping at International Market World, museums, or even their own amusment park or just enjoying the peaceful lakes. You will love spending time here and just might consider Winter Haven your haven.

Vacationing in Roanoke, VA

Where should we go on our summer vacation?  If this is the question you are asking, may I suggest Roanoke, VA, nestled on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. After your breathtaking drive, stay a few days at the Courtyard by Marriott where they are waiting to take care of your every need. Visit the Natural Bridge, The Virginia Musuem of Transportation, The Center in The Square or enjoy a performance at the Virginia Western Theatre. There is so much to see and do in Roanoke, you won't want to leave.

Ft. Walton Beach, FLA

Sand in my shorts has never been an appealing notion. However, I do love to travel to Ft. Walton Beach, Florida and other parts of what's known as the "Redneck Riviera." Something about those sugar white sands and blue water carries such an allure.

I remember one trip there with my family when my children were young. I was sitting on the beach with my feet in a small tidal pool. Little did I know it was also the domicile of a small crab! It only took a moment to find out who ruled that roost though when the little fellow pinched me between the toes.

I sat there motionless for a moment trying to remain cool and calm. (There were a couple of cute girls walking by and I did not care to make a total fool of myself in their presence.) Once they had passed, I yelped, then gingerly...ever so gingerly removed that little devil from my foot.

I relinquished the pool to him and hobbled away grimacingly. I knew I'd have the upper hand later when I indulged on some of his big brothers at the crab shack!

Road Trip USA

If you like exiting the Interstates and creating your own driving adventures on America's two-lane scenic highways one travel companion you need is ROAD TRIP USA, a travel guide that offers expanded coverage of 35,000 miles of classic blacktop. Features include:

• A flexible network of route combinations, extensively cross-referenced to allow hundreds of possible itineraries



• Essential tips for the road: call letters of lively radio stations, Survival Guides for two dozen cities, and details on where to eat and sleep



• More than 140 meticulously detailed maps

You can purchase it on Amazon.com for about $16 plus shipping.

Red Hot Truck Stop - Meridian, MS

From November 7 to 14, 2000, a field crew of paleontologists from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the University of Michigan, and the University of California at Berkeley made a trip to recover early Eocene (~55 million years old) plant and mammal remains from a site behind the former Red Hot Truck Stop in Meridian, Mississippi. The site contained an astonishing variety of fossils, from bony and cartilaginous fish to mollusk shells, turtles, mammals, pollen, leaves, fruits, seeds, dinoflagellates, and foraminifera.

Amazing as that is, that's not what I want to talk about in this post. I want to reflect on another historical relic, the Red Hot Truck Stop itself. It was built in the mid-1950s, about the same time I was born, and quickly became THE stopping point for truck drivers headed through Meridian on their way to New Orleans, Birmingham, and Atlanta. My father was one of those, and the Red Hot was a favorite stomping ground for him.

It was at the Red Hot that I had my first "official" truck driver meal, hamburger steak with gravy, french fries, and roll, with a side salad covered in Thousand Island dressing. Sweet tea to drink, of course.

All that remains of that relic is the old, rusty sign. It stands there orphaned paying homage to a bygone era and a bygone landmark.

Perhaps one day many thousands of years from now paleontologists will once again visit this site. Only this time they won't find fossil bones, but fossilized rubber from 18-wheeler tires, the petrified pages of an old trucker's logbook, and the remains of that old sign. 

Dismals Canyon, Alabama

A fun getaway for families that enjoy camping, hiking, and rugged trails is  Dismals Canyon, in northwest Alabama, near Hamilton.

Despite the "dismal" sounding name, this canyon offers a quiet and unspoiled oasis as Alabama’s last secret hiding place. It's a place of seclusion far off the beaten path with steep moss-covered rock walls, waterfalls, an icey stream, and flora and fawna indigenous to it alone. It's a place shrouded in mystery and in history.

Whenever I need to get alone to think or comtemplate, I like to make my way there and spend a few hours walking in a place that's as unspoiled as any I know.

Spring is a good time of year to go (It's open on weekends now, and seven days per week after Memorial Day) because the canyon will be bouqueted in wildflowers. For those of you who might like to make it a weekend getaway, there are cabins available and campsites nearby.

Cheaha State Park, Alabama

East of Birmingham, Alabama, just off Interstate 20 is Alabama's highest point, Mt. Cheaha, also the home of Cheaha State Park, near Talledega. On my way back from Atlanta recently I decided to spend sometime investigating its allure.

A rugged mountain, Cheaha (which is Indian for "high places") stands 2,400 ft. above sea level and towers over the surrounding landscape. There is a precipice, Bald Rock, that allows visitors to look west over miles and miles of landscape.

There is a stone observation tower built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, a motel and restaurant, both with extraordinary views, and camping facilities for families and groups. A huge pool is open during the summer months as well.

What I liked best was that the road leading to the peak was a classic mountain drive full of twists and turns. Since I drive a Mazda Miata, it suited my tastes very well.

The park is open pretty much year-round. You can visit Cheaha for an hour, a day, or make a weekend out of it.

LaGrange, TN - A Visit Back in Time

A few years ago I was heading through southwest Tennessee and came across a town that I could have sworn time forgot. I didn't even know the place existed until I entered its city limits. The town was LaGrange, and when I saw it, I fell in love.

The heart of town, known as LaBella Village, contains homes dating back to the civil war through the early 1920s. The thing that struck me most was that each of these historic homes was painted white with green roofs and trim. Azaleas adorned many of the homes.

You can stop in at Cogbill's Store for a leisurely lunch of their homemade soups and sandwiches, then take a walking tour of the town. Each home has a unique history, and this time of year would be perfect to make a trek there.

The Road Less Traveled

There's something to be said for taking the less traveled road. The interstate highways lack personality, and people are so intent on getting to their destination, they don't take time to see the world around them. Not that there's anything to see on the interstates and freeways but billboards and highway signs.

Earlier I mentioned Highway 80 as being one of my favorite less traveled roads. One stopping point along the route in Mississippi is the town of Meridian. Known as a railway center in the 1800's, it was destroyed by Sherman during the civil war, but quickly rebuilt to become the most thriving industrial center in the entire state for a time.

If you happen through Meridian (and you just about have to go through the town if you're headed through the southeast - I20 & I59 intersect there), stop in at one of my favorite eateries Weidmann's Restaurant.

It's located downtown at 208 22nd Avenue, a half-mile north of I-20. Choose from the greatly varied menu of traditional Southern dishes - and great homemade pies - in a wood-paneled, brass-railed dining room that’s packed with moose heads, mounted fish, and photos of everyone famous who’s ever eaten there. Oh, and there's homemade peanut butter in little crocks on each table.

The restaurant is family-owned has been in business for 125 years.

Travel the Old Roads - Highway 80

I've never been a fan of interstate highways. (We called them "super" highways when I was a kid.) I've always enjoyed traveling the older roads. One highway in particular that's always been of interest to me is Highway 80, which used to course through the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country. I grew up only a few miles from a portion of the old highway that still exists, though fading fast.

Known as the Southern Pacific, Highway 80 went all the way from the Georgia coast to San Diego. Ocean-to-ocean, in other words.

A wonderful website that lists in detail each of 11 different highways is Road Trip USA. Even if you can't actually travel the old roads, this site will make you feel like you are. To enhance the "trip" even further, open the DiscoverOurTown.com website and use it as a travel companion.

Tupelo, MS - My Hometown

Let me quickly introduce myself, then get to the business at hand. I'm Paul Chaney, owner of Radiant Marketing Group, the company working with DiscoverOurTown.com to bring you this blog. I'll be doing some writing on the site for a while to help build content, though I must admit, the staff at DOT have taken to this like a duck to water.

I live in the small northeast Mississippi town of Tupelo. You may be familiar with the name as it's the birthplace of Elvis. (He moved to Memphis with his family as a young boy, but was born here.)

I was perusing the information on DiscoverOurTown.com about Tupelo and was amazed at how much there is to do here. Even though I've lived here for six years, I didn't know there were so many restaurants, attractions, and events. This town is busier than I thought it was!

I feel certain, whenever I travel, I'll be referring to DiscoverOurTown.com routinely...and not just because they're my clients either, but because the site has information I need. And, I can get it quickly and unobtrusively without offensive pop-ups, interstitials, or banner ads. Quick and painless. That's the way the web ought to be!