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SOUTH CAROLINA
Yesterday and today, a visit to South Carolina pulls in both directions. On one side are
some outstanding sights that bring you closer to the past, the superb historic district in
Charleston, Revolutionary War battlefields and restored antebellum plantations. On the other
side are the joys of the present, luxurious resorts, sandy beaches, big-name musical entertainment
and a huge selection of first-class golf courses. Happily, the two go well together. When the
kids begin to riot over the prospect of viewing another old building, you can appease them with
roller coasters, sand castles and water slides. And when you begin to fear that too much relaxation
has dulled your brain, you're usually only a short drive from a site that can provide some
three-dimensional education about U.S. history
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| Pennsylvania was dubbed the Keystone State because of geography. It lay between five other
former colonies in the newly formed U.S. and seemed to physically lock the country together.
But its nickname could equally apply to Pennsylvania's key role in the history and development
of the U.S., from colonial times to the present. Appropriately, history is what draws many
travelers to the state today. At Valley Forge, you can see the place where the Continental
Army weathered a tough winter and formed the fighting unit that would win the country's independence.
At Gettysburg, tour the grounds where perhaps the most important battle in the nation's history
was waged. A trip to Scranton will help you come to a better understanding of the industrial
capabilities that helped make the U.S. a world power. Those less interested in historical sites
won't be left out, however. The mountains that run across the state create beautiful vistas and
play host to the resort playground of the Poconos and the outdoor activities of the Laurel Highlands.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh provide big-city cultural and entertainment possibilities, and rural
getaways like Bucks County and the Brandywine Valley mix scenic countryside with affluent living.
For both visitors who want to learn more about the past and those who prefer to simply enjoy the
present, Pennsylvania has much to offer. |
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| A drive across Texas has the slippery, shifting feel of a dream. Things change and change significantly
from bayous and forests to prairies and bare windswept plains. But the transformations are subtle. At
some point, it will dawn on you that the trees have disappeared, but you won't be able to say exactly
when. Driving will likely be part of your visit to Texas. Unless you're planning to confine yourself to
one place, you'll be covering some territory, possibly a lot of territory, and you'll likely be covering
it in a car. The trick is to know how much is too much; Texas can be a huge place. Unless you've got a
lot of time (and a great fondness for road trips), you'll want to set some limits and take the time to
enjoy what you're seeing. One of the state's big cities - Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio
- could conceivably fill a vacation by itself. But we suggest you combine one of them with visits to other,
less urban areas. The countryside offers so much variety, the wildflowers alone are worth a drive, and the
huge blue sky is best appreciated from more open spaces. |
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TENNESSEE
It's fitting that the home of country music has so much country left to enjoy. Tranquil rural landscapes unfold across
the state, from the rich black fields along the Mississippi to the lush horse farms of central river valleys, to the
Appalachian Mountains with their forests and plowed furrows of red dirt. There are urban areas, but even the largest
have a connection with the land that's rare in cities of their size. Memphis sprouted from the cotton lands and still
shows those signs, and Nashville became famous by marketing the music of the southern countryside. Where the state seems
least rural is in tourist centers such as Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, where miles of miniature golf courses, amusement
centers and motels that seem to be intent on overrunning the stoic Smoky Mountains. Not to worry, though, the mountains
will endure, as will the state's rural charm. Travelers who can appreciate both or who are interested in the styles of
music that have grown so well in the Tennessee dirt are likely to have a great time in the state.
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