Last week we left Sedona, Arizona, and found ourselves driving through frigid weather with snow on all sides. Since it was the last day before people started returning to school/work after the holidays, many Arizona residents turned up in Flagstaff to go sledding. I wish I had a picture of the road signs because they were all warning people not to block traffic by parking and sledding at the side of the road. I don't think they saw those signs....
Fortunately, our drive went well and we didn't have any problems with the trailer on the icy roads.
The route we took followed Historic Route 66. As the years have passed, the road has been bypassed by more streamlined roads. The spirit of Route 66 lives on though, and you can even visit one of the many Route 66 museums, like the one in Clinton, Oklahoma. Sadly, because many towns were bypassed by the new roads, many businesses suffered and closed. It's almost eerie to drive past buildings that were clearly important and busy at one time but are now boarded up and faded, reduced to a reminder of an era gone by. This is an example of a typical downtown we saw as we drove along the old road.
If you are a fan of Looney Tunes, then you'll appreciate the fact that we actually took a left at Albuquerque. Before we got there, though, we passed fields of black lava flow. That's something I didn't expect to see!
The second day we drove through the northern tip of Texas and into Oklahoma, where we passed oil wells and thousands of windmills. Please forgive the pics. Most were taken from a moving car (don't worry, my husband was driving....)
We arrived in Oklahoma just in time for Taco Tuesday with my cousins at a great local spot. I always love connecting with family. :-) The next day we escaped the freezing temperatures yet again and drove through the corner of Arkansas to Shreveport, Louisiana.
We visited Sam's Southern Eatery for dinner and let me just tell you, the people of Louisiana CAN COOK! I make fried green tomatoes, and until now, was never able to find them prepared properly at any restaurant. I mean, if I see them on the menu, you can bet your bottom dollar that I'm ordering a plate to see if they're any good. Sam's is the only place I've ever found who know how to do it right. Every single thing we ordered had a mean scald on it (that means it tasted good, for those not from the South). Of course, we ordered sweet tea. I also loved how once we crossed the border, we were suddenly referred to as "darlin'", "sweetheart", and "Y'all". I may be a little smitten....
The next morning we high-tailed it to New Orleans and crossed the Mighty Mississippi. One stop I desperately wish we had time for was the Whitney Plantation. This is one of those places you definitely should learn about. It's just outside of New Orleans and is the only plantation museum in Louisiana with a focus on slavery. Slavery is one of the ugliest chapters in our history that we don't want to look at. But in order to honor the people who lived it and suffered through it, we should learn about it and about them. As you travel though the South, there is still evidence of that history. Some of our most beautiful and treasured American arts sprang from it, like jazz, the blues, soul food, and the quilts of Gee's Bend. You can find descendants of slave owners, abolitionists, and slaves living as friends in the same areas where their ancestors lived. Most are the nicest, most generous people you'd ever hope to meet. While we're here in Florida, I'm making it a priority to find similar places so my kids will be able to have a more personal picture of this horrific chapter and understand clearly why it should never be repeated.
I was surprised at how nice it was once you entered the gated area. Outside those gates in other parts of the city it was another story. Evidence of Hurricane Katrina can still be seen everywhere you go. The people are hearty and resilient and are still welcoming, friendly, and vibrant, but the buildings and neighborhoods reveal varying scars and decay from the destruction.
In the French Quarter you can feel the history and the Sothern Charm. It's intoxicating. Intricate wrought iron and flowers adorn balconies. Tourists wander streets while business owners beckon them in to try their tasty offerings. Tantalizing aromas float through the air. If you look closely, though, you'll see buildings with lost bricks alongside windows of shops that still stand empty. The haunting reminder that this is a city still fighting to fully recover its vitality.
We strolled along trying to take it all in. There are a lot of areas that aren't kid-friendly, but there are also many areas that are. We made sure to visit the original location of the Café Du Monde and taste the famous beignets and Chicory Café au lait! They were so good that our kids have been asking when we can make them ourselves. We also enjoyed pralines, freshly made in-shop.
The street performers were fantastic!
And of course, you can't miss the fun oddities like alligator heads and the funeral buggy!
We had a great time in Louisiana but had to hit the road again the next morning if we were going to make it to the house in Florida on time. So on Kings Day, which marks the beginning of Mardi Gras season, we skipped the King Cake and headed further east. We drove through Mississippi, Alabama, and finally into Florida, where we saw the white beaches of the panhandle before reaching our house in Davenport, a suburb of Orlando.
We'll be exploring Florida for the next three months, so get ready for some fun in the sun! Wishing you all a great weekend!
- Jen
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