With a four-square foundation symbolized by four downtown statues and an abundance of art, Charlotte, the Queen City of North Carolina, also teems with spectator sports.

By Irwin Speizer
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Golftown USA is the city’s self-proclaimed moniker, and with more than 120 public and semiprivate courses arranged end to end over the 60-mile strip called the Grand Strand, the name certainly fits.  By Larry Olmsted
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Michigan’s Fruit Basket

Open your senses to the pastoral charm of southwest Michigan.

Sight Delight in the vision of the late 19th-century covered bridges that dot the roads near Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.

Sound Dance along with Grand Haven’s Musical Fountain as it performs its nightly water, light and music shows.

Taste Sip wine along the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail.

Touch Sift the sand at Warren Dunes State Park, while hang gliders take off overhead.

Smell Inhale the aroma of blueberries, fresh-picked or in scented soaps, candles and other products, throughout South Haven.

Road Rules

Residents of a foreign country, that signed the 1949 United Nations Convention on Road Traffic who are temporarily in the United States, may drive in Michigan with a valid International Driving Permit and home country license. The vehicle’s registration and proof of insurance or rental agreement must be in the car at all times.

Tall Timber Days
Grand Rapids, Minnesota, August 7–8

A lumberjack show, chain-saw carving and local crafts pay tribute to the area’s logging heritage, while children’s street games, a footrace, a bingo tent, food booths and musical entertainment entice action-oriented visitors. (218-326-3231)

Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival

El Rancho Mañana, Richmond, Minnesota, August 12-15

Highlights of 31st annual Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Festival include music on five stages and workshops at El Rancho Mañana Campground, 20 miles west of St. Cloud. This family friendly festival also offers talent showcases and nightly dances in the Showcase Tent. (800-635-3037)

 Minnesota State Fair
St. Paul, August 26–September 6

This popular fair contains all the necessary elements for summer enjoyment: roller-coaster rides, live grandstand concerts and 300 culinary concessionaires, whose treats include 36 kinds of food-on-a-stick. Minnesota’s annual fair has missed only five years since it was first held in 1859. (651-288-4400)

Indian Summer Festival
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 10–12

If fry bread and buffalo burgers pique your interest, come see what else you’ll find at the country’s largest Native American cultural gathering. Intertribal dances, artisan demonstrations, professional dance groups and popular indigenous music all play their part in this
celebration. (414-604-1000)

BamFest

Belleville, Wisconsin, September 18

Celebrate the blues on the banks of scenic Lake Belleville, where the west branch meets the main branch of the Sugar River.

From Independence Hall where the Founding Fathers signed their famous Declaration, to Penn’s Landing, where William Penn first dropped anchor, Philadelphia’s Old City District remains true to the vision that sparked its development so many years ago.
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Gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée, and red beans and rice. They’re some of the signature dishes of southern Louisiana cuisine. But do you know which are Cajun and which are Creole?  By  Julie Burnham

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From the silky white sand beaches lined with a kaleidoscope of colored umbrellas to the impeccable rolling golf courses, Myrtle Beach is fun for just about anyone. Myrtle is the most famous spot on the sunny Grand Strand, 60 long miles of beautiful South Carolina  beaches stretching from Little River to the historic streets of Georgetown. But beyond the staples of popular resort areas, Myrtle Beach boasts a variety of entertainment options, including theaters, nightlife, fine dining, water parks and outlet shopping galore. Hit Restaurant Row after a day in the sun for endless eateries or head over to Broadway at the Beach, a mini-boardwalk city of award-winning restaurants, shopping, nightclubs, an aquarium, the IMAX 3D Theatre, and miniature golf. Not far from Broadway are a bevy of live performance theaters such as the Carolina Opry, Alabama Theatre, Palace Theatre, Legends in Concert, Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede and Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament.

It’s sometimes easy to forget that music is a performing art. And as thrilling or enjoyable as a song might sound on the radio, the Web or a CD, nothing compares to the experience of hearing music live. Whether it’s the performance of a classical score by a symphony orchestra or a simple, heartfelt blues tune by a lone guitarist, the opportunity to hear live music should not be missed. We’ve asked some of our correspondents to create performance- and music-related itineraries for four premier U.S. music destinations—Miami, Florida, Memphis, Tennessee, Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, California. Each of these cities offers one-of-a-kind music experiences featuring great musical traditions. By: Andrew Humphreys, Linda Romine, Paris Permenter, John Bigley and Jean Schiffman
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Here are some of the sensory experiences that are part of the Blue Ridge Parkway:

Sight
Just off the parkway, Mount Mitchell rises 6,684 feet, making it the tallest mountain east of the Mississippi River. At the top, you’ll find an impressive 360-degree view.

Sound
Old-time fiddle music is part of the legacy of early Scots-Irish settlers. Performance venues are common in local towns.

Taste
Visit Ararat, Virginia’s Levering Orchard in June and pick cherries right off the tree. You’ll find no cherries sweeter than the ones you pick yourself.

Touch
Most days, on the 228-foot suspension bridge on Grandfather Mountain, the winds will invigorate you as well as the view.

Smell
In June and July, be sure to stop at Craggy Gardens, where you can smell the thriving wildflowers and see blooming rhododendrons.

Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway

Try Hiking the Blue Ridge Parkway by Randy Johnson, an insider’s guide to the trails along the Parkway, its overlooks and roadside facilities.

Road Rules

In most cases, if you’re from outside the United States and plan to drive for fewer than 30 days you can use your driver’s license from your native country. However, plan to check about licensing and insurance requirements, as these both vary from state to state. If you’re going to drive for more than 30 days in North Carolina or Virginia, you will need to get a state driver’s license. At the time of application, you must present both a motor vehicle report (MVR) and a copy of your driver’s license from your native country that indicates the original date you were licensed.

 To find a North Carolina or other Blue Ridge area hotel and experience this region yourself, visit www.countryinns.com. 

I love this Country!
~Emily

People of all ages and walks of life come together to stroll around in circles, step by step, slowly and methodically. Some stare downward as they place each foot in front of the other. Some walk with eyes closed, trusting their feet to stay on the layered path. Some even read from a favorite book as they make their way around the narrow maze. By  Brian Crocker
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