Vacation Planning

There are some great restaurants in the towns I’ve mentioned this week, so be sure to check them out.

In Cartersville:

Ming Moon - this is truly the very best Chinese food you’ll find anywhere. The restaurant was founded by a very young man, and he has slowly built it into a local favorite with great food and great service. The ingredients are fresh, and the flavors perfection. But this recommendation does come with a warning - once you eat there, you’ll have to go back!

The Four-Way and Ross’s Diner - these two landmarks are located in downtown Cartersville, and the best advice I can give you is to go early for breakfast or lunch. If you wait until peak times, you’ll either wait in line or you won’t get a seat at all. They’re both tiny places with really good, really cheap food, and the locals kept them running for over 60 years.

Doug’s Place, just down Hwy. 293 in Emerson (about 5 minutes away), is a great place for any meal. It too is filled with locals, but it’s large enough to handle a crowd. If you want some good homecooking in a casual, comfortable atmosphere, this is the place to be. Doug Jr’s opened up in Cartersville a couple of years ago, and although I’ve not been there, I hear it’s as good as the original.

In Savannah:

Paula Deen fans will want to try The Lady & Sons restaurant, but be sure to get there early and expect to stand in line. Uncle Bubba’s Oyster House is another good option for fans.

On Tybee Island, you must try The Crab Shack. It’s nothing like the chain restaurants - it’s a unique experience all its own. The atmosphere is casual, relaxed, and beachy - perfect for dining on vacation.

The city of Savannah is one of my favorites. The romance, the sea, the history, the square, the massive trees - all of it combine to create a unique destination that makes a visitor want to return again and again.

Savannah is southeast of Atlanta just over 200 miles, but it seems a world away. When you plan your visit, explore the different options you have for accommodations before settling on an ordinary hotel. A bed-and-breakfast or one of the historic inns will make your stay extra special, yet the cost may not be much more (if at all.)

You’ll want to explore the regions of town before you make reservations, so you’ll know the best place to stay to meet your needs. Do you want to stay in the Historic District, or stick close to the airport, or do you want a beach vacation? You’ll have plenty of options, so you might want to look at a map as you make your plans.

The city has an active calendar, so plan your vacation around it to make the most of your experience. Depending on the time of year and the events, you may need to plan ahead.

Plan to spend a lot of time walking - it’s the best way to see the city, and to soak in the flavor and the atmosphere. Take your time - examine the historical markers, sit on a park bench, explore the boats. Unwind and enjoy.

Tybee Island is a short drive from Savannah, but makes a great destination - and one I always include in any visit to Savannah.

I’ll have some good eats in the area posted on Friday, so be sure to check back then.

Several restaurants in Alaska deserve mention, but I’ll just list a few - with links - here. Note: Salmon and/or Halibut are on almost every menu in some form or fashion!

Double Musky, in Girdwood, south of Anchorage in the Southcentral region. Alaskan seafood done New Orleans Cajun-style. Notice the portion sizes of plates from other patrons - if you don’t have a big appetite, you may want to share.

Mile High Pizza in Talkeetna, in the Mat-Su Valley of the Southcentral region. Build your own pizza and sample some Alaskan-brewed beer.

Zach’s Restaurant in Fairbanks, in the Interior region.

Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizza in Anchorage.

Harley’s Diner at the North Pole - well, between Fairbanks and the North Pole on Hurst Road. Just remember, this is a diner, not fine dining, and enjoy the experience.

I know this doesn’t even begin to share all the dining experiences in this great state. Check with the local Chambers of Commerce or city governments for dining options in each town you’ll visit. Then do some research online to see photos, read reviews, or just get the flavor of a place. Be adventurous - the state calls for it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Inside Passage region of Alaska features four main areas, and I’ll touch on all of those today, mostly providing you links to find more information yourself. This area of the state, more than any other, tends to touristy, so keep that in mind as you make your travel plans.

Ketchikan is located at the southern tip of the region. Many cruise ships bring passengers to this city as one of their ports, so the tourism ebbs and swells throughout the day. Outside of Ketchikan, you’ll find the wildlife and more primitive side like the rest of the state, so you may want to explore Prince of Wales Island, Petersburg, and Wrangell on your visit here.

Sitka is a coastal town, bordering the Pacific Ocean. The ferry stops here, so you may want to make your visit part of a ferry tour.  The area is rich in history, Indian culture, and wildlife, so you’ll want to spend a little time there. Just take note - the city is accessible only by air or sea.

Skagway is at the northern tip of the region. You’ll want to take a train ride when you’re here - it’s considered one of the most scenic routes in the world.

We’ll end our Alaskan tour with the state capital of Juneau. The city provides a comprehensive travel planning guide so I won’t repeat the information here. On their site, you’ll find everything you need to plan your next vacation.

I don’t know about you, but after all the places we’ve explored this week, I’m ready to head north! (My hubby will take my temperature with that comment!)

What about you? Are you planning a vacation any time soon? Tell us about it!

Share your Alaska experiences with us!

Better late than never, I guess.

Since Montana is so large, it’s hard to cover it well in such a short period of time. To help with your planning, today, I’ll just list some links below so you can explore the areas further. We’d love to hear first hand recommendations from any residents or frequent visitors, so feel free to leave them in the comments.

Bozeman Convention and Visitors Bureau

Gardiner

Whitefish

Just a note - about an hour east of Whitefish, check out the Isaak Walton Inn. They serve many dishes considered Montana “signatures” and they offer some great vegetarian options, too!

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

Whenever you are exploring food options for Montana, be sure to check out the numerous lodges and resorts - many of them employ top chefs who provide top quality menus. An online search for the area you’re visiting will guide you with reviews of local restaurants.

The winner of the $25 Amazon gift card is

Betty Curran from Nebraska!

I asked Betty to tell us a little about herself, and she sent me the following e-mail:

This is my very first win from any of the Bloggy Carnivals and I am so excited.  I’m just an average senior citizen and I love to read the blogs and see how things have changed over the years. I no longer travel as much as I used to and I envy those who do.

I still work full time - not many people can actually afford to retire any more. 

Congratulations, Betty! Hope you’ll enjoy shopping!

Thanks to everyone for participating in this quarter’s contest - I’ve enjoyed getting acquainted with you. Hope you’ll stick around and share some of your own vacation experiences with us.

Last quarter, my Pix-N-Pens blog participated in the Bloggy Carnival and we had great fun, so I’ve decided to participate with all my blogs this quarter.

Here at Vacation Planning, we’ll give away a $25 Amazon Gift card - perfect time to buy that next travel guide! All you have to do is look through all the other posts on this blog and leave a comment on one of those posts. The comment must be relevant, and not just a simple “great post.” You may enter up to 3 times, but each entry must be on a different post, and must apply to that particular post.

Deadline is Friday, October 31st, midnight (central time). I’ll announce the winner one day next week.

Be sure to leave your e-mail address in your post so I’ll have a way to contact you if you win!

For a chance to win other prizes, check out my two other blogs - Peace and Quiet and Pix-N-Pens, and then check out Bloggy Carnivals - a huge list of contests happening this week only!