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The Top Three Travel Destinations to Add to Your 2022 Bucket List
from FF January 2022
by Forsyth Mags
BY AMY HILL
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When it comes to domestic and international travel, large cities and hyped-up tourist attractions often overshadow hidden gems and sites less gushed about. This year, forego pricey tourist hotspots such as New York, Venice, and Paris to explore these three destinations.
Meteora, Kalabaka, Greece
Greece travel deep-divers are likely to have come across the stunning UNESCO World Heritage site of Meteora throughout their research, but to the general public eye, many have never heard of the picturesque, mountainous monasteries that make up Meteora. In fact, the word “Meteora” is Greek for “suspended in the air,” which perfectly describes the scenic holy monasteries constructed atop enormous sandstone rock pillars.
The town surrounding Meteora, Kalabaka, hosts plenty of hotel accommodations and eateries for visitors. What makes Meteora so magical is its relatively remote location from many big-time tourist attractions in Greece. Accessible by a four to five-hour drive, bus, or train ride from Athens, Meteora and the town of Kalabaka are a perfect getaway spot to escape large metropolitan traffic and crowds. Although it’s fair to expect a larger amount of tourists to a UNESCO World Heritage site during the warmer months, visit in the shoulder season (spring and fall), or even the winter if your bones are braced for the cold, to escape the crowds. While novice travelers to Greece are fighting off long queues and high prices in raved-about Santorini, you’ll be touring stunning monasteries in the sky for a fraction of the hassle and cost.
Mesa Verde National Park, Mesa Verde, Colorado
Sitting very much south of highly populated Denver, Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park has a unique way of making visitors forget that they’re still in the United States. Ancestral cliff dwellings carved hundreds of years ago are what makes Mesa Verde a mustsee in Colorado. Guided cliff-dwelling tours are available May through October (highly recommended), while other self-guided tours and hiking trails are accessible year-round. To avoid peak season, book tours in early May and June, or late September and October. A 50-minute drive from charming Durango, Colorado, Mesa Verde makes a fabulous day trip. The beauty of establishing a home base in Durango is its proximity to diverse dining options, unique boutiques and shopping experiences, and the option to ride the esteemed Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train – a sight not to be missed by anyone visiting the area.
Polignano a Mare, Bari, Italy
If the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean are calling your name, book a room at a bed and breakfast instead of an allinclusive resort package in the coastal Italian town of Polignano a Mare. Along the Adriatic coast, Italy’s Puglia region is increasing in popularity among tourists, but still remains largely untouched by travelers. A summer destination for many Italians, Polignano a Mare is known for its white-washed historical center, pebble beaches, limestone cliffs, and warm, turquoise waters perfect for swimming or taking a scenic boat ride along the shore.
Puglia is home to delicious Italian food, such as authentic focaccia, sweet red shrimp, and, of course, gelato and wine. Foodies flock to all parts of Italy year-round, with the heel of Italy’s boot being no exception. The southern location of Puglia makes it warmer than Italy’s northern regions, leaving its beaches swimmable well into October. Reach Polignano a Mare by car or regional train from Bari or Brindisi, both of which have large airports that can be reached via connecting flights from Rome. If you rent a car in Italy, however, be prepared to pay a higher price for an automatic transmission, as automatic rental cars are few and far between. Comfortable, high-speed trains reach Bari and Lecce from large Italian cities such as Milan and Rome in a matter of hours, eliminating the need to book a rental car or connecting flight altogether. From Polignano a Mare, take day trips by bus or train to charming towns throughout the region such as Ostuni or Lecce, picked straight from a fairy tale and packed with baroque architecture and local cuisine.
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PROMNight
The new world we’ve faced since March 2020 has cost us much, but it’s also taken away time-honored traditions from our Junior and Senior High School students. The anticipated return of prom season promises an elevated sense of excitement. Forsyth Family is proud to help our local students celebrate this milestone and rite-of-passage. The time to plan is now! From the dresses to the flowers to the limos to the dinner – preparing for prom is a huge event. We will have content dedicated to prom prep for the next three-months with our prom guide! Enjoy fun content about planning and preparing for prom, as well as local resources which can be used to make the most of your student’s prom experience.
Happy planning!
Hip Chics
Memories of Prom
BY GENEVIEVE CONDON
There are certain milestones that we wait for— eagerly awaiting getting our permit, our first date, homecoming and…PROM! If you’re anything like me, you fantasized from a young age about your dress, the shoes, and dancing all night, losing your glass slipper, and magically becoming a princess…all in a night’s work. It all seems so magical, a true fairytale, as you’re surrounded by all your closest friends and a prince to sweep you off your feet!
My dreams of prom followed me to high school as I watched my older cousins go off on their dream nights, relishing in their excitement eagerly awaiting my turn. Then my time finally came. I picked out my dress, I ate super healthy for months to lose a few pounds and had hair, make-up, and nails all lined up. Pictures covered my walls of my dream look.
My date had his tux all rented and a limo lined up to bring us to prom in style.
My dreams were coming true.
Then it happened, I woke up the day of prom with a raging fever and could barely move. Body aches. Congestion that had me sounding like I belonged on an episode of The Muppets.
All my dreams, the dress hanging on my door that fit so perfectly after all the exercise and hard work, came crashing down.
“Sorry, you have mono. You’re highly contagious. Prom is a no-go.”
Tears streamed down my face as I realized prom just wasn’t going to happen. Money for deposits was nonrefundable, as were our tickets to prom that sat on my kitchen table, the glitter taunting me all week.
I remember flopping on my bed and crying for hours, as my phone buzzed with messages and pictures from friends living out their prom dreams.
A ring at my door roused me from my feverish sleep and I was greeted with soup, flowers, and my boyfriend. He had taken three public buses to come to my house, three towns over, to bring me soup and flowers. While it wasn’t prom, there was something romantic about that gesture. He didn’t stay, but with a blow of a kiss from me, I watched him walk back to the bus stop and make his trek back home.
It could have been my feverish state, but in that moment, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. All my friends’ pictures, their “after” parties and late night Ihop runs had nothing on my flowers and canned soup.
I may not have had my magical night, but I had my prince.
Our hopes and dreams sometimes can take us over. Us begging and pleading for them to become a reality. They don’t always come to fruition or look exactly the way we imagined, causing disappointment and heartache.
There may have been no dancing. No laughing and causing trouble well into the night, but there would always be the memory of the boy who took three buses to bring me soup and flowers on prom night. And to me, that is greater than any fancy dresses and limo ride.
It reminds me that even in the face of disappointment, there can be goodness, kindness, and love.
Fresh, Creative Prom Ideas to Make Your Special Night the Best It Can Be
BY KAREN COOPER
For many teenagers, “prom” is a rite of passage that symbolizes the beginning of the end of high school and transitioning to the next life phase. It’s a time to dress up, show their style, enjoy fine dining, and celebrate a special night with friends. It’s a time to make memories that last the rest of their lives. Prom is a dance… usually for juniors and seniors. Sometimes students go alone, but also with a group of friends, or with a date.
Celebrating prom begins well before the actual event. Much preparation and anticipation lead up to prom, requiring decisions to be made. Decisions including how to create your “promposal,” what to wear, transportation, and other accessories you may need. Here we’ve compiled some creative ideas to help you get the wheels turning….
DREAMY DRESSES AND TOP-NOTCH TUXES
Prom is a formal event to which you are expected to wear formal attire. Shopping for a dress or tux can be one of the highlights of prom season. A group of friends may choose to shop together, or this may be a time for a mother and daughter (or mother and son) to spend some time bonding while shopping for a stylish and appropriate outfit. Guys can get very creative with tuxes nowadays and really show their style. An A-line fit and flared gown is now a very popular and flattering style for girls. Long or short dresses are in style, and a prom-goer has a great opportunity to show her own style in the dress she selects. There really are no hard and fast rules…just make sure you stick to your school’s dress code.
As far as tuxes are concerned…a tux is not required. Any combination of formal attire will work. Slim, fitted pants are very much in style right now and eclectic pants and jacket combinations are a big hit, as well. Standing out in the crowd is what it’s all about at proms these days. Whether that means showing up in the slimmest fitting, expertly pressed shark skin-skin suit or a purple, velvet dinner jacket with classic, slim-fitting black pants. You can really make a statement with your outfit choice. You may also choose to keep it traditional with a black or white tux, which you can rent at any formal shop. If you decide to rent a traditional tux, the average tux rental costs between $90 and $180, with most spending about $150. The best time to start shopping for prom attire is in January and February (assuming your prom is in late spring or summer of the same year). This is just after the new prom dress collections have been released. By shopping in January, you’ll see the most dresses possible, before any styles get sold out.
CREATIVE CORSAGES
It’s still perfectly acceptable and trendy to wear a corsage to prom (even if you don’t have a prom date). Lots of young women choose their own corsage or order a set of matching prom corsages, along with their group of friends
Wrist corsages remain popular. Popular flowers are mini- (or sweetheart) roses, standard roses, orchids, lilies, and other small flowers, such as cornflowers and freesia. Flowers and accessories usually match or accent the girl’s prom dress.
The same goes for a guy’s boutonniere. A boutonniere is a small bunch of flowers (and/ or other chosen materials) worn by guys on their lapels. The boutonniere is bought for the guy by his date, oftentimes matching the colors and style of her date’s suit or corsage. Alternatively, guys may get together and purchase matching boutonnieres as a group. (Find many more great ideas for corsages and boutonnieres on Pinterest.)
PROMPOSALS
Gone are the days of just “asking” someone to prom (although that’s okay, too). These days, “Promposals” have become a fun and exciting part of prom preparations. A promposal usually involves a special or elaborate act or presentation that takes some thought and time to prepare. The best promposals incorporate creativity, extravagance, and often, a dose of ridiculousness, too. For example: • Making a clever poster board and surprising your intended date after class or in the parking lot after school (check Pinterest or Instagram for tons of great ideas); • Writing your message on a cake or pizza; • Covering her car with post-its or printed pictures to get your message across. • If you want to go absolutely over the top, follow the lead of those who have jumped out of airplanes holding signs asking people to prom.
INNOVATIVE DINNER IDEAS
A pre-prom dinner can be at either a restaurant of your choice, or a family may volunteer their home for dinner for a group of friends. Restaurant dinners will usually require reservations and can get pricey, so planning ahead is key. If this is the way you choose to go, it can be a very special meal to remember. If you plan a dinner at home, there are several options to choose from. A homecooked meal offers a relaxing atmosphere before the big dance and also serves as a way for parents and kids to get to know each other. Parents and kids might want to get together to plan the prom dinner ahead of time. You can either do it buffet style, as a sit-down dinner, or just have hors d’oeuvres and finger foods. Above all, you’ll want it to be something everyone will remember. Sticking with the simplest foods is best, and also most likely to entice every hungry palate. No matter how you choose to serve dinner, try to have some salads, as well as a main course—chicken, beef, or a vegetarian entrée. And don’t forget about dessert!
This setting is also a great way to provide a photo op before or after dinner and as the young folks are getting ready to leave.
TRANSPORTATION
Another decision of prom night is how you will get to your destinations. There are many forms of transportation to choose from. The most common form of prom transportation is a limousine. You can fit several of your friends in a limousine, so this is a good way to have everyone split the cost and save money.
If you have a larger group of friends going together to prom, a party bus may be the option to choose. Depending on the size of the bus, you may be able to fit up to 20 or more of your friends. Party bus companies usually include music, lights, and other festive extras that make the entire ride an event in itself.
Classic cars are another unique way to travel to prom. There are specialty car companies that offer classic vehicles for hire, or you may be able to find an owner willing to allow you to use his or her car for a night by contacting classic car clubs in your area. The owners of these cars may prefer to be your chauffeur, rather than have you in the driving seat…but that may be even better, as you and your date or friends will have more time to socialize.
As you see, there are many decisions to make to ensure the smoothest, most enjoyable prom experience possible! Once you have taken care of the details, the most important thing is to look around on the night of prom, appreciate all the things you’re enjoying, take photo memories in your head, be in the moment, and enjoy it all! It will be over before you know it and you will be talking about all the fun you had.
When you picture the perfect Prom...
PhotoArtistry by Melinda
