March 7, 2019

HOW TO TRACK Davy Crockett IN TENNESSEE

As seniors, we all grew up with Davy Crockett! (well, Fess Parker) He was brave enough to fight bears,  courageous enough to tame the frontier and stood for always doing what is right. He was also a real American. This particular senior travel was meaningful to us because Davy is a childhood hero of ours. My brother and I actually had a Davy Crockett clubhouse in our backyard!   We decided to track Davy Crockett through Tennessee to learn more about the man who preferred to be called David Crockett!       HOW DO YOU TRACK Davy Crockett IN TENNESSEE?   We tracked Davy to four locations in the state….

February 25, 2019

HOW TO FOLLOW THE FOOTSTEPS OF SGT. ALVIN C. YORK IN PALL MALL, TENNESSEE

We just HAD to follow the footsteps of Sgt. Alvin C. York in Pall Mall, Tennessee! We wanted to learn more and pay homage to Sgt. York-one of the most decorated American heroes of WWI.   New generations of Americans became familiar with York through a 1940s biographical Hollywood movie, starring Gary Cooper. Gary Cooper won an Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Sgt. York. York’s military service in WWI and the movie (made much later) made Alvin York a household name.  For we seniors, Sgt. York’s story has been a part of our growing up years.   So, who was Alvin C. York?     YORK’S BACKGROUND     Alvin C….

February 21, 2019

THE BIGGEST 3,000 Year-Old PETROGLYPHS IN North America: JUDACULLA ROCK IN North Carolina

There are times when we see a sign by the side of the road that leads to an American treasure! Judaculla Rock is just such a find!   We were driving 107 N in Jackson County, North Carolina when we noticed a silver road sign which said, “Judaculla Rock.” We had never heard of Judaculla Rock and were uncertain if the sign actually referred to a rock. Boy, does it ever!   Judaculla Rock is approximately 16 feet long by eleven feet wide and is a soapstone boulder covered with strange drawings that have been studied by researchers worldwide. Quarry tools were found nearby and scientists have speculated that Judaculla Rock…