Tales from the Corners

If you are looking for the best ski resort deals, plan in early October. Whether you are planning to ski close to home or out West, you are sure to save dollars and headaches. There’s nothing like the present to plan for the future. Ski trips can be costly. With equipment rental or purchases plus transportation costs, skiing doesn’t come cheap. That is why many of us in the area like to stay close to home for a winter-like adventure at resorts like Appalachian Ski Mountain in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Appalachian Ski Mountain offers a smorgasbord of ski ticket packages including multi-day rates ranging from two to five days. If you are a bit rusty or there is a beginner in your group, this resort has numerous lesson plans featuring the “Learn to Ski Package.” These lessons are offered in the early or late portion of the ski season. Members of the French-Swiss Ski College give students the confidence to hit the slopes. If skiing is not your thing, Appalachian Ski Mountain off...

Richmond, Virginia and its surrounding areas are steeped in so much history, it is often hard to experience all that it has to offer in one trip. "Richmond has a fabulous history and is filled with outstanding museums and historical attractions," said Richard Lewis, national public relations manager for the Virginia Tourism Corporation. Still don't know much about history? Don't worry. History buffs and novices alike can always find something new to learn about this area. The roots of Richmond The Richmond region's history dates back to 1607 after the first permanent English settlement was established at nearby Jamestown. At Henricus Historical Park in nearby Chester, Va., you can experience what it was like for settlers like Sir Thomas Dale. Here, visitors can enjoy interactive displays that bring the story of Dale to life. Dale, who settled Henricus in 1611, established the second successful English city in the New World. Henricus was originally inhabit...

Army veteran, candidate for Congress, husband and father. Those are just a few of the roles Doug Heckman takes on each day. With a plethora of family duties and a major congressional campaign under way in the Heckman house, Doug and his 18 year old son Dan needed to take a respite to Alaska. The trip was filled with fun, adventure and plenty of bonding time. The trip Doug and Dan left for Alaska on a typically hot Atlanta afternoon. "We gained four hours on a seven and a half hour flight to Anchorage International Airport," Doug recalls. "We got our rental car and stayed at the Airport Courtyard and went to bed at 10pm -- the sun was still shining brightly." In Alaska, it stays light until midnight and gets light again at 5am. In June, it stays light even longer. Doug's advice: "It's important to have good shades or it is difficult to sleep." Kenai Park "We got up the next morning early and left for Seward – driving south," he ...

Just about everywhere I looked, I saw books. Handsome shelves filled with years of hardback literary gems stacked from floor to ceiling. Then I spotted something that I haven’t seen in years: a card catalogue. Was I in my public library? No, I was in the lobby of a hotel with a literary motif that goes by such an appropriate name: the Library Hotel. “What a great idea!” I exclaimed. “We agree,” said the cheerful concierge. As the concierge explained that each of the 60 rooms is dedicated to the Dewey Decimal System, I began to appreciate literature in a new light. Whether you’re staying in a “Math & Science” or “History” room, you’re guaranteed to be ensconced in a world of books. The Library Hotel offers rooms ranging from their Petite Room Full to the Junior Suite With Sofabed. This 350-square-foot suite features a large bed and pull-out sofa for extra guests. If you feel that you want to go out in the evening, but not go too far, check out the Bookmarks Lounge. This intimate hot...

Robert Apple has been a Bruce Springsteen fan for most of his life. Back in the day, Apple cruised around suburban Cleveland, Ohio in his white Olds Cutlass blasting Springsteen official and un-official audio tapes. After seeing The Boss countless times over the years on Ohio's North Coast, Apple and longtime buddies Phil Baumal and Jeff Velick hit their own "Thunder Road" to see one of The Boss' July 2008 Giants Stadium shows in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Indeed it is a treat to see Springsteen anywhere, but when he comes to this legendary venue, the experience is beyond memorable. Anyone who attended one of Springsteen's six night shows on his Born in the U.S.A. Tour in 1985 or a night during his 10-day stint on The Rising Tour stop in 2003 would agree. "Since Danny Federici (keyboardist, E Street Band member)died we said we have to go to a Giants Stadium show," Apple recalls. Apple, still living in the Cleveland area, Velick, a Chicagoan an...

I admit that there are trips where I need my “seafood fix.” My latest craving occurred when I was in northeast Florida – the perfect place for this type of hunger. Everywhere I looked, there were opportunities to dine on some of the country’s best seafood. I discovered that the choices from Fernandina Beach to Amelia Island were plentiful. My wife, who joined me on the trip, quickly agreed with my observations. I got my “seafood fix” at the Amelia Island Plantation’s Verandah Grill with their Seafood Platter. The Seafood Platter consists of shrimp, scallops, crab cakes and the fresh catch of the day. Being from landlocked Atlanta, a platter such as this cannot be found back home. In this part of Florida, you can just taste the freshness. I confess that I hit the jackpot with this dish. My own private "seafood fix." The seafood choices extend beyond the platter in which I indulged. The Cajun Snapper comes with sautéed Tasso ham, Swiss chard, bell peppers and crawfish...

Years ago, travelers from my neck of the woods in the Southeastern United States would head to the mountains of North Carolina for a summer respite. That was before air conditioning. That was before SUVs. That was before a time when middle-class America would fly to the Caribbean or crowd the beaches and commercialized swamplands of Florida. Well before all of this, people would go to the hills of the Tar Heel state to escape the heat and humidity so that they could experience cool air -- gazing out at nature’s wide expanses while listening to dulcimers and dining on apple-spiced trout. This is Western North Carolina also known as High Country. This part of the state is home to communities nestled in these gorgeous mountains that bear names such as Waynesville, Dillsboro, Banner Elk and Hot Springs. As I climbed the narrow winding roads leading into these cozy towns, I felt a true sense of escape. Sure I find a sense of serenity when I’m away from the daily grind, but this getaw...