Mud & Magnolias May 2021

Mud&Magnolias October.

November 2013 May 2021

THE travel ISSUE

POMELO GROVE SUMMER TRAVEL GUIDE THE SPIRITED TRAVELER A WEEKEND IN SAVANNAH

CONTENTS

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RECIPES

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TRAVEL GUIDE

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THE BRIGHT WORLD OF POMELO GROVE

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THE SPIRITED TRAVELER

We can’t wait to get outside and spend time with family and friends this year, and we’re taking the party to a park for a picnic. Enjoy these bright, flavorful picnic-perfect recipes.

In a field of peace and quiet outside of Nashville stand the five boutique-chic campers of Pomelo Grove, waiting to welcome visitors, and beckoning community.

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ALSO:

DIY POP-UP PICNIC

We couldn’t have all picnic recipes without including a picnic basket! No need to drop $200+ on a fancy basket, when you can create and customize one yourself.

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May 2021

If you’re planning on sticking close to home this summer, here’s a list of attractions in Northeast Mississippi’s towns, along with a few nearby cities, to offer a nearby escape!

La-Tessa Montgomery gives herself a passport stamp every year as a birthday gift. This travel & cocktail blogger has wracked up quite a few travel tips over the years – not to mention a whole lot of stories!

ON THE COVER We’re feeling beachy here at Mud & Magnolias as the world opens up to travelers again.

GET TIN’ WEIRD AT CREA TURE CAMP

What do you do with crazy, colorful sculptures after a music festival? These two artists took them back home, and opened up a camper experience outside of Nashville.

Celebrate the warmer weather with an ice cold glass of blackberry lemonade. Make it with us; visit mudandmag.com.

COLUMN: TRAVEL READY IS TRAVEL SAVVY

COLUMN: BROAD SPECTRUM: SUNSCREEN AS SKINCARE

A WEEKEND IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

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everal years ago, I started planning the “perfect” family trip to Disney World. My daughter, Marion, was 3 at the time and I thought she would light up seeing all the princesses she begs to watch on the TV. I researched deals and food and travel; then COVID threw a big wrench into my itinerary.

After postponing and rescheduling multiple times, we decided March 2021 was the right time for us to travel again. The extra year of stalking message boards, rising before the sun to make dining reservations and everything else all paid off when I saw Marion’s joy getting to experience Disney magic for the first time. She loved the thrill rides and meeting Elsa from “Frozen.” Other than wearing our masks and our frequent use of hand sanitizer, it felt good to be doing something that was in our realm of pre-pandemic normal.

That’s what traveling is for me — something I look forward to each year that brings me joy in a place outside of my day-to-day hustle. This year as you start getting back out into the world, I hope our travel edition can give you some helpful insight.

1242 S Green St. Tupelo, MS 38804 662.842.2611

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sarah Brooke Bishop

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Lindsay Pace Kristina Domitrovich Adam Armour

FEATURED SALES CONSULTANTS Leigh Knox June Phillips Nick Boone Teresa McDonald Darla Webb Angie Quarles Tyler Vuncannon Paul Fullerton Justine Stewart Krystal Black

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chatham Kennedy Jeffrey Houin, M.D. Mindy Prewitt, M.D.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ashtin Paige Visit Savannah Bob Farley Cups Espresso Cafe Dixon Gallery & Gardens French Truck Coffee Iron City Social Mississippi Museum of Art The McWane Science Center Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Birmingham Civil Rights Institute subscriptions@mudandmag.com advertising@mudandmag.com info@mudandmag.com mudandmag.com

Like what you see? Sign up for our weekly newsletter at www.mudandmagnolias.com 8

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This magazine is a monthly publication of Journal, Inc.

RECIPES

PICNIC FOODS

Strawberry Mango Galette recipe on page 25

This issue, we’re excited to get outside and have picnics with friends in the warm Southern breeze. We’ve designed a tasty picnic feast perfect for packing along into a picnic basket (see page 32).

Enjoy these bright, summery flavors.

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RECIPES Bacon, Cheddar and Ranch Chicken Salad recipe on page 25

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RECIPES

Deconstructed Panzanella recipe on page 25

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RECIPES

Chunky Parm and Pepp Pasta Salad recipe on page 25

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RECIPES

Pimento Cheese & Tomato Sandwiches recipe on page 25

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RECIPES Prosciutto Bites with Cheddar and Hot Honey recipe on page 25

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RECIPES

Blackberry Lemonade

recipe on page 25

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RECIPES with egg wash, then sprinkle with coarse sugar.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden.

STRAWBERRY MANGO GALETTE Ingredients: For the crust: 1 1/4 cups sifted AP flour 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cubed 3 tablespoons ice water 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract For the filling: 3 mangoes, ripe but firm 1 pint strawberries, rinsed 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Topping: 1 egg + 1 tablespoon, beaten 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar Directions: For the crust: In a food processor, combine all the dry ingredients, and pulse for 10 seconds. Add the butter, and pulse until the mixture becomes fine crumbs. Turn the processor onto low speed, and slowly drizzle in the water and vanilla until a ball forms, about 15 seconds. Tightly wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight. If refrigerating for more than an hour, remove it 15 minutes prior to rolling it out, to warm slightly at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. For the filling: Peel the mangoes, and cut flesh off of the pit, then thinly slice; transfer to a bowl. Remove the stems from the strawberries, and thinly slice; transfer to the bowl. To the bowl, add the lemon juice and sugar, and mix until combined. Assembly: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the crust into a circle about 16-inches wide. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. In the center of the crust, add the fruit, arranging as desired; be sure to leave about two inches of crust along the edges. Gently fold the excess crust over onto the fruit filling. Brush the exposed crust

BACON, CHEDDAR AND RANCH CHICKEN SALAD Ingredients: 1 2-lb rotisserie chicken, skinned and deboned 1 lb applewood-smoked bacon 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1 packet ranch seasoning 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise Honey wheat bread Butter lettuce and tomatoes, as desired Directions: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until very crispy. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, and wait until completely dried. In a large bowl, shred the meat of the rotisserie chicken using two forks, or by using the paddle attachment to a stand mixer.

Crumble the bacon into the bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, and mix until completely incorporated. Keep refrigerated until serving; upto a week. Suggested serving: On bread with lettuce and sliced tomatoes.

DECONSTRUCTED PANZANELLA Ingredients: 3 pints cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 1/2 cup basil, chiffonade 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons dijon mustard 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 Italian loaf, cut in half lengthwise Directions: In a large bowl, whisk together the garlic, vinegar, mustard, olive oil and seasonings until combined. Add the halved tomatoes, onions and basil, and mix until well coated. Toast the bread until deep brown, then cut into individual slices. Top with panzanella, and serve.

CHUNKY PARM AND PEPP PASTA SALAD Ingredients: 12 ounces tri-color rigatoni 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 low-sodium chicken bouillon cube (optional) 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced 1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced 1/2 red onion, diced 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 1 6.5-ounce pepperoni log, chopped 1 8-ounce parmesan wedge, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup olive oil 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Directions: Season a large pot of water with salt and the bouillon cube, and place over high heat until it boils. Add in pasta, and

cook al dente according to packaging; strain when done, disposing the water. Cool to room temperature. In the meantime, in a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil and spices. Add the pasta, and toss until evenly coated. Add in the remaining ingredients, and mix until incorporated. Refrigerate until serving.

PIMENTO CHEESE & TOMATO SANDWICHES Ingredients: Fresh bakery rolls or buns Heirloom tomatoes For the pimento cheese: 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 4 cups sharp cheddar, shredded 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 jalapeño, seeds removed and diced 7 ounces jarred diced pimentos, drained 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3/4 teaspoon paprika Directions: In a large bowl, use a rubber spatula to mix together all the ingredients.

Serve on a bun with thick slices of heirloom tomatoes. Refrigerate leftovers for up to two weeks.

PROSCIUTTO BITES WITH CHEDDAR AND HOT HONEY Ingredients: 1 tart apple 3 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, sliced 3 ounces prosciutto For the hot honey: 1/2 cup honey 1 tablespoon red chili flakes Directions: In a small pot over very low heat, combine the honey and chili flakes. Stir occasionally, and cook for an hour. Strain out solids, and store in a lidded jar. Core and slice the apples into 16 wedges. Top each wedge with a slice of cheese, followed by a piece of prosciutto, cutting as needed. Drizzle with hot honey, and serve.

BLACKBERRY LEMONADE Ingredients: 2 cups of lemon juice, about 9 lemons Zest of 4 lemons, strips 1 1/2 cups sugar 4 cups water 1 pound blackberries, fresh or frozen 4 cups water Directions: In a pot over medium heat, bring the water and sugar to a soft boil for five minutes. Remove from heat, add the lemon zest and steep for 10 minutes. Add the blackberries, and steep for another 10 minutes. Strain the syrup into the remaining lemon juice, and add 4 more cups of water. Stir until well combined.

Refrigerate for two hours before serving over ice. M

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by KRISTINA DOMITROVICH photos by ASHTIN PAIGE

the bright world of pomelo grove

After a career in the retail industry, Erin Wolff left New York because of the ever-often burnout. “(I) knew that I wanted to start my own business, but was kind of disenchanted with the retail world and the never-ending cycle of selling things,” she said. “I knew that (in) my entrepreneurial venture, I’d want to do something that is experience-based and not in the economy of things.”

She and her husband decided to take a cross-country trip before circling back to Nashville; her husband’s family is from Franklin and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, so they’d spent time there. Along their travels, Wolff gained clarity on her vision.

“I just noticed a trend with unique hospitality experiences,” she said.

From a tiny-house hotel in Portland, a camper-Teepee cross experience in Texas, to a treehouse hotel in Washington, her ideas began taking shape.

“When we came to Nashville, with all the tourism and the type of people moving to Nashville, I just felt like it was a great location to open up a unique hospitality concept,” she said. “We kind of rolled the dice.”

Wolff embarked on a three-year “labor of love” to create Pomelo Grove: An off-the-grid boutiquecamper experience right outside of Nashville.

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“The first year-and-a-half was really laying the groundwork for trying to find a permanent location,” she said.

With all the regulations and zoning codes in the area, she wasn’t able to find Pomelo Grove’s permanent place; but instead, maybe something better, for now at least.

Currently, Pomelo Grove resides in a field on Bloomsbury Farm, an organic farm beloved to Nashville, located in Smryna, Tennessee.

“I’m kind of operating as a pop-up campground on their property,” Wolff said, while still looking for a permanent location for one day down the line.

But for now, Pomelo Grove has focused on knitting together a community-based experience, completely outside of “regular” experiences. Distinctiveness has been sewn into the Pomelo’s foundation, from the building of the campers themselves.

The layouts are custom-designed, and the campers’ exterior is “technically a roofing material” that more or less clicks into place to create a watertight barrier that is offered in a “great palette of colors.”

Wolff did the “big picture design” of the campers herself.

While the campers’ layouts are largely the same, the design is completely different, each one focusing on “color, pattern, vibe.”

“I didn’t want to do like a cookie-cutter thing,” she said. “I just feel like color is life and energy, so I just do a lot of color, and I get bored really easily. I love prints and mixing and matching prints.”

She credits her style to her background in retail.

“I just know you always have to be innovative to catch people’s attention,” she said.

Knowing this, Wolff said she was very intentional about sourcing things like light fixtures and bathroom mirrors –– always searching for “super unique” pieces people “haven’t seen before.”

Wolff ’s talent is found in big-picture designs; but she admits the fine-details are not her strong suit. For intricate designs –– like decor placement and scavenging mismatched dishware –– she outsourced to a local designer. Because the campers are small, and “there’s no space” to transition themes and designs, she wanted the functionality and flow to reach a level of perfection.

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Opening page: The Albedo Camper at Pomelo Grove. All the campers offer 150 square feet of space, a kitchen complete with a mini fridge, complimentary welcome cocktails, and a minibar, along with access to outdoor grills; This spread, clockwise from far left: Erin Wolff wanted to add to the boutique charm in the campers by offering mismatched dishware and retro-styled glasses in The Shaddock; A peek at the queen-size bed in The Shaddock, the camper that has mostly goemetric-styled patterns as opposed to floral prints; A communal firepit with groovy outdoor seating beckon campers to spend time together outdoors; A peek inside The Petiole’s lounge area, which converts into a small twin-size bed.

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Wolff wanted to curate the experience, too, not just the space. She spent time forging relationships with those in the Nashville scene, paying special attention to source products and goods locally. From a local coffee roastery creating a special Pomelo Grove roast, to Nashville-made soaps, cocktails, homemade pancake mix and artisan s’mores kits –– “all those little pampering-sort of details people really love, and all of it’s sourced locally,” she said.

By “bringing all of that together,” Wolff has created a customized Nashville experience that “customers really notice and love.” As a part of Pomelo, she still wants her out-of-town guests to experience Nashville’s food scene; so, she’s also partnered with several restaurants to provide a “really nice” eating experience. Her guests have the option to choose from several meal kits –– all offering locally-sourced ingredients –– they can assemble on-camp.

“It’s just a nice way to kind of slow down, too,” she said. “It forces you to slow down, and take the time to prepare a great, great meal with everything we have provided.”

To help her customers slow down more, Pomelo Grove does not have TVs and doesn’t offer wifi, so “most people are hanging out outside” around the fire pit. The campers are spread out through the field, so campers don’t have to interact with others unless they want to. Wolff said this has been perfect during the pandemic, which is the only way Pomelo Grove has existed so far, as it opened the first week of June 2020.

While most in the hospitality industry suffered, Pomelo Grove found its niche, and offered people a much-needed escape.

“You don’t cross paths with people unless you want to, so it felt like a safe place for people to gather,” she said. “A lot of people were coming that had super fancy anniversary trip plans that got canceled and they came to Pomelo because there’s something special that they can do locally that’s still fun. While I can never compete with Hawaii or a European three-week vacation, to honor the things people were celebrating was really, really special.”

Wolff admits that opening in the pandemic was terrifying, but she believes “Pomelo is a part of a lot of really special things that probably wouldn’t be the case if the pandemic hadn’t happened.” One example specifically comes to her mind.

Over Thanksgiving, she had a family rent out all three

campers: One for the parents, the other two for their children and grandchildren. Among the bunch: their youngest grandchild, who they hadn’t yet been able to meet because of COVID. “There are a lot of instances like that where people just were so grateful to have a fun and special, clean, safe space to gather with the people that they love,” she said.

From birthdays, to anniversaries and bachelorette parties, Wolff has hosted countless people still trying to enjoy the special occasions in life that deserve to be celebrated. In fact, Pomelo Grove has been so widely accepted and celebrated, in October –– just a few months after opening –– Wolff decided to build two more campers, increasing the group to a total of five campers as of the beginning of May 2021.

These two new campers have a few design tweaks compared to the first three. Wolff found that 30% of her customers don’t use the shower, so she converted the new bathrooms to be halfbaths –– allocating more lounge space, which can be converted into a second queen-size bed (whereas the original campers’ living area is converted into a small twin-size bed). The main queen bed in the new campers will have a skylight, letting guests sleep under the stars; along with larger windows that open outward for a “retro vibe.”

Along with expanding her campers, she’s also expanded her staff by hiring two extra people to be on call to help things run smoothly. The campers run off of generators, and Wolff brings in well water each day to keep each camper’s 40-gallon tank filled and to restock firewood. She does her best to keep an open line of communication with those staying at Pomelo Grove to make sure they have the best experience possible.

“We’re here, we care about the experience and want to make sure you have everything you need,” she said. “And we also recognize that this is a little different, because we are off the grid, so we just want to make sure people know that we’re there to help.”

Each camper has its own name: The Petiole, Albedo, Melogold, Flavedo and The Shaddock. The names can be drawn back to pomelos, like the legend of Captain Shaddock who brought the pomelo with him from the East Indies.

“The Shaddock represents exploration and discovery,” Wolff said. “We feel like the Pomelo experience is a bit of a fun adventure because it is different and it’s off the grid, and a lot of people have never stayed in a camper before.” M

Far left: Erin Wolff sitting at the table/lounge area in The Albedo; Left: A textured bedspread inside The Albedo compliments the floral wallpaper in the lounge area. Each camper is equipped with under-bed storage areas, along with cubbies around the bed, where guests can hang clothes.

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Baskets with flip-top lids are a must. You can prop them open for easy access to picnic essentials.

Elevate your picnic with portable, lightweight serving trays.

Find recipes to fill them on page 11.

Eco-friendly utensils are often dishwasher-safe and easy to pack. These containers make picnics a breeze.

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Mud&Mag | DIY

DIY: POP-UP PICNIC

by KRISTINA DOMITROVICH photos by LINDSAY PACE

T

urn any meal into a picnic by keeping a basket at the ready and in the car at all times. Make the food or grab something to-go, and enjoy it at a park with friends and family. After the picnic’s over, take it home, clean it up and plop it back in the trunk for next time!

MATERIALS

ADD-INS

DIRECTIONS

1 basket with a cover Fabric of choice, enough to line the inside of the basket Hot glue gun and sticks Iron 1 yard of elastic ribbon (optional)

4 cloth napkins 4 reusable travel-friendly silverware sets* 4 reusable travel-friendly plates* 1 picnic blanket Salt & pepper shakers

1. Press the fabric. Fold about an inch of the fabric’s edge over onto the backside of the fabric. Run the iron along to create a “seam;” repeat with all remaining sides.

2. Hot glue the backside of the folded seam. Apply to the edges of the basket’s interior, with the fabric facing right-side out.

3. Optional: Glue the elastic ribbon into place, to secure plates or silverware during travel.

4. Store add-ins in the basket to picnic on-the-go. M

Editor’s note: *We opted for eco-friendly wheat silverware and dishes.

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travel ready

is travel savvy

by MINDY PREWITT, M.D.

How can we be travel savvy amidst a dwindling yet still present COVID-19 pandemic? An infectious disease physician shares her best tips for staying safe.

MINDY’S TIPS: Murphy’s Laws of Combat Operations states “the enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: When they’re ready or when you’re not.”

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ooking foreign travel remains a question. Vaccination in Europe remains spotty, and in other areas of the world, absent. Regulations upon arrival can be strenuous. For example, in the United Kingdom, you must quarantine for 10 days and have a negative COVID-19 test three days before you travel, as well as on days two and eight of your stay, all of which are very expensive.

Fines can reach up to $17,000 if you fail to comply. Other countries may have different requirements, so please plan carefully. Additional hurdles exist upon reentry. Air passengers coming to the U.S. (including citizens) are required to have a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight.

This includes both vaccinated and unvaccinated people. The CDC has a risk assessment map of levels 1-4 of highest risk countries to lowest if you are planning a trip. CDC Yellow Book is another resource for international travelers.

Booking domestic U.S. travel has become much easier, as even strict destinations begin to ease requirements and lockdowns. The CDC just updated

the benefits of being a fully vaccinated traveler, some of which are that one does not need to get tested before or after travel, unless the destination requires it, and does not need to self-quarantine.

The CDC recommends unvaccinated people stay home.

Captain Murphy of Murphy’s Law of Combat Operations said, “Anything you do can get you killed, including nothing.”

Many of you are still hesitant about getting an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine. Having personally witnessed hundreds of cases of COVID-19, including deaths, prolonged recoveries and lingering fatigue and fog, I can say with full conviction that YOU DO NOT WANT COVID-19. As pandemics go (take the 1918 influenza pandemic, for example), there are usually several waves. Do not be surprised if COVID19 has more surprises. Per Captain Murphy: “A retreating enemy is probably just falling back and regrouping.”

In short, arm yourself with an FDAapproved COVID-19 vaccine, a comfy mask and a good book because Captain Murphy says, “the side with the simplest uniforms wins.” M

The “enemy” is SARS-CoV 2, which causes COVID-19. After missing summer 2020 travel, many are ready to emerge from their virtual foxholes for a summer vacation. Masks, good hand washing and two arms’ length (6 feet) from your neighbor remain status quo. And, an FDA-approved vaccine is now available for most adults.

PACKING TIPS INCLUDE: Hard and digital copy of vaccination card, recent COVID-19 tests or proof of recovery from COVID-19 (CDC recommends testing one to three days before travel, but doublecheck with airlines, etc. to make sure) Extra masks for you and family members who inevitably lose theirs, then steal yours Sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol Destination reservation requirements in writing Medical compression stockings (see CDC guidelines for preventing deep vein thrombosis) A good book, as reading is proven to increase good health and longevity Malinda Prewitt, M.D., is an infectious disease physician with North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo.

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a travel guide

All Roads Lead to Home

*Editor’s note: This is not a comprehensive list. Be sure to contact attractions for hours of operation before hopping in the car.

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by KRISTINA DOMITROVICH story photos by LINDSAY PACE

With the world slowly returning to normal,

we know there are a lot of people anxious to get out to see friends and new places again.

On the same note, we know there are a lot of people who are still a little weary. For whatever reason, if you’re planning to spend the majority of your summer closer to home, we gathered some things to do in nearby towns.

While rediscovering Mississippi ourselves, we learned a lot of these towns have small historical museums and attractions, and we sprinkled in a few coffee and book shops for fun, too. We also reached out to neighboring cities — Jackson, Birmingham and Memphis — to highlight day trip options there, too.

oxford William Faulkner’s house, Rowan Oak, is closed until further notice, but take a lovely 20-minute walk on the Bailey Woods Trail to and from the University of Mississippi, or head over to the Thacker Mountain Rail Trail for a longer adventure. Visit the Burns-Belfry Museum & Multicultural Center to see the restored Burns Methodist Episcopal Church, which was founded by freed slaves after the Civil War; its building was erected 1910, though the Burns congregation moved locations in 1974.

COFFEE & BOOKS: Uptown Coffee, Heartbreak Coffee, Common Ground Coffee Bar, Square Books This spread, clockwise from left: Don’t forget to grab a few photos in front of Oxford’s first outdoor mural. Behind Sneed’s Ace Hardware on University Avenue, this 140-foot piece was painted by artists from New Orleans; Uptown Coffee is located on the Square, and also offers light bites for a quick snack; Square Books, an Oxford Staple, is located on a corner of the Square. Their bulletin board clues locals visitors in to community events; William Faulkner’s property, Rowan Oak, is available to hike through at no cost. Here you can see his former smokehouse.

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aberdeen Check out the Blues Mural Park along North Memorial Street downtown. Pack a lunch to enjoy a picnic at the tables, sitting in front of Blues giants Booker “Bukka” White, Chester Arther “Howlin’” Wolf and Albert King; or, opt for a picnic on the bank of the Aberdeen Lake.

COFFEE & BOOKS: Penny Lane’s Java Cafe

amory Get the kids in their swimsuits, load them in the car and head for Amory. Stop off at Frisco Park to let them pounce about on the splash pad in the summertime, or stop by River Life Kayak Rentals for a day on the lake. Before leaving downtown, check out the National Guard Old Armory and the Amory Regional Museum.

COFFEE & BOOKS: The Coffee Pot

columbus It’s impossible to check off Columbus without visiting the wonky-colored Tennessee Williams House.

While you’re there, check out the Columbus Riverwalk, or go see the weeping angel headstone in the Friendship Cemetery.

COFFEE & BOOKS: Coffee House on 5th, Southbound Coffee Co, Friendly City Books

como Drive through the 466-acre Como Safari Park to see, feed and have close encounters with giraffes, antelope, giselle, zebras, water buffalo, camels, alpacas and all sorts of other animals, too. Visit downtown to check off three trail markers on the Mississippi Blues Trail, to read up on Fred McDowell, Napolian Strickland and Otha Turner.

This page, top to bottom: A mural of Albert King in Aberdeen; Tennessee Williams’s home, a landmark in Columbus, is worth seeing for its unique color scheme; Como offers a 466acre safari park for a family-friendly activity. Photo courtesy of Como Safari Park.

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corinth When President Abraham Lincoln established the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862, there was a wave of enslaved peoples fleeing, trying to escape the South to find life and freedom in the North. Along the way, 6,000 stopped in Union-occupied Corinth, and established a community now called the Corinth Contraband Camp. There, many former slaves experienced freedom; as the campsite grew, it included homes, a church, school and hospital. In December 1863, the camp moved to Memphis. Now, the Camp is a National Parks Service site and includes a quarter-mile walking trail with six large bronze statues depicting the community that was established. While there, might as well visit the Shiloh National Military Park and the Crossroads Museum, too.

COFFEE & BOOKS: SoCo Grind

Holly springs Stop by the Ida B. Wells Museum to learn about the journalist, educator, Civil Rights leader and suffragist whose hometown is Holly Springs. Spend the day outside and in nature at the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. Learn about its conservation efforts and all sorts of birds in the area, too. There are plenty of outdoor adventures to be had in Holly Springs; stop by the Wall Doxey State Park or the Holly Springs National Forest.

This page, clockwise from left: SoCo Grind in Corinth; The start of the Tanglefoot Trail in Houston; the Strawberry Plains Audobon Center in Holly Springs.

houston Plan your visit around the spring or fall for the twice annual Flywheel Festival to see Houston at its busiest. For a more quiet route and for any time throughout the year, stop by the Bray Creek Walking Trail, the Houston Garden Park or, of course, the start of the Tanglefoot Trail, which is perfect for walking, jogging, biking or just leisurely enjoying the outdoors.

COFFEE & BOOKS: Gather Coffee & Brew

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new albany Aside from the end of the Tanglefoot Trail, New Albany offers countless outdoor recreational areas. Park along the Arboreum to enjoy the Tallahatchie, which you can cross via footbridge, and lead right into the BNA Sportsplex, where there’s free disc golf, and the Spray Park. Don’t forget to stop by the Union County Heritage Museum to see fossils and check out the Faulkner Garden, since William Faulkner is from New Albany.

COFFEE & BOOKS: High Point Roasters, Inc., Brew Albany

Clockwise from top left: A blue dinosaur greets visitors at the entrance of the Union County Heritage Museum in New Albany; The Pontotoc Town Square Museum gives a glimpse of the city’s history; Bountiful Harvest Farms in Starkville offers strawberry picking from April to June.

Pontotoc Visit the Pontotoc Town Square Museum and Post Office to learn all about Pontotoc’s history while being inside a fully functioning post office. Stop by Cherry Creek Orchards to see what’s growing on and to stock up on summer fruits.

COFFEE & BOOKS: Happy Day Cafe

Starkville Explore the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the Cullis & Gladys Wade Clock Museum. Go a little off the beaten path to pick your own strawberries on Bountiful Harvest Farms; strawberry season usually runs from April to June. Stop to smell the roses at the Veterans Memorial Rose Garden, and stroll through North Farm while you’re there.

COFFEE & BOOKS: 929 Coffee, Book Mart & Cafe

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TUPELO It’s impossible to go through Tupelo without visiting the Elvis Presley Birthplace, and it’s definitely worth a stop; visit the Tupelo Hardware Store to see where Elvis got his first guitar, too. While you’re in town, take a drive through the Tupelo Buffalo Park to check out all kinds of crazy critters.

COFFEE & BOOKS: Crave, Tupelo River Coffee, Lost + Found Coffee Company, Sippi Sippin’ Coffee, Reed’s GumTree Bookstore

West Point West Point is the golfing destination for the Northeast Area, and there are plenty to choose from. Between the West Point Country Club, the Old Waverly Golf Club and the Mossy Oak Golf Club, there’s always a green to master.

COFFEE & BOOKS: Jubilations Coffee House, Farmhouse Market and Cafe

This page, clockwise from left: A state flag mural is one of several public art installations in downtown Tupelo; Be sure to visit the Elvis Presley birthplace in Tupelo to see his childhood church; The Tupelo Buffalo park is an excellent option for children; The Tupelo Hardware Company is a fully-functioning depot, as well as a landmark; The Old Waverly Golf Course in West Point.

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Vote for the best!

Reader’s Choice 2021 Top 3 Voting begins May 17

Vote daily at: vote.djournal.com LOOK FOR THE WINNERS ANNOUNCED IN THE DAILY JOURNAL ON JUNE 13.

Jackson JACKSON’S MUST-SEES: • Mississippi Civil Rights Museum • Museum of Natural Science • Mississippi Museum of Art • Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum • Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center • Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame GREAT DRIVE-BYS (call ahead for tours): • Eudora Welty’s home • Medgar Evers’ home COFFEE & BOOKS: Cups Espresso Cafe, Native Coffee Co., Urban Foxes, Coffee Prose, Lemuria Book Store

This page, clockwise from bottom left: Photo courtesy of the Mississippi Museum of Art; Photo courtesy of Cups Espresso Cafe; the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Photo by Tom Beck, courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History; Photo courtesy of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

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memphis MEMPHIS’ MUST SEES: • Civil Rights Museum • Graceland • Sun Studio • Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum • Memphis Zoo • Children’s Museum of Memphis • The Pink Palace • Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic Art • Memphis Brooks Museum of Art • Sky High Ride inside the Bass Pro Pyramid • The Mississippi River Museum* *The museum is closed, but the outdoor Mississippi River exhibit is open COFFEE & BOOKS: Qahwa, Tamp and Tap, Bluff City Coffee and Bakery, Vice & Virtue Coffee, Burke’s Book Store, novel., South Main Book Juggler

birmingham BIRMINGHAM’S MUST SEES: • Civil Rights Institute • 16th Street Baptist Church • Birmingham Museum of Art • Vulcan Park and Museum • McWane Science Center • Birmingham Botanical Gardens • Birmingham Zoo • Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark • Cahaba Brewing Company • Barber Vintage Motorsport Museum • Alabama Veterans Memorial Park • Southern Museum of Flight COFFEE & BOOKS: Filter Coffee Parlor, Innova Coffee, Revelator Coffee, The Red Cat, Caveat Coffee, Jim Reeds Books M

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This page, clockwise from left: The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is a permanent exhibition of the city’s Civil Rights history. Self-guided tours offer opportunity for research and education. Photo courtesy of the BCRI; French Truck Coffee is located in Memphis’s Crosstown Concourse. Photo courtesy of French Truck Coffee; Photo courtesy of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens; Cahaba Brewery of Birmingham offers locally crafted beers and drinks. Photo courtesy of Iron City Social.

THE SPIRITED traveler

by KRISTINA DOMITROVICH photos by LA-TESSA MONTGOMERY and LINDSAY PACE

“

I

wasted a whole lot of She’s rather methodical about time not doing stuff I planning her trips. She has a list wanted to do,” La-Tessa of places she’d like to visit –– she Montgomer y realized said it has over 30 entries, but in 2012, in the midst of some countries have multiple going through a divorce. cities –– and she goes from It dawned on her that she there. She has a rule that she can spent all her time focusing never visit the same city more on her relationship, her than once, though “I think I’m children and her work, and going to take my girls to Europe no time focusing on herself. next year. So we’re going to do She promised herself that London and ride the train over each year, she would go on to Paris, but it’s not cheating an international birthday because I’m taking them,” she trip. She waited to take laughed. la-tessa montgomery her first trip until her In 2020, she was going to do youngest was old enough her first group trip to Zanzibar that Montgomer y felt in Tanzania, but because of comfortable to leave for a few days.

COVID, that was pushed back to 2021, which was later “I get really freaked out. As much as I want to go, I get canceled. Now, she’s rerouting to Greece this September. freaked out being away from home,” she said. “It really bothers me if I let myself think about it, so for me, the sweet PLAN IT OUT spot is four days.”

Montgomery is an analyst by day and a fiction writer by “I plan my trip so far in advance because I’m a planner. night; and, admittedly, she said this can sometimes make her I’m very anal retentive that way,” she laughed. “So the only imagination wander. If she’s gone for much longer than four way for me to be comfortable to leave and go 6,000 miles days, she starts worrying about her kids, “my baby might fall away, and leave my kids here, is that I have a firm plan. So I out of a tree!” She can laugh about it now that her youngest have to start early.” is 15, and none of her kids have fallen out of a tree while she’s She usually tries to take her trips in March. Mostly because been away. it’s her birth month, but it’s usually still too cold to be tourist season, so “it’s really cheap.” She plans everything out herself; DETERMINE A DESTINATION unless she can’t get somewhere in less than five flights, then she reaches out to a travel planner for help getting there.

In 2014, Montgomery got her first passport stamp on her For most trips, she likes to visit a single city because she trip to London. wants to experience the culture and “the spirit of the place.”

Since then, she has gone on a trip each year –– barring Sometimes, she’ll catch a train and go to another city –– like 2020, of course –– and has visited seven countries in six when she left Paris for an afternoon trip to Venice, where she years, doubling up one year. So far, she’s been to London, swears she almost died. But more on that later.

Amsterdam, Paris, Cuba, the Domincan Republic, Prague Once she chooses a destination, she spends months and Italy. researching.

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“

I think the worst thing you can do is go pay a couple thousand dollars for this trip and get to a foreign city and be bored.”

“I need to start planning,” she said, “Because that’s the only way I can be comfortable.”

The first step, as a Black woman traveling alone, is to research how she’ll be treated.

“I google, ‘How are Black people treated?’” she said.

“Then, ‘How are women treated?’ Because I’m going to catch hell for both.”

Through her travels, she’s learned that sometimes it’s “not really a race thing, it’s more of a nationality thing.” Like her trip to Paris, where the French are a bit notorious for hating Americans. Montgomery learned that in her experience, the French just aren’t accepting toward the English language.

“Paris is not very forgiving when you don’t attempt to speak French,” she said.

She laughed that by the time she got there, she was speaking more Spanish to the Parisians than French or English. This bought her some leniency, so she “got away with a lot of stuff.”

Once she determines how she will be treated as a solo woman of color, as a solo woman in general and as an American, then she starts researching general safety in that country.

From there, she’ll start looking at “must-see” places in the city, and see if there are any neighboring places worth her time. She’ll also look for popular photo spots, because she enjoys taking photos with her “big boy” camera when she’s traveling.

For her finalized itinerary, she has a currency converter, all the information for her hotel (she keeps their number on speed dial and has the location pinned in her phone), and a list of things she wants to see. Unless she’s going somewhere tropical, then it’s a little different.

“When I go to the beach, I don’t want to leave the beach,” she said, laughing. “That’s when I get my butt in the sand, and I want to have drinks and read my book and I sit on the beach all day long.”

If it’s in Europe or somewhere non-tropical, then her itinerary is a bit more full. Actually, it’s chock-full. But she has a rule of threes: She picks the top-three things she wants to do.

“So when it comes down to it, as long as I get to those three things,” she said, “Everything else is gravy.”

Her list is still expansive –– in fact, she says she likes to feel like an encyclopedia about a place, where to go, what to do, by the time she arrives –– but she won’t stress herself out trying to go everywhere and see everything.

“I’m very flexible. I have this plan so I don’t get bored; I don’t have this plan to freak me out and make me go hop around the city like a junkie,” she said. “I think the worst

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thing you can do is go pay a couple thousand dollars for this trip and get to a foreign city and be bored.”

She also has about 10-15 words and phrases memorized (and written down) to do her best to have a baseline form of communication. A lot of it is directional phrases (right, left, up, down), and some polite phrases and greetings to get her through the trip.

THE FLIGHT Over the years, Montgomery has mastered the timing of international flights, Europe at least. Her goal is to land in-country at about 9 in the morning and get started. She books her international flights to be overnight. She hops on board, gets comfortable and has a glass of white wine with the dinner they serve in-flight. “(Then) you get this thing called Benadryl,” she said, laughing.

After taking Benadryl, she’ll watch a movie and usually fall asleep. The next time she wakes up, it’s usually right as the flight crew begins serving breakfast before they land.

IN-COUNTRY EXPERIENCES Through her travels, Montgomery has experienced a lot of highs and lows; but by far, her least favorite experience was Venice.

“I don’t even have anything else that comes close to the holy freaking terror of Venice,” she said. “I even had a guy in the (Dominican Republic) try to pick me up off the street and put them on the back of his motorbike.”

The first issue she incurred was her phone’s wifi didn’t work, which she didn’t realize until she got off the train and started walking. She wanted to get to St. Mark’s Square, but quickly learned there were no street signs; instead, street names were “spray-painted on the buildings with arrows.”

“I legitimately thought I was never going to get out of there,” she said.

She found Venetians less than sympathetic to those who don’t speak Italian, and couldn’t find help for the longest time; though she was stopping in every shop along the way for directions.

It took her 30 minutes to walk from the train station to the Square, but finding her way back to the station took two-and-a-half hours instead.

“And that was after I had a nervous breakdown,” she said, which she can laugh about now. “I wrote this whole story on how I was going to die. I was like, ‘I need to find a back alleyway to sleep in tonight, I want to call my kids.’ It was

+ cross rosary

horrible. I got back to the train station, I sat there and a pigeon came up to me and tried to take my pepperoni sandwich I said, ‘Pigeon, do you want to die today?’”

She cut her Venice trip short, after being lost and afraid for three hours straight, she decided to just go back to Paris. While Venice was by far the most terrified she’s ever been, she’s found that the “rule of averages” usually plays in her favor.

Like the time she was followed by a group of men in a small alley in Naples, after an Uber driver dropped her off at the wrong location.

“That’s all my conspiracy mind needs to start writing stories in my head about how La-Tessa got kidnapped off the streets of Naples because she was (victim) of some part of this ring orchestrated by the damn Uber guy,” she said, laughing now, though she wasn’t laughing at all at the time.

Luckily the men stopped following her, and she eventually got to where she was going, only to bump into an Englishspeaking man who chatted her worries away.

“That was like a palate cleanser,” she said.

“Normally, after really dark situations like that, honestly something just uplifting tends to come along. I don’t question it, but I’m

Opening page: La-Tessa Montgomery, adventurer, author and blogger The Spirited Traveler; Above: A rosewood Rosary and a worry cross she picked up from Notre Dame in Paris. “I’m so happy I was able to see Notre Dame before the fire damage,” she said. She purchased the items in 2019 and displays them on her bookshelf. It still smells like roses. “They claim the smell of roses never goes away,” she said; Right column, top to bottom: Montgomery snapped

happy when it happens because (it) puts me in a much better mind frame.”

One time, a bird pooped in her hair, which she had just gotten braided, at the Vatican –– a sign of good luck in Italy, so no one would help her clean it out.

Through all the good times and the bad, Prague was absolutely her favorite city, without a doubt in her mind. Though, it’s kind of surprising. Just a few months before her trip, she almost cancelled it. Her grandmother passed away, and just a few days after her death, Montgomery’s relationship at the time unexpectedly ended. But determined to keep the promise to herself, she decided to go anyway. While she was there, she learned a lot about herself and the city, despite being heartbroken.

“I was able to just let it go,” she said, referring to crying at a cafe one afternoon.

“But after that, I had the best time! I did a photo shoot over there, I got all these pretty pictures of that, (there’s) so much history and I love the architecture and buildings.”

She fell so deeply in love with the city that while walking 14,000-18,000 each day, she actually tore her hamstring. There was a lot about her Prague trip that should have ruined it: from the hamstring, to having a

this photo of the London Eye from a moving double-decker bus tour in London, across the River Thames; She took this photo of the Gardens at the Palace of Versailles, a trip she took with one of her best friends; The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, known as Saint Peter’s Basilica, from her trip to the Vatican City in Rome; “That’s a gigantic swan that tried to take me away,” she said, laughing about her trip to Prague.

“But there’s the Charles Bridge;” A photo

of the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, Italy. Montgomery wanted to see Michelangelo’s “David,” but spent a while searching for the building. “By the way, I’m directionally challenged, ask anybody who knows me,” she said. “I can’t get anywhere.” Before giving up in the rain and turning around, her intuition told her to take a photo of the building. Later, she would discover in it the building that houses the David. Column photos courtesy of La-Tessa Montogmery.

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MONTGOMERY SAFETY RULES Over the years she’s crafted more or less a list of safety tips.

1. USE YOUR INTUITION.

dominican rum cuban mask

“I was walking down the street,” she said, painting a picture of Prague. “And something said, ‘Nope.’

Know what I did? I took my butt right back around and walked the other way. And then one time I was walking someplace and I don’t know what happened, I just felt like the world was closing in on me, so I left.”

She encourages people to trust their instincts, despite the little voice in their head telling them they’re overreacting.

“Don’t think you’re being paranoid or being freaked out,” she said. “If anybody even rubbed you the wrong way, don’t do it.”

2A. DON’T BE A TARGET.

rheumatoid arthritis flare up that had her bedridden for half of a day, “a swan literally tried to drag me into some water and take me away,” not to mention the fact that the thing she wanted to see most, the Prague Astronomical Clock, which has been on her bucket list since she was in the sixth grade, was closed for construction.

One thing that helped the trip rebound was Prague’s unexpected cocktail scene; and cocktails are one of Montgomery’s favorite things, hence her blog, The Spirited Traveler, where she writes about her traveling experiences and the drinks she comes across.

“I didn’t want to do food and travel,” she said, “Because everyone does food and travel.”

Not only was she enamored with Prague, the buildings and the culture, but she said it was the safest she had ever felt. She had no problem staying out until 1 or 2 o’clock in the morning, stopping in at various bars and trying new beverages.

“I hate absinthe with a fervor, but that’s what Prague is known for because you know, the green fairy and all the artistic minds,” she said. “And I made myself try it, and that absinthe cocktail? It was one of the best things I’ve ever had in my life.”

Prague also taught her to slow down and sit when she gets tired. She learned that she has to sit down every day around noon, usually at a cafe, maybe with a good book or a glass of wine.

She said these moments of relaxation are what she has missed most about traveling over the past year, and are what she’s most looking forward to when she gets to resume. M

Montgomery encourages travelers to avoid looking like a tourist and to dress nicely. It might be beneficial to even research typical fashion in an area, to blend in as much as possible. She’s a big fan of walking around with earphones in without anything playing to discourage people from chatting with her, too.

2B. DON’T CARRY A LOT OF BAGGAGE.

Wear cross-body bags or purses, keeping the zipper or opening flush to your body and keep your arm over it, in case “they come cut your strap.”

3. NEVER LOOK AT A MAP.

“I hate Google Maps,” she said. “Google Maps is demon seed; but it works really well in Europe.”

Before leaving any location, Montgomery sets her Google Maps to the next destination, then puts her phone in her pocket and doesn’t look at it again.

She’s learned that if she uses a combination of earphones — without music playing, solely Google Maps giving directions — plus the directions on her Apple Watch — three vibrations for a left turn, two for a right — she can confidently trust she will arrive safely, without looking like a lost tourist.

4. BEFRIEND THE CONCIERGE. But “use your judgement,” she warned, “Because you don’t want to get snatched.”

Left: Montgomery purchased this mask while she was in Cuba; Right: A bottle of pirate rum from Montgomery’s trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. She would love to visit the Dominican Republic again, but go to San Domingo next time. This bottle of Mamajuana has vanilla bean pods to flavor the rum. “Because it’s painted, it’s considered a work of art, so it does not count against your liquor,” she said on U.S. Customs. “See how smart I am?”

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BROAD SPECTRUM: sunscreen as skincare

by JEFFREY HOUIN, M.D.

S

pring is here and summer is quickly approaching. After being confined indoors because of winter (or COVID) we are all ready to get outside and enjoy this beautiful time of year. While it is tempting to get outside to work on that tan, smart skin care will keep your skin safe and healthy for years to come.

Whether we like to admit it or not, sunlight causes skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., but it is also one of the most preventable cancers. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and nearly 20 Americans die from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, every day. Dermatologists recommend three easy steps to protect your skin: seek shade, dress to protect yourself from the sun and use sunscreen to protect skin that isn’t covered by clothing.

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SHADE

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING

SUNSCREEN

Sunlight is most intense between 10:00 a.m and 2:00 p.m. Our skin is especially vulnerable to the sun’s damaging rays during the middle of the day. This is when shade can help to shield us from these harmful rays and keep us cool at the same time.

Clothing has come a long way over the last few years, as far as sun protection is concerned. It’s easy to find attractive, lightweight clothing that is comfortable to wear during the warmer months.

Long sleeves and long pants aren’t always thought of as summer wear, but both should be considered as a sun-safe option.

Wide-brimmed hats protect our ears, neck, and faces. Sunglasses aren’t just for looking cool – they protect our eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation can lead to cataracts and cause melanoma inside of the eye.

Apply sunscreen to all skin that clothing won’t cover. A broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher should be applied every two hours.

Remember sunlight will reflect off of water, snow and even light-colored surfaces, such as sidewalks and decks. If you are at higher altitudes, you are much closer to the sun than you are at sea level.

This makes the rays more intense and damaging to the skin.

Sunless tanners and spray tans can help you achieve the look you want without subjecting yourself to damage and aging effects of the sun.

Be skin smart and you’ll be able to enjoy many summers to come! M

Jeffrey Houin, M.D., is a dermatologist at the Dermatology Center of North Mississippi, PA in Tupelo. He has been practicing for 25 years.

He graduated from Louisana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1992 and specializes in dermatology.

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S A V A A H GEORGIA

by CHATHAM KENNEDY photos courtesy VISIT SAVANNAH

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Savannah, Georgia, live oaks are as abundant as pine trees, although they are coupled with more structural soundness and admiration than Mississippi’s pines. Here, New England meets the South without the loss of vegetables cooked with refined sugar. Heavily influenced by Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), the city is engraved with artistry, murals etched into the walls of the city sharing stories that words cannot comprehend. These artistic endeavors spill into a variety of creative outlets, from art galleries to jazz sessions or comedy clubs. Even with numerous entertainment options, nothing can compare to the roar of the iconic Forsyth Park fountain or a stroll through one of Savannah’s historic squares. The compilation of natural and man-made artistry keeps Savannah’s tourism scene nearly busting at its seams.

Since Savannah is a heavily visited area, it should come as no surprise there are a number of touristy things to do. For the novice traveler, a detailed, three-day itinerary is highly desirable. With three days to experience all

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Savannah has to offer, you’ll leave feeling satisfied, but eager to return to the Low Country.

It doesn’t matter how far north you travel, if you’re still below the Mason-Dixon Line, you’re bound to be subject to summer’s sticky companion: humidity. The prime time to plan your vacation is in the late spring and early summer months, when the breeze from the Savannah River can be felt with rich vibrancy.

During this time, visitors can see Savannah in full bloom without worrying about sweat stains and dehydration. The easiest way to see the splendor of Savannah while learning about the city’s cultural history is a hop-on, hop-off trolley ride with Old Town Trolley Tours. A one-day trolley pass averages around $35 per person and comes with a menu of city-wide discounts. On this list is America’s only Prohibition Museum, an interactive experience that begins with the Temperance Movement and ends with The Great Repeal. Throughout the tour, visitors can interact with live actors or take a step back in time and enjoy a cocktail or two at the speakeasy.

Once your cocktail glasses are empty, you can

re-enter the 2020s and take a stroll through City Market, Savannah’s eclectic shopping district. Brimming with art galleries and retail stores, City Market is a shopper’s paradise. Or, enjoy an array of live music, which pours from local restaurants in competing harmony. In the summer, City Market is a coveted space since it rests under a canopy of shade. However, another easy way to enjoy a break from the heat is to re-board the trolley and head toward River Street.

River Street is a conglomerate of the Colonial Period and the Industrial Revolution, coupled with the modern conventions of the 21st Century. The brick roads are lined with stores ranging from Harley Davidson apparel to delicious sweets from Savannah’s Candy Kitchen.

However the lure of River Street is the recreation of the 1850s open air market, which features artisan goods. Known as River Street Market Place, the multi-building bazaar is home to over a dozen vendors.

After filling your shopping bags, head to one of the 21 restaurants overlooking the Savannah River.

For a light dinner with exceptional drinks, Tandem Coffee and Spirits offers cocktails dripping with southern hospitality paired with a Hispanic twist. However, if you’re looking for a classic Low Country Boil, Matthew’s Eatery will more than satisfy your tastebuds. Whether you decide to dine at a five-star restaurant or find another delightful eatery, as the sun sets on the horizon and melts into an array of pinks, blues and oranges, you’ll relish the memories made on your first day in Savannah.

A bustling first day in historic Savannah calls for a day of reprieve

on the beaches of Tybee Island.

Located 18 miles from downtown, Tybee Island invites relaxation and restoration. However, you don’t have to get sand between your toes to enjoy the island. From biking to kayaking to birdwatching, Tybee Island is destined to have something for the whole family to enjoy.

On the way to Tybee Island, stop

by Fort Pulaski National Monument.

Located on Cockspur Island, the brick walls of Fort Pulaski tell about the successes of the Union Army. In 1862, a rifle cannon was tested there, rendering the use of brick fortresses obsolete. This invention impacted American military history. However, it was not the only tool near the island to do so. Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse, which previously guarded a military battery, is located on Tybee Island. Today, visitors can tour and conquer all 178 steps of the historic lighthouse. At the top, you can view the lighthouse’s reflection from the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by a sea of sunbaked sand.

On the ground, grab a bite from Fannie’s on the Beach and feast on a Neptune Seafood Pizza while slurping a Big Rita. Enjoy a bike ride on the beach, as the well-packed sand allows for easy travel while the ocean breeze sullies perspiration. At the end of your ride, cool off by dipping your toes into the Atlantic or by grabbing a kayak and riding the waves. When the ocean begins to fade from light to dark blue, head back to shore, wash off any remaining sunscreen and get ready to see a show at the Tybee Post Theater. From theatrical performances to movie screenings, the Tybee Post Theater brings Hollywood entertainment to southern shores.

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After a day on the island, it’s time to ditch the flip-flops for sneakers and enjoy your final day in Georgia’s oldest city. Snuggle up to history and explore one, two or all 22 of downtown’s squares, which are nothing short of exemplary.

These squares are dotted with monuments and are lined with historic homes, churches and inns. Over the years, Savannah’s squares have been seen in a number of Hollywood blockbusters. On Chippewa Square, life was compared to a box of chocolates by Forest Gump. For years, the square housed Forest Gump’s famous park bench. However, it has since been moved to the Savannah History Museum. Just shy of Forsyth Park, standing tall on Monterey Square, is the Mercer Williams House, a key feature in the book-turned -movie, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Because of the presence of the Mercer Williams House, which is open daily for tours, Monetary Square is said to be one of the most beautiful squares in Savannah.

At night, Savannah’s beauty turns into an aura of mystery.

Embedded in Savannah’s rich history are tales of axe murderers and apparitions. Join the Trolley of the Doomed through the Ghosts and Gravestones of Savannah, and experience one of America’s most haunted cities at her witching hour (or close to it). The trolley stops for a tour at both the Andrew Low House, where five ghosts are said to haunt the halls, and Perkins and Son’s Chandlery, the proclaimed epicenter of paranormal activity. Within the walls of these two buildings lie stories untold –– stories that long for a voice –– stories that are shared through encounters with the paranormal.

Savannah, Georgia, is enmeshed in stories, tainted with tales of old. These tales are whispered through the hanging moss that clings to the live oak trees. They flicker through the street lights illuminating Savannah’s cobblestone streets.

They ignite inspiration and provoke determination. While Savannah’s stories are ever-mounting, her character is unchanging, inviting travelers with outstretched arms. M

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BUYER ’S GUIDE

BUYER ’S GUIDE

BUYER ’S GUIDE

GETTIN WEIRD AT CREATURE CAMP

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by KRISTINA DOMITROVICH photos by LINDSAY PACE

Seven years ago, when Rebecca Blevins and Brett Hunter bought their camper, they had vague thoughts of renting it out, almost Airbnb style, but they didn’t have a distinct vision for it.

Not yet, anyway.

“It was just a project at first, just to renovate it,” Hunter said, “Which took forever.”

“There were a number of computers in it and just weird stuff,” Blevins said.

That was back when the two were living in the Carbondale area in Illinois, before they came to Nashville about four years ago. In August 2020, they “finally” finished the space because they “really had nothing else going on,” Hunter said with a laugh.

It took them a month or two to prepare the camper for visitors: hooking it up with an AC and heating unit, painting the outdoor shower and bathroom area overlooking the sunset, outfitting the interior with their own collections of folk art –– a myriad of pieces they’ve traded their own work for over the years, things made by their friends.

“One painting in there is like a naked lady that I bought for $3 at a convenience store in Baltimore,” Hunter said, laughing.

Anything “weird,” as Hunter put it, that either were attracted to over the years.

But the biggest takeaway is always what’s outside the camper in the yard. The creatures, or “aminals.”

These “aminals” are wonky critters the two have created over the years, all funky and brightly painted.

“All these creatures are all my designs, but we both worked on them,” he said.

“Most of them were for taking to Bonnaroo Music Festival. I sold a few, but ended up keeping a bunch.”

The first year Hunter was commissioned to make his creepy crawlers for Bnnaroo was in 2018, and again in 2019. The process is pretty “chaotic,” and for music festivals, it’s a fast turnaround.

“The festival thing is really rushed,” he said. “We made 12 creatures in two months.”

“That was kind of all we did,” Blevins added, laughing.

All the creatures were made from “really crude doodles,” in Hunter’s studio on their property.

“I just wanted them to be creatures that didn’t really look like anything real. I like it when people say something like, ‘Oh, I like that blue gator dog,’” he said. “You don’t really know what it is, and I don’t name

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them or anything. So I just like that somebody has to make up what it is.”

The creatures are made to be movable, so they can easily be placed at events; but for things like Bonnaroo, they have to be sturdy enough for “a hundred thousand adult children” to climb all over them. Hunter has found a sweet spot.

“They’re made to be moved around, (and) they’re heavy, but they’re not like normal concrete sculptures,” he said. “They have a foam base and then there’s concrete mix plastered on the outside, so it’s kind of a shell.”

Hunter also uses papercrete: paper pulp mixed with clay or cement. He’s found papercrete is really great for intricate portions like facial features.

Oftentimes, he has to hire extra help; and they mix the material for the outer shells by hand.

“I got really buff,” Blevins laughed, reminiscing on the summers building the creatures for Bonnaroo.

Each creature is usually several feet tall and made to be interactive. Some have a tongue curving out that can be used as a slide, “that one was a huge hit –– everybody wanted to crawl through it;” others have gaping holes as mouths.

Hunter laughed that sometimes he would find festivalgoers sleeping in or on his sculptures.

“It’s fun to see them get some use though, it adds some life to them,” Blevins said. “I think just sitting in a space they wouldn’t necessarily have (that), but the interactive quality is the best part, I think.”

One of his larger creatures stood eight feet tall, was yellow and had built-in benches; usually, he found people crawling to the top to sit there, rather than using the benches down below.

“Those kinds of festivals aren’t really my thing, but it’s like an art show times a million,” Hunter said. “To have a hundred thousand people just partying on or around my sculptures is really cool.”

Hunter has experienced both sides of exhibiting his art: Crazy events and festivals, or art shows that are usually about a month long, where people quietly and calmly meander through the exhibit.

“It’s almost like they’re at church or something,” Blevins said. “But out here, people are giggling and laughing.”

“Here, it’s somewhere in between the festival and the gallery,” Hunter said.

They have a slew of visitors; ranging from pandemic-bound people longing to travel, to families with small kids wanting an interactive escape. The camp is a work in progress, and Hunter and Blevins are looking for ways to expand and add new creatures. Their property includes a little treehouse, which they’re debating turning into “some sort of psychedelic giraffe thing.”

The camp comes as a bit of relief, as Hunter and Blevins are both artists.

Opening Page: Two of the more interactive creatures, as one functions as a slide and the other rocks back and forth; Left page: A pink two-headed creature, which Blevins said is one of her personal favorites; This page clockwise, starting top left: A look at the full-size bed offered inside the Shasta camper, outfitted with colorful collections of the artists’ personal treasures; A guestbook in the camper for visitors to write their experiences; A creature is parked outside the trailer’s door to welcome visitors.

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Above: Rebecca Blevins, Brett Hunter and Peanut. The two hope to start creating take-home trinkets, so their guests can take a wonky creature home with them when they leave – like a funky mug or a cut-out creature; Right, from top to bottom: A wide green creature is a fun place to crawl and climb; Hunter laughed that he often found people asleep inside the opensquare creature, especially at festivals; A purple friend offers a great resting place on its benches.

Blevins, a modern ceramist, is an adjunct professor at the Watkins College of Art at Belmont Univeristy in Nashville, and owner and artist of Blevins Ceramics. She laughed and said that if it was up to her, everything would be clean lines and “all white.” During a year that upended their profession, especially since Hunter’s work was often used in huge events that have since been cancelled, the camp has provided a sense of security for the two.

“Being self-employed, both of us, money is here and there,” Hunter said. “Sometimes it’s really good; sometimes it’s not at all.

So having that steady-ish thing going on has been really nice. Even though it’s minimal income, it’s been really cool to just not be sweating whether or not we can pay the bills.”

In the hilly country right outside of Nashville, the two have created a wonky hiatus for people to “really chill out when they come here, which is nice,” Hunter said. Blevins said she wanted to string lights outside and through the treehouse, to encourage their guests “to sort of wander” while they’re visiting. The pair’s house, which plays with equally as much shape and color as the camp, is further up the hill from the camper. The two, with their pandemicrescue dog Peanut and their three ducks, all named Lillian, somewhere in the mix, enjoy hearing their visitors explore and enjoy the creatures, and like reading the feedback they leave behind. “‘These creatures are speaking to me,’ ‘(I) feel like I’ve seen them before,’” Blevins said. “People are really excited.” M

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