Monthly Archives: May 2015

Nashville TN

Bluebird Cafe

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This iconic venue has launched many country singer and songwriting careers since it opened in the early 80s. Still popular with its songwriter ‘in the round’ performances and ‘open mic’ nights, the close and intimate setting is a great place to catch some of tomorrow’s stars in the making, along with many of Nashville’s finest songwriters. With two shows nightly, it’s easy to find the time to visit the Bluebird if you have an evening free. Not familiar with the setting? It’s regularly featured on the television show “Nashville”, was a key part of the movie “The Thing Called Love”, and again is where more than a few big names got their start. Garth Brooks has a great tale of being discovered there and through his fellow songwriters, found more than a few number one hits to record. More recently, now one of Forbes most powerful women in the world, Taylor Swift was getting her start on the bluebird stage. Located 15 minutes south of downtown Nashville, if you like country music or simply want to see some of the best songwriters in action, make it a point to get out to the Bluebird.

SAS: 4

Bay Lake FL, Orlando FL

Downtown Disney Orlando

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In Orlando and want to grab a bit of the Disney experience, but don’t have the time to take in a park? You might want to visit Downtown Disney, located about 20 minutes from downtown Orlando. Yes, it is touristy, but there are a ton of things to see, do, and eat. From fast food to high end meals, all done in Disney style. If you have a free evening, you can grab a show at the Cirque du Soleil Theatre, listen to some music at the House of Blues, or grab a bite at Planet Hollywood, T-Rex, or Wolfgang Puck’s. There is also a bowling alley, a 24 screen movie theater, the Disney Quest Interactive Theme Park, and much more to take in. Along with numerous Disney specialty stores that offer candies, artwork, collectibles, and the usual array of standard souvenirs, there is also a Lego store with numerous giant Disney figures made from the bricks (now including Star Wars). The evenings are typically filled with multiple musical acts along the walkways, which along with entry and parking are free.

SAS Score: 4

Dearborn MI, Detroit MI

Henry Ford Museum

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Just outside Detroit sits one of my favorite museums in the U.S. – The Henry Ford Museum has a little bit of everything and I always find something new and exciting with every visit. So I would think it obvious, if you are into cars, you can find a few here. From an original Model-T to new concept vehicles. Race cars, record setting cars, luxury cars, family cars, military vehicles, and then some. More into planes? There are plenty of those too! Trains? A whole room full – and when I say room, I mean ROOM. Sized to fit a 600 ton Allegheny Steam Engine – one of the largest locomotives ever built, along with several other trains, coaches, cabooses, and trolleys. More into history? How about taking a seat on the bus that played an important role in the civil rights movement? In fact you can board and sit in the same spot where Rosa Parks helped changed history back in 1955. Want to see the rocking chair from Ford’s theatre on which Abraham Lincoln was seated when he was struck by the assassin’s bullet? It’s there. George Washington’s bed and camp chest from the Revolutionary War? It’s there too. And this is does not begin to touch on the many areas and items on display at the Henry Ford Museum. Agriculture, popular culture, industrial machines, electric power generation through the ages, numerous Presidential vehicles (including the infamous Lincoln in which President Kennedy was shot will riding through Dallas), and an entire ‘village’ of historical buildings (Wright Brother’s bicycle shop, Edison’s Menlo Park Labs, Noah Webster’s home) that have been moved and/or re-built on site. So, all that in hand – you’ll want to grab as much time here as you can. An hour is awesome, but a day is even better.

The museum is about 20 minutes outside downtown Detroit, 40 minutes from Ann Arbor.

SAS Score: 5

Norfolk VA, Virginia Beach

Cape Henry Lighthouse

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Just outside Virginia Beach sits the first lighthouse authorized by the U.S. Government. This is also one of the oldest surviving lighthouses in the United States. Completed in 1792, this original lighthouse provided guidance for ships navigating to ports on the Chesapeake Bay through the 1880s, at which time, because of some concerns about the age and settling of the lighthouse, a replacement was built just 350 away. Today a visit to the top of the first lighthouse is free of charge and provides a great view of passing ships, which on any given day may include aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and other military ships heading out from the Norfolk Navy Base (the world’s largest naval station). There is a nominal fee to climb the lighthouse, but not to visit the site.

Since you are there – Just down from the Cape Henry Lighthouse is the site of the first landing of the first permanent English settlers. Thirteen years before the pilgrims, these settlers set up the Jamestown colony. The site is now marked with a cross and stone monument.

Note: The lighthouses both sit on an active military base and require you to provide an ID (drivers license, passport) to enter. It’s 10 minutes from Virginia Beach and about 30 minutes from downtown Norfolk.

SAS: 3