Category: Getting Ready

Washington, DC: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books:

A Neighborhood Guide to Washington D.C.’s Hidden History by Jeanne Fogle, is a great guide to find the hidden gems that the typical tourist would miss.

Airlines:

There are three major airports in the Washington, DC region:

Southwest, American and United service all three airports; and JetBlue services DCA and BWI.

Trains:

Union Station in DC is a thriving hub for east coast travel, serviced by Amtrak, Metro, MARC and VRE.

Austin, TX: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books – Not as many as I would hope, but next time I’m there, I’ll look for more from local authors. For now, I would highly recommend: Lone Star Swing by Duncan McLean.

Getting There – Unless you live in Texas, just fly. US Airlines that service Austin include: Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest & United. Southwest is always my favorite for their inexpensive flights and free luggage handling.

San Diego, CA: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books – Not as many as I would hope, but next time I’m there, I’ll look for more from local authors. For now, I would highly recommend: Abandoned San Diego by Jessica D. Johnson.

Getting There –

    • Drive: It’s not far from Los Angeles. Just know that if you come back on Sunday, you WILL hit traffic.
    • Train: I love taking Amtrak down to San Diego. Beautiful, scenic route, AND its worth it to pay a little extra for business class.

Philadelphia, PA: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books – Start here: “Discovering Vintage Philadelphia” by Tanya Birch

Getting There – Drive or train if east coast; fly if central or west coast:

    • Drive: Although parking is not inexpensive, it’s convenient to have a car!
    • Train: Amtrak rocks the east coast!
    • Fly: American Airlines has one of its hubs at this airport, but most airlines fly here. Southwest is always one of my favorites, but you will probably need to change planes at least once.

Palm Springs, CA: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books – Not as many as I would hope, but next time I’m there, I’ll look for more from local authors. For now, I would highly recommend: Palm Springs Holiday: A Vintage Tour from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea by Peter Moruzzi

Movies:

    • Palm Springs Weekend (1963) with Troy Donohue, Connie Stevens, Ty Hardin, Stephanie Powers, Robert Conrad & Jerry Van Dyke
    • Sinatra in Palm Springs (2018) documentary about Sinatra’s true home for 50 years. During his brief yet turbulent marriage to Ava Gardner his Palm Springs home was center stage. For the rest of his life, the Rancho Mirage compound on Frank Sinatra Drive, was the home he called “My Heaven”. Palm Springs still feels the ghost of Frank Sinatra.

Getting There:

    • Drive: It’s not far from Los Angeles. Just know that if you come back on Sunday, you WILL hit traffic.
    • Train: Amtrak routes Texas Eagle & Sunset Limited stop at Palm Springs.
    • Bus: Greyhound has many choices – it’s not your mother’s Greyhound anymore! Free wi-fi and outlets at every seat!

Nashville, TN: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books – There are so many to prepare you for your experience in this city, but here are a few sure get your curiosity piqued:

    • Hidden History of Nashville by George R. Zepp – Perched on the banks of the Cumberland River, Nashville is best known for its role in the civil rights movement, world-class education and, of course, country music. In this unique collection of columns, longtime journalist and Tennessee native George Zepp illuminates a less familiar side of the city. Learn the secrets of Timothy Demonbreun, one of the city’s first residents, who lived with his family in a cliff-top cave; Cortelia Clark, the blind bluesman who continued to perform on street corners after winning a Grammy award; and Nashville’s own Cinderella story, which involved legendary radio personality Edgar Bergen and his ventriloquist protegee. Cleverly rendered, using questions from readers across the nation, these little-known tales abound with Music City mystery and charm.
    • Murder & Mayhem in Nashville by Brian Allison – Nashville is known for its bold, progressive flair, but few are aware of the city s malevolent past. A rowdy red-light district called Smoky Row spawned several fatal episodes. A murderous temptress with a penchant for poison once strolled the city streets. Legends range from Andrew Jackson s bar fight with Senator Thomas Hart Benton to the macabre 1938 Marrowbone Creek cabin murders. In 1938, a state penitentiary fugitive escape triggered a tragic gunfight. Author Brian Allison illustrates the darker shades of Nashville s colorful past.

Getting There – Almost all major airlines fly to Nashville, but the ones with the most flights are American, Delta, Southwest and United.

Memphis, TN: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books – There are so many to expand your experience in this city, but here are my favorites:

    • Hellhound on his Trail by Hampton Sides is the book that first stirred my interest in Memphis. It’s the story of the stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the international hunt for his assassin, James Earl Ray.
    • Sam Phillips: The Man Who Invented Rock ‘n’ Roll by Peter Guralnick is an ardent, unrestrained portrait of an American original, the driving force behind Sun Studios, with extensive interviews and firsthand personal observations extending over a 25-year period.
    • Last Train to Memphis by Peter Guralnick is the first biography to go past that myth and present an Elvis beyond the legend. Based on hundreds of interviews and nearly a decade of research, it traces the evolution not just of the man but of the music and of the culture he left utterly transformed, creating a completely fresh portrait of Elvis and his world.
    • Dewey & Elvis by Louis Cantor caught my eye after researching the history behind the musical, Memphis, which is loosely based upon Dewey Phillips, one of the original DJs in Memphis who first played “race” music on a white radio station, and “outed” Elvis as white when he asked him which high school he went to.

Getting There – Not all airlines fly to Memphis, but the ones with the most flights are American, Delta, Southwest and United. I’ve also taken Amtrak into Memphis, which was a treat!

Click here for my own personal stories about Memphis!

Key West, FL: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books – Lots to choose from:

Getting There – Just fly directly to Key West (with a few stops) or fly to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale and either drive or take a shuttle down to the Keys (approximately 4 hours).

Chicago, IL: Getting Ready & Getting There

Books:

    • Devil in the White City by Erik Larson is a true story about Chicago during the 1893 World’s Fair, and it really does get you in the mood.
    • Discovering Vintage Chicago by Amy Bizzarri is another favorite in a series for timeless shops, bars, etc.
    • Marshall Field’s by Gayle Soucek shares its history about a timeless landmark where Macy’s now resides.

Getting There – Just fly. Pick your favorite airline, but it is a hub for both Southwest at Midway (my preferred Chicago airport) and United at O’Hare.