Friday, January 11, 2008
Today the Arkansas resort town of Eureka Springs is a quaint, faux-Victorian tourist trap with an abundance of Bible-themed attractions. But the knickknack shops and family-friendly dinner theaters are really a natural outgrowth of a long history as a "vacation" destination reaching back to the Native Americans.
Eureka Springs has, unsurprisingly, several naturally occurring, mineral-rich springs, which have long been thought to be possessed of healing powers. In 1856 European settler called Dr. Alvah Jackson took the Indian legends at their word at used some of the water from Eureka's springs to "treat" an unspecified eye ailment suffered by his son. The ailment healed and his son's recovery was duly attributed to the spring-water. This led to the founding of Dr. Jackson's Cave Hospital, where many young men were "treated" with Eureka's spring water during the American Civil War, and the subsequent Dr. Jackson's Eye Water business post-bellum.
In 1879 Judge J.B. Saunders, a friend of Dr. Jackson's, visited the Basin Spring in Eureka, where he was allegedly cured of some type of degenerative ailment. Thrilled by the upturn in his failing health, the influential judge began promoting Eureka Springs nationwide. Before the end of the year the town of Eureka Springs was home to 10,000 people, and by 1881 it was the 4th largest city in Arkansas.
Eureka Springs soon became famous for its luxuriant Bath Houses. In 1889 The Basin Spring Bath House was built on Main Street; it was 4 stories high, with a bridge to the upper 2 stories arching over the street and providing housing for the water pipes. The 1901 Palace Hotel's baths used water from the Harding Spring, and featured an electric elevator, electric lights and steam-heating in every room, making it the turn of the century equivalent of a 5 star hotel. At these and other Bath Houses visitors could slip out of their union suits for a hot or cold or shower, a massage or various kinds of baths: hot air, electric, medicated, radiant, vapor and more. The Palace and the Basin house are still standing today.
As the 20th century began to get its big, bloody, iron wheels turning up to speed, interest in mysticism began to wane, and this included the belief in "healing waters". The springs began to be more a sideshow than the main event, and most of the Bath Houses closed.
But Eureka Springs hung in there, adapting with the times, to remain one of Arkansas' premier tourist destinations. Sure, no one comes to be healed, but now they come to get hitched. Eureka Springs has become the Las Vegas of the Ozarks when it comes to quickie marriages (no blood test required), with over 4,000 weddings taking place there every year. Also, there are a lot of shopping opportunities for people who shop on vacation to enjoy. For the faithful it's worth the trip to Eureka Springs to gaze upon the 70-foot tall statue of Jesus, called Christ of the Ozarks that soars above the town. Eureka Springs has been packing them in for more that 150 years, now. Who can say why people will be visiting in 150 more?
Looking for more information on Alabama check out our Alabama Adventure guide at visitusa.com
Best Beaches in Florida
Visitusa.com is committed to singing the praises of a variety of beaches in Florida that visitors to the Orange State may enjoy. To that end, we've compiled an extensive list of the best Florida beaches we could find. So with out further ado, here are some of the best beaches in Florida.
Fort De Soto Beach is a historic fort built during the Spanish-American War located on Mullet Key. This 900- acre park has 7 miles of beaches, 2 fishing piers, picnic and camping areas, a small history museum and a 2,000-ft. nature trail.
Florida's Gulf Coast, Caladesi is one of the few remaining large undeveloped barrier islands in Florida, and is only accessible by boat. It is an perfect locations for swimming, fishing, picnics, diving, hiking and nature study.
Key Biscayne's beaches in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park's visitors can stroll by the Atlantic, charter a deep-sea fishing boat, ride a jet ski, or just relax. It's one of the best places in Greater Miami for golf, sunbathing & water sports
Perdido Key is a natural paradise is home to plentiful native wildlife. The clear green waters and miles of soft white sand are perfect for sunbathing or water sports and it's considered one of the America's best swimming beaches.
South Beach is a happening hot-spot with a chic night life. The "American Riviera" is great for couples on spring break (that can afford it anyway) since rowdy crowds of teenagers are rarely seen on its upscale sands.
Greater Fort Lauderdale has 23 miles of sun-drenched beaches and is perfect for people watching or shopping and dining at any number of great beach shops and restaurants that line the clean and eco-friendly beaches.
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park's miles of white sand beaches and striking dune formations characterize this Florida Panhandle area. Boating, saltwater fishing, camping, canoeing and hiking are all popular St. Joseph Peninsula activities.
Clearwater Beach offers nearly every water and beach activity conceivable, and nearby Pier 60 Park has a family recreation complex with playgrounds, fishing and concession stands.
Anastasia State Park is home to several rare, threatened and endangered species. Located on Anastasia Island, near St. Augustine, this beach provides opportunities for Camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking, beach volleyball, boating and more.
St. George Island State Park sits on 9 miles of undeveloped beaches and dunes. It is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay, and is a perfect setting for a quiet Florida getaway.
Daytona Beach is called the "World's Most Famous Beach". Visitors can drive automobiles on the sand by day and stroll the boardwalk by night, stopping occasionally to enjoy the arcades. Daytona Beach is also a major surfing hotspot.
Siesta Key is one of the most popular the beaches on the southwest coast of Florida and is famous for its soft white sand. Amenities include lifeguards, concessions, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, showers & volleyball & tennis courts.
Looking for more information on Florida Beaches check out visitusa.com your outdoor adventure travel guide
Crop Dusters and Divine Serendipity
Copyright 2006 Black Butterfly Press
Last fall, when I stepped onto what I now know is called a "Crop Duster" airplane, in Memphis, Tennessee en route to Houston, Texas for the grand opening of a new Black bookstore, CushCity.com, my heart leapfrogged in my chest. I wanted to break out and run to the nearest bus station, my favorite mode of travel. However, time would not permit me to indulge my fears. So I settled down and began to pray. Needless to say, I have a fear of flying. Be it DC 10, 757, or a small plane, flying has always been a challenge to my faith.
But a Crop Duster? We're talking just a little bigger than a helicopter as far as I was concerned. On the way back to Memphis from Houston, I flew on another Crop Duster." My knees nearly buckled this time. I flew with only six other people. In fact, when the airline attendant told one man to sit in the back to balance the plane, I dubbed it "the bicycle built for two in the sky."
I had to do some serious soul searching. "Now either you believe Jehovah God, or you don't. You believe you have a calling and are on your purpose or you don't. You either believe that your steps are being divinely ordered or you don't."
Most of all, I realize that as a literary entrepreneur, my business is growing to a point that I must fly.
What does this have to do with writing or taking a chance on your dreams, you might say? It has everything to do with it.
I came to this conclusion.
Faith is uncertainty. >
If you have fear when embarking on a new business venture or writing project, then you're probably doing the right thing.
As a writer, or entrepreneur, we have to be willing to take chances.
We have to be willing to take risks in our work both literally and figuratively.
They say, do something you fear each day.
We have to be willing to give our dream our all, even if it means our life.
As a writer/publisher, each day I step out on faith that I'll have something useful to say.
To be a writer, (or any type of artist, pioneer, trailblazer) you must have faith.
It takes faith to look at the blank page and know that the right words will flow.
Look back at all the turning points in your life and see how they were generally propelled by fear and faith.
When I look back, one of the biggest steps I took as an adult came when I stepped into the unknown territory of the West Coast. In 1981, when I moved to LA from Detroit, I knew no one. I was afraid for the first several years in LA.
However, looking back, I have no regrets. The isolation, the loneliness, and eventually, the readjustment made me more assertive, able to grapple and survive in one of the most expensive economies in the US. These experiences contributed to my growth as a writer/publisher.
Three years ago, when I left my job after 23 years of social work, I was stepping into the unknown. Today, I have no regrets. Why? Because I discovered Divine Serendipity.
They say that in the Bible, Abraham's wife, Sarah laughed when God told her she would be giving birth to a son at the age of 90. The name Isaac means "laughter" in Hebrew. I find myself laughing everyday now as new opportunities open their doors to me since I discovered the Internet. I call it another case of Divine Serendipity.
A year ago, I was sitting around waiting on the phone to ring from my agent. Now people are calling me for assistance with their books. I thank God for having a bigger plan for me than anything I'd ever dreamed of.
The word serendipity came from Horace Walpole's book, The Three Princes of Serendip. Serendipity is a seeming gift for finding something good accidentally.
I like to think of Divine Serendipity as God's way of working small miracles in our life.
Just before I went to Cush City, I attended the National Association of Black Journalists in Phoenix, Arizona. I faced my fears and had to fly there, too.
However, I made very instrumental contacts to my future. In October 2000 I flew through stormy skies to Houston, Texas again, only this time to go on a cruise to CanCun, Mexico. Our ship tossed and rolled as we braved ten-foot waves. (It was hurricane season.) But I was at peace. Now that I've survived flying on a Crop Duster," I feel I've grown in my faith. Talking about Divine Serendipity. Little miracles happen everyday.
I remember reading that faith is knowing one of two things: that when you leap from the edge, either the ground will appear under your feet, or you'll be taught how to fly.
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Bio: Dr. Maxine E. Thompson is the owner of Black Butterfly Press, Maxine Thompson's Literary Services, Thompson Literary Agency and http://www.maxineshow.com .
