Americas Best Inns Montgomery

Who knew I'd enjoy Montgomery, AL as much as I did...

It all began when we pulled into our hotel. I've come to expect a very standard room by now, but when we got to our floor and opened the door, I was pleasantly greeted by a really nice room. They had recently renovated the hotel, and clearly hired some sort of Feng Shui decorator. I loved it. Everything was crisp and clean, but with warm touches ...

... the Civil Rights Memorial that was created by Maya Lin (the same woman that designed the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC). The memorial is a large round disk that is engraved with a time line of the of the most significant events of the civil rights movement. Black granite with dates and memories of struggle, prejudice, sacrifice, resistance and deaths, persecution and changes in our legal system were there in a dramatic, yet subtle ...

Suzy and her husband, Young live in the house that all four of my Alabama cousins were raised in by Uncle June and Aunt Suzy (or big Suzy once cousin Suzy was born) . Those of you in my family that have been to this house when we were kids, will recognize it’s original stature and grace as you notice the changes and expansions Suzy and Young have made to accommodate raising their combined 5 kids. The property was divided some years back giving Janet (Mother of George’s kids) the ...

... welcome! For the next 4 days we were swept up into Southern hospitality and family love.......

"Who wants a bourbon and branch water after all that travel?"

Andy accepts with gratitude as I sip my water. George entertains us with his Southern Gentleman charms and his easy going Rancher style. Stretched out in Suzy’s living room George was keeping us on the edge of our seats with his tales and stories of snakes, hunts and horses when ...

... used. By the way Davis is buried in the same cemetery where my family has a plot in Richmond.

After about three hours in Montgomery I headed west and stayed on US 80. What an amazing ride that was. I was pretty much in the middle of no where the entire day. Somewhere between Dublin and Montgomery I was it by some angry storms. The rain I can handle. When the wind is blowing so hard that it pushing me into oncoming traffic I need to pull over. I ...

Believe it or not, there are 54 Championship Holes at the Capitol Hill Golf Course in Prattville, AL that are part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Jerry took the opportunity to get in a round of golf and was amazed at the beauty and pristinely maintained course.

While Jerry was hitting a small ball around Prattville, Alex & I spent some time in the pool to cool off. Bella used to jump into the pool to me when she was a puppy, but I couldn't ...

We left the Gulf Coast today and headed into Alabama to visit with Aunt Kathy and Uncle D. I used to live with Aunt Kathy and Uncle D in Florida. But I haven't been to visit then in Alabama for the last 5 years. What a great reunion.

My cousin Jackie cooked up some homemade lasagna and these ...

... as no dentures needed, which is an exaggeration). The guy who started Dreamland many years ago had one rule on his premises which is posted in a news article on the wall. NO ******* - he was serious. I presume it taints the tenderness of the ribs, which I suspect may have happened to ours. (May be he was just sensitive to stank) The barbeque sauce was top notch. Done eating - time to join the party. Outside having a smoke ...

... the concept broader and recognize all kinds of civil rights struggles. At the end, we found ourselves in a dark room where one entire wall that goes up about two stories is all digital video screens where there are names slowly "running down" the screen like water. On the walls flanking the screens there is a quotation from Robert Kennedy about civil rights on one side, and on the other, there is an inscription that talks about a commitment to supporting ...

... in my garage. But anyway, driving this thing back from Alabama, my mind finally clicked into gear. I had a moment where Doc Brown from Back to the Future started yelling at Marty when they first meet in 1955 and after the mind reading device doesn't work, "Do you know what this means?" That voice popped into my head, over and over again. I didn't know why at first, but it slowly sunk in. And now I do know what it means ...