Recommended Quick Trip...

PHOTO LEFT: Here is a shot I took of the Horton Mill Covered Bridge, located just a few miles down the road from the Oneonta Wal-Mart












If you just happen to be in the area or want to make a day trip out of it, Oneonta has a lot to offer... for such a small town. There are several covered bridges in Oneonta that you can visit. As for driving across them, I'm not sure about that. I do remember driving across the Horton Mill Bridge several years ago. I had my son, Jake, along for the ride the last time I crossed over the bridge and I have to say, it was exciting, scary, and nostalgic, all at the same time.


VIDEO ABOVE: Would I have driven across the bridge if it hadn't been roped off? Sure, adventure is my middle name!



One block off of main street, there are several cool shops where you can browse local folk art (Donna and I are the proud owners of a beautiful brown hand made fruit bowl that we purchased a few years back), antiques, old time hardware, and more. And there are more than just a few good eateries around town that will satisfy any craving you might have.
A few miles outside of Oneonta, you can visit Palisades Park. There are some awesome rock outcrops and bluffs there. Palisades Park is a great place to go rappelling or simply take in the awesome scenery.
If rock peaks your curiosity, stop in at one of the many stone companies located in Oneonta. You can kill a half hour or more just dreaming about what you could do in your yard with a pallet or two of rock.
For more information on Oneonta and Blount County, try this web site: http://www.blountoneontachamber.org/

Recommended Quick Trip

Maybe not real quick, but worth the five hour drive from Birmingham. It's Dale Hollow Lake. It's been a while since I visited, but I'm betting the lake is still beautiful and in a pristine state.
{Note: I just checked and it is indeed still in a pristine state} Dale Hollow Lake is actually under jurisdiction of the Army Corp of Engineers, so there are no homes dotting the shore line of this waterway. As the official site of Dale Hollow Lake explains, "Come float the pristine waters and relax, surrounded by the sounds of nature. There are no McMansions staring you in the face as you cruise the peaceful lake. It feels like you are back in time, back to a virgin forest with an unspoiled lake teeming with fish". I remember renting a house boat at East Port Marina, in North Tennessee, for a few nights as part of a family vacation.

The night sky was incredible and the everywhere you looked was just gorgeous, and not an exceedingly crowded lake, either. Plenty of solitude to be enjoyed. Vacationing in a house boat on an awesome lake, like Dale Hollow, is something I'd definitely recommend.
The Suncruisin2 - still slicing through the waters of Dale Hollow Lake!

Lafitte, Louisiana (flora and fishing)

In the swamps of Lafitte there is lots to look at and talk about. Gators and insects and plant life abound. One such plant is the Salt Marsh Mallow (Malva sylvestris). This native plant has become more evident in the swamps due to the loss of larger trees during Katrina.
More interesting, though, are the shenanigans of two fishermen that recently graced the tiny town of Lafitte, Louisiana. From their last resort, overnight stay at a bed and breakfast that caters to newly wed couples to a nice haul of red fish, it seems my dad and brother made a serious impression on this Cajun town. For an in depth report on the fishing trip, go to: http://lafittefishing.com/ (click on fishing report and read the March 15 entry).

Recommended Quick Trip

There are some cool places to visit in our great state. One such place is Wilderness Park in Prattville, AL. What makes Wilderness Park especially interesting is the giant bamboo forest that you encounter as you enter the park. These bamboo reach over 60' tall and dominate the surroundings. It's a very large area of nothing but Oriental bamboo...quite surreal! Definitely bring your camera along for some interesting photo opportunities.


These photos were taken during the day. The bamboo is thick and it's rather dark once inside this forrest.