Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours is what our summer southern sojourn is all about; cruising through Louisiana’s 9,000 miles of waterways, searching for alligators and turtles, absorbing the sights, smells and sounds of the bayou. This swamp tour is like taking the Jungle Cruise (sans jokes) on the first minute of the Pirates of the Caribbean, …
Vermilionville is a living history museum in Lafayette aimed to “increase appreciation for the history, culture, and natural resources of the Native Americans, Acadians, Creoles, and peoples of African descent in the Attakapas region through the end of the 1800s.” The docents are the real deal. The quilter has been working here for nine years, …
Mcllhenny Company has been making Tabasco products on Avery Island since it was invented in 1868. After serving in the Civil War, Edward Mcllhenny had no banking job to return to. He decided that the south needed something flavorful to add to their bland food, so he invented Tabasco Pepper Sauce. The company is still …
Lake Charles is the halfway point between Houston (where we flew in) and Lafayette (where we are staying tonight). As beer drinkers, we are always curious about brewers’ rendition of beer when we are further from home. We were pleasantly surprised with Crying Eagle Brewery in Lake Charles. The beer, food, and facility was outstanding. …
With the pandemic present we put a pause on airplane travel, but we are ready to press play again. For our summer trip through the south we decided to fly to Houston, placing us within two hours of Louisiana (the first southern state on our itinerary). A1 had a very memorable first flight. We spent …
Much like the ocean, Oceanside is not stagnant. Oceanside Harbor now has an art gallery, Mare Amicus, located a mile past the famous Oceanside sign. The gallery is a joint effort by painter, Micaiah Hardison, and sculptor, Kim Shaklee. Mare Amicus opened to the public on its reception today, but will typically open its doors …
Nothing says summer like our traditional trip to the Moonlight Amphitheatre to watch a drama unfold from our favorite spot on the lawn. Coolers filled with our favorite snacks and plastic wine glasses filled with delicious canned wine, time flies waiting for the curtains to go up and the sun to go down. Rodger and …
The start line for the “world’s toughest bicycle race” has materialized annually since 2006 in none other than my favorite city, Oceanside. This year is the 40th anniversary of the international transcontinental bike race, Race Across America. From the pier, racers bike right past our residence, along the San Luis Rey bike path, continuing on …
The Nature Collective has been restoring the San Elijo Lagoon for over three decades. It is one of the largest wetlands restorations in the state. The Nature Collective has conserved 40 miles of streams and 60 acres of rare coastal lands. The San Elijo Nature Center educates the public on the lagoon’s history and ecology. …
In Santa Ysabel, CA, just a minute drive from the Julian Pie Company, is a 6,347 acre place to burn off excess calories from apple pie and cinnamon ice cream. The Santa Ysabel Preserve is filled with oak woodlands and native grasslands, along with the animals that depend on these habitats. Although we didn’t see …
Just like the Oceanside Pier, the Oceanside Bandshell has had several makeovers over the years, even moving locations a time or two. The last major renovation to the Bandshell was in 1950, completed the same year that Saunders Construction Company poured a 14,000 square foot concrete ‘mat’ which became a popular place for square dancing, …
Every year we look forward to Beach Soccer USA coming to town. The event hosts professional international soccer teams who compete over a three day period. Beach Soccer USA has been ranked one of the top beach soccer club events in the world. I don’t think there are many opportunities to watch professional soccer while …
Right smack dab in the middle of downtown Oceanside is the Oceanside Museum of Art. They are regularly cycling through their exhibits, so if you don’t visit too often (like us) you will always see something new. I prefer to time my visits for gratuitous events with food truck and beverages options, like First Free …