Welcome to the South Where All the Fun Begins
From cricket tacos to fried chicken, handmade donuts and award-winning desserts, this small North Carolina mountain town is a foodie destination just waiting to be discovered.
Check out the story that was published in Allegiant’s in-flight magazine. Hendersonville’s Unexpected Food Finds.copy
With the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, the town of Asheville has morphed into more than just a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. This small mountain town, known as the “Paris of the South,” is a hotspot for farm-to-table restaurants, lively music, arts and crafts, upscale shopping and a wide variety of seasonal festivals.
Spring is a great time to visit Walt Disney World and especially Epcot during its annual 90-day International Flower & Garden Festival. Be prepared to be wowed by millions of brilliant blossoms, more than 100 festive topiaries featuring favorite Disney characters, 220 mini-floating gardens and Disney-crafted “flower towers.” During this event from February 28th to May 28th, guests will also enjoy cuisine from 15 outdoor kitchens and top-notch musical acts.
Check my entire article in Allegiant Airline’s in-flight magazine, Sunseeker: Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival 2018 copy
Are you psyched for the Winter Olympics? Want to try out some of those half-pipe tricks or finesse your figure skating jumps?
We’re lucky in North Carolina–we have both a beautiful coastline with sandy beaches and gorgeous sunsets, but also stunning mountains with waterfalls, autumn leaves and snow, providing lots of opportunity for all types of sports.
Check out my article for Allegiant’s in-flight magazine, Sunseeker, to read about Beech Mountain Ski Resort, a fantastic winter resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains where you can ski, snowboard, go snow tubing, ice skating and sledding. Then after a day on the slopes enjoy some craft beer and great food at one of the few breweries owned and operated by a ski area.
I just returned from a media trip to Walt Disney World for the grand opening of Pandora–The World of Avatar. This 12-acre addition to Walt Disney’s World’s Animal Kingdom is the fulfillment of a multi-year project by both Disney and the film’s creator James Cameron.
Cameron and the main cast from the movie were on hand for the dedication prior to its opening to the public on May 27th. This amazing, colorful bioluminescent land with floating trees and waterfalls also offers two new rides: Na’vi River Journey and the most realistic 3D ride I’ve ever been on–Avatar Flight of Passage (where you get to fly on the back of a banshee.)
Don’t miss Windtraders, a shop where you can find Na’vi cultural items, toys, science kits and more. The Satu’li Canteen is a great casual restaurant with great food, a bioluminescent frozen cocktail and indigenous beers.
When visiting Animal Kingdom after dark (which I highly recommend) be sure to see the Tree of Life with its animated imagery, the Rivers of Light show, sunset safaris and live-entertainment street parties.
If you plan on visiting Walt Disney World this summer, a great place to stay close to all the action is Animal Kingdom Lodge where you can view animals such as giraffes and zebras right from your room’s balcony!
© Sandra Chambers
Photos by Sandra Chambers
Southern-Traveller 