News for July 2010

Coming Events near Alabama Bed and Breakfast

Hear the next governor talk tourism
Gubernatorial candidates Dr. Robert Bentley and Commissioner Ron Sparks will speak at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism Aug. 14-17 in Montgomery. Early registration rates are available for the conference through Saturday, July 31. Registration rates will increase from $350 to $450 on Aug. 1. For only $20 those not able to attend the entire conference can attend all of the sessions on Tuesday, Aug. 17- including the Gubernatorial Lunch where Dr. Bentley and Commissioner Sparks will be speaking. The $20 “Super Tuesday” rate will increase to $40 on Aug. 1.

Other conference speakers include Dr. David Bronner, CEO, Retirement Systems of Alabama; Roger Dow, President and CEO of the US Travel Association; Roger Brooks, CEO Destination Development International. There will also be educational sessions on how to bring travelers to your town/hotel/attraction/event/B&B/museum, managing social media, branding your entity, workshops with the state tourism department; and an update on the Alabama gulf coast. The Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism is being held at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa. Please see www.algovernorsconference.com for registration information.

Gulf Shores plans for a second beach concert
From the article “After Jimmy Buffett success, Gulf Shores gets go-ahead for 2nd concert” by Russ Henderson in the Press-Register:

Two weeks after Jimmy Buffett’s free performance brought a needed boost to coastal businesses, Gulf Shores officials said Thursday that they now have the go-ahead to spend $2 million in BP PLC money on a second concert to take place sometime in August. ”Just like the Buffett concert, we anticipate it will again be a no-charge event, but a ticketed event,” said Grant Brown, Gulf Shores’ director of recreation and cultural affairs. No artist has been announced for the show.  Organizers favor the weekend of Aug. 21-22, but the concert’s date will ultimately be up to the artist, he said. “There’s a lot of conversation in town, and everybody in town thinks they know something,” said Mike Foster, vice president of marketing for the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau. “But really, there’s not a lot to know, yet.” State tourism officials met in Gulf Shores with representatives of the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, Brown said. Contracts were sent to the three artists soon after that meeting.

The Knowland Group, which collects data in the tourism industry, surveyed hotels within 75 miles of Gulf Shores July 19-20. The survey found that 60 percent of guests who came for the Buffett concert stayed two nights or more. Almost 90 percent of respondents said the concert helped their business, but 60 percent reported that bookings dropped off again after the concert, according to survey results.   “The purpose is economic stimulus and awareness, to bring additional people to our area at a time when it’s harder to get people here,” Brown said. The U.S. Travel Association released an Oxford Economics study projecting that the BP spill could cost Gulf Coast economies $22.7 billion over three years. The study concludes that an “aggressive and comprehensive $500 million effort to attract visitors to the Gulf Coast could reduce the total economic impact by $7.5 billion.” The Buffett concert was the first in a series planned by the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Alabama Tourism Department using BP PLC money to promote tourism. BP’s tourism grant to Alabama was $15 million. ”If we can continue to hold these concerts through the summer, maybe we can help the local businesses get through the summer,” Brown said.

For the complete article please see http://blog.al.com/live/2010/07/after_jimmy_buffett_success_gu.html

“Star Wars” exhibit breaks even in first 10 days
From the article “Star Wars exhibit breaks even in first 10 days in Huntsville, more than 29,000 have attended” by Chris Welch in The Huntsville Times:

During the last month, crowds have come out in force to see The Force. This week marks the one-month anniversary of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s new exhibit, “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination,” and officials couldn’t be happier.  The traveling exhibit from the Boston Museum of Science, based on the George Lucas film series, has drawn more than 29,000 people since opening June 25 in Huntsville and broke even financially within the first 10 days of the exhibit, according to Space Center CEO Larry Capps. The exhibit, which features costumes, props, models and hands-on exhibits, remains here through Sept. 6. “I’m exceedingly pleased at the new visitors that come here,” Capps said. “We’ve seen more young children than we ever see at a normal day at the museum. There’s a lot of mothers and daddies with strollers, in fact two or three strollers.” “It’s essentially everything we hoped it would be,” said Al Whitaker, director of media relations for the Space Center. “We’re getting people who would not have come to the Space and Rocket Center otherwise. It’s like a brand new facility.”

On July 17, a Saturday, 4,185 people visited the Space Center, the highest one-day attendance in the museum’s 40-year history. The previous record was 3,200, Whitaker said. On that Saturday, 3,456 people visited the museum, including 2,368 who came to the “Star Wars” exhibit. There were also 522 people there for special events – a wedding reception and family reunion picnics – and 207 kids for the weekend camp programs, including a group from China. “It’s that July attitude,” Whitaker said. “There’s so many schools that go back in August, and for whatever reason, people are getting that last hurrah.” Capps said the initial projections of 150,000 people through the exhibit by Sept. 6 was a little ambitious and based on the numbers that had attended the same exhibit in Portland, Ore. He said some of that shortfall may be because the numbers of people from the North that traditionally stop off at the Space Center on the way to the beach are down this year because of the Gulf oil spill. Capps said only 1 in 20 museum visitors from up North say they’re going to the beach this summer. So far, the highest percentage of visitors are from Alabama, followed by Tennessee and Georgia, proving the exhibit is “a regional thing,” Capps said. Still, Capps said the exhibit is on course to be a great boost for the Space Center. He’s digging into the data and may file a claim with BP if it turns out the oil spill has affected the center’s numbers. “As far as the total numbers, we’re probably not going to be where we thought we might be – 150,000 new visitors,” Capps said. “But, we met our break-even point in the first 10 days, and it will still be a big success.”
For the complete article please see http://blog.al.com/entertainment-times/2010/07/star_wars_exhibit_breaks_even.html#incart_hbx

Tram links Huntsville tourism sites
From the article “Tram links two tourist sites” by Sarah Cure in The Huntsville Times:

A $2.6 million tramway system connecting the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is now open to visitors seeking easy access to both attractions.  The tramway, which consists of an open-air, electric-powered shuttle bus and trailer that travels along a newly created roadway between the two attractions, made its official debut July 16. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, had been appropriating Federal Transit Administration money toward the project for several years. The project included paving part of Tranquility Base and Crater and Phantom roads, constructing a new bridge over McDonald Creek, and landscaping. The money also paid for new sidewalks, streetlights and security gates, said Holly Beach, vice president of marketing at the Space Center. “We have worked with the Botanical Garden for a long time from a promotion standpoint to capitalize on this area as a mini-destination,” Beach said.  “We are excited to continue to work with them, market events together and share tourism business.” Similar to a small bus, the open-air tram and its trailer were both acquired in 2008 through a federal transportation grant for the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, Beach said. The tram holds 14 passengers while the adjoining trailer seats 18.  Beach said the plan is to purchase two additional trams in the future.

“Thousands of people visit both the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Botanical Garden each year, making them important components of Huntsville’s tourism industry and economy,” Shelby said in a statement. “The tramway will alleviate traffic congestion in the area that results from visitors traveling from one destination to the other.” According to Charles Winters, the executive vice president of the Huntsville-Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center is the top paid tourist attraction in Alabama with 470,000 visitors. The Huntsville Botanical Garden came in as the sixth most visited tourist attraction in the state with 300,000. Although the tram’s route schedule is not finalized, Beach said it will first be used three times a day on Fridays and Saturdays. The schedule will be expanded based on customer needs.  “As we develop the route, visitors can be dropped off either at the Botanical Garden or at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center,” she said.  “And, it’s free.” Paula Steigerwald, president and chief executive officer of the Huntsville Botanical Garden, said it’s humbling and encouraging “to us to be linked with the No. 1 attraction in the state as we continue to grow.” “I feel that it will further advance Huntsville’s position as a tourism hub,” Steigerwald said.  “We have already met about future projects as well as expanding Galaxy of Lights and changing its entrance for public safety.”
For the complete article please see http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/07/tram_links_two_tourist_sites.html

Shoals tourism project a success

From the article “Gasoline tax collections for tourism project ahead of payback schedule” by Tom Smith in the Times Daily:
Sheffield Mayor Ian Sanford remembers the negative remarks he and other leaders heard in 2003 when the decision was made to add a 2-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax to finance a tourism project in the Shoals. “It was going to ruin the Shoals, and it was going to be the final nail in the coffin in the area,” said Sanford, recalling a small portion of the pessimistic remarks he heard. Sanford is a member of the Shoals Public Park Authority, which was formed to oversee the tourism partnership with the Retirement Systems of Alabama. The authority also is charged with making sure the gas sales tax is used to pay off a $16 million bond that local governments obtained to pay for their portion of the nearly $100 million project. “(This project) has done nothing but the opposite of what people were saying then, and I never hear a negative word now,” Sanford said. The gasoline tax was added in June 2003 for all gas sold in Colbert and Lauderdale counties. Proceeds go toward retiring the $16 million bond debt. The total payoff of the 30-year bond, including interest, is $17.9 million. At the present rate, the bond will be retired in 2021, about 12 years ahead of schedule.
By most everyone’s account, the tourism project, which includes two 18-hole courses in Colbert County that are now part of the famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail as well as a luxury hotel in Florence, has been a huge success. “This has helped people look at tourism as something to boost the economy,” said Susann Hamlin, director of the Colbert County Tourism Bureau. “It put a new light on tourism and how important it is to our area.” Rex Burleson, president of the Shoals Public Park Authority, said the project has exceeded expectations. “It has created jobs and brought money to this area that otherwise would not have been coming in,” Burleson said. “We took a lot of heat (for the decision), but I have people come to me now and say they understand what we were doing. They understand now that it wasn’t just building a golf course; it was about economic development.” Burleson and other authority members said they also are pleased that the bond will likely be repaid sooner than anticipated. They said the project would never have materialized without a consistent funding mechanism. Johnny Dill, an agent for Joe Jolly and Co., said the gasoline tax has generated about $10.8 million to date. “It’s still on target to pay off before the 30 years,” Dill said. The gasoline tax is producing an average of more than $1.6 million per year. And the amount coming from the two counties are very similar – $5.44 million in Lauderdale and $5.41 million in Colbert.

“This has been a wonderful project for this area,” said Florence Councilman Dick Jordan, vice president of the park authority. “This is something the entire area can be proud of. “It amazes me every time I’m at the Marriott (Shoals Hotel and Spa) and looking over that complex and seeing what has been done there. Then you look at the number of people using the conference center and the golf course. It’s really unbelievable what (the project) has done.” Dill said one reason for some of the initial negative reactions is because the project wasn’t about “smokestacks and manufacturing.” “It was meant to bring people to the Shoals, and it has done that,” Dill said. Burleson said he constantly meets people from other states who come to play golf at the Trent Jones complex. “People from every state and even six or seven foreign countries have been here,” Burleson said. One of the golf courses opened in August 2004, with the other following in July 2005. The number or rounds played at the complex has remained steady despite tough economic times, officials said. “We’re averaging about 43,000 rounds of golf each year,” said Libby Watts, sales and marketing director for the local Robert Trent Jones operation. “I still drive by the parking lot and look at the license plates and it’s really amazing at the number of people from out of the state.”

Watts said the national advertising the area has received from the RSA project has lured companies in for retreats, conferences and seminars – “things that the area was never looked at before.” “People who didn’t know a lot about us before thought we were just a sleepy little area,” Hamlin added. “Now, they know who we are and where we are, and that’s because of the project.”  Burleson said the project attracts travelers who previously passed through northwest Alabama on the way to somewhere else. “Now, they come here for a reason and they spend their money here before going home or heading somewhere else.” Kerry Gatlin, dean of the College of Business at the University of North Alabama, said the project has had a positive impact on the local economy. “While I don’t have specific data, I regularly observe a substantial number of guests with out-of-region license plates at the Marriott and conference center,” Gatlin said. “In my travel, I find very few communities of our size with a conference center that equals that of the Shoals. The same can be said for the RTJ golf courses.  “The economic impact of the two facilities goes beyond current spending, however. The executive business traveler who spends a few days in the Shoals is invariably impressed with our community. This places our community on their radar screen when expansion opportunities arise. Being on the radar screen won’t close the deal – but it is a first and necessary step – and the conference center and RTJ courses clearly play an important role in putting us up for consideration.”
Jordan said the project also launched a productive relationship between the Shoals and RSA Executive Director David Bronner, who also has invested in other areas or the Shoals economy, including Wise Alloys and National Railcar. His total investment in the Shoals is nearing $1 billion. “There were some bumps in the road along the say, but it was fun and it’s great to sit back now and look at the fruits of the labor and the success of the RSA project for this area,” Jordan said. “The best part of the whole thing was it never became ‘I’ or ‘me,’ it was ‘we’ and what’s best for the Shoals. “It has been a true partnership, and we’re reaping the benefits. It was, still is and will always be a win-win situation for northwest Alabama.”

For the complete article please see http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20100725/NEWS/100729873/-1/news06?Title=Gasoline-tax-collections-for-tourism-project-ahead-of-payback-schedule 

 

 

Fitzgerald history in Montgomery
The F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery is the only museum in the world dedicated to the Fitzgeralds. The museum is located in the house where F. Scott, Zelda and their daughter Scottie lived in Montgomery from 1931 to 1932. F. Scott wrote his book “Tender is the Night” and Zelda outlined her book “Save me the Waltz” while living in the house. The Fitzgerald Museum is a part of the Southern Literary Trail. http://www.southernliterarytrail.org/montgomery.html 
    

From the article “Jazz Age couple met, married in Montgomery” by Wesley P. Newton in the Montgomery Advertiser:

Most Montgomerians know Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald were one of the most famous couples of the jazz age, but many don’t real­ize where, or how, the couple met. Since April 1917, the Unit­ed States had been an active combatant in World War I (then known as the Great War). Shortly after the American Congress’s decla­ration of war, Montgomery was the recipient of a U.S. Army military base named Camp Sheridan. The first infantry division that arrived at Camp Sheri­dan was a federalized Indi­ana National Guard unit, the 37th “Buckeye” division. After it left the camp for the deadly trenches of northern France in the summer of 1918, a newly created Army infantry division composed of personnel from various states arrived. Most of the enlisted per­sonnel in the ninth were draftees from the Selective Service Act of 1917. One of the ninth’s junior commis­sioned officers was 1st Lt. F. (Francis) Scott Key Fitzge­rald, a native of St. Paul, Minn. In Montgomery, upper-class women dated, but few married, commissioned offi­cers. Zelda Sayre’s father was an associate justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Only 17, she attracted many officers who were training to be pilots at Tay­lor Field, though she only dated a few. Several of the lucky ones buzzed her home in Montgomery in their div­ing aircraft.

Scott Fitzgerald was more interested in writing than in soldiering. He had begun a novel and spent much of his spare time working on the manuscript. He also spent much of his spare time being sociable in Montgomery. As one of his biographers (An­drew Turnbull) described him: he had “a trim figure in his Brooks Brothers un­iform … There was a dash about him, a greyhound leanness and elegance. …” In mid-July, 1918, Scott ob­tained a pass to dance at the Montgomery Country Club, then located several miles east of the city. The crowd that night consisted mainly of upper class young women and young commissioned of­ficers from Camp Sheridan and Taylor Field. The most popular young woman that night (and many nights) was Zelda Sayre, a recent high school graduate who would soon turn 18. Daring and mischie­vous, and spoiled by her mother, she loved to shock both her peers and adults. One of her biographers, Sal­ly Cline, has described her physical beauty: “As Zelda blossomed into a young woman, people remarked that there was something theatrical about her eyes. They changed color: some­times blue, sometimes green, most often Confeder­ate gray. Young men stared at Zelda, and she stared right back. Her peaches-and-cream complexion was so archetypically romantic,” and she also had a “kissable mouth.” When Scott first saw Zel­da, he was attracted not only by her physical beauty, but also by her being the Belle of the Ball. As she danced with one officer, others continu­ally cut in. Scott seized his chance as soon as they were dancing together. For the next two months, Scott dated her, although Zelda continued to date other men. A point in his favor was that his neatness and polite man­ner positively impressed her parents, especially her mother. He wrote in his ledger on Sept. 7, 1918 that he was in love with Zelda.

For the complete article please see http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20107250334


Upcoming “Great Alabama Homecoming” events
Some 215 towns across Alabama welcome you home this year during the Great Alabama Homecoming. It’s all part of the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns- a celebration of everything that is Sweet Home Alabama.  There are homecoming events and festivals going on practically every weekend through mid-December. Upcoming events include:

July Fest- Vina- July 31
Harpersville Homecoming- Harpersville- July 31-Aug. 1

Fairfield Music Festival- Fairfield- Aug. 7
Cotton Mill Reunion- Valley- Aug. 7
Back-to-School Homecoming- Five Points- Aug. 13-14
Centennial Celebration- Lipscomb- Aug. 13-15
Founders Day Celebration- Hobson City- Aug. 14-15
Littleville Fun Fest- Littleville- Aug. 14
Rickwood Centennial- Birmingham- Aug. 18
Homecoming Celebration- Athens- Aug. 20-21
Founder’s Day Festival- Fultondale- Aug. 21
Priceville Annual Cruise-In- Priceville- Aug. 21
Watermelon Festival- Russellville- Aug. 21
Killen Founder’s Day- Killen- Aug. 27-28
A Homecoming Celebration- Wadley- Aug. 28

Edited: July 30th, 2010

Bentley and Sparks will speak at tourism conference

Bentley and Sparks will speak at tourism conference
Dr. Robert Bentley and Commissioner Ron Sparks will speak at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism Aug. 14-17 in Montgomery. Other conference speakers include Dr. David Bronner, CEO, Retirement Systems of Alabama; Roger Dow, President and CEO of the US Travel Association; Roger Brooks, CEO Destination Development International.  Bentley and Sparks will speak during the Gubernatorial Luncheon on Aug. 17.  There will also be educational sessions on how to bring travelers to your town/hotel/attraction/event/B&B/museum, managing social media, branding your entity, workshops with the state tourism department; and an update on the Alabama gulf coast.  The Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism is being held at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa.  Please see www.algovernorsconference.com for registration information.


Edited: July 22nd, 2010

The First Farm Inn meets Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast

Some wise soul said, “You can take a vacation or you can take the family, but you can’t take a family vacation. However, on July 12, we set out to defy the odds and go where no man has gone before. We loaded three grand children, the triple H bunch, Hannah, Hunter and Hope into the back seat of an SUV for a muti-state road trip. Our final destination was to be the “Answers in Genesis”, Creation Museum in Northern Kentucky. That is about an 8 hour drive through Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, part of Ohio and some Indiana. And did I mention, with three children in the back seat? Are you kidding me??? Well, you have to already be insane because after answering the question…..wait for it…..”Are we there yet?”, about a million and a half times, things get spacey. 
On the way up we decided to stop and eat out of the trunk and have a picnic with some good ole PBJ’s. You know, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Nothing like a good meal after having driven for hours…and this was nothing like a good meal, but fun. The fun really began when we could not find any picnic tables in the park that we stopped in, so I suggested we pull over to a flat rock that I had spied entering the park. I walked over and looked around and behold….there was some money on the ground…it looked fresh and crisp. I reached down and picked it up to discover it was not as I thought; it was not a buck, no not a 5 and not even a 20…It was a Hamilton, my favorite President…a 100 smackaroos! I just love it when a plan comes together, or I should say when God decides I need a little boost for the day. Now, I know your probably going to say, “Hey, I lost that money, send it to me”. Indeed, I will. Please send a self addressed envelope with the serial # of the bill, and I will get that right out to you. 
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…. or the First Farm Bed and Breakfast that we choose to make our abode for the next several days, we arrived safely. 
The First Farm Bed and Breakfast is an elegantly renovated 1870s farmhouse, 20 minutes outside Cincinnati, Ohio. What a wonderful place to relax for several days! Take a look at their website and you will see what I mean. 
We went on a wonderful horseback ride after breakfast one morning and the kids were super excited. What a great time! The kids committed to memory the horses that we rode and talked about them all day. 

Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast

Bodie is such a fine ride!

I rode: Bodacious-“Bodie”— registered Spotted Draft gelding, chestnut tobiano,1550 lbs.,16 hands, born 06/161999— age 11. (Factoid: #1 in herd hierarchy, the barn boss but a gentle giant, comfortable as a couch. Won 1st Place 2009 Johnny Walker Stables, Intro to Dressage, ridden by Jen)

Lillie rode: Sam— natural Tennessee Walker gelding, paint with stockings, 1150 lbs., 15.2 hands, age 14. (Factoid: Voted the horse most likely to follow you around and look in your pockets for treats. Enjoys carrot stretches, is in the middle of the herd hierarchy.)

Hunter rode: Sage— heritage unknown, Kentucky Mountain or Mustang/ Quarter horse gelding, grey, 1000 lbs., 13.2 hands, age 11-13. (Factoid: Enjoys wide open spaces and trails, hates the show arena, has little formal training, has never won anything but a lot of hearts. Hard to catch in open pasture unless he wants to be. Also is a best friend of Bodie.

Hannah rode: Ginger—registered Appaloosa mare, brown roan with a blanket, 1150 lbs., 15.3 hands, born 2/19/95, age 15. (Factoid: won 3rd Place 2009 Johnny Walker Stables, Training Level Dressage, with 9-year-old Hallie. Ginger is a diva, needs her personal space on trail rides, bites other horses, and gangs up on Sunny.

Hope rode: Blue Romeo-“Blue”— Quarter Horse/ Morgan gelding, blue roan with star, 1000 lbs, 14.3 hands, age 4(almost hopes age). (Factoid: Former owners had him in training for barrel racing but too laid back. Lots of potential, but still a “puppy”. Won 5th Place, Intro to Dressage, in first outing at 2008 Johnny Walker Stables, ridden by Katya. Also likes to eat Hannah’s shirts.) 

Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Creation Museum was awesome! Presented the creation from a biblical perspective and demonstrated the compatibility of science and Scripture. Lots of behemoths there. Job 40:15-24 (NKJV) “Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, And his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit. His bones are like beams of bronze, His ribs like bars of iron. He is the first of the ways of God;  only He who made him can bring near His sword. Surely the mountains yield food for him, And all the beasts of the field play there. He lies under the lotus trees, In a covert of reeds and marsh. The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him. Indeed the river may rage, Yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth, Though he takes it in his eyes, Or one pierces his nose with a snare. 

Of course Hope also being an animal lover fell in love with the camel, Gomer, at the Creation Museum. I will let her tell you about that in this video clip.

Me being a dog person, one of the highlights for me was my good friend at the First Farm B&B, was Odo the Australian Shepherd. What a dog! He could win the World Cup in soccer single handedly or make that single pawly.

What a great road trip….now, to recover from the “family vacation”.

Edited: July 18th, 2010

Cool Things to Do Near an Alabama Bed and Breakfast

Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Jazz Festival
Mobile; Aug 5–8
Thurs., Aug 5, Evening of Poetry; Fri., Aug. 6, Jazz Music Workshop; Sat., Aug. 7, Jazz in the Square (Dauphin St.) with national, regional and local bands; and Sun., Aug. 8, Jazz Jam Session

24th Annual World’s Longest Yard Sale
Fort Payne; Aug 5–8
“America’s Most Scenic Shopping Mall,” featuring more than 450 miles of yard sale bargains stretching from Gadsden, Alabama, to Covington, Kentucky. Enjoy scenic vistas, waterfalls and canyons, and meet friendly people along the way.

Fairfield Music Festival
Fairfield; Aug 7
Celebrate the Year of Small Towns and Downtowns with a variety of jazz, blues, R&B and gospel music in Fairfield’s historic downtown.

Rickwood Centennial
Birmingham; Aug 18
Come out to this free event at Rickwood this summer to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rickwood Field, which opened on August 18, 1910!

Buckmasters Expo
Montgomery; Aug 20–22
More than 30,000 consumers and hunters from around the country attend the expo. Activities include Buckmasters Trophy Records Scoring and Display; Buckmasters Top Bow Indoor World Championship where the country’s best 3-D archers compete for cash, prizes and the coveted title; and kids activities, including archery shooting and laser shot hunting and target simulating.

Franklin County Watermelon Festival
Russellville; Aug 20–21
This festival is a celebration, a time for families and friends to gather and eat, play and have fun. We offer a wide variety of activities to enjoy: watermelon contests, car/truck/motorcycle show, antique tractor show, rides & games for kids, 5K/1K Run, Kiwanis Bike Ride, arts & crafts and fabulous food.

Stokin’ the Fire BBQ & Music Festival, 6th Annual
Birmingham; Aug 20–21
At the cornerstone of the two-day event is a world-class barbecue competition, sanctioned by the prestigious Kansas City Barbeque Society. The competition will feature more than 80 local amateur barbecue teams. Each will compete for the braggin’ rights to the best Q in Birmingham. The festival has something for everyone! In addition to the barbecue battles, visitors can enjoy all-day headliner music at the Stokin’ stage, purchase barbecue from nationally acclaimed barbecue vendors, enjoy global grilling demonstrations by chefs from some of Birmingham’s best restaurants, and participate in a Sloss metal arts iron pour. Kids also will have plenty of rib ticklin’ fun in the kids zone, with a variety of free activities and entertainment under the water tower stage.

Muster on the Tallapoosa
Dadeville; Aug 21
Living history at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. The 10th Annual Muster on the Tallapoosa begins at 9:30 am. Features various activities during the day, including living history camps of the Creek and Cherokee Indians and the Tennessee Militia. Guest speakers offer insight into the Creek War. This free event is a must for historians.

Annual Okra Festival
Burkville; Aug 28
Enjoy fresh vegetables, okra, food, vendors, arts and crafts, music, and more.

Black Belt Folk Roots Festival
Eutaw; Aug 28–29
Handmade quilts, baskets and crafts, with blues on Saturday and gospel on Sunday. Down-home cooking, soul food, fish and homemade ice cream. Children’s tent with dancing, drumming, storytelling and face painting.

Come stay at Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast very near the above events.

Edited: July 10th, 2010

Top Reasons to Stay at an Alabama Bed and Breakfast

Staying at a Bed and Breakfast is a fantastic experience. You get great food, friendly hosts and an atmosphere you can’t find in a traditional hotel. Our top 5 reasons to stay at a Bed and Breakfast are:

1. Exceptionally prepared home cooked breakfasts

Like the name suggests a bed and breakfast will serve you breakfast! Most bed and breakfast owners take great pride in their breakfasts offering a wide variety of dishes to fit your needs or requirements. This may include fresh fruit, hot meals, cereal or other delicious foods. Make sure you let you host know about any special dietary requirements.

2. Free extras (Internet, DVD, jacuzzi)

No more paying for movies! Many B&B’s offer DVD players, free Internet access or if you’re really lucky a jacuzzi. Most hotels would require you to pay for each of these separately. A bed and breakfast includes them as part of the experience. What a great way to relax after a long day of sight seeing!

3. Bed and Breakfasts are friendlier

Why stay in a hotel room where you are just another customer? Bed and breakfast owners appreciate you. They want you to have a good time and will make your stay an enjoyable one. Bed and breakfast owners offer you a unique insight into the local community. They can tell you about places to visit, special events, or just offer you the chance to make a new friend.

4. Unique Experiences

The bed and breakfast experience is unique. The exist in different locations, and offer different services. For example, some bed and breakfasts offer packages that are not available through a standard hotel chain. Bed and breakfast inns located on a ranch or lake may offer horseback riding or fishing as part of your visit. Staying at a bed and breakfast may also give you discounts on a round of golf, dinner at restaurant, or nature trips.

5. Comfort and quiet

Last but not least a bed and breakfast offers you peace and quiet. No noisy neighbors in the next room, no sounds of water running through the pipes at odd hours, just peace and quiet. If you can, find one that is located in a quiet neighborhood with a garden or a nice view. You can then spend your days just relaxing and staring out at the ocean or something similar.

On your next vacation stay at a bed and breakfast. They offer far more services than a traditional hotel chain, higher quality food and a personal touch that cannot be beat!

Edited: July 2nd, 2010

Alabama Tourism News Events near Alabama bed and breakfasts

Jimmy Buffett beach concert in Gulf Shores rescheduled for July 11

Jimmy Buffett’s free beach concert in Gulf Shores has been rescheduled for July 11. The concert was rescheduled from July 1 because of increased surf conditions due to recent storms.  The concert will be televised live on CMT at 6 p.m. (central) on July 11. For information related to the Jimmy Buffett & Friends concert please visit www.concertsforthecoast.com.
Buffett played a surprise concert Wednesday night at his sister’s restaurant in Gulf Shores. At about 6:30 p.m. Lucy Buffett informed patrons at Lulu’s at Homeport Marina that the scheduled performer could not make it, but she had found a substitute. Buffett and his seven-piece Coral Reefer Band then launched into a two-hour set before a crowd that grew through word of mouth to more than 2,000.  For photos from Buffett’s surprise concert at Lulu’s please see http://blog.al.com/live/2010/07/new_photos_jimmy_buffetts_surp.html
 

Star Wars exhibit has big opening at U.S. Space & Rocket Center
From the article “The Force was with big opening weekend of Star Wars exhibit” by Paul Gattis in The Huntsville Times:

After hearing about the Star Wars exhibition that debuted Friday, apparently a lot of people wanted to see it. Crowds to see “Stars Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville were better than officials anticipated. “It exceeded our expectations,” said Geoff Abrams, the center’s director of special exhibition operations. Abrams said about 1,800 people visited the 12,000-square foot exhibit on Friday, followed by 2,000 people on Saturday. By mid-afternoon Sunday, about 1,000 people had visited. And once at the center, the exhibit received rave reviews. “Not a single complaint about the exhibit,” Abrams said. “They said it was the most amazing thing they have ever seen.” Holly Beach, the center’s vice president of marketing, agreed. “It’s been 99 percent satisfaction,” she said. “And the other issues are not with the exhibit. It’s a stroller or this or that or some process. “We have not encountered anybody who has gone through the exhibit and not loved it.” Consider that a sigh of relief for space center officials, who have worked more than a year in preparation for the Star Wars exhibit. The weekend provided the opportunity to sit back and enjoy watching visitors enjoy the fruits of their labor. Tickets for the exhibit have been purchased in 43 states and opening weekend visitors arrived from places such as Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Kansas. “I think the realization hits you when you see it in our own museum,” Beach said. “When you see it on your own floor, you’re like, ‘It’s ours.’ ”

So on this first weekend, what attractions were the most popular? “The R2D2 droid building has been the most popular,” Abrams said of the interactive exhibit. “There’s usually about 25 or so people around it trying to build an R2D2 and get it to do a specific task.  ”The (Millennium) Falcon has had a (90-minute) line to get in to see it.”Beach said the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers – sort of the exhibit’s equivalent of posing with Mickey Mouse at Disney World – were also a hit.”They were actually creating bottlenecks because people wanted to get their pictures taken – especially with the droids,” Beach said. “It was a good problem to have.”The exhibit will continue through Sept. 6. And on Sept. 7, work will begin to welcome the Narnia exhibit that will give visitors a chance to tour scenes from the fantastical literary world.”The day after (Star Wars) leaves,” Abrams said, “Narnia moves in.”

For the complete article please see http://blog.al.com/breaking/2010/06/the_force_was_with_the_big_ope.html

Travel+Leisure features “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die”

From the article “Alabama’s Best Southern Comfort Dishes” by Alice Bruneau in the July issue of Travel+Leisure magazine:
Recently, the Alabama Tourism Department issued a list of “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die.” While you might be just fine if you never taste chef Frank Stitt’s grits before you reach your deathbed, your palate will be a whole lot richer if you do. Read on for our short list of Deep South favorites and where to find them.

Baked Grits: Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham
If sweet tea is the “house wine of the South,” then grits are its daily bread. Executive chef and owner Frank Stitt does them right with country ham, chanterelles, and Parmesan. Dinner for two $90.

Tomato Salad: Hot & Hot Fish Club, Birmingham
Thick stacks of heirloom tomatoes mingle with fried okra, field peas, fresh corn, and studs of applewood-smoked bacon under a veil of balsamic vinaigrette—summer on a plate. Dinner for two $100.

Fried Chicken: Martin’s Restaurant, Montgomery
This old-school “meat and three” has been a local mainstay since the 1930’s. The chicken’s batter shatters with every crunchy bite. Be sure to order a side of corn muffins, crisp on the outside, fluffy, buttery, and piping hot on the inside. Dinner for two $40.

Barbecued Chicken: Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q, Decatur
In northern Alabama, a mayo-based white barbecue sauce reigns. Trust us, Big Bob Gibson’s tangy twist gets on with hickory-smoked chicken like a house on fire. Lunch for two $18.

Burger: Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, Mobile
Served only on Wednesdays, the “L.A. Burger” is a spicy Lower Alabama mix of freshly ground beef and Conecuh sausage, the unofficial smoked meat of the state. It sells out fast—get there by noon. Lunch for two $20.

Gumbo: Guy’s Gumbo Shack, Fairhope
Louisiana gets all the credit for gumbo, but the smoky mix of chicken, andouille, and okra in a tomato-based roux at Guy’s holds its own. Finish it with your choice of oysters, shrimp, crawfish tails, or crabmeat. Dinner for two $35.

For the complete article please see http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/alabamas-best-southern-comfort-dishes/1

To download a copy of the “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die” brochure please see  http://www.alabama.travel/dining/food-brochure/

Road Trips For Families names Florence in top ten list of 4th of July fireworks
From the Road Trips For Families article “Top 10: Best 4th of July Fireworks 2010:

Whether you’re going out of state, leaving the country or just packing a picnic and watching the fireworks, the weekend revolves around founding father President John Adams’ call for ‘pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations” in celebrating Independence Day. Here are our top picks for this year’s pyrotechnics:

Florence, Alabama
For almost 30 years, families have gathered on the banks of the Tennessee River in Florence, Alabama for the annual fireworks celebration. A barge in the middle of the river shoots fireworks set to patriotic music. The festival goes all day with music, kids activities, games, and food concessions. The festival has always been free, but with 30,000 people attending the fireworks, some families line up the night before the event in order to secure a prime spot. Other best spectator views are found in boats on the river, the bluffs across the river from the park, on rooftops around Florence and in various parking lots in downtown (Florence is elevated about the riverbank).

For the complete article please see http://www.roadtripsforfamilies.com/2010/06/top-10-best-4th-of-july-fireworks-2010/  

Capitol Hill golf course joins Audubon Sanctuary Program
From the article “Alabama- Blazing a Golf Trail in Sweet Home Alabama” by Grant Fraser:

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill has received certification in Environmental Planning from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP), an international program administered by Audubon International designed to help landowners preserve and enhance the environmental quality of their property. The plan was developed by Robert Wingo, Director of Maintenance, who is also recognized for his effort to plan for environmental stewardship. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses provides an advisory service to help existing golf courses develop effective conservation and wildlife enhancement programs.  This worldwide effort is coordinated by Audubon International and is sponsored in part by the United States Golf Association. “The open space of a golf course is utilized not only by golfers, but is habitat for a variety of wildlife species,” explained Jim Sluiter, Staff Ecologist for Audubon International.  “We welcome Capitol Hill’s commitment to the environment and to managing the golf courses with wildlife in mind.”

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill offers three distinct golf courses including the Scottish-Links style Senator which is home to the Navistar LPGA Classic each year.  Named the number 2 public golf site in the country by Golf World readers, Capitol Hill is one of 11 locations on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail stretching from Muscle Shoals to Mobile. “Capitol Hill is dedicated to preserving its natural surroundings,” Wingo said. “It’s our priority to be mindful of the environment in every aspect of maintenance and we’re looking forward to working with the ACSP to further our efforts.” By joining and participating in the ACSP, Capitol Hill will be involved in projects that enhance habitat for wildlife and preserve natural resources for the benefit of the local community.  These projects may include: placing nesting boxes for cavity-nesting birds such as bluebirds and swallows, utilizing integrated pest management techniques, conserving water, and maintaining food and cover for wildlife.

“The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program benefits both people and wildlife,” said Sluiter.  “It’s a great way for the managers of developed properties and environmental organizations to work together to become better stewards of land and natural resources.” After the environmental plan is approved, properties in the program may apply for certification in Wildlife and Habitat Management, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, Water Quality Management, and Outreach and Education by demonstrating that they have met minimum requirements for each category.  For more information on golf and the environment, please visit www.golfandenvironment.org.  For more information on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail please see www.rtjgolf.com.

 

International tour company website to include Alabama
The international tour company Flight Centre has agreed to include Alabama tourist information in their destination USA online guide. The information will first be available to Flight Centre customers in Australia and New Zealand and later in other countries. “Alabama is a very appealing holiday destination for our Australian and New Zealand markets,” said Rohan Trundle of Flight Centre. “We have currently produced around 300,000 pages of content for Flight Centre that are published to the Flight Centre Australia, Flight Centre New Zealand, Escape Travel and PleaseTakeMeTo.com websites. This content already sits in front of an audience of 26 million users per year and has generated significant enquiries and bookings.” Flight Centre is planning to also roll out the content to Flight Centre Canada, Flight Centre USA (Liberty Travel) and Flight Centre UK websites. Grey Brennan and Peggy Collins with the Alabama Tourism Department worked with Flight Centre on the project providing copy and photographs.

The Hotel at Auburn University honored for excellence
The Hotel at Auburn University was one of the top 28 finalists at the American Society for Quality’s (ASQ) 25th International Team Excellence Competition held recently in St. Louis. The hotel competed against companies from around the world and was recognized by peers with a special award for Organizational Impact. “The Hotel at Auburn University is honored to have been a participant during this year’s ASQ’s 25th International Team Excellence Competition,” said Hans van der Reijden, managing director of The Hotel at Auburn University.  “Even though we were one of the smallest companies presenting, we were recognized by our peers as having the highest organizational impact by means of what we have accomplished at the hotel during the last seven years.” The theme of The Hotel at Auburn University’s presentation was “Maximizing Customer Engagement,” and it reviewed how the property maximized customer engagement in order to secure repeat business.  Within three years, The Hotel at Auburn University was able to drive performance to 95 percent overall customer satisfaction.  The project has also propelled the hotel to number one in its respective marketplace, resulting in it receiving the award for “Organizational Impact.”

Teams from the United States, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Singapore, Japan, Korea and Thailand that represented industries from manufacturing, service, education, healthcare and hospitality were asked to take part in a live project presentation during ASQ’s Annual World Conference on Quality and Improvement.  More than 1,500 attendees observed the team project presentations using quality tools and creativity to demonstrate valuable business insights.  The Hotel at Auburn University is managed by The West Paces Hotel Group, whose founder, Horst Schulze received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award twice for his dedication to continuous quality improvement when he was leading the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.  Schulze was also the winner of the Juran Medal for leadership in quality in 2009.

For more information on The Hotel at Auburn University please see www.auhcc.com.

Dothan CVB endows scholarship
The Dothan Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has created an endowed scholarship at Auburn University’s Hotel and Restaurant Management School.  Auburn’s President liked the CVB Board’s commitment to higher education so much that he decided to create a matching grant for all funds placed into the Miller-Hollis Endowed Scholarship.  In 1992, the Dothan CVB reorganized from the Dothan Chamber of Commerce as a separate entity under the leadership of local businessmen Michael L. Miller and Robert Hayne Hollis. Miller owned and operated several local hotels and is now retired.  Hollis is owner of a local commercial contracting firm.  Miller and Hollis have provided counsel and leadership to the Dothan CVB for a combined 24 years.  Natives of Dothan, Miller and Hollis are graduates of Auburn University.  For more information on the Dothan CVB please see www.dothanalcvb.com.

Tuscaloosa CVB board member featured on “She’s Got The Look”

Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau board member and local attorney Julie Love-Templeton is one of the ten finalists in season 3 of the TV Land original series “She’s Got The Look.”  The series returns for its third season on August 25 at 9 p.m. (central) with new host Brooke Burke (Dancing With The Stars). “She’s Got The Look” chronicles a nationwide model search resulting in ten contenders living together in L.A. as they compete in photo shoots, a video shoot and high-fashion runway shows. The series is aired in over 70 countries. For more information please see www.visittuscaloosaalabama.blogspot.com.

Calendar of Events deadline extended to July 9
The Alabama Tourism Department is extending its deadline for submissions for the 2011 Alabama Calendar of Events to Friday, July 9, 2010. Please go to www.alabama.travel; click on Events, then click Submit an Event and fill out the form completely. FYI: Submissions seem to be easier in late afternoon and evening hours. Your events must be submitted by this deadline in order for it to appear in the printed Calendar. If you have questions, please contact Pam Smith at pam.smith@tourism.alabama.gov 334-353-4541 or Marilyn Stamps at marilyn.stamps@tourism.alabama.gov; 334-242-4544.  

If you wish to enhance your listing with a photo of your event, please send your photos and the name and date(s) of your event to Peggy Collins at peggy.collins@tourism.alabama.gov with a cc to: Tommy Cauthen at tommy.cauthen@tourism.alabama.gov. Please note: Alabama Tourism reserves the right to edit listings, including photo usage in the Calendar and other publications.

 

Upcoming “Great Alabama Homecoming” events
Some 215 towns across Alabama welcome you home this year during the Great Alabama Homecoming. It’s all part of the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns- a celebration of everything that is Sweet Home Alabama. There are homecoming events and festivals going on practically every weekend through mid-December. Upcoming events include:

Celebrate Guntersville- Guntersville- July 2-4
Bay Minette’s Homecoming Celebration- Bay Minette- July 3
Heroes and Patriots Weekend- Brent- July 3
Independence Day Celebration- Cherokee- July 3
100th Anniversary of the City of Lincoln- Lincoln- July 3
Midway Homecoming- Midway- July 3
Pre 4th of July Fireworks and Heritage Celebration- Pickensville- July 3-4

Red Level 2010 Fourth of July Homecoming- Red Level- July 3
Fourth of July Celebration on the Tennessee River- Scottsboro- July 3
Town of Taylor 2010 Homecoming Weekend- Taylor- July 3
Picnic in the Park- Geraldine- July 4
Fourth of July Homecoming- Magnolia Springs- July 4
Mayberry Days- Graysville- July 10
Tallassee Homecoming Weekend- Tallassee- July 17
Founders Day- Hayneville- July 17-18
Function at Tuxedo Junction- Ensley- July 23-24
Harpersville Homecoming- Harpersville- July 31-August 1

For a complete list of Great Alabama Homecoming Events please see www.alabamahomecoming.com.

 
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The Alabama Tourism Department News is a free electronic newsletter produced by the Alabama Tourism Department. It contains news about the state tourism department and the Alabama tourism industry. If you have colleagues who would like to receive it, please forward this to them and ask them to sign up now by going to http://www.alabama.travel/media-room/alabama-tourism-newsletter/  

Edited: July 2nd, 2010