The Travel Trolley

Hall of Famer Gary Carter dies

2012-02-16T22:05:00.000-05:00

For fans of the New York Mets in the 1980s, there may have no more a face of the franchise than Gary Carter.

Sadly, the Hall of Fame catcher died today after a battle with brain tumors. He was 57.

“The baseball community has lost a Hall of Fame player and a Hall of Fame person,” Tim Teufel, who played second base for the Mets in 1986, said in a statement. He was a good man and will be missed terribly.”

Carter, nicknamed “The Kid” was an 11 time All-Star and a career .262 hitter who hit 324 home runs during his 19-year career that also included stints with the Montreal Expos, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. But it was his exploits during the 1986 campaign that endeared him to a generation of Mets fans.

During Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, with the Mets down two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Carter stood at the plate with no one on base.

A single from Carter. Then, one from Kevin Mitchell. Next, Ray Knight followed with another – a hit that scored Carter and cut the lead to one. Mookie Wilson stepped into the box to square off against pitcher Bob Stanley.

“What happened next was compelled, created, by Mookie’s cleverness and speed - a hitless at-bat that had wizardry in it,” Carter wrote in his 1987 memoir, “A Dream Season.”

Stanley threw a pitch inside, and Wilson “jackknifed out of the way,” Carter recalled.

The pitch escaped catcher Rich Gedman, Mitchell scored from third base. Somehow, the Mets had tied the game at 5.

After the infamous Bill Buckner error, the Mets won the game, and later the series.

Carter was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2003. He was inducted into the Mets’ Hall of Fame in 2001.

The 3,700 square-foot New York Mets’ Hall of Fame & Museum highlights the team’s five-decade history. Located next to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the museum features a number of exhibits, photos and videos; it is open to fans with game tickets.

Orlando park offers great view of executive airport

2012-02-13T21:15:00.002-05:00

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When flying to Orlando, most people use Orlando International Airport. But, as most astute travelers know, the airport’s International Air Transport Association (IATA) code is MCO, a nod to the airfield’s past.

What is today Orlando International Airport traces its history to McCoy Air Force Base, established in 1940.

Interestingly, the ORL code is used by Orlando Executive Airport. This general aviation airport is located a few miles east of downtown Orlando and less than 10 miles north of the city’s international airport.

For anyone interested in checking out Orlando Executive Airport, but who isn’t taking a corporate jet or flying a personal aircraft, should visit Colonel Joe Kittinger Park.

This 5.5-acre park was first created in 1992, but eliminated as part of an expansion of Florida State Road 408. An upgraded park was opened in March 2011 during a ceremony that honored the park’s namesake.

Kittinger, an Air Force officer and fighter pilot during Vietnam, was the first man to travel at the speed of sound without a plane or spacecraft.

“I hope that future pilots and astronauts find inspiration in soaring to the heavens by having fun at this park,” Kittinger said in a March 2011 news release.

The park offers great views of arriving and departing aircraft, and a pavilion features a built in radio scanner, allowing guests to listen to the tower’s communications with pilots. The park’s playground equipment makes it a great stop for children.

When not gazing upon aircraft landing or taking off, the park overlooks Lake Underhill and offers nice views of the wildlife that call the lake home.

Future plans call for an F-4 Phantom jet, the same type of aircraft that Kittinger piloted during the Vietnam War, to be displayed in the park.

Colonel Joe Kittinger Park is located at 305 South Crystal Lake Drive in Orlando.

Beyond the Theme Parks is an ongoing series about sights to see in Central Florida, excluding the world famous theme parks that call the Orlando area home.

Say yes to Orlando without the theme parks

2012-02-13T20:43:00.003-05:00

ORLANDO, Fla. -- From Walt Disney World to Universal Studios to Sea World, there is so much to see and do in Orlando.

But, what if a Central Florida vacation didn’t include a visit to one of the area’s major theme parks? No theme park, no problem.

There is plenty to see and do in and around Orlando that doesn’t involve a mouse, a wizard or a killer whale.

Take Winter Park, for example. This bucolic community located less than 10 miles north of Orlando’s city center, features gardens, museums and tree-lined streets with enough shopping and dining to make most people forget about the bevy of roller coasters within a 30-mile radius.

In downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park features swan-shaped paddle boats, an amphitheater and a playground for children. Dating to the 1880s, the park’s swan-filled lake centers around a fountain and offers a pleasant view of the city’s skyline, making it the perfect midday escape or a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Beyond the Theme Parks is an ongoing series about sights to see in Central Florida, excluding the world famous theme parks that call the Orlando area home.

Feds approve Cuba flights from Orlando

2012-02-13T20:05:00.000-05:00

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The federal government has approved Orlando International Airport’s application to offer passenger flights to Cuba, the airport said.

“Orlando International Airport can now provide more convenient access to Cuba for Cubanborn residents in Central Florida,” Phil Brown, executive director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said in a news release. “This further positions Orlando International Airport for future service development opportunities.”

The airport made its request for flights to Cuba in 2011. No Orlando-to-Cuba flights are currently scheduled, according to the airport.

Southwest starts Atlanta service

2012-02-13T15:48:00.003-05:00

ATLANTA -- It's official. Southwest Airlines now serves Atlanta.

The Dallas-based low-cost carrier started serving Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport this weekend. The airline, which bought AirTran Airways, will initially serve 15 destinations from Atlanta, but plans to add two more next month and more in the future.

AirTran, which directly serves 52 cities from Atlanta, will also continue to serve Atlanta for the foreseeable future.

“Our service from Atlanta brings greatly reduced fares with new flexibility and value for both leisure and business Customers,” Gary Kelly, Southwest's chairman, president and CEO, said at a Monday news conference, according to a news release.

“Southwest Airlines will significantly expand the tradition of excellent customer service and low fares that we have come to expect from AirTran Airways over the past 15 years,” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said in a news release. “Hartsfield-Jackson Airport prides itself on serving more than 90 million passengers every year, and Southwest's presence will further assure our airport remains as the busiest passenger airport on the planet.”

With the addition of Atlanta, Southwest now serves 73 airports in 38 states.

“We’re opening Southwest service to Atlanta with more flights than our traditional start, and we have big plans for the city,” Kelly said, according to the release.

AirTran is based in Orlando, Fla.

NPS to correct quote on King Memorial

2012-02-11T21:44:00.001-05:00

Courtesy NPS

The National Park Service will remove and correct an incorrect quote included on the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, officials said.

The memorial, which was dedicated last year, includes a paraphrased quote from King: “I was a drum major for justice, peace and righteousness.” However, during a 1968 speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, King said: “Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

“With a monument so powerful and timeless, it is especially important that all aspects of its words, design and meaning stay true to Dr. King’s life and legacy,” Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said in a news release.

The NPS agreed to change the quote after a meeting with King's family.

Chinese sculptor Lee Yixin created the monument of King, who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. The memorial, located along the Tidal Basin near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, opened to the public on Aug. 22, 2011, and was formally dedicated in October 2011.

“My Aunt Christine and I along with other family members want to thank Secretary Salazar and the National Park Service for their considerable efforts regarding the correction of the quote on the Monument in order as the Secretary put it ‘to make sure we get it right,’” Bernice King, Dr. King’s youngest daughter, said in a statement. “As promised, the Secretary and the Park Service involved the family and other interested parties and have accomplished just that with the proposed correction by the Secretary.”

Newest WDW resort set to open for summer travel season

2012-02-11T21:03:00.000-05:00

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Walt Disney World is preparing to open its newest resort in time for the summer travel season.

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort will feature 1,120 family suites – to be located in The Lion King, Cars and Finding Nemo wings of the resort – and 864 standard “themed” rooms – to be located in The Little Mermaid wing. The suites will have a bedroom and a living room.

In a news release, Disney said "all details of the guestroom tie to the storyline":

Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed. Scenic settings, icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation. At the Cars wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas. It’s a journey through an African landscape in The Lion King complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matata time. Treasures from the human world fill Ariel’s grotto in an under the sea kingdom in Little Mermaid courtyard.

From linens and carpeting to fixtures and furniture, all details of the guestroom tie to the storyline. In Finding Nemo, there’s coral-shaped chairs and bubble ceiling lights; Zazu takes center stage on the headboards in The Lion King, while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain.

“Our goal is to make guests feel like they have been immersed in the artistry and enchantment of Walt Disney and Disney•Pixar animated classics,” Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Paris said in a news release.

The three-story resort, located next to the Pop Century Resort, is Walt Disney World’s 25th resort. Suites start at $248 per night while standard rooms start ar $94 per night, Disney said.

The Little Mermaid wing will be the final wing to open, Disney said.

Magazine selects Curaçao as a ‘Honeymoon Hot Spot

2012-02-08T20:52:00.002-05:00

Noting the island’s “distinct culture,” Condé Nast Traveler magazine selected the Caribbean island of Curaçao as one of the top three “2012 Honeymoon Hot Spots.”

The magazine notes: “As the “C” in the ABC islands… it enjoys a hurricane-proof location, world-class diving, and guaranteed sunshine. But Curaçao is unlike its fairly one-note siblings—anyone who looks beyond the tropical surface will find a distinct culture, a pronounced Latin-Caribbean vibe, some fine Dutch colonial architecture, and menus featuring some surprising specialties, from satay to cactus soup and tamales.”

The island, first discovered by Europeans in 1499, has long been an important shipping destination because of its natural deep water harbor, St. Anna Bay.

That harbor divides the city into two sections: Punda – which translates to “The Point” – and Otrobanda, which means "other side." The two are connected by the Queen Emma floating bridge, which opens to allow ships to enter or exit the harbor.

Curaçao, located off the coast of Venezuela, was a part of the Netherlands Antilles until 2010. The island is today considered a country within the Kingdom of Netherlands

One advantage Curaçao has over other Caribbean destinations is its wealth of cultural attractions. So in between snorkeling and margaritas, be sure to make time for one of the island's museums.

Southern Museum gearing up for Great Locomotive Chase sesquicentennial

2012-02-08T09:55:00.011-05:00

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History is gearing up to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Great Locomotive Chase, one of the Civil War’s most thrilling episodes.

At 6 a.m. on April 12, 1862, in what is present day Kennesaw, union spies under the leadership of James J. Andrews stole The General, a Confederate locomotive. The episode – also called the Andrews Raid – is memorialized in film, books and at The Southern Museum, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate that is home to The General.

On April 12, 2012, the city and the museum will hold a series of events and ceremonies to commemorate the event. In addition, the museum will be open from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. on April 12 free of charge to the public.

The day will begin with a 6 a.m. breakfast at the Trackside Grill in downtown Kennesaw; tickets are $20. At 8:30 a.m., a 150th anniversary proclamation will be presented at the historic Kennesaw depot; there is no charge to attend.

At 6:30 p.m., the museum will hold the Great Locomotive Chase dinner at the Trackside Grill; tickets are $100. At 8 p.m., the museum will be hosting “Dessert at the Southern Museum” featuring musician Bobby Horton, who will be performing Civil War era songs; tickets are $25 for those who do not attend the dinner.

Following the sesquicentennial, on April 14-15, the museum will be hosting “Camp McDonald: A Living History Weekend.” As part of the living history weekend, local re-enactment groups will recreate and interpret life in Camp McDonald, a Confederate encampment that was located across the tracks from the museum (where Kennesaw City Hall is presently located) during the Civil War.

This event – to be held on the lawn across the street from the museum – will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 4-12, while children 3 years old and younger are free. Tickets also allow entry into the museum, which will operate normal hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 14 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 15.

In addition to the sesquicentennial events, visitors can explore the museum’s permanent exhibits to learn about the Glover Machine Works, a locomotive factory in nearby Marietta that helped rebuild the South after the war. The museum includes a full-scale replica of a Glover Machine Works factory line.

Museum admission is normally $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $5.50 for children ages 4-12 and free for children three and under. The museum is located at 2829 Cherokee Street in downtown Kennesaw.

For more information about the Great Locomotive Chase anniversary celebrations, visit southernmuseum.org/sesquicentennial/. For more information, call (770) 427-2117, visit southernmuseum.org or follow the museum at facebook.com/southernmuseum.

End of the line for famous Athens trestle?

2012-02-07T19:31:00.001-05:00

For years, the famed "Murmur Trestle" in Athens, Ga., has attracted R.E.M. fans from around the globe. But, time may be running out for the 130-year-old trestle, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Athens-Clarke County purchased the trestle, off Poplar Street near Dudley Park, in 2000 for $25,000 after CSX Transportation started to raze the structure. The local government planned to incorporate the bridge into a regional trail system, but in December announced a planned trail would bypass the historic trestle, the Athens Banner-Herald reported.

The trestle was built in 1883 and served the Georgia Railroad and later CSX Transportation, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

Over the years, R.E.M. fans have visited and urged Athens officials to find a way to save the trestle -- a sentiment apparently not shared by the band, which broke up last year.

"We have always loved that image and it represented something essential about our band and our town at the time," The Wall Street Journal quoted the band as saying in a statement. "We have never been on the Save The Trestle bandwagon, so to speak, figuring it might be a bit unseemly to advocate for a monument to ourselves."

Last June, the Athens Banner-Herald called for a final decision on the trestle and another R.E.M.-related relic -- the steeple of the former St. Mary's Episcopal Church where the band performed its first concert.

"It is, of course, no less true that in the current economic climate, having the government ask taxpayers to foot the bill for preserving the two structures also would be a non-starter," the newspaper said. "And, it's difficult to see any meaningful private funding effort developing in the current economy for preserving two structures that, even when preserved, wouldn't seem particularly important or iconic."

For more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204624204577180660673324908.html?KEYWORDS=athens+trestle
For more: http://onlineathens.com/opinion/2012-01-28/kissane-kelly-look-preservation-options-warehouse-district-murmur-trestle
For more: http://onlineathens.com/local-news/2011-12-22/rail-trail-project-will-bypass-murmur-trestle
For more: http://onlineathens.com/stories/060111/opi_837734198.shtml

Measure would allow DNR to regulate boats at state parks

2012-02-03T22:04:00.001-05:00

ATLANTA – The Georgia state Senate this week passed a measure that gives the Department of Natural Resources the ability to restrict the use of boats on lakes at state parks.

SB 319 removes some current restrictions on the use of boats on waterways at state parks, recreational areas and historic sites. The previous state law barred privately owned boats at a number of state parks, such as A. H. Stephens Federal Lake and Lake Liberty in Crawfordville.

Under the revised law, the “posting of signs at entrances of a park ... shall constitute sufficient notice for the entire park,” according to the bill.

“Every year, residents and visitors alike spend time boating and fishing the waters at one of Georgia’s many state parks,” state Sen. Rick Jeffares, R-Locust Grove, said in a news release. “The passage of this legislation would grant the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources the authority to determine boating authorization in Georgia’s state park system.”

The bill allows exceptions for law enforcement and DNR officials. The measure also authorizes boat and wade fishing in areas where it isn't otherwise prohibited.

The measure now heads to the state House for consideration.

Chattanooga Getaway: 'See Rock City'

2012-02-03T21:24:00.005-05:00

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – "See Rock City."

One of the more wildly-successful advertising campaigns in history. Over the years, the slogan has helped draw droves of tourists to this unique outdoor attraction.

What is today Rock City has been a popular tourist attraction for years. But, it was until the 1930s that the Rock City of today began taking shape.

Frieda Carter, whose husband, Garnet, fashioned one of the country's first miniature golf courses and a housing development atop Lookout Mountain, built a walkway and rock garden for the people living in the development.

To promote the new attraction, which officially opened on May 21, 1932, Carter's husband hired Clark Byers to paint farmers’ barns – for free, if the barns' owners would let him paint “See Rock City” on the roof. The campaign worked; the slogan not only helped to draw guests to Rock City, it also became one of the most recognized advertising tag lines of all time.

Today, Rock City features winding, garden-lined trails. But, the highlight is Lover’s Leap, a natural overlook where travelers can supposedly see seven states from one spot.

The path leading to and from Lover’s Leap offers an adventure in and of itself, as travelers must traverse winding walkways with stairs and bridges and a number of tight rock formations – one aptly named Fat Man’s Squeeze, another known as Needle's Eye – just to make it to the top and return safely. A swinging bridge offers excellent views of the landscape below.

'Choo Choo' hotel a reminder of Chattanooga's railroad past

2012-02-03T17:40:00.002-05:00

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The events of 1970 could have spelled doom for Chattanooga's Terminal Station.

On Aug. 11 of that year, the final train departed from the station. But in 1971, a group of local businessmen intervened and bought the station. After more than a year of renovations, the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel reopened in the former station following an April 11, 1973, re-dedication.

Over the past 170 years, Chattanooga is probably best known for its railroads. But, with the advent of cars and highways, rail travel was obsolete by the 1970s, and the station's fate seemed sealed.

Southern Railways hired New York architect Don Barber to design the depot. The railroad dedicated the structure on Dec. 1, 1909. During its 61-year run as a rail terminal, a number of famous people passed through its doors, including Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryan and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The highlight of the building is the grand dome that spans a waiting room that measures 68 feet by 82 feet.

The structure, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2009, is the centerpiece of the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel. The hotel boasts more than 360 rooms and suites; of those, 48 rooms are located in restored train cars. There are also a number of restaurants and shops on the terminal station's grounds.

Other amenities include tennis courts and outdoor pools. While trains no longer serve the station, visitors can hop a 1924 New Orleans trolley to tour the 24-acre hotel.

Atlanta streetcar line kicks off construction

2012-02-03T17:12:00.001-05:00

ATLANTA -- Local and federal officials this week kicked off construction on a 2.62-mile streetcar line officials contend is the start of a citywide and regional alternative transportation network.

"An investment in the core of the city, in Downtown Atlanta, is good for the entire metropolitan area," A.J. Robinson, president of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, said in a news release. "The Atlanta Streetcar project will keep the City of Atlanta competitive with other cities by improving our transit connectivity, boosting our tourism industry, helping local businesses and building a more sustainable future."

The 2.62-mile streetcar line will connect Peachtree Street and Sweet Auburn Avenue, and a one-way trip is expected to take 10 minutes. The streetcar will connect with MARTA, the grant's recipient.

"All across America, there is work to be done on projects like this," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who attended the event, said in a news release. Now is the time to connect people who need work with the work we need to do to improve our nation's transit centers, highways, railways, airports and ports."

The initial system will have 12 stops and four electric streetcars.

The "launch of the Atlanta Streetcar project is the first step in a project that will transform our downtown corridor, and it reflects President Obama's blueprint for an America that's 'built to last,'" Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said in a statement. "I am grateful for the support of the Obama Administration and Secretary LaHood for the TIGER II grant, which stands as the largest single federal allocation awarded to the City of Atlanta for transportation outside of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and MARTA in more than a decade."

'Pardon me boy,' is that an historic train depot?

2012-02-01T21:02:00.003-05:00

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The events of 1970 could have spelled doom for Chattanooga’s Terminal Station.

On Aug. 11 of that year, the final train departed from the station. Over the past 170 years, Chattanooga is probably best known for its railroads. But, with the advent of cars and highways, rail travel was obsolete by the 1970s, and the station’s fate seemed sealed.

But in 1971, a group of local businessmen intervened and bought the station. After more than a year of renovations, the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel reopened in the former station following an April 11, 1973, re-dedication. The structure is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Southern Railways hired New York architect Don Barber to design the depot. The railroad dedicated the structure on Dec. 1, 1909. During its 61-year run as a rail terminal, a number of famous people passed through its doors, including Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt, William Jennings Bryan and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The highlight of the building is the grand dome that spans a waiting room that measures 68 feet by 82 feet.

Click here for Part I.

Ringgold recovering nine months after tornado

2012-01-31T21:31:00.002-05:00

RINGGOLD, Ga. -- Nine months after a major tornado ripped through this north Georgia hamlet, the signs of destruction are still visible.

The path through town that the EF4 twister -- with winds reaching 175 mph, according to the National Weather Service -- took on April 27 is clearly marked by trees, debris and missing buildings.

Eight people in Ringgold were killed. In total, the tornado killed 20 people combined in Catoosa County in Georgia and Hamilton and Bradley counties in Tennessee.

“The experience ... solidified the community,” the Chattanooga Times Free Press newspaper quoted Ringgold City Councilman Randall Franks as saying. “I think new bonds and many new friendships were cemented. It took working together to make it through.”

Earlier this month, the Ringgold City Council voted in favor of a memorial remembering the fatal twister, The Catoosa County News reported.

“I believe that a memorial recognizing that day, what the city endured, and those who lost their lives would be great for the city,” The Catoosa County News quoted Franks as saying. “We could perhaps have a historical plaque or narrative tablet similar to those that we already have in town. I also think it is important that he have the names of those who lost their lives on the plaque. In essence, it may give the city a little bit of closure and act as a nice historical piece so people could read and learn about what we went through.”

The memorial will be located in Little General Children’s Park, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

For more: http://www.catoosanews.com/view/full_story/17054172/article-Ringgold-council-approves-tornado-memorial--appoints-new-vice-mayor?
For more: http://timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jan/27/rebuilding-continues-in-tornado-racked-town/

Ringgold: End of the line for the Andrews raiders

2012-01-30T21:13:00.002-05:00

By Todd DeFeo / (c) 2012

RINGGOLD, Ga. -- On the afternoon of April 12, 1862, a group of union spies desperately drove a stolen locomotive northward.

But, their tired engine, The General, was about to give out. About two miles north of Ringgold, the Great Locomotive Chase came to an end.

The spies fled, but were later captured.

While the raid failed, it succeeded in raising the general awareness about the importance of railroads and also their vulnerability. Following the raid, the Confederacy guarded its lines closer and a year later stopped a second attempted raid against the Western and Atlantic Railroad.

Those retracing the raid will want to visit two locations in this north Georgia city known as a marriage capital just across the Tennessee state line.

The old train depot opened May 9, 1850, the same day the Western & Atlantic Railroad line between Atlanta and Chattanooga opened for service. It was the last building the raiders saw before their adventure came to an end.

The building was damaged on Nov. 27, 1863, during the Battle of Ringgold, but it was repaired using limestone blocks, which are still visible today.

Just north of town, at railroad mile post 116.2, a marker denotes the exact location where the Andrews Raid ended. The marker is located of Georgia Highway 151, also known locally as Ooltewah Ringgold Road.

Terminal Station turns clock back to city’s railroad past

2012-01-27T23:10:00.003-05:00

By Todd DeFeo / (c) 2012

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – During the Civil War, the railroad was vital to Chattanooga, bringing supplies to the troops stationed in the city and also transporting reinforcements to nearby destinations. In April 1862, Chattanooga was the destination of the failed Andrews Raid — a Union raid aimed at destroying the Western & Atlantic Railroad that served the city.

Over the years, a number of major railroads served the city, including the Cincinnati Southern Railway, which on March 5, 1880, operated a southbound that departed Cincinnati bound for Chattanooga that was nicknamed Chattanooga Choo Choo, or so the story goes. During its heyday, the station had 14 tracks to serve the 68 trains that arrived and departed daily.

Chattanooga’s immortality as a railroad town was cemented in the history books with the release of Glenn Miller’s “Chattanooga Choo Choo” – a song he recorded in 1941 for the film “Sun Valley Serenade.” The song topped the Hit Parade chart, selling more than a million copies.

Today, the famous train station is a hotel, and the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel boasts more than 360 rooms and suites. Of those, 48 rooms are located in restored train cars. There are also a number of restaurants and shops on the terminal station’s grounds. Other amenities include tennis courts and outdoor pools.

While trains no longer serve the station, visitors can hop a 1924 New Orleans trolley to tour the 24-acre hotel.

Big Foot located in Las Vegas

2012-01-26T17:21:00.002-05:00

LAS VEGAS -- Unconfirmed reports indicate Big Foot was discovered at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the World of Concrete trade show.

Bellagio Fountains

2012-01-23T01:40:00.002-05:00

Taken Jan. 22 (or 23 on the East Coast), 2012.

Viva Las Vegas (Part III)

2012-01-21T20:36:00.000-05:00

LAS VEGAS -- Sin City is usually associated with gambling, but the city does have a number of museums worth checking out.

Here are three for starters (this list is by no means exhaustive):

Atomic Testing Museum

The world changed forever on Aug. 6, 1945, when the first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

In the years that followed, Las Vegas was a popular destination for those wanting to see the large mushroom clouds at the nearby Nevada Test Site. The museum's exhibits not only focused on testing on the site, but also life at the site and its impact on the surrounding communities.

Pinball Hall of Fame

Since 2006, the Pinball Hall of Fame has featured a vast array of pinball machines -- ranging from modern machines to rarer classics.

The attraction is free to visit, but it costs to play pinball. Still for most, it's cheaper than the craps table and just as fun -- if not more so.

Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum

Most visitors to Las Vegas spend only passing moments in the airport, and for many, that time is in front of a slot machine.

The Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum, located inside the airport, offers a quick overview of Sin City's aviation history. And, it's free, so even tourists who lost everything to the Blackjack table can enjoy this attraction.

Obama pushes tourism at Disney

2012-01-19T22:52:00.001-05:00

Courtesy The White House

President Obama stopped by the Magic Kingdom on Thursday to push the need to increase the number of visitors to the country.

The President on Thursday signed an executive order that aims to create “a national strategy” to position the United States as the top tourist destination in the world. The White House says international tourism supported 1.2 million domestic jobs in 2010.

“Every year, tens of millions of tourists from all over the world come and visit America. And the more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work,” Obama said. “That’s how we’re going to rebuild an economy where hard work pays off, where responsibility is rewarded, and where anyone can make it if they try.”

Among the executive order’s provisions, the visa processing capacity for non-immigrant visas from China and Brazil would increase by 40 percent this year. Said Obama: “We’re not talking about five years from now or 10 years from now -- this year.”

“We’re going to see how we can make it easier for foreign tourists to find basic information about visiting America, visiting not just Epcot Center, but the Everglades, too,” Obama said. “The more folks who visit America, the more Americans we get back to work. It’s that simple.”

Cable Cars: A symbol of the city

2012-01-16T19:22:00.003-05:00

SAN FRANCISCO -- There may be no greater symbol of San Francisco than the cable car.

The Fog City's steep hills necessitated the development of a transportation that could effectively carry residents across the city's steep terrain. So, in the 1870s, Andrew Smith Hallidie developed a transportation system that would be pulled by a cable.

The first cable cars -- part of the Clay Street Hill Railroad Co. -- debuted in early August 1873, and at one point, eight different lines served the residents of San Francisco. The cars remained a popular method of transportation for decades, but over the years, buses started to take on a greater share of passengers.

By the 1940s, the cable cars were on the decline, riders were choosing buses over cable cars. However, rather than seeing the cable cars relegated to the history books, the public voted for the city to take over the cable cars.

By the early 1950s, the city assumed operations of the cable cars and continues to operate them to this day. But, by the 1970s, the famed cable cars were in trouble yet again, this time needing a major overhaul.

So, from September 1982 until June 1984, the cable car system was shuttered and rebuilt as part of a $75 million restoration project. "They're back and will be running for 100 years," UPI quoted then Mayor Dianne Feinstein as saying in 1984.

"The magic has returned to our streets," UPI quoted Friedel Klussmann, the resident often credited with leading the fight to save the cable cars, as saying in June 1984 as the cars were coming back on line.

Today, there are three lines: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California Street. The 47 cable cars that traverse the lines are not merely a tourist attraction; they're a viable method of transportation.

Plan accordingly, however; lines to ride the cars can grow quite lengthy.

Hotels launch new search engine

2012-01-16T12:48:00.003-05:00

Six leading hotels have joined forces to launch Room Key, a hotel search engine they contend will make finding the right hotel easier.

In a news release, the companies said the new search engine "will provide the simplicity, transparency and breadth of choice consumers expect from a search engine, while delivering the flexibility, accuracy and assurance consumers expect from the hospitality industry."

"Finding the right hotel is complex and, unlike booking a flight or reserving a car, it is a personal decision process - one which no one understands better than hoteliers," Room Key CEO John F. Davis III said in a news release. "We believe Roomkey.com will provide consumers with an innovative resource that will give them unprecedented confidence in their booking decisions by fulfilling their hotel search needs with comprehensive and trusted content, and over time, through additional features such as the ability to connect and share their plans with family and friends - all provided through a simple and flexible site experience."

The companies that partnered are Hotels International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International Inc. and Wyndham Hotel Group.

Golden Gate Bridge to celebrate 75th anniversary

2012-01-15T21:55:00.002-05:00

San Francisco’s famed Golden Gate Bridge is celebrating its 75th anniversary during a two-day festival during Memorial Day weekend.

“As the storied entrance to San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate, and its iconic Bridge is the namesake and centerpiece of our national park,” Frank Dean, the general superintendent for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, said in a news release.

“The scenery, history, and extraordinary natural setting inspire millions of visitors a year to come to the area,” Dean added. “With the new facilities and education programs being launched at the Bridge this spring, the experience will be even more remarkable.”

The bridge, an icon of San Francisco, opened on May 27, 1937. As part of the 75th anniversary celebration, officials are constructing a new, 3,500-square foot visitors’ center. In addition, museums, universities and cultural centers will be participating in “75 Tributes to the Bridge,” a series of public programs to be presented throughout the year.

“The Golden Gate Bridge stands today as a testament of innovation and imagination, a bridge built by the people during the Great Depression,” Janet Reilly, president of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District Board of Directors, said in a news release.

“In honor of its 75th anniversary, we are reaching out to the people of the Bay Area and beyond to join us in a community-based celebration along the San Francisco waterfront,” Reilly added. “The Bridge is not the stage this time; rather, the community will come together to celebrate this engineering wonder together in a festival atmosphere.”