Winter 2013 Road Trip To Sarasota

On Monday, January 28, we drove to Gainesville and got to Sarasota the next day.

Visited with friends and saw this year's Circus Sarasota. Good show -- Nik Wallenda and troupe on the wire up close, some wonderful juggling by the Platchkov Duo, plus the best hand-balancer around, Encho Keryazov. Sarasota Magazine had a nice article about Circus Sarasota 2013 with lots of photos. To read the article just click here.

We started out for home on February 1. Total distance driven for the round trip: 1,166 miles (1876 kilometers).

Cirque des Voix

Saturday afternoon we attended and loved the second annual edition of Cirque des Voix. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune calls it, "a uniquely Sarasota blockbuster." It combines the talents of Key Corale, Sarasota Young Voices, Circus Sarasota, and some guest performers from Sarasota's youth circus, the Sailor Circus.

Click here for a review of this year's show.

After the concert we had dinner at a favorite place, Primo Ristorante.

Later in the evening we went to the Showfolks Club of Sarasota and talked with lots of people. And we finally met Laray. Great evening.

Circus Party at Longboat Key

From Gainesville to Sarasota was an easy trip and we had lots of time to get cleaned up for the evening's event.

Bill Hall and his wife Carol host a party a day or two before the Circus Ring of Fame ceremony many years. This year it was at the Longboat Key Hilton, as it often is. Great food and drink and a glittering group of about 50 circus stars and legends. It was wonderful to be invited and, just like the last time we attended, two years ago, it was an evening to remember.

Off we go to Sarasota

Took the cats to the pet hotel and we were on our way east on Interstate 10 by 10:30 A.M. The weather was cool and sunny and the drive was uneventful.

Lunch in Chipley at Skins-N-Bubba's. We have eaten there before. The food is generally ok. This time it seemed saltier than usual. But hey, this is the South, and country, too. And salt is cheap.


Not much for scenery along I-10 but we always enjoy the musical highway sign.

Late afternoon we got to Gainesville and the Holiday Inn Express by the highway. Dinner at a nearby Chili's.

In Sarasota Visiting the Ringling Museum

Main Entrance to the Ringling Museum

At the Ringling through January 29, 2012, there's a stunning poster show organized by the Cincinnati Museum of Art and the Ringling Museum. All the posters were printed by the Strobridge Lithographic Company. Posters shown were mostly from the 1880's to the 1920s. You can learn more at the Ringling Museum's website.

Tomorrow we return to see Ringling's new Tibbal's Learning Center with Howard Tibbals grand miniature circus.

Nachez, Mississippi Visitor Information

Natchez is just 350 miles west of Pensacola -- an easy drive and a nice place to spend a few days. Check back soon for updates. No definite travel plans yet -- just listing some Natchez web sites.

GETTING THERE FROM PENSACOLA
(According to Google Maps)
--- Via Hattiesburg, Collins and Brookhaven
      306 miles, 5 hours and 5 minutes
--- Via Hammond and McComb
      336 miles, 5 hours and 15 minutes
----Via Baton Rouge
      348 miles, 5 hours and 26 minutes

VISITOR INFO
Natchez Visitors' Guide
Natchez Wiki
Friends of Our Riverfront, Natchez

ATTRACTIONS
Connelly's Tavern
Dunleith
Longwood
Natchez Trace Parkway
Rosalie Mansion
Stanton Hall
Things to do in Natchez
Trinity Episcopal Church's Stained Glass Windows

RESTAURANTS, TAVERNS, SALOONS IN NATCHEZ
Big Momma's BBQ
Bowie's Tavern
The Carriage House
Cotton Alley Café
The Castle Restaurant & Pub
Fat Mama's Tamales
Magnolia Grill
Mammy's Cupboard
Monmouth Plantation's 1818 Restaurant (when you get to the site, scroll down for 1818 Restaurant information)
The Pig Out Inn Barbeque
Slick Rick's
Roux 61 Seafood and Grill
Under The Hill Saloon
Uptown Grocery

RESTAURANTS OUT OF NATCHEZ
The Caboose, McComb, Mississippi
The Dinner Bell, McComb, Mississippi
Dixie Springs Cafe & Lounge
Justin's On The Lake and Turtle Island, Summit, Mississippi
Nikki's Country Buffet, Vidalia, Louisiana
Old Country Store, Lorman, Mississippi, 34 miles north via the Natchez Trace

HOTELS & CASINOS
Eola Hotel
Isle of Capri Casino Hotel, Natchez
Hampton Inn Natchez
Magnolia Bluffs Casino
Natchez Grand Hotel

NEWS
Natchez Democrat


Natchez Trolley, Under the Hill, Late 19th Century

The Road To Peru, Day 8 -- Final Day

On Sunday morning we headed south. We were in no hurry to cover the 800+ miles to Pensacola. If three nights on the road suited us better than two we would get home on Wednesday instead of Tuesday.

Shortly after we left Peru we stopped for breakfast at a Bob Evans Restaurant in Kokomo. This fueled our 305 mile Sunday drive, getting us to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Next to the hotel was a Bob Evans Restaurant where we had our dinner. Two Bob Evans' in one day! It is always a favorite when we are on the road. There is none near Pensacola.

Monday, Day 7, we drove to Birmingham, Alabama. It was an easy 275 miles. All along the way on this trip we listened to audio books. On the way north it was Patti LuPone's A Memoir read by Ms. LuPone herself with great flair and a good deal of attitude. Coming south we listened to Seth Rudetsky's Broadway Nights: A Romp of Life, Love, and Musical Theatre. And when we got tired of the talking books we had XM Radio -- all Broadway, all the time, channel 72. Tired and hot when we arrived in Birmingham, we ate at the Outback Steakhouse in the hotel's parking lot.

Tuesday was Day 8 and we were only 260 miles from home. Lunch was at the Bates House of Turkey in Greenville, Alabama. Yes, all they offer is turkey, but many, many different ways. After picking up the cats we were home by 3:00 P.M.

The total mileage for the trip, including side trips and getting lost looking for local restaurants, was 1,690 miles.

The Road To Peru, Day 5

Yesterday, Friday, we got to Peru around noon. It was just 90 miles from Greenwood so it was a short drive. We had lunch at the Circus City Grill and then checked into our hotel -- the Circus City Inn.

Every July the City of Peru, The Circus Capital of the World, hosts the Circus City Festival in honor of its circus heritage. There is a circus at the Circus Hall of Fame, the youth circus in town, a huge parade with antique circus wagons and the Hall of Fame's induction dinner for new honorees.

Mid-afternoon we were picked up by Wayne Scheiner who took us over to the Circus Hall of Fame Museum and gave us a guided tour. What a treat to see all those old wagons and other historic memorabilia. There's a slideshow coming up at the end of this post that has photos of the museum and much more.

Back to the Circus City Inn for a rest and cleanup before going to the Peru Amateur Circus. What a fine show and what talent and practice. The "Children of All Ages" were not only in the audience but in the show itself! What a wonderful showing of civic pride.

Saturday started hot and got hotter. Because of Jack's honor this day we rode in the parade. First in a Mercedes convertable -- later in a golf cart when the battery in the former gave out. We made the journey and did not falter.

Back at the hotel after the parade it was time to cool down -- lunch at the Circus City Grill, a shower and a nap before getting ready for the evening's events.

In the evening we went to the Circus Hall of Fame dinner at the Siding Restaurant and Jack gave a speech after. It went over very well. And he got this beautiful plaque.

Here's a link to some photos of what went on in Peru and at the Circus Hall of Fame Friday and Saturday.

The Road To Peru, Day 3

Today was the third day of our drive north on I-65 from Pensacola, Florida to Peru, Indiana. Peru is the home of the International Circus Hall of Fame and Jack will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday evening.

Most of the way to Peru we travel along Interstate 65. And nearly the whole length of it, too.

First thing Tuesday morning we took the cats to the pet hotel where they will be for the next week. Then we headed north.

Tuesday we managed 345 miles and spent the night in Athens, Alabama. Dinner was at Logan's Roadhouse, right next to the motel.

Wednesday we crossed Tennessee and moved on to Elizabethtown, Kentucky gaining 235 miles and losing an hour by entering Eastern Daylight Time.

That night we ate at a pleasant local place, Back Home Country Store & Restaurant. Good country food, if a bit salty. As we progressed northward we found the food got saltier along the way. Not everywhere for sure, but at most of the places where we ate.

Today, Thursday, we went 150 miles getting into increasing heat. Temperatures were in the high 90s with discomfort levels of 110 to 115. So once we got to the motel we chose to eat nearby. Lunch at the Fireside Brewhouse and dinner at Little Mexico III. Both were in the mall a little bit up the street from the motel. Good local food.

Emerald Princess Cruise, December 2010, Day 10

Disembarkation

We arrived at Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades just before dawn and it was cold. In the low 50s, possibly high 40s. We had an early breakfast in the Da Vinci dining room and went to Club Fusion to wait for our disembarkation group to be called. Our luggage tag color was Brown 3 and we were told we'd be off the ship by 8:30. The first two groups were called on time then nothing -- for more than 30 minutes.

We were finally called almost 40 minutes late. From then on there were no problems. We found our bags and a porter. He got us past customs fast. He simply cut into the head of the line of people waiting at passport control. He saved us at least ten or fifteen minutes and I tipped him well. When we got to the sidewalk the van to the parking lot was waiting and we were in our car ten minutes later.

We headed north up Florida's Turnpike until we joined I-75. As soon as we got to Ocala we went cross country and avoided the worst parts of I-75 and I-10. We drove nearly 400 miles to Perry and the Holiday Inn Express there. Wow, it was cold in Perry. The smoke alarm at the hotel kept going off (very loud) and we were unhappy. Lucky for us, and for them, the final false alarm was at 9:30 P.M. and not again after. So we slept well.

Emerald Princess Cruise, December 2010, The drive home

Thursday, Perry to Pensacola

After a terrible Holiday Inn Express breakfast, worse than any Hampton Inn breakfast and that's hard to believe, we packed the car and were on our way. It was very cold in Perry, at the hotel they said it was 26 degrees. We froze getting the car packed up.

We were on our way by 10:30 and thanks to the hour we gained going back to Central time we were home by 3:00. It was cold in the house but nothing appeared to be damaged by the low temperatures. Then we picked up the cats. and came back to a warm house.

Emerald Princess Cruise, December 2010, Drive to the Ship

Luke at the Two Tails Ranch, Williston, Florida, celebrating his 26th birthday.

First day, Friday, November 26, drive from Pensacola to Gainesville
We set off heading east on Interstate 10 about 10:30 A.M. after taking the cats to the pet hotel. It was a gray, chilly day with spots of rain, often heavy. Stopped in Chipley for lunch at Skins and Bubba's BBQ. Nice place for BBQ. Then on to Gainesville arriving there just after dark, 340 miles. As always, dinner was at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store next door. And early to bed. Today's was a long drive for us.

Second day, Saturday,November 27, drive from Gainesville to Ft. Lauderdale
On our way south on Interstate 75 we took a brief detour to Williston to visit the Two Tails Ranch. It is a training, medical, breeding and retirement facility for elephants and exotic felines. It has been there for over 20 years -- owned and operated by Patricia Zerbini, a ninth generation circus performer. The Ranch is a wonderful place; the animals have lots of open space, warm barns in the winter and frequent visitors to watch. Another web site All About Elephants has more information about the Ranch's educational outreach programs.


Luke watching us.

We continued on to Plantation, Florida, just north of Fort Lauderdale. Dinner was at the Plantation location of a small south Florida restaurant chain -- Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine.

Miles so far 680; miles since Gainesville, 340.

Birmingham Trip, Day 4

When we see this we are almost home.

An easy drive south from Birmingham, we arrived home mid-afternoon.

Birmingham Trip, Day 3

This morning we drove into Birmingham's downtown to see the sites. It's a very nice looking city with lots of hills.

When we drove near the Virginia Samford Theatre, currently home to "The Drowsy Chaperone," we decided to see where it was so we wouldn't get lost getting there tonight. It's a good thing we did.

The directions say it's on 26th Street just off Highland Avenue. Well, Highland Avenue is a difficult U-shaped street about 2 miles long with at least 10 right-angle turns. And narrow winding parts through lovely neighborhoods and past at least four beautiful city parks. Pretty to look at -- and easy to get lost in, even in the daytime. And we did, but also happened upon a restaurant we had read good things about, Rojo, and decided to eat there before showtime.

Rojo has two menus: Latin American food and American food. It's a busy and happy neighborhood restaurant, part Mexican cantina, part burger place.

The show, part of the Red Mountain Theatre Company's season. was wonderful, a fabulous production in a beautiful theatre.


Saxon Murrell as Man in Chair in "The Drowsy Chaperone" (From the Birmingham News, photo by Brandon Robertson)


History of the Virginia Samson Theatre,
click the image to enlarge.

For some information about "The Drowsy Chaperone" and its history click here.

Birmingham Trip, Day 1

A month ago we bought tickets to see "The Drowsy Chaperone" in Birmingham, Alabama. It's risky planning anything (especially anything non-refundable) during hurricane season. But we took the chance.

Neither of us had ever been to Birmingham and we had heard a lot about the great restaurants.

So at 11:00 a.m. we headed north on Interstate-65. As we left the house the rain began and by the time we got to the highway, about a mile away, it was a serious down pour. The kind that can't last long. And it didn't. After 15 minutes it went away.

From Pensacola to Birmingham is a 250 mile trip and it took us about 4 hours, not counting breaks and lunch. We stopped to have lunch in Greenville, just south of Montgomery. The last time we were up this way we looked in Georgiana for the Georgiana Family Restaurant where we had eaten before -- great southern country food. But it was now a used car lot. Onward to Greenville where (last time) we discovered The Chef's Table with really good meat-and-three choices.


Courthouse Square, Greenville, Alabama

That was then. Now The Chef's Table is Polka Dots Cafe. It's a coffee house with a limited menu -- it was fine for hungry travelers like us.

A few miles south of Birmingham and about ten miles from our hotel we got caught in a terrible rain storm with thunder and lightning striking next to us. There was heavy traffic and no visibility. We came upon a serious three-car accident that had just happened. The first police car was arriving as we passed by. I was sorry for the people in the accident, but had to be happy we didn't get stopped in the traffic backup that was sure to happen.

Our hotel was on the north side of Birmingham and after driving through two heavy storms getting here we were happy to eat at the Outback Steak House next door. Not a local establishment but certainly a local favorite. It was packed with happy, hungry folks.

The Vicksburg Trip -- Day 4

We had a quick and easy drive home through increasingly heavy rain and gray skies. It was a nice trip.

The Vicksburg Trip -- Day 3

This morning we had breakfast in the hotel and then headed south 25 miles to visit the small town of Port Gibson. Downtown the storefronts and shop signs all looked very old and well-aged. There's a traditional Greek-revival style grand old courthouse with a stone soldier in front. You can see more photos in the slide show I posted yesterday.

The town is also noted for the First Presbyterian Church with the finger pointing to the sky -- 12 feet from wrist to finger tip. Also worth a look is Windsor Ruins -- a mansion that survived the Civil War but burned down in 1890. Only the massive columns still stand.


Click on image to enlarge

We entered the Natchez Trace Parkway in Port Gibson and drove along the 25 mile long segment that leads to the back road to Vicksburg. It was peaceful and lovely. Someday we want to drive the whole length of the Parkway from Natchez to Nashville, 444 miles.

Here are some links for more information about the Natchez Trace.

• U.S. Park Service Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail Site
• U.S. Park Service Natchez Trace Parkway Site
• Natchez Trace Wiki
• Away.com's Natchez Trace Parkway Travel Guide

We were delighted with our visit to Port Gibson and the drive along the Natchez Trace.

Back in Vicksburg we decided to have lunch at a place we had been reading about in the tourist guides -- Walnut Hills Round Table Restaurant. You sit at big round tables and the food is piled up on a lazy Susan in the middle. You sit with strangers and share the huge meal boarding house style. The web site says that during the meal we were to expect regular visits from the owner, chief cook, waitress, waiter and other staff members making sure that your meal is "just right". Yeah, sure.

The slogan is "World Famous Southern Plantation Cuisine." We found it was over-priced dull food with grudging service. Let's just say, we weren't charmed.

After some afternoon nap time we ventured out to visit another riverboat casino. This time it was the Rainbow Casino and it was bright and lively. Vicksburg is situated on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi. To get to this casino and several of the others you must drive down very steep access roads to the river bank. It's very steep and very dramatic with the view of the river and the bright lights of the casinos.

The Vicksburg Trip -- Day 2

We slept late and left the Cabot Lodge, our hotel in Ridgeland, shortly before noon to set off on the 40 mile trip to Vicksburg. But first, because we had lots of time, we drove around Jackson to see the sights. Pictured above is the Eudora Welty House.


Click on image to enlarge

Operated by the Eudora Welty Foundation and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark. It was her home for all her 76 years and she wrote all of her books there. Jack attended her writing classes at Millsaps and visited her at home.

In Vicksburg we drove through town and enjoyed seeing the the old, and restored, down town and the old court house, built and re-built throughout the mid to late 19th century. It is now a museum. Across the street from the old court house is the new courthouse completed in 1940. It is a gem of art deco architecture. We loved the lighting fixtures beside the front steps. There's an example on the left.


Vicksburg Bridges over the Mississippi River


We had dinner at Rusty's Riverfront Grill. The food was good -- spicy and very Cajun-style for this side of the river. We had blackened chicken, spicy grilled shrimp, cheese grits and fabulous crisp-fried onion rings. Desserts looked good but there was no possibility of finding room for another bite.

On our way back to the Holiday Inn Express we stopped for a few minutes at one of Vicksburg's five riverboat casinos -- DiamondJacks. Not much luck there. And the decor wasn't very festive. The previous owner apparently went for a cave look (a Flintstone's Casino, perhaps?). Most of it was dim and grim.

The Vicksburg Trip -- Photos

Here's a link to a slideshow of the photos we took on this trip to Jackson, Vicksburg and Port Gibson, Mississippi.

The Vicksburg Trip -- Day 1

We needed a few days out of town and decided to head north to Mississippi and visit Jackson and Vicksburg. The latter is about 290 miles northwest of Pensacola and the drive takes about five hours.

Mid-morning we took the cats to the pet hotel and set out on our way. Much of the route is not on Interstate highways but the secondary roads were good and there was little traffic.

We spent the first night in Jackson. It's about 40 miles east of Vicksburg. We wanted to drive around the city on Tuesday morning before we drove over to Vicksburg. Jack is an alumnus of Millsaps College in Jackson and spent many years in the city a while back. This trip will be my first visit ever to Vicksburg and Jack hasn't been there for more than 40 years.

We had a great steak dinner at Ely's Restaurant & Bar, located in Ridgeland, just north of Jackson. There were Lebanese touches to some of the dishes -- we enjoyed their "family recipe" tabouli salad made with bulgur wheat, parsley, green onions and lemon juice. It was a nice break from more traditional steak house salads. The side order of their steak fries was a wonderful accompaniment to the steaks. The serving is generous with enough fries for at least four people. The potatoes are hand-cut and served with a delicious Gorgonzola and Asiago cream sauce. It turned out the cheese sauce is very good with the steaks, too.