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Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from Travel South USA!
. . . Ok. Ok. We know. It's not quite time for Christmas yet. But, it's not too early to start planning this year's Christmas adventure for you and your family!

If this year's holiday agenda is looking a little "ho-hum," might we suggest a break from tradition with the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights?

The Natural State's Trail of Holiday Lights Tour takes you over the river and through the woods across some of Arkansas’s most revered cities, towns, landmarks and attractions.

From the picturesque North Arkansas Ozarks through the state's River Valley, Central and Ouachita Regions to the Southern Arkansas Timberlands, the tour is your chance to witness not only some of the most beautiful Christmas light displays you've ever laid eyes on but also to experience the many stop-over activities along the way.

You can go ice skating in Hot Springs. Take the Holiday Tour of Historic Homes in Yellville. Watch the Holiday parade in Pocahontas's historic downtown square. Go "Caroling in the Caverns" in Blanchard Springs, or have a "Musical Christmas" in Gurdon. Even visit the world's largest man-made Christmas tree in El Dorado.

If you've got the time, traveling the trail over several days is the way to go. Arkansas offers many unique stopovers such as bed and breakfasts, downtown luxury hotels and quaint river, lake and country-side cabins.

The tour is perfect for both the family, and for couples just looking for a little winter romance. Events begin as early as November 9th, so it's time to start planning! Let the glow of millions of red, green and white lights in 64 communities lead you through your Arkansas Christmas adventure.

In most parts of the country, October signals the end of summer heat and the beginning of the cool autumn air. Outdoor festivals and events are winding down. Music concerts and street performances are moving indoors. Downtown music festivals are quickly becoming an afterthought.

But down South in Baton Rouge, autumn temps signal prime time for outdoors events and festivals. October and November prove that no matter the season, one thing that never goes cold in Baton Rouge is the music.

Jazz. Rock. Southern-fried country. Vintage Louisiana classics. You can find all of the authentic rhythms of Cajun country at Sunday in the Park. The free Sunday concert series in Lafayette Park at the Shaw Center offers the opportunity to catch "brunch and music under the oaks," while dancing and relaxing to the classic tempos of live Louisiana tunes.

Sundays in the Park isn't the only thing going on in Baton Rouge during the fall. Live After Five returns to downtown Baton Rouge for Fall of 2008.

Head downtown right after work on Fridays (from 5-7), bring your lawn chair and make sure to set-up where you can see the stage as you kick back to the beats from bands like Stormy, Hip Boot Joe, Larry Garner, Travis Matte and the Kingpins, Papa Grows Funk and more.

There's just nothing like a cold drink, a shade tree and the cadences of saxophones, guitars and trombones on a fall afternoon in Baton Rouge.

It's funny to me how the delicious, yet un-fanciest of foods sometimes become such delicacies. Lobster, steak tartare, sushi, etc. were all once considered food for your everyday Joe, but today, they're menu specialties. Cajun food is another good example.

Inspired by French Canadian, Spanish, Indian and English influences, Cajun Country grub began as a poor-man's cuisine — a mixture of this, that and just whatever was available. Early settlers prepared food from what they found organically on the land and in the waters out of necessity to survive: grain, rice, vegetables, fruits, seafood and basically any kind of meat.

These "Acadians" also learned the techniques of using spices. Like tomato, basil and garlic to Italians, onions, celery and bell peppers soon became the holy trinity of Cajun food. Boudin, jambalaya and gumbo are good representatives of the early "throw everything in together, and spice it up" Southern Louisiana style of cooking.

But today, the zing and zang of the often spicy Louisiana dishes is benevolently revered from the West Coast to the East Coast, and around the world.

Crawfish etouffée. Gumbo. Po' boys. Jambalaya. Boiled crawfish. Red beans and rice — it's all in a day's meal in Louisiana. And restaurants like Restaurant August in New Orleans, Mansurs On the Boulevard in Baton Rouge and Café Vermilionville in Lafayette are just a few of the famous Southern Louisiana dining hotspots.

And it's not just the Cajun flavor that get people fired up about Louisiana cuisine; it's the seemingly inevitable celebrations that surround every meal.

Are you ready to kick it Cajun style?

I love the springtime in the South. The dark days of winter become just a memory, and warm weather signals an opportunity to get outside and enjoy an abundance of natural, unique and historical sites. Dogwoods are blossoming; the redbuds are sporting their pinkish-purple blooms. Crawfish and crab boils, fish fries and music festivals are springing-up in every southern state from Arkansas to West Virginia.

But, there may be nothing more inviting on a perfect spring day than a tour through a southern city's beautiful downtown historic district.

I recently came across a unique walking tour in one of the South’s classic beauties, Milledgeville, Georgia. What makes Milledgeville distinct is that it actually served as the capital of Georgia during the Civil War; obviously, history envelops this town as much as the natives' Georgia drawl.

Heck, the city is even in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the only city in the world to require trains to stop at a red light. Can you get anymore unique than that?

In Milledgeville, you can venture back in time with driving and trolley tours of the city's historic district and witness such landmarks such as the original Governor's Mansion, the Old Georgia State Capitol, the Flannery O'Connor Room and the Baldwin County Courthouse, which dates back to 1887.

If driving or riding the trolley is not your thing, a new audio walking tour will be right up your alley. Complete with a map, Mp3 player and guided audio featuring narration, music, sound effects and dramatizations, it just might be the most interactive tour this side of the Mason-Dixon Line.

The audio tour perfect for the tech-savvy traveler and adds that extra element of entertainment for friends and family who tag along. And unlike the trolley tours, the audio tour can be taken anytime of the day and at your own pace, not just on scheduled starting times and stops, leaving plenty of time for shopping and a lot of good eatin.'

For more information on Milledgeville or the walking tours, please call 478-452-4687 or visit www.milledgevillecvb.com and request a visitor's guide.

Nashville Country. Kentucky Bluegrass. Memphis and Delta Mississippi Blues. New Orleans Jazz.

There's no doubt about it: the South is recognized world-wide for its wide array of music. It's not uncommon for visitors to take a road trip through the South simply for the abundance of musical sanctuaries along the way.

In fact, I'm one of them.

I keep a constant eye out for music festivals, events, concerts and newly opened music halls and venues. When I begin planning my next trip South, whether venturing to Kentucky, Louisiana or any other southern state, I make sure to add the musical hot spots I've discovered to my "must-visit" list.

I'll admit, I've been keeping a sharp eye on New Orleans lately. I'm regularly checking for new and fun things to do there. After the wrath of hurricane Katrina a few years ago, New Orleans is even more compelling as it undergoes efforts to physical rebuild and progress on citywide cultural rejuvenation.

One particular grand opening caught my interest recently down in Cajun country.

Michaul's Live Cajun Music Venue and Les Bon Temps Party Hall offers the "total Cajun experience." Located in the French Quarter on St. Charles Avenue, Michaul's offers a taste and feel of authentic New Orleans with genuine Cajun cuisine, live music and even dance lessons in the Les Bon Temps Party Hall.

Reviews on Michaul's have done nothing to discourage my positive first impression either:

"We've eaten and danced at many great places in many great cities, but this is the first time I've been compelled to write. That's how good I feel about our visit to MICHAUL's."
Andy Curran, Cincinnati Board of Realtors

"We took a vote at Cathers and voted our visit to MICHAUL's the most enjoyable night we've ever spent in New Orleans! MICHAUL'S lived up to and exceeded our wildest dreams for the evening."
Cathy McGill, Cathers Publishing House, NY

Anybody ready for a southern music road trip?

When you read through our Southern Chef Bios, you can see how frequently our creative Southern chefs combine locally grown ingredients and regional traditions with international flavors. Where did these traditions start? Key Ingredients - America by Food is both a Smithsonian traveling exhibit and a great online journey that takes you through 500 years of American food. The exhibit explores American cuisine as a product of both regional uniqueness and international diversity.

If you have a recipe with special memories attached, you can share your recipe and your story by submitting it online to The American Cookbook Project, a part of the America by Food project.

The touring exhibit will appear in these tasty Southern locations this year:

Elloree Heritage Museum and Cultural Center      Elloree, SC     6/27/2008-8/10/2008

Vienna Historic Preservation Society       Vienna, GA     6/28/2008-8/10/2008

Belton Area Museum Association       Belton, SC     8/15/2008-10/5/2008

Cherokee Regional Library       LaFayette, GA     8/16/2008-8/28/2008

Gilmer County Public Library      Ellijay, GA     10/4/2008-11/16/2008

National Bean Market Museum       Lake City, SC     10/24/2008-12/21/2008

So by now you’ve figured out that I love lists almost as much as traveling around the South and that I’ve totally been intrigued by Forbes magazine’s recent listings.  The Grilled Octopus and Braised Lamb at Kyma in Atlanta, Georgia was recently selected by one of the world’s top 10 chefs as a “meal worth traveling for.”   Here are some snippets:

Some eat to live. Others live to eat. They're called foodies, and they're so dedicated to their quest for the next great meal that many are willing to travel to the other end of the country and, in many cases, to the other end of the world just to experience it. Here are a look at travel-worthy meals selected by 10 top chefs.

Who Picked: Rick Moonen, executive chef of Restaurant RM and R Bar Café at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas

The Meal: Grilled Octopus and Braised Lamb at Kyma in Atlanta

Why: "This Greek restaurant serves up innovative food in a hip environment. The grilled octopus and the braised lamb are a celebration of authentic Greek food presented in a clean way. I would walk to Atlanta just to eat here again."

For more information, visit www.buckheadrestaurants.com/kyma.html.

I’m not a bar hopper (far from it), but I do think it is cool that the Nikki Beach Bar in Miami, Florida was selected by Forbes as one of the World’s Ultimate Beach Bars.  If only I were 20 years younger and still in college I would take a road trip. 

However, If you are an avid reader of this blog, and a growing number of you are (thank you), you already know what a beach bum I am.  I’d take a day at the beach over just about anything, anytime or anywhere.  And the South is known for its fantastic beaches.  Off the top of my head I can think of a handful I personally love…Dauphin Island, Myrtle Beach, Seaside, Destin…but I really couldn’t tell you much about the bar scenes there.  Here’s a link to Travel South USA’s database of Southern Living magazine articles on Beach Vacations.  Perhaps one of our loyal readers will write in with some suggestions.  In the meantime, here’s what Forbes said about the Nikki Beach Bar:

The door policy here might be strict--they adhere to the guest list and weed out hangers-on--but once you get through, the service and atmosphere is above par, with a private beach surrounded by natural wood- and white fabric-covered furnishings. In the evening, this beach bar turns into a full-blown club, serving up house beats from international DJs.

I know a lot of you are laughing at the irony that seems inherent to me in the subject line for this blog entry.  I too have trouble equating “Southern” with “weight loss” since in my home Southern cooking and southern recipes usually involve a lot of butter, a lot of fried food and a basket full of biscuits.  Remember too, I’ve the one who introduced you to Maxine’s Chocolate Cake.  However, like the rest of the world, Southern Chefs, spas, resorts and travel destinations are taking America’s problem with weight in to serious consideration and are now offering healthful alternatives and cooking classes.

Take for instance Duke’s Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, North Carolina.  Their five-day program includes includes access to medical, behavioral, fitness and nutrition evaluations, as well as meals. Along with weight loss, clients often feel more energetic and improve their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The optional Lifestyle Coaching program provides six months of supportive follow-up calls.

Hilton  Head Health Institute in Hilton Head, South Carolina also offers at least a week and attend the Healthy Lifestyles program, which teaches techniques for coping with stress and controlling cravings through meal planning. Cooking demonstrations show guests how to keep it up, and personalized fitness programs help lower their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Unwind with a late-day massage or stretch and relaxation class.

Both were recently recognized by Forbes magazine.

However, working on your weight loss doesn’t have to be all you do when you are there.  Adventure and magnificent scenery await you including whitewater rafting, canoeing, hiking, camping and waterfall treks.  There are tons of Festivals and Attractions in both areas (and plenty of restaurants to test your will power).  Not to mention, beaches to fortify your resolve.  Check out the travel packages at the Travel South USA and have them help you plan your trip.

Until next time…