There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

I think that should be repeated…a few times – both for confirmation’s sake and to up my word count.

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

I mean, sure, you’ve seen it and loved it, but let’s recap very quickly some of its finer attributes before getting into the locations around Los Angeles you can visit and pay homage. Read More »

Who can argue that autumn is one of the most colorful times of year?

That was a rhetorical question.

Fall is pretty, mostly because of the glorious displays put on by the fall leaves changing color.  This phenomenon occurs all over the United States, but some spots offer better views than others.  Grab your camera and a road atlas and take a day trip to one of the 11 best fall foliage sites in America.

11 Places To See Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves on Carriage Road at Acadia National Park

1.  Acadia National Park – Maine

Of course anywhere in the North East is going to boast spectacular fall foliage.  The Acadia National Park offers gorgeous views and extensive Ranger-led educational programs so that you can learn more about what you’re staring at.  Make sure to head to Bar Harbor Maine before the end of October to take full advantage of the sights and services available.

Fall Leaves at Oak Mountain State Park

2.  Oak Mountain State Park – Alabama

Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park.  This nearly 10,000 acre forest is featured on several sight seeing lists.  Admission is only $3 for adults on weekends and holidays.  You can visit the park for fall foliage viewing from 7am to sundown.

Fall Foliage in New Hampshire

3.  Mt. Washington – New Hampshire

While it’s typical to see fall foliage while you’re driving, the Mount offers guided cruises on the M/S Mount Washington.  Starting Sunday, September 27, the Mount will offer Fall Foliage Dinner Cruises from 4:30 to 7 p.m. each Sunday through mid-October. The cruise departs from Weirs Beach, boarding at 4 p.m. Cost for adults is$43. Visit Cruise Mount Washington for more information.

Fall Color in Colorado

4.  Aspen – Colorado

It’s no surprise that Aspen, Colorado is the perfect place to watch the Aspen trees change colors with the seasons.  San Isabel National Forest offers extensive trails for viewing of some of the most fabulous aspen trees in Colorado.

New York Fall Foliage

5.  The Catskills – New York

The Catskills and Hudson Valley region is about a two hour drive from New York City.  One of the unique features of this area is that the color changing season lasts about six weeks, with colors rivaling those of its North Eastern neighbors, Vermont and Massachusetts.

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The Natchez Trace Parkway runs just over 400 miles between Nashville, TN and Natchez, MS.  It is a gentle, winding road chock full of beautiful scenery, rolling hills, trees, wildlife and more interesting and historic stopping points along the route than you can possibly imagine.

The parkway follows an ancient trail that connected the southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to central Tennessee. There are numerous ways to experience this amazing road: driving, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping.

How did we experience The Natchez Trace?  We just drove.  And stopped often.

The Natchez Trace Parkway is operated by the National Park Service.  There are no fees or reservations required to enter Natchez Trace Parkway which can be accessed from any of the hundreds of small cities and towns that line the outskirts of the Parkway.

A good guidebook and a map are invaluable tools while traveling the Trace.  We used a rather dated copy (1995) of a book called Traveling the Trace by Cathy and Vernon Summerlin as well as consulting the National Park Services website for maps and other information.

A few other things you’ll definitely need to be mindful of:

• The speed limit on the Natchez Trace Parkway is 50 miles per hour.  Trust me, you don’t want to go any faster or you’ll miss something spectacular.
• There are no service stations, convenience stores or lodging directly on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Keep that in mind if the tank gets low or you run out of snacks.  Fear not though, for there are countless communities just on the other side of the tree line that have everything you’ll need.
• Cell phone reception is spotty. Oh, you can get service, but it is probably going to be at the exorbitant roaming rate.
• Be mindful of the wildlife and their propensity to wander into the roadway. There is a lot of wildlife and apparently they are blind–and deaf!!
• The Natchez Trace Parkway gets very dark at night. The roadway is not lighted so unless you appreciate driving in pitch blackness, it may be a good idea to find an exit when the sun goes down.

Next time you’re vacationing anywhere near Nashville or Natchez (or literally anywhere in between) make it a point to visit the Natchez Trace Parkway.  It’s the stuff vacation memories are made of.

A Boy and His Dog

Very few things in this world are stronger than the bond between a man and his dog, or a boy and his dog, or a dog and his bone.  Something like that.  Countless books have been written and movies made romanticizing this love affair: “Old Yeller”, “Where the Red Fern Grows”, “The Call of the Wild”, “Lassie”, “Marley and Me”, “Cujo.”   Hollywood has captured these great love stories time and again with dizzying success.  Seriously, how else can one explain a phenomena like “Buddy” and the riveting series of movies that “Air Bud” have spawned?

In a secluded area in the Freedom Hills Wildlife Management Area outside of Tuscumbia, Alabama I became privy first hand to the devotion that some men have for their faithful four-legged friends:  The Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard.  In 1937 Key Underwood merely wanted to provide a fitting grave and memorial for his faithful hunting companion of over 15 years,  Troop.

Key Underwood and Troop's Memorial

He had no intentions of creating a graveyard for coon dogs, but that is exactly what happened.  Year after year others followed suit burying their loved ones (coon dogs) in the area that once served as a camp for coon hunters.  Today, there are over 185 coon dogs from all over the country buried there.

Following  that first hand-carved stone signifying Troop’s eternal internment the markers run the gamut from simple wooden and stone markers to metal or elaborately carved marble headstones.

The Coon Dog Cemetery was everything it purported to be.  It was a graveyard.  It was for coon dogs.  Fact is, there are only three requirements for a dog to be granted admission to the coon dog cemetery.

• The owner of the dog must claim it to be an authentic coon dog.
• A witness must claim that the dog is a coon dog.
• A member of the local coon hunter’s association must be allowed to view the dog and declare it a coon dog.
• The dog must be dead. (I added that last rule lest anyone think it would be acceptable to bury live dogs or a dog that might be “mostly dead”.

To get to the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard take US Hwy. 72 west from Tuscumbia 7 miles and turn south on Alabama Hwy. 247.  After what seems an eternity on a winding, hilly, tree-lined back-country road (12 miles), take a right and follow the signs.  There is no admission fee and the graveyard is open daily during sunlight hours.  Trust me, you don’t want to be there after dark.  It’s remote!

Tips if you go:

• Fill the tank before turning off of the main road.  This is not an area you want to be without gas and there is none readily available in the area.
• Call whomever you need to call prior to turning off of the main road.  This area is remote and cell phone reception is not available.
• Bring food and water or at least snacks.  If there are no gas stations, do you really think there’s going to be a convenience store?
• Make use of the available “facilities” prior to turning off the main road.  There is an outhouse (the genuine article) in the back corner of the graveyard.  It has wasps.

Oh, and a final word of caution, if you happen to be a coyote (and what coyote wouldn’t be reading a vacation blog about a coon dog cemetery) I would advise against a visit to the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard.  Apparently, the locals don’t particularly care for coyotes.

Coyote Beware