There are annual protests, such as the one held each year at Fort Benning, in Georgia. This is a protest against what used to be called the School of Americas, but has been renamed. According to some, the renaming is an attempt at rebranding a site responsible for training Latin American military personnel in the finer arts of torture.

This event is held in November, the weather is likely to offer a quite pleasant getaway for those coming from northern regions, where the winter chill is typically just settling in. Fort Benning is located near Columbus, a nice sized city — big enough to offer the visitor plenty to do and small enough to feel safe and comfortable.

Columbus is home to seven museums, including two having to do with military history. The richly ornate Springer Opera House is more than a century old, and offers, in addition to a broad range of fine performances, many vintage artifacts and displays of a bygone era in American history.

Nearby Pine Mountain is the site of the F. D. Roosevelt State Park, with 10, 000 acres available for exploration, camping and a variety of other outdoors activities. The Callaway Gardens offer another outdoor adventure, with 14,000 acres providing great hiking and an assortment of activities and events.

Washington, DC, is another great place to combine social action and vacation. In January of 2007, United for Peace and Justice organized a rally and march on the capital. Numerous social action groups choose the nation’s capital as a site to make themselves heard concerning their cause. Recent years have seen immigrant rights groups, organizations devoted to the well-being of families and children, groups championing equality between the races, organizations seeking to end poverty and hunger, and many more staging demonstrations and rallies at the capital buildings.

Naturally, the DC area has a wealth of fascinating attractions sure to make any vacation a memorable one. In addition to museums, art galleries, performing arts, fine dining, and an active nightlife, there are also unexpected pleasures. The zoo could be classified as one of those, as a zoo of this size in the nation’s capital is a bit unexpected. Open every day, except for Christmas, the Smithsonian National Zoological Park is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue. There is no admission fee to enter and enjoy the wide variety of animal life.

Blending a bit of social action in support of the causes and ideals that are important to you can be a great way to spend a vacation. This is especially true for families, as the children will learn and experience things that they will remember for a lifetime.

Lodging chains of nearly every category are offering pet-friendly accommodations for travelers and vacationers, from budget motels to upscale hotels offering the finest luxury amenities for their furry guests. However, policies vary on the type and number of pets allowed from one national chain to another, so it’s best to do thorough research before leaving home.

If you’re traveling on a budget, Motel 6 is a safe bet when it comes to pet-friendly lodging. While corporate directives specify one small pet, many of these motels do accept well-mannered larger dogs, as well. The additional fee is typically very low, $10 in many places, $20 in others, with several asking no fee at all, other than being liable for any damage.

Many, but not all, Motel 8s allow a small pet, with a $20 fee and liability for damage. A good number of Econo Lodge Motels also accept pets. Some of these allow two dogs and others have an under 70 pound requirement. There are a few that require a credit card if checking in with pets, thus ensuring that any damages will be paid for.
For a mid-range budget, there are a lot of great options. Many Holiday Inns are pet-friendly, charging typically between $25 and $50 additional for a medium to small sized pet. Some do require a $100 deposit on top of the fee, which will be returned if there is no damage or out of the ordinary cleaning necessary.

Other good mid-range budget options include Days Inn, Best Western, and Sheraton Inn. However, it is important to call ahead to check specifics, as the pet policies of these hotels do differ from city to city.

Many luxury type hotels also accept pets, and some even offer pet amenity packages that rival those for their human guests. The Auberge Resorts, for example, offer such things as an in-room pet bed and a room service menu designed for pets. The Don SeSar Beach Resort and Spa, at St. Pete Beach in Florida, has a special pet package that features pet massage and aromatherapy.

Traveling with pets today has become very popular. This has encouraged the lodging market to respond, offering increased options, ranging from simply allowing pets in rooms right up to luxury suites designed with the traveling pet in mind. With a little time spent in research, you’ll be sure to be able to plan a wonderful travel experience for you and your pet.

1. Walt Disney World. Featuring four theme parks, 24 onsite resorts, two water parks, mini-golf courses, an interactive/video game park, a shopping area - almost everything can be done with one stop at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Since there’s so much to do and so many places to see, familiarizing yourself with your options is a great way to make sure your trip to Disney will be as smooth as possible.

2. Universal Studios Orlando Comprised of three onsite hotels and two amusement parks, the Universal Studios Orlando offers the following attractions:

• Shrek 4-D
• Revenge of the Mummy
• Men in Black Alien Attack
• Terminator 2: 3D
• E.T. Adventure
• Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast
• Animal Planet Live!
• Jaws
• Fear Factor Live
• Twister … Ride it Out
• Earthquake

Some of the rides in Islands of Adventure are:

• The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
• Incredible Hulk Coaster
• Doctor Doom’s Fearfall
• Storm Force Accelatron
• Popeye & Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges
• Jurassic Park River Adventure
• The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad

3. SeaWorld Adventure Park. The SeaWorld Adventure Park offers a one-of-a-kind experience with the sea and sea life. The park is 15 minutes away from the Orlando International Airport. It’s open year-round from 9am and hours are extended during summers and holidays. There are nine restaurants tourists and visitors can choose to dine from, ranging from full-service to cafeteria-style service. The park strictly implements several policies ranging from smoking to pets, to make sure all tourists are as comfortable as possible during their visit. Several guest services such as strollers and wheelchairs, lockers, diaper-changing and nursing areas, a 24-hour ATM, first aid, and foreign currency exchange can easily be found on site.

1. Venice Beach. An exciting place to see, Venice Beach is where street performers, artists, musicians, tourists and locals all come together in this one-of-a-kind destination. You can stroll all the way to Santa Monica along this beach pathway. Bike, blade, skate or surf, one can do almost anything on this beach. Hotel reservations are available online, and it’s a good idea to book early since most beaches are crowded during weekends.

2. Santa Monica Beach. One of the more popular beaches in the region, Santa Monica Beach offers lifeguards on duty, a wide stretch of sand, and easily accessible galleries, shops, and restaurants. This beach is also a great place for strolling and viewing sunrise to sunset.
3. Manhattan Beach. Known for its outstanding surfing and beach volleyball tournaments, Manhattan Beach is is surrounded by condos, shops, restaurants, and several lodging accommodations to keep tourists comfortable in their stay.
4. Marine Beach. Also known as Mother’s Beach due to its gentle wave actions, shallow swimming area and lifeguard supervision, Marine Beach offers volleyball courts, a play area, and picnic locations. This is a great beach for those traveling with kids.
5. Malibu Lagoon Beach. Also known as Surfrider’s Beach, Malibu Lagoon Beach is considered as one of the world’s premier beaches to surf in. The nearby famous Malibu Pier is a great place for saltwater fishing, and along the Malibu Creek Bridge tourists will find picnic tables and a nature area which is a great place for bird-watching.
6. Ocean Beach. OB as the locals call it, is a very laid-back beach popular for its surfing and liberal attitude. This beach has its own “dog beach,” where dogs are allowed to roam freely and has separate swimming and surfing zones.
7. Butterfly Beach. Butterfly Beach, like Ocean Beach, also allows dogs to run freely along the shores. It is also the best beach to watch sunsets in, as it is the most west-facing beach in the state. The beach is also a charming walk towards shops, galleries, and restaurants of Montecito.

The New York Stock Exchange building, located on Broad Street in the Wall Street area is as imposing as you would imagine. Completed in 1903, the granite structure is a monolith hunkered over narrow side streets and graced by amazing columns. In contrast to the newer glass and metal buildings that are now going up all over the world in major cities, they surely don’t compare to these older architectural beauties.

Just a few blocks from Ground Zero, the NYSE has tight security since September 11th. Getting through the door is no different than passing an airport check-in, and your bags and your identification will be eyeballed several times. Once you manage to get it, you can see the building is massive. There ceilings are tall and ornate with lots of gold leafing. Photographs of presidents and dignitaries line the walls, as do members of companies that are trading on the exchange. It’s quite a lesson in the story of our economy.

The trading floor is the most unique part of the visit, as you have a chance to see the traders in action. Unlike the old days where trading was done on paper, today the room is filled with a wizardry of computer monitors that light up whenever a stock is going up or down. The marble walls and ceiling rising over 70 feet in height gives you an immense sense of history from the moment you walk into it.

It’s a frenzy of action as the traders race around to communicate with each other. All day they stand at counter-height desks without chairs as they press the buttons on the screens or tap onto computerized tablets that enable purchases or sales. I asked one trader who took over for him when it was time for lunch, and he laughed admitting that no one on the floor ever took a lunch break. The space had the energy of a casino in Las Vegas, with people wildly making or breaking fortunes.

A small balcony above the floor is where individuals famously ring the opening and closing bell that starts and stops the day’s trading. The bells are known for being some of the loudest in existence, as they have to ring loudly over the racket happening on the floor. They have been in continuous use since the 1870’s, and are as much a part of the history of the exchange as the building itself.

One thing you notice almost immediately on the floor is that there are very few women there. There is a high level of testosterone permeating the air, and the quips and joking being bantered about clearly signify that it is the ultimate New York boy’s club.

I had the extraordinary chance to see the main boardroom of the building, with a massive dark wood table that easily looks like it could fit 100 people around it. The high ceilings here are a marvel of art, with delicate plasterwork that is simply not done today. It’s amazing to think that the building cost just $4 million to build in it’s day considering the level of craftsmanship that abounds.

The maze of streets outside of the NYSE are fun to navigate as well. There’s wonderful old bars that fill with traders at the end of the work day, and it is interesting to hear them crow about the activities of the day. Restaurants and tiny quintessential New York deli’s dot the street as does interesting shopping. The famous New York discount department store, Century 21, is just 3 blocks away if you’re looking for a name brand label at a bargain price.

Public transportation is the way to go when heading down to Wall Street, as the parking is unforgivable anywhere in New York. Attempting to bring a rental car into this setting is pure insanity, so just buy yourself a few subway metrocards or take a taxi from your hotel instead.

Most folks may not think of a cemetery as a typical place to visit while on vacation, however, it is certainly a place that can tell you much about the history and people of a town. There are numerous interesting graveyards in New Orleans, but Lafayette Cemetery #1 is certainly the most famous and oldest in the city and has been the site of many movies.

The graveyard is located in the Garden District, which is a marvelous area to stroll around in and see mansions with incredible southern antebellum architecture. Commander’s Palace, the famous N.O. restaurant where Emeril Legasse got his start, is just around the corner from the massive iron gates that frame the entrance to the cemetery. It’s a great place to stop in for lunch if you can afford a big splurge.

Lafayette is unique in that the graves are all above the ground in tombs because the water table is so high above sea level. In fact, were it not for these vaults, the bodies would literally pop out of the ground. The stones are all a grizzled gray and many appear much older than they really are thanks to the high level of humidity that instantly ages the marble.

Entire families are buried in each of the small crypts, and visitors often wonder aloud just exactly how so many people are able to fit into such a small space. Expert tour guides creepily reveal that those with little money had no choice than to have the bones and ashes of a earlier deceased family member simply pushed aside so that a new corpse could fit inside.

You are free to tour Lafayette on your own, or you can join the tours offered by the group Save Our Cemeteries. Be warned that you may be approached by individuals around the local cemeteries to give you a so-called tour, but these are nothing more than people trying to make a quick buck and take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. Be sure to give them a kind, but firm brush off.

You should also make sure to see Lafayette during daylight hours unless you’re with a tour guide, as one never knows what to expect around the city these days. If you are tempted by the famous voodoo charms of New Orleans, there are interesting night vampire and ghost tours of some of the smaller, local cemeteries that are quite fascinating.

Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire had scenes that were shot here, and Anne used to live in the Garden District up until just a few years ago. Her famous character Lestat is fictionally buried at Lafayette. Double Jeopardy was also filmed here. So, you can get a history lesson and entertainment all rolled up into one.

Located in the heart of Key West and only one block off Duval at 622 Fleming Street, Ambrosia consists of six restored buildings on two acres of lush tropical landscaping. There are three refreshing pools, and this property is a premier site to spend a fabulous getaway vacation.

Upon arrival, the owners, Mike and Bonnie Vagnoni, or one of their many pleasant staff will greet you. From the time you arrive, till departure, you will be treated special in every way. The staff with their years of knowledge can recommend anything you may be interested in while staying at this tropical paradise.

Everything you will want to see in Historic Key West is within walking distance. If you arrive by plane, all you need is a ride to and from the airport and you will not have to drive your entire stay.

Rates start at $139.00 per night for the low season, and $229.00 per night during prime time. This price includes a full tropical breakfast. Check out the Ambrosia in Key West Florida for your next tropical delight!

Ambrosia Key West
622 Fleming Street
Key West, Florida 33040
1-800-535-9838
www.ambrosiakeywest.com
ambrosia@bellsouth.net

Housed in a gracious class revival home, which was built around 1909 by Captain James Randall Adams, who was a “Wrecker”, (A brave man with a fast boat who would salvage goods from ships wrecked by the whims of wine and wave); this restaurant has both inside and outside dining on one of its many decks. All seating focuses on the many colors of blue that lines the Atlantic Ocean.

I’ve dined at Louie’s many times and it is a favorite when we visit the keys. My wife and I decide to dine late Sunday morning at the Brunch that is offered weekly. We are seated at a table on the deck that has a bench so both are facing the wonderful views. Our waiter informs us that it was 11:45, and we could not be served alcohol until noon on Sundays. We were fine, and he brought us Iced Tea.

The “Brunch” menu had a wide variety of items with breakfast such as French Toast with Caramelized Green Apple Compote and Applewood smoked bacon, or Florida Lobster scrambled eggs with green onions and brie, with grilled brioche. Both sounded wonderful. There were also seafood, salads, chicken, and steaks.

I could not decide between the Chipotle crusted chicken stuffed with tetilla cheese and roasted red pepper and black beans, or the grilled ribeye with Fra Diablo sauce and onions rings. My wife, who I thought would choose the French toast, decided on the Asian chicken salad with green tea soba noodles, gingered cucumbers and Thai peanut sauce. I opted for the special Ribeye dish.

Warm bread and butter were immediately brought to our table along with our drinks. We devoured the bread because we had only had fruit for breakfast since we knew we were in for such a treat. We relaxed and watched the picture perfect views and before we knew it, our meal arrived.

My ribeye was ordered medium and it was cooked to perfection. The Fra Diablo sauce was spicy as expected, but not so that it took away the taste of everything else. The onion rings and green beans that accompanied the steak was tasty and well received. I was very pleased as usual and enjoyed the entire feast.

Maureen’s Asian Chicken Salad was probably the best and most unique salad my wife has had. There was a dry slaw base, topped with the soba noodle and piled high with pieces of chicken that was cooked just right. Gingered cucumbers were mixed in and the Thai peanut sauce was poured on top. What made this dish so wonderful were the green tea soba noodles and the Thai sauce. The sauce was not to strong, but the perfect blend to enhance the noodles, chicken and cucumbers.

After our lunch was complete, we went to the “After Deck” bar, which is built over the water. My wife ordered one of Louie’s specialty drinks, the raspberry cooler, which was made of raspberry wine and Chambord liquor, while I tried a Mojito. Both drinks were refreshing and the perfect ending to a great lunch.

Louie’s Backyard
700 Waddell Avenue
Key West, Florida, 33040
1-305-294-1061

We started our trip at mile marker 28 in Big Pine Key and headed up towards Key Largo. Our first stop was in Marathon at the Publix Shopping Center. Located on the corner of the center are the Lazy Lizard and the Goofy Gecko. These fun shops have all of the tropical souvenirs and gifts you could ever want. Painted Gecko’s, Tropical clothing, and Caribbean furniture are only a few of many different items you will find in these two stores. Both have unique items, so it is worth the stop.

After spending some time, (and money), we headed up to Islamorada and the shops at mile marker 82 caught our attention. In this row of small stores, we found the Blue Marlin Jewelry shop that had unique designs by Steven Douglas, The Sandal Factory/T Shirt City, which had great T Shirts and Sandals, and many other interesting shops. If you walked behind the last shop, which housed a flower shop and interesting outside pottery and Caribbean items, you would find a glass artisan that was blowing glass and making all kinds of interesting pieces of art.

The Bass Pro shops at mile marker 81.5 in Islamorada are a favorite of many boaters and fishing enthusiasts. This large shopping area on the water also houses the Zane Grey Lounge, which was my choice for lunch. My one of only two tasks turned out to be an excellent one. Housed on the second floor of this expansive shopping area, Zane Grey offers balcony seating overlooking the blue azure waters and marina. The picture perfect view enables you to sit and relax as you enjoy a fabulous lunch or dinner.

Specializing in seafood, but also offering other tantalizing treats, the Zane Grey had excellent choices for us to look at. I chose the Caesar salad topped with five large shrimp, and my wife had the curry chicken salad, which was served in a half of a pineapple. The presentation was as good as the food. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Since we were driving and had many more stops, we opted for the iced tea and we passed on dessert because I already knew where I wanted to stop for my evening meal. For the two of us, our lunch, with tax and tip came to thirty-four dollars. We were both very pleased with the Zane Grey.

Back on the road again, our next stop was the Rain Barrel Sculpture Gallery, located at mile marker 86.7. There were two reasons for this stop. First, this has a great array of small shops with artisan’s works. We’ve been here before and made a few purchases that we still cherish today. There are many paintings, pottery, hand made quilts, and various other original items with the Key West flare. Although we did not make any purchases here today, we enjoyed admiring the unique works of the artists.

The second reason for stopping at the Rain Barrel Sculpture was that we had read about HGTV and the fact that they were building the “Dream House” in Islamorada Florida. We had previously asked if anyone knew where the house was being built, and locals at the shops prior to this stop told us they knew exactly where it was being built. The dirt road next to the Rain Barrel Sculpture, if taken back to the water is the location of the HGTV Dream House. We drove back to find that the land had been cleared, and the footings set, but the project was just barely on its way. We hope to come back before the house is finished so we can get a look at it before it is given away.

Our last stop before we turned around was at mile marker 97.5 in Key Largo. Shell World is located in the middle of the highway and has an abundance of gifts to please everyone’s taste. If you enjoy looking at different shells, you will find varieties from around the world. But shells are only the beginning. Several rooms have anything tropical you could imagine, from clothes, to cards, to house wares. My wife was enjoying a sale of Fresh Produce, while I wondered and checked out the shells and other fun items.

Heading back to our destination, we stopped at a few more interesting places such as Latitude 25, located at mile marker 82.7 in Islamorada, which also had great clothing options such as Tommy Bahama, and T-Shirts with Florida sayings. Fish Lips, a small store on Key Colony has unique tropical gifts that are worth seeing.

We have now shopped the day away, enjoyed the scenic drive up and down Route 1, but there was one last stop we had to make before our final destination. My last responsibility for the day was our dinner choice. It was not a difficult one. A few years back, we discovered the “Keys Fisheries Market & Marina” located at mile marker 49 in Marathon. The Market, on the bayside of 35th Street is a rustic fishing marina with fresh seafood served daily.

You stand in line and place your order, and give them your favorite movie, song, or actor/actress. Once your food is prepared, your “pseudo” name is called and you pick up your tray. What makes this a wonderful treat is that the atmosphere, although rustic, is very calm, and the food is fantastic. If you don’t like seafood, don’t come. Other than chicken wings and chicken fingers, everything else is seafood.

We were introduced to the Lobster Reuben our first visit to this market. This is a huge lobster sandwich (two can share this), served with sauerkraut, cheese, and Russian dressing, just as a Reuben would be served but with lobster meat. This comes with French fries and is grilled and mouthwatering. What a great sandwich. Other delicacies include crab, shrimp, scallops, and many of the local fresh fish.

Nothing fancy at the Keys Fisheries, Market and Marina, but wonderful food at a reasonable price. My wife and I shared a Lobster Reuben and Crab Chowder and both were outstanding. After we were finished we had ice cream served in a waffle cone. For the two of us, the bill came to $27.00 with tax and tip. A great meal at a great price.

We headed back to Big Pine Key and felt satisfied both by food and shopping. The day was sunny and we thoroughly enjoyed the scenic ride up and down Route 1. One last note about this road. This is the only road up and down the Florida Keys and there are restricted speed limits, and many accidents per year. If you take this road at a leisurely pace, you will not only arrive safely at your destination, but you will also take in the beautiful scenery and arrive feeling calm and relaxed.

A typical “Dive” bar is what you will think as your car meanders to this establishment. What brings the locals, and tourist from all walks of life is the quality of food, good drinks, lots of fun, and the chance to hang a dollar bill on the cluttered walls. Since the mid 1980’s, patrons have been writing names, notes, or any thing else they can think of on dollar bills and staple them to the walls.

The pizza is world famous, the fried shrimp basket is fabulous, and the grouper sandwich is awesome. On my many visits to this fun filled bar, I’ve always had one of the three dishes listed above. Our visits to the keys would not be complete without a visit to the “No Name Pub”. You immediately feel welcome and can tell that everyone is having a good time.

Once you find this hidden treasure, be prepared to sit and relax outside while waiting for a table. On most nights during the high season, you can expect up to an hour wait. But it is worth every minute. Come to the No Name Pub and experience the Keys the way they were years ago.

No Name Pub
Big Pine Key, Florida
1-305-872-9115
www.nonamepub.com