Anniston: hitting the Big Time in the Small Town

This weekend I decided to forgo the Clemson game and instead chose to make a weekend stop in between Birmingham and Atlanta. The "highway town" better known as the Model City to natives, Anniston has built itself into a retail haven and history hamlet. The city is home to the Anniston Army Depot as well as the site where the Freedom Riders made an indellible mark in history. Anniston now gets year round travelers who are "passing though" and has the stores to call itself a big city, but has the charm of a small town.

Exit 188 will deposit you in the midst of a plethora of hotels, ranging from the Comfort Suites to the Holiday Inn, which I've personally stayed in when our family reunion was hosted here in 2003. If you have forgotten any necessities or need to indulge in some retail therapy, the Oxford Exchange is directly across the bypass. The outdoor mall, which opened in July 2007, is home to Target, Best Buy, and TJ Maxx, as well as several other retail stores. Don't forget to pick up the local paper, The Anniston Star, to get filled in on the happenings in the city and neighboring areas. (Pick it up on a Wednesday, and you'll get the double feature of reading the "Your Food" section, my personal favorite, and the column of George Smith, who always has an anecdote to share.) Have lunch or dinner at two of the few hometown restaurants left in the city, Betty's Bar-B-Q (my personal favorite) , or Top O' The River. Betty's specializes in all things over a fire, and has a nightly "4 PM til' gone" homecooked meal deal. Top O' the River is known for its fried catfish, cornbread, and fried pickles; order the Riverboat Special. If you have time to sightsee, take a tour of Historic Downtown Anniston, where many establishments are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. End your evening with a coffee at our Starbucks in neighboring town Oxford, and sit outside to gaze at the city.

I always make an effort to hit up my favorite haunts when I come home, and keep up with the city through the Anniston Star website. The Model city is only an hour away from Birmingham and an hour and a half from Atlanta. I feel it gives me the best of both worlds - the ability to travel around and then return home to the comfort that never left.

Big Cities, College Towns, All in a Week

Richmond, Va.-- I've had my "Ticket to Travel" for a while, but just now I'm making my first post to this new Travel Blog.

My thanks to Alabama Public Radio for letting me share a few thoughts from the road.

Rather than tackling serious travel-related, newsy issues (as my colleagues who have posted previously), I just what to use this to talk about the fun and exciting things that one can experience on the road.

Within the last Seven Days, I've been in five states and the District of Columbia. It's a "working vacation" as I had to attend an academic conference in the middle of this particular trip. Read more about that conference trip on my blog.



But, while Chicago was my destination for that conference, I made plenty of stops along the way. On the first leg of the trip, there was an overnight stay in the Atlanta metro area (that always happens when I don't leave Alabama until late in the afternoon).





Then, there was a lunchtime stop in Clemson, South Carolina. No, I didn't visit Death Valley. But, I think I did see some of the more picturesque parts of this campus in the Upstate of South Carolina.

Read more about my first trip to the home of the Clemson Tigers on my blog.


Then, there was a stop in Charlotte, North Carolina where I toured the new Billy Graham Library. I reflected on that trip recently on my web log.

Eventually I made it to my homestate of Virginia where I caught a flight out of Dulles International Airport on a Southwest Airlines flight to Chicago Midway Airport.

Not only did I have a chance to "do lunch" with colleagues at the Chicago Tribune, but I also got a chance to have dinner at a restaurant on the Chicago's Magnificent Mile (N. Michigan Avenue)

After flying back to Dulles, I stayed overnight and took a day to visit some of the sights in Washington, DC

While in Washington, I made my first visit to the world's largest interactive museum, the Freedom Forum's Newseum. It was fantastic!



So in the last 10 days, I've had a blast-- visiting big cities, college towns and back here to my hometown of Richmond, Va.

But, this Ticket to Travel doesn't expire for another five days. So you'll be reading more about my latest trip later in the week.

Trouble for United Airlines

I keep up with as much news as I can that's related to the U.S. airline industry. My wife and I have a favorite that we use (and a #2), neither of which is United.

The New York Times reported on Aug. 11 that United's pilots union has asked CEO Glenn Tilton to find another gig. Here's a link to the article.

The pilots union is complaining bitterly that under Tilton's command, United has become "a shell of its former self."

I flew United to Japan seven years ago. It was my first trans-Pacific flight (and it was four months before the September 11 attacks). It was a pleasant experience.

Fast forward a few years. I recently flew United to Germany, and I have to say that I wasn't as impressed this time around. We arrived in Switzerland late and I missed my connection to Berlin. I didn't sense a whole lot of positive energy from the staff, and the airplane was older and didn't offer the type of amenities to which I've become accustomed.

I had a similar "not so great" experience with another United flight to Washington, DC. I got bumped from my flight back home and had to be rerouted to Huntsville (my parents had to drive me back to Birmingham to get my car). I got a voucher for a free flight, but I'm seriously considering not using it.

Do you have a similar experience? Or are you a United loyalist? Let us know by posting a comment below.

Butler

Vacation Safety

Recently, the news headlines told of a couple who were killed in their hotel room in Antigua during a suspected robbery while on their honeymoon. Their death brought a reminder that even while on vacation a higher level of caution should be exercised.

I know that vacations are supposed to be about escaping the stresses of home and work. Being able to let your guard down a bit is supposed to be one of the perks of vacationing. However, the reality is that the same safety precautions that are taken at home should also be taken on vacation, if not more so. Recently I came across one of the most comprehensive lists of travel safety tips I had ever seen. Even though I consider myself to be a seasoned traveler, some of these suggestions I had not thought of. I hope these tips are as valuable to you as they are to me.

Alisa

33 Travel Safety TipsBy Matthew Keegan

1. Never list your home address on the luggage tag. If on business, put the company's address on the tag; if visiting friends you can list their address. Use covered luggage tags as well.

2. Stay with your luggage until the luggage is checked. If you must put your bag down, keep one foot on the handle.

3. Carry important papers with you; NEVER check anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. Photocopy your passport, driver's license and credit cards.

4. Bring a small flashlight. You never know when you'll suddenly be "in the dark" and find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. At night, keep your flashlight by your bed.

5. Make sure that your prescription medicines are filled properly and labeled accurately. In some countries certain prescription medicines are forbidden.

6. Never wear anything that projects affluence. No gold chains, expensive watches and rings, luggage, or other paraphernalia should be in easy view. Better yet: leave your jewelry at home.

7. If possible travel with only one or two credit cards.

8. Women particularly should never accept a drink from a stranger. Keep an eye on your drink at all times.

9. Vary your schedule; try not to come and go at the same time everyday.

10. Only stay in a hotel that uses cards to open room doors and make sure your room has a peephole and a deadbolt lock. Secure the chain and secure the door by pushing a rubber stop under it.

11. Stay in a room near a stairwell. Never take the elevator if a fire or smoke is detected. Always stay in a hotel where the doors enter the hallway and not directly from the outside.

12. Do not wear name tags in public.

13. Do not use unmarked taxi cabs.

14. Sit behind the driver so you can see him, but he cannot see you.

15. Pay the driver upon arriving at your destination and while you are still sitting in the vehicle.

16. If you must rent a car, rent only from a reputable company. Any operating problems that occur could signal sabotage.

17. Be aware of 'staged' car accidents meant to catch you off guard.

18. Back into your parking spaces to facilitate a quick exit.

19. Park only in well lit and well traveled areas.

20. If your cell phone does not work outside of the country, consider renting one that does for the duration of your trip.

21. If detained for whatever reason by an official, ask for identification. If in doubt, tell them that you want to see his superior. Keep your emotions in check.

22. If traveling with children, bring along an updated photograph of each child in the event that you become separated from them.

23. Write your child's name and your hotel number on each card; include a close friend's or relative's contact information on the card. Give a card to each child which they will carry with them as long as you are away. Destroy once home.

24. Discuss with your family what they would do in event of an emergency while away from home, e.g. whom to call, how to contact emergency personnel, etc.

25. Do not discuss travel plans, your room number or any other personal information in public within earshot of strangers.

26. Bring along a basic first aid kit with bandages, iodine, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, alcohol packets, dramamine, pepto bismol, diarrhea medicine, etc.

27. Familiarize yourself with train and bus schedules before traveling. Have an alternate plan in place in the event your transportation plans change.

28. Do not flash your passport in public. Discreetly show important documents to officials only.

29. Consider purchasing portable alarms that emit a loud sound.

30. Watch for scams on the street. Children working with adults are notorious as pickpockets.

31. Never flash your money in public. Exchange funds with reputable and recognized exchangers only.

32. Have tips ready in advance for service personnel.

33. Consider renting an escort [security] service if traveling in areas where crime is high.

Carnival Docking in Mobile Temporarily

The continuing problems with the fuel spill on the Mississippi River in New Orleans has forced Carnival Cruise lines to keep sending its ships to Mobile.

The cruise line will operate out of Mobile through September 1st. The Times-Picayune reports that Port of New Orleans officials say the nine diverted cruises will cost the port about $315,000 in fees - and the city will lose an undetermined amount from passengers who spend time in New Orleans before and after the cruises.

Here's a link to Carnival's website with some more details regarding their plans for Mobile.

Butler

Travel Etiquette for Americans

As Americans, we like to beat up on ourselves (and the rest of the world does, too, apparently) about our travel habits. The stereotype is that we're loud, we dress terribly, and we don't pay much attention to the social norms of our host countries.

Forbes.com is helping us out with a short article for any of us who may not be as travel savvy as we'd like to be. It's a quick read, and it's fun, too. By the way, apparently the French are the worst tourists, but we're not that far behind.

Butler

Tropical Storm Edouard

If you're vacationing along Alabama's Gulf Coast on this Monday (8/4), the National Weather Service is urging caution if you're planning on taking a dip in the ocean.

Even though Tropic Storm Edouard is moving westward toward Louisiana and Texas, it is still creating rough seas around Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The NWS also says there is a high risk of dangerous rip currents in these areas today.

Butler

Carnival Fantasy Returned to Mobile

Carnival decided to dock once again in Mobile this week. So, if you were scheduled to sail the seas on Carnival's Fantasy ship, you've been ferried back and forth between New Orleans and Mobile.
That news story is on our web site, and you can find it right here.

Carnival also has more information about this situation, and they've posted it on their website.

Butler