Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

About an hour and a half southeast of Atlanta in Juliette Georgia there is a small unassuming building that played the center of a movie I wish I lived in, The Whistle Stop Cafe.  I read the Fannie Flagg book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe' and fell in love with Miss Ruth, Idgie, Big George, Sipsy, and Smokey Lonesome, but after watching the movie I wished I could live in Whistle Stop and spend my days gossiping at the Whistle Stop Cafe while enjoying fried green tomaotes.



Whistle Stop Cafe, Juliette Georgia



Set just feet away from the railroad track is the beautiful covered front porch and store front to the Whistle Stop Cafe.  Although the book and movie take place in Alabama much of the filming took place at the Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette Georgia. 

Fried green tomatoes are on the menu along with many other southern favorites.  While there you can stay at the Jerrell 1920 House Bed and Breakfast.  The Jerrell 1920 house was built by lumber felled and milled on the Jerrell property.  The house has been completely restored to the original condition and offers a simple stay.

Story has it that in this small town just out beynd the cafe there once was a pond.  One fall a flock of ducks flew into town and landed right in that pond.  Well, one night the tempurture drop so suddenly that the pond froze and froze the ducks right there in the pond.  Well those ducks flew off taking the pond with them.  Thats what I hear anyways.

I have watched the movie at least fifty times and I still cry at alomost every scene.  I cry when Buddy dies, when Smokey Lonesome is shaking to much to eat his dinner and apologizes to Idgie for it.  I continue to cry when Miss Ruth brings a blanket out to Smokey Lonesome on a cold night and I ball my eyes out when Miss Ruth dies just as though I lost my best friend.  I love the idea of the simple yet complicated life of those who become our friends in Fired Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. 

New England Fall Foliage

As the temperature drops and the warm fall breezes begin to blow it only seems natural to think of New England in Autumn.  Vermont, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut are all states I want to tour during autumn.  I love autumn in Washington but the kaleidoscope of colors of New England in fall is something I must experience.

 

As I admire the beauty of Connecticut I would take in the history the B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill in Old Mystic.  The cider mill is America’s oldest steam-powered cider mill, family-owned and run since 1881.  As I continued my travels I would venture into Maine.  Biking, hiking or driving I would enjoy the fall color all over Maine.  I would go hiking and biking in Acadia National Park, canoe and listen to loons in the Rangeley Lakes, and, for a spectacular view, I would take the elevator to the Observatory high up on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge.

Autumn is not only great for beautiful fall colors but it's also grape harvest season.  As I meander through Rhode Island I want to visit vineyards, cut grapes and sample wine.  I will tour the historic Slater Mill,  North America’s first successful water-powered, cotton spinning mill on the banks of the Blackstone River.

Did I forget to mention the covered bridges?  Oh my, how could I forget the covered bridges.  Every state along the way would provide the opportunity to walk along kicking up an array of beautiful fall leaves and walk through another amazing covered bridge transporting me back to simpler time.

I just need to remember to pack a warm sweater and charge the camera batteries.

Montana



Sleeping Giant Mountain



I think if you don't have a desire to go to Montana then you just might be crazy.  Who would want to miss the opportunity to see the beautiful undisturbed country, all the rolling hills, mountains and wildlife.  I don't know much about Montana other then it looks beautiful and I want to see it....Oh wait I get to see it! It might be a work trip for training but I am sure that I will have some spare time to experience the beautiful wonders of nature.

I'll start my road trip in Auburn and drive to Spokane where I will become a passenger and get to sit back and enjoy the beauty as we fly by.  My final destination is Fort Harrison in Helena where I will spend four days. I really love traveling to new places especially on someone elses dime!

Free to See Events

                                                                                 

Not only do I want to go to new places but I want to experience new things.  I began researching cool things to do when I found a list of 'Free to See Events' on the National Geographic Travelers web page.  Of the 24 events 3 of them are right here in Washington State, including the Pike Place Market, bicycling through the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, and the National Lentil Festival Parade in Pullman.  There are other fun events such as the Idiotrod in New York City where people dressed as boy scouts push decorated shopping carts through the streets of New York in a spoof of the Alaskan Iditarod.  You may ask why someone would want to watch this, but I say why not.

                                                             

Skagit County Tulips

I love attending events in small communities and rural agricultural areas where they have festivals just to celebrate the main crop of the area.  Next year I will have to make it to Walla Walla for the 'Walla Walla Sweet Onion Festival'.

Tree house in Costa Rica

When I was a kid our family vacations included going camping in Eastern Washington, that was it.  I really loved this camping trip, it was great, but as soon as I moved out of the house my parents started going on great vacations with my little brothers.  One year they went to Costa Rica, I didn't get to go...I'm not bitter though.

 ~Bathroom in the Beachhouse Suite~

Since I didn't get to go with the family I guess I should add it to my list and go without them.  When I thought about where I would like to go I thought it might be fun to see if they had hotels that were tree houses so I could sleep out in the jungle.  I found a very amazing hotel called simply, 'Tree House Lodge'.  They have four tree houses and offer a nightly rate or a preplanned adventure.  The Lodge is located in Punta Uva in the province of Limon. 

                                                           ~The Garden House~

There are beautiful beaches, iguanas, and wonderful fruit and drinks.  What could be better.  I love a good adventure and sleeping in a tree house that is open to the jungle sounds like an adventure to me.

Bicycle the west coast

A couple of years ago I began riding bicycles, since then I have toured some very beautiful places in Washington and Canada on my bike.  Danny enjoys doing this with me so it is a form of traveling we get to do together.

I decided last year that one day when the girls are out of the house I am going to take seven weeks to bicycle the west coast from Seattle to Mexico.  When I began looking into it I discovered that this is a very popular ride that people come from around the world to complete.  I read numerous blogs about people's journey along the west coast.  I read an interesting blog about one mans trip, he provided a great picture diary about his journey.

The nice thing about this trip is that it would check off a lot of the places I would like to travel all in one trip.  I would get to ride along the beautiful Oregon Coast, meander through the red woods in northern California, swim in the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge and visit multiple lighthouses all while feeling the wind blow through my hair. 

Above is the Pigeon Point Lighthouse which is located just south of Pescadero California and is the tallest lighthouse in the USA.

Mamma Mia Greece

As the girls and I lay in bed watching Mamma Mia I decided I needed to travel to Greece sooner then later.  I just need to find a hotel where everyone breaks into song and choreographed dance every five minutes.  Greece has always been a place on my list, the beautiful white houses built into the hills over looking the crystal blue water is so alluring.  I know right now is probably not the best time to go, which is okay since Danny probably won't let me go anytime soon.  Maybe by the time I can travel there the economy will have recovered and there won't be rioting in the streets.

Mamma Mia was filmed in Mouresi on the island of Skopelos in the western Aegean Sea.  This island is also known for it olive oil and feta cheese.  When I visit Skopelos I would like to stay at Karaoulanis Beach Hotel.  This is a beautiful hotel situated right on the beach with amazing views of the water (according to the pictures they have on their website, so it must be accurate!)