Archive for February, 2011
Behind the Scenes at the World’s Largest Aquarium
// February 24th, 2011 // 17 Comments » // Places
Atlanta, GA — It’s not every day you can visit a 10-million gallon aquarium. In fact, this is the only place in the world you can do it. The Georgia Aquarium, at the edge of Atlanta’s Olympic Centennial Park, houses tens of thousands of aquatic species, including whale sharks — the largest fish in the …read more…
No Lottery. No Beer. What’s left? (meet a Tennessee original)
// February 18th, 2011 // 10 Comments » // People, Places
Knoxville, TN — Often the best part of travel is the people you meet. When I’m on the road, in addition to spectacular riding and great food, I’m always looking for interesting local characters. Sometimes they’re not too hard to find. I was drawn to Fountain City Exxon by a sign out front. A sign …read more…
Heaven in a Plastic Cup — 2nd Annual DeLand, FL Craft Beer Festival
// February 12th, 2011 // 18 Comments » // Events, Food
DeLand, FL — “Beer Festival” — there’s no happier combination of words in the English language. I realize that beer is a recurring theme of the Travelin’ Gringo lately. But good beer makes me happy. As I said in my last post (referring to the products of America’s megabrewers), life is too short to drink …read more…
There Will Be Beer (oh yes, there will), along with great German food — Vienna’s Restaurant & Café, DeBary, FL
// February 11th, 2011 // 3 Comments » // Events, Food
DeBary, FL — Mention the phrase “Beer Tasting,” and I’m SO there. I know that America was built on Budweiser and Pabst, but forgive me, life’s too short to drink tasteless swill. So when I hear of a place that offers something different, I’m all over it. “We don’t do Bud, Miller, Yuengling. Most of …read more…
The Power of Devils Tower
// February 9th, 2011 // 17 Comments » // People, Places
Devils Tower, WY — If you’re of a certain age — that is to say, “old,” like me — you associate Devils Tower, Wyoming with one thing: UFOs, of course. The 1977 sci-fi blockbuster Close Encounters of the Third Kind featured the tower in a starring role, a secret government landing strip for alien spaceships tucked …read more…
Bar-B-Que and Donuts
// February 1st, 2011 // 16 Comments » // Food, Places
Sulphur, Louisiana — Sometimes you just know a place is gonna be good. When I’m on the road, I love to eat in local joints. Just passin’ through a small town, you’ve gotta use your intuition, and sometimes it’s a crapshoot. Riding through Louisiana, doing an article on the state’s bayous and backcountry for HOG magazine …read more…
