Tropical Travel Girl
Memphis, Tennessee, known as the Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock & Roll, is also where many of the biggest names in soul music—Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, and others—got their start. Visit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music to experience the history of the unique sound of Memphis soul. …
Alaska, often called The Last Frontier, was a new frontier for me since, more often than not, I’ve chosen tropical destinations for my travels. But it was time for the Tropical Travel Girl to go north to Alaska! There were several choices to make. Which cruise line, which ship, and which departure port? Like more …
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota is more than just an Aquarium. Its tagline, “Science is The Attraction” says it well… It is one of the world’s few remaining independent marine research laboratories, with field stations in eastern Sarasota County and the Florida Keys. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium – Where “Science is The …
The word is out about Sarasota, Florida, and other communities within Sarasota County! Its 40 miles of gorgeous Gulf of Mexico coastline and barrier islands or “keys” — Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Bird Key, Casey Key and Manasota Key — have been recognized again and again. Recent Honors and Accolades: Sarasota was chosen …
Every part of the Florida Gulf Coast has its own personality, its own vibe. After recently visiting the Bradenton area with a small group of travel writers, I can wholeheartedly embrace the tourism bureau’s tagline. “Real. Authentic. Florida.” Very few resorts have more than three stories; many are small and family owned. Rental homes and …
The Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi is the largest in the state. The Texas State Aquarium opened in 1990 and was doubled in size in 2017 with the addition of new exhibits. Anytime my travels take me close to an Aquarium, it’s high on my list of “must-dos.” If I can’t be in the …
Texas, Florida, New York, Washington and New Mexico. With the exception of a short sojourn to the Florida Keys in May, tropical travels took a backseat for me in 2019. Instead, I visited parts of the U.S. that were completely new to me. Most of them focused, at least in part, on wine regions. April …
In previous posts, I covered our three nights in Memphis…but hey, after all that touring, we had to eat! Here are some suggestions for where to eat, gourmet to budget…
As an ocean-lover and scuba diver, I get excited about any opportunity to visit an Aquarium. I like to call them “indoor oceans…” The Seattle Aquarium, ninth largest in the U.S. by attendance, was no exception.
If you are as fascinated by the underwater world as I am, the Georgia Aquarium should be on your “must-see” list. When it comes to “indoor oceans,” Georgia Aquarium is the world’s largest.
Who would like to be in the water with whale sharks — the biggest fish in the sea? Me! Me! Me! At the Georgia Aquarium (the world’s largest), you can do just that as part of its Journey with Gentle Giants program. If there was ever an Indoor Ocean to behold, it is here…
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at age 39 by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee, as he stood on the balcony outside his room at the Lorraine Motel. Here, on April 4, 1968… (Text of the sign in the photo above) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the …
I’ve visited lots of aquariums, or as I like to call them — indoor oceans — but never one located inside a bright turquoise glass-windowed pyramid! A total of 1.5 million gallons of saltwater exhibits are contained within the 10-story aquarium, including ocean life from the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean. It is the largest aquarium …
While no trip to Memphis would be complete without paying a visit to the home of the King of Rock ‘n Roll, this city has a lot to offer beyond Graceland. Of course, much of it is still related to the mark Elvis Presley made after moving with his family to Memphis…
It had been 15 years since I entered the gates of Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. This year, 2017, the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s passing on August 16, 1977, the timing was right to return.