Travel

ABOVE PHOTO:  Sunbury view By Renée S. Gordon Georgia’s soil and climate were conducive for farming from the initial settlement in 1733. Oglethorpe enlisted the advice of the region’s Native Americans, used some of their agricultural techniques and even founded a 10-acre botanical garden to test and introduce new seed variants from the area and…

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ABOVE PHOTO: Akwaaba Mansion By Lisa Jean Francois Tax season is here which means many of us will have a few extra dollars to invest in a quality respite from everyday life. The summer months are a short and cherished time of year, so I intend to spend a few of those dog days where…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Kiokee Baptist Church exterior By Renée S. Gordon Georgia is second only to Texas in its number of counties.  The history of these 159 counties is as diverse as their population and geography. Archeological remains prove that there were native people in Georgia as early as 13,000BC, but European contact was not noted…

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BPT Soft sand warms the soles of your feet and the smell of sweet flowers fill the air. The salty mist of the ocean kisses your cheeks while the laughter of friends and family brings joy to the heart. This isn’t just an amazing vacation for your loved ones, it’s your wedding day. Images like…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Ghent, Belgium, View of the city and the St. Bavo Cathedral.  (kavalenkau / Shutterstock.com) By Renée S. Gordon Fifty-two miles from Antwerp is another of Flanders most impressive cities, Bruges. The city was honored internationally in 2002 when the Historic Center of Bruges was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Main Square By Renée S. Gordon Last week a political analyst remarked that the world cannot allow terrorists to become our travel agents. By extension, we cannot allow their actions to limit our worldview so that we no longer seek to learn about different cultures and marvel at treasures displayed in all across…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  NC Pottery Face Jars By Renée S. Gordon Each state has a distinct biography that includes its history and historic significance and North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Heritage Trail is the perfect place to obtain a snapshot of the unique cultural heritage of this mountainous region. All along the trail there are sites related…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Raffaldini Vineyards By Renée S. Gordon “Runnin’ with your cousins from yard to yard, Livin’ was easy but the playin’ was hard.” –Carolina Chocolate Drops “Country Girl” The first survey of Mount Airy took place in 1747 and settlers were already living there. The town was named after an existing plantation owned by…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Golden State Bridge (Jon Bilious / shutterstock.com) BPT Looking to satisfy your wanderlust? There are no better travel partners than your girlfriends. From Mayo Clinic to Harvard University, research shows friendships improve health, happiness and longevity, so it is time to seize the day, or in this case, the weekend. Whether you want…

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ABOVE PHOTO:  Baltimore Inner Harbor (Photo: S.Borisov / shutterstock.com) By Renée S. Gordon Two hundred years ago Baltimore, became the first city in the United States to illuminate their streets with gas lamps. But the legacy of urban center lighting can be documented to Roman efforts in 500 BC to use vegetable oil to light lamps…

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