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http://www.innatcedarfalls.com

Spring, 2010 www.WeekenderExtended.com

A Place to Stay ~ Lots of Things to do!

http://www.santaslodge.com

http://www.holidayworld.com

Sprint into action andget away for the Weekend

So summer is on it’s way. Are you ready for the upcoming

swimsuit days? I’m not. In size thatis. Oh, the brain is definately readyfor a Spring break. . .

Lying around in a beach chairwith a good book and lots of sun-screen. Sipping on a refreshingdrink in an ice-frosted glass. I cansee it all now.

But the body just isn’t quite thereyet. Nope, Winter in the office atmy computer has taken it’s toll onthe “not-so-trim” figure. So, per-haps a bit of history studies inVirginia will do the trick. See thefeature on page 10 and 11 for allthe details on the new bike tour.You can also get into shape by dis-covering the new trails inTennessee. See page 16.

Of course, I’d really rathersplurge and dine at Jonathan’slocated within the Platz Park Inn in

Lexington, Ky.before enjoy-ing a liveBluegrass orfolk concert atthe KentuckyTheatre andthen crawlinginto the plushcomforts of akingsize bed for a relaxing napback at the hotel. (I’ll get my exer-cisepushing the buttons on the tel-evision remote.)

Or I could travel to South Ohio intime for the Banana Split Festival.Yum! See page 6.

Whatever your interest, there issure to be something new to do, ora place to visit or someone to seethat is featured in this packedSpring issue of The WeekenderExtended. So let’s thaw out, getout of the house and I’ll meet youalong the way...

Kathy Barnett, Managing Editor

www.weekenderextended.com Spring, 2010

Weekender is published quarterly with periodic

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Letter from the Editor

CONTENTSTop Ten:6 Couples Getaways

Places to Go: 2 Logan, OH3 Santa, IN

13 Feature - Colorado19 Madison, WI

Things to Do5 Eat a Banana Split - Wilmington, OH8 Enjoy Gettysburg, PA - For Free

10 Bike Riding / Alexandria, VA22 Discover the Trails, TN17 Play with Penquins, TN

People to See18 Michael Jonathon at the Kentucky Theatre

Extended

www.WeekenderExtended.com Spring 2010

As community members ofWilmington and Clinton County, Ohio,celebrate their bicentennial this year,they are particularly proud of a signif-icant offering to the rest of the nation -The Banana Split. The Banana SplitFestival (June 11-12) has become assynonymous with the small city ofWilmington, population 12,000, asRed's Baseball is to Cincinnati.Thousands travel from many states tomake their own banana split at the"build your own" bar, to enjoy the'50s/'60s theme, to peruse the manycollectible cars on display at the clas-sic cruise-in and car show, to taste the many vari-eties of fun food, to play street carnival games, toshop at the many craft and commercial booths andto be entertained with the sounds of the rock 'n rollera. What's even better is that there is no admis-sion fee.

A growing highlight of the annual festival is theMasters Competition. Regional chefs compete for

the title of Banana Split Master. Thechefs are challenged to create theirown totally unique banana split.Creativity, taste and appearance arethe key to winning in this stiff compe-tition. This Banana Split Festival isthe only one in the nation and wordcontinues to spread near and farabout its existence. It's a hometownfestival that is not only family friendly,but leaves people smiling when theyleave. As the City of Wilmington andClinton County celebrate their bicen-tennial celebrations, what could bemore appropriate than spotlighting a

variety of genres at this year's event, providing a lit-tle something for attendees whose ages span thedecades? From classic rock 'n' roll, the sounds of arenowned army band, country, songs from the swingera and more, it will be a fun cross-section of musi-cal entertainment.

Festival hours are Friday, June 11, 4 p.m. to 10p.m. and Saturday, June 12, noon until 10 p.m.

How could Ernest Hazard have known 103 years agothat his creation of the original banana split dessertwould withstand the test of time and become an Americansymbol as familiar as "mom's apple pie?"

Things to Do: Eat one (or two or three) Banana Splits

Live Music Featuring:Blue Steel Sunrise Stringband StreetwiseChairman of Broad BandFull House Band 338th Army Band

Classic Car Cruise-inCrafts • Contests

1-877-428-4748bananasplitfestival.com

Entertainment

http://www.bananasplitfestival.com

www.WeekenderExtended.com Spring, 2010

TToopp TTeenn Couples Getaways in Chicago

77134

From theater andmuseums toshopping and

professional sports,Chicago’s activities forcouples are the perfectrecipe for a greatromantic getaway.

10. Gardens and Parks – Withmore than 7,500 acres of parkland,two world-class conservatories, 26miles of lakefront and 600 acres ofnature areas, Chicago lives up to itsmotto “City in a Garden”. Chicagois home to two beautiful conserva-tories, the Garfield Park andLincoln Park Conservatories, bothare located in the city’s publicparks. Chicago’s downtown area ishome to two world-class parks,Grant Park and Millennium Park.Both parks are convenient todowntown lodging and perfect fora romantic stroll with a cup of cof-fee or an ice cream cone. In thecolder months ice skating is avail-able in ten Chicago area rinks. Inthe warmer months, couples canenjoy one of Chicago’s free out-door concerts or movies.

9. Shopping – Shopping can bevery romantic, especially if you areon the receiving end of a gift.Chicago is a leading center forfashion and design, home to morethan 400 fashion designers and 375independently owned retail bou-

tiques. The city is also an interna-tional shopping capital, with avibrant retail scene that caters tothe needs of every shopper. Formore information visitwww.chicagofashionresource.com.

8. Museums – The Museum ofModern Art and The Art Instituteof Chicago are both great optionsfor a relaxing afternoon of art. TheArt Institute is one of the world’sleading art museums with over300,000 works, including an exten-sive impressionist and post-impressionist collection. TheMuseum of Contemporary Artexplores art dating from 1945 topresent-day with a strong focus onsurrealism, minimalism, conceptu-al photography and work byChicago-based artists.

7. Restaurants – Featuring morethan 7,000 restaurants and more 5-diamond restaurants than any cityin the nation, for a dinner spot witha romantic view, try the Park Grillin Millennium Park. In the summermonths dine alfresco, peoplewatch, and gaze out over thesweeping city views.

For a more interactive experi-ence where you and your date canwork together to cook dinner, tryGeja’s Café in Lincoln Park.Geja’s features traditional fondueand is hailed by many to be themost romantic restaurant in thecity.

6. Hotels – The W HotelLakeshore and the TrumpInternational Hotel and Toweroffer some of the best views of

Lake Michigan and the ChicagoRiver around. For prime locationand proximity to shopping andnightlife, the Park Hyatt and ThePeninsula Chicago are unrivaled.And for their cool urban vibe, theDana Hotel and Spa and theAffinia Hotel will not disappoint.

5. Architecture – A view of thecity's buildings by boat offers aunique perspective. Visitors toChicago may take one of manyarchitectural river cruises to expe-rience the preservation of agelessarchitectural styles in classic andmodern structures along theChicago River. For a more detailedlook, the Chicago ArchitectureFoundation offers more than 50walking or bus tours, conducted byknowledgeable guides.

4. Spas – After a long day ofexploring head to one of Chicago’sspas to relax before a night out onthe town with your significantother. Chicago’s Spa Space, exhalespa, and Kiva Salon and Spa are allperfect options for any treatmentsyou desire including manicuresand pedicures, aromatherapies,massages, and scrubs. The TrumpInternational Hotel and Tower fea-tures 53 relaxing spa rooms thatare designed to enhance your entirespa experience at the property. Forthe budget conscious, CortivaSchool of Massage Therapy inChicago’s Loop offers great dis-counted massages and treatmentsgiven by students and instructors.

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3. Walk or bike Chicago –Chicago’s scenic views and flatlandscape make it the perfect cityfor exploring either on foot orbike. It is no wonder that Chicagowas named the one of the top fiverunning cities in the country byRunner’s World. No matter howyou choose to explore, Chicagoviews are sure to evoke romancewith stunning skyline and lake-front views. A favorite ofChicagoans is to start your tripsouth of downtown at the MuseumCampus and walk north along thelakefront path to Monroe Street.Along the way you’ll see the icon-ic image of sailboats along LakeMichigan flanked by the Chicagoskyline. Bicycles can be rented at anumber of locations around thecity.

2. Recreation – Take a cookingclass at either World Kitchen or theChopping Block; take a Segwaytour of the city; or a moonlightkayak trip down the ChicagoRiver. Depending on your inter-ests, other romantic activities forcouples include attending one ofChicago’s professional sportingevents with a Blackhawks, Bulls,Cubs, or White Sox game.

1. Theater – Enjoy a classic datein Chicago with dinner and a show.From storefront theaters and Tony-award winning regional companiesto major Broadway shows,Chicago theater is recognizedthroughout the world for itsdiverse selection and critically-acclaimed productions.

Purchase half-price tickets to ashow at www.hottix.org.

VisitorInformation Resources

Chicago's visitor information cen-ters are conveniently located in twoof the city's most popular areas.Plan to visit the information centerswhen you arrive in Chicago andreceive free brochures featuringattractions and special events.Friendly information representa-tives will answer your questionsand assist your family in planningan action-packed itinerary. The vis-itor centers are located in theChicago Cultural Center at 77 EastRandolph across from MillenniumPark and at the City’s historic WaterWorks pumping station onMichigan Avenue. Additionally, theChicago Office of Tourism is hometo the Chicago Greeter program.Chicago Greeter links friendly,knowledgeable Chicagoans withvisitors looking to see the sightsthrough the eyes of a local. TheGreeter program can tailor theirtours to meet the needs of the entirefamily.The Chicago Office of Tourism, adivision of the Chicago Departmentof Cultural Affairs, is the officialcity agency dedicated to promotingChicago to domestic and interna-tional visitors and to providinginnovative visitor programs andresources. For more informationplease visitwww.explorechicago.org or call1.877.CHICAGO.

Top Ten

http://www.colum.edu


Free is certainly everybody’sfavorite word. In a summertravel season when vacation-ers will certainly be looking tospread their money further,the Gettysburg Convention &Visitors Bureau has puttogether a list of free attrac-tions in the destination forvisitors to enjoy.

“Vacations should beenjoyable and not a bur-den on visitors’ finances,”said Norris Flowers,President of theGettysburg CVB. “Our destination isstill rich in free opportunities, which give our visitorsa great, inexpensive experience.”

These attractions focus on both Gettysburg’s richhistory and its other great attractions, including out-door recreation, agriculture and the lighter side ofGettysburg:

• Gettysburg National Military Park - Known bymost as simply “the battlefield,” the GettysburgNational Military Park is the country’s largest historyclassroom. It remains one of the few free national

historic sites in the UnitedStates and draws 2 million visi-tors annually. With 6,000 acresof preserved battle ground, thepark is a place where visitorscome to honor and pay theirrespects to the fallen soldiers,reflect on a nation torn by war orlearn about the most documentedbattle in U.S. history. For moreinformation, visit www.nps.gov/gett.

• Gettysburg Train Station -When President Abraham Lincolnarrived in Gettysburg to deliver whatwould become known as theGettysburg Address, this smallPennsylvania town was in the midst of

a massive cleanup effort after the battle just fourmonths earlier. The train station – Lincoln’s firststop in Gettysburg – explains that story and demon-strates the world the 16th president would haveseen when he stepped off that train on Nov. 18,1863.

Historic Roundbarn It was probably the most ingenious – yet expen-

sive – barn design of its time – the Roundbarn.

Things to Do: Enjoy Gettysburg

Cont. next page...

Free of Charge!


Only a handful of them remain today – including the one outside Gettysburg in the heart ofPennsylvania’s Fruit Belt. Built in 1914, this Roundbarn now houses one of the best Farmer’s Markets inthe region. This rare structure has become one of Adams County, Pa.’s most popular landmarks. For moreinformation, visit www.roundbarngettysburg.com.

Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum is as much of a must-stop attraction as the battlefield

itself. Seeing one of the largest collections of elephant figurines in the world won’t costyou a cent. What started out as a simple wedding gift has turned into a nationallyknown museum with more than 10,000 elephants. For more information, visitwww.mistereds.com.

Soldiers’ National Cemetery Before Arlington, there was Gettysburg. It featured the most recognized dedication the

country has ever seen. President Lincoln was asked to share “a few appropriateremarks,” and of course, those ten sentences – a mere 272 words – would become on ofthe most famous speeches of all time. And it happened here in Gettysburg. The ceme-tery’s gates are now open for the world to enjoy. It’s not only a place to honor soldierskilled in Gettysburg but to appreciate the magnitude of what our 16th president said here.

Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve There are many ways to enjoy Gettysburg’s countryside, but Strawberry Hill Nature Center is a remark-

able experience and one that’ll challenge your body yet relieve you of the stress of your daily life. With 600acres – plus a new adjoining 2,500-acre plot of preserved forest – Strawberry Hill is not just a hike in thewoods. It’s an experience that will put visitors face-to-face with nature. For more information, visitwww.strawberryhill.org.

Self-Guided Tours Explore on your own at your own pace. The Scenic Driving Tour and the Historic

Conewago Valley Tour take you out of town and into the great countryside of AdamsCounty, Pa. Along the way, you’ll find orchards, farmer’s markets, antique malls andplenty of picturesque stops. Our Downtown (Gettysburg) Walking Tour and NewOxford Historic Walking Tour give visitors a chance to stretch their legs, learn a bit ofhistory and an opportunity to explore shops, galleries and diners along the tour.

Camp David Museum Not far from Gettysburg, down U.S. Route 15 in Thurmont, Md., is one of the most unique places around

– The Cozy. It’s a restaurant, it’s an inn, but it also houses a museum you won’t find anywhere else, andit’s dedicated to the famous presidential retreat just a couple miles away. Inside, you’ll learn about thehandful of presidents and international dignitaries who’ve stayed at Camp David, and you’ll see that theCozy itself has played an important role in the vacation spot. For more information, visitwww.cozyvillage.com.

Willow Pond Farm This 1760s vintage stone farmhouse is best known as the centerpiece of

the Pennsylvania Lavender Festival, but outside those three days in June,Willow Pond Farm is a great place to enjoy a warm spring or summer morn-ing, strolling through gardens of herbs. Varieties include culinary herbs, edi-ble flowers, mint, scented geraniums, medicinal herbs and, of course,lavender. For more information, visit www.willowpondherbs.com.

“This list of free attractions showcases Gettysburg’s unique diversity,” said Flowers. “Certainly, we arerich in Civil War history, but Gettysburg and its countryside provide our millions of visitors with a well-rounded vacation experience.”

For more information on Gettysburg’s free attractions or other events and activities in Gettysburg, visitwww.gettysburg.travel or call (800) 337-5015.

http://www.bikeandroll.com


Colorado is a four-season desti-nation offering unparalleled adven-ture and recreational pursuits, athriving arts scene, a rich culturalheritage, flavorful cuisine, and

renowned ski resort areas. Thestate's breathtaking scenic land-scape boasts natural hot springs,the headwaters of four majorrivers, many peaceful lakes and

rafting steal the recreational spot-light in spring, when the snowmelts and rivers swell. Coloradoboasts 13 river systems across thestate and dozens of outfitters offer-ing everything from white-waterrafting to kayaking on waters rang-ing in degrees of difficulty fromClass I to Class VI, as rated by theInternational Rapid Rating Scale.

The hands-down favorite is theArkansas River and, at its upper

ColoradoFrom Mountaintop Tees to Bike Trails

and Fishing Tales, Colorado’sRecreational Diversity is Unrivaled.

Placesto Go:

reservoirs, nine national parksand monuments, and 54 moun-tain peaks that top 14,000 feet. River-Ready Kayaking and

http://www.arkanglers.com

Spring, 2010 www.weekenderext.com

end, Salida captures kudos as the white-water raftingand kayaking center of the Rocky Mountains.Experienced rafters and kayakers head to the ArkansasHeadwaters Recreation Area, a 150-mile stretch fromLeadville, through the Sawatch mountain range toPueblo, dotted with sites offering raft and kayakaccess. For first-timers, the Colorado River OutfittersAssociation stands ready to help visitors choose thebest river and river outfitter to meet their needs.

And then there is rock climbing. Not every rockclimber starts off on Black Canyon(www.nps.gov/blca/) in Gunnison National Park.Many cut their climbing teeth on a 45-foot rock climb-ing wall like the one in REI’s flagship store in Denver.Located in the restored 1901 Denver Tramway build-ing, the store is a historic landmark that does doubleduty as a complete outdoor outfitter. In Estes Park, theColorado Mountain School (www.crms.org/) alsooffers a full range of indoor climbing courses for chil-dren, adults and families. Here, aspiring climbers cantest their skills, then head to Lumpy Ridge in RockyMountain National Park for its beginner-friendly com-plex of crags.

Less strenuous hikes are found in theGarden of the Gods Loop near ColoradoSprings, where easy-to-moderate trails affordviews of snow-capped Pikes Peak, andDillon Pinnacles in the Curecanti NationalRecreation Area (www.nps.gov/cure), whichrises over the Blue Mesa Reservoir.

A Sunday afternoon lecture series in Februaryand March brings some of the best speakers inColorado to the Garden of the Gods Visitor &Nature Center. From the history of chocolate tolive birds of prey, this series has something foreveryone. The lectures start at 2 p.m. and last anhour. Donations for the Park are accepted. Earth Day at the Garden of the Gods Visitor &Nature Center will be celebrated in April this year.The festivities begin at 9:00 a.m. and continueuntil 3:00 p.m. Earth Day activities and programsare free and open to the public. Some of the activ-

ities to enjoy include Native American DancerPerformances, live birds of prey from Pueblo's GreenwayNature Center, children's craft activities, nature walks andfree admission to Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Call219-0108 for information. To volunteer for park clean up,call 385-5947. For more information on times and dates,visit www.gardenofgods. com.

For more information or a copy ofthe Colorado Official State VacationGuide, call 1-800-COLORADO orvisit www.COLORADO.com

SSuubbmmiitttteedd BByy JJeennnniiffeerr BBaarrttlleetttt

Colorado is home to a dis-tinguished collection ofworld-class museums and

cultural institutions that showcase thestate’s rich history and heritage. Artmuseums, film festivals, symphonyorchestras and operas fuel a flourish-ing arts and culture scene that rewardsvisitors with international-caliber per-formances, exhibits and educationalopportunities.

A headline-grabbing addition toDenver Art Museum www.denverart-museum.org which Time magazinedubbed “the most captivating newbuilding to appear in the U.S. in awhile,” has propelled the renownedmuseum onto the world’s art stage.Designed by celebrated architectDaniel Liebskind, the new 146,000-square-foot wingis a jagged tita-n i u m - c l a ds h o w p l a c efor themuseum’s

impressive collections of Western andAmerican Indian art. The museumalso features the only Asian art collec-tion in the Rocky Mountain regionand dozens of other collections andexhibits.

Art fans will also appreciate theAspen Art Museum where world-class exhibits of contemporary artmake it a must-see. Housed in an his-toric brick building on the scenic RioGrande Trail, the museum offers stim-ulating year-round programming thatincludes educational workshops,gallery tours by prominent artists andart talks.

In Colorado Springs, the Fine ArtsCenter features works by renownedartists such as Georgia O’Keefe, JohnSinger Sargent and John JamesAudubon. Its brand-new FAC Modern isentirely devoted tocontemporary arts.

Colorado’s Living History A visit to the Colorado Chautauqua

House (www.chautauqua.com ) is ajourney into the state’s living history.Located at the foot of the Flatirons inBoulder the historic landmark recallsthe turn-of-the-century movement tofurther educate and enlighten work-ing-class citizens by creating gather-ing places dedicated to learning.Known as Chautauquas, the publicspaces offered a place for travelinglecturers, politicians, writers andentertainers to deliver their messageto large crowds. In continuous opera-tion since July 4, 1898, the ColoradoChautauqua is one of only threeremaining Chautauquas in the coun-try. Today, it is home to concerts, cul-tural events, educational programs,recreation and historic preservation.

Thingsto Do:

Denver Art Museum

From Small Town Art Festivals to Big-CitySymphonies, Diversity Energizes Colorado’sThriving Arts and Culture Scene.

Colorado Culture


Focusing on Film Colorado is fertile ground for film-

makers and movie buffs. The state ishome to several influential film festi-vals, including the Telluride FilmFestival (www.telluridefilmfesti-val.com), a Labor Day weekend eventthat allows visitors to mingle withHollywood’s bold- faced names.Other top-notch festivals include theBreckenridge Festival of Film whereclassic films such as American Beautyand The Shawshank Redemptionmade their premiere, as well as theDurango Film Festival and Vail FilmFestival.

Music in the Mountains The Central City Opera House is the

fifth oldest opera company in the U.S.and an icon of Colorado’s miningdays. More than 40 performances arescheduled throughout the year.

Summer sets off a series of musicand dance festivals, including theacclaimed Aspen Music Festival andSchool which affords visitors a

chance to experience one of the coun-try’s leading summer music programs– a showcase for more than 350 variedperformances ranging from symphon-ic and chamber music to opera andchoral. Likewise, Breckenridge andVail host highly regarded summermusic festivals and, in Telluride, theTelluride Bluegrass Festival in June isconsidered one of the country’s best. In Denver, the Colorado SymphonyOrchestra and Opera Denver areworld-class institutions where visitorscan experience are range of dynamicconcerts and operas.

Repertory in the Rockies Visitors with an appreciation for the-

ater will be engaged by Colorado’sthriving theatrical scene. In summerand early fall, the Creede RepertoryTheatre (www.creederep.org presentsa rigorous, rotating schedule of per-formances in repertory. Denverboasts the region's largest resident,professional theatre company. A partof the Denver Center for thePerforming Arts (www.denver-center.org) the Denver Center TheatreCompany performs nearly a dozenplays in repertory from fall throughearly summer. Its newest artisticendeavor, the Colorado New PlaySummit, is committed to encouraginggreat new American writing for thestage.


ABOUT COLORADO Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleledadventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, arich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and renowned skiresort areas. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boastsnatural hot springs, the headwaters of four major rivers, manypeaceful lakes and reservoirs, nine national parks and monu-ments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For moreinformation or a copy of the Colorado Official State VacationGuide, call 1-800-COLORADO or visit www.COL-ORADO.com.

www.weekenderextended.com Spring, 2010

The Sunny Side Trail, a mapped drivingroute covering 12 East Tennessee coun-ties and including nearly 300 points ofinterest will soon be open for traveling.

Sunny Side Trail is the second of 16 regional trailslaunching over the next several months as part of astatewide tourist development initiative, “DiscoverTennessee Trails and Byways.” The effort is the resultof multiple agencies working together to showcaselocal gems such as wineries, historic main streets,quaint restaurants, and scenic spots for outdoor adven-ture.

The Tennessee Departments of TouristDevelopment and Transportation worked in partner-ship with Northeast Tennessee Tourism Associationand tourism organizations in Carter, Cocke, Greene,Hamblen, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson,Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington counties to

develop and launch Sunny Side Trail. “The trails initiative is one of the most comprehen-

sive marketing and branding initiatives ever to belaunched from the state’s tourism department,” saidWhitaker. “Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways is anopportunity to showcase tourism’s major sites as wellas our state’s exceptional off-the-beaten-path attrac-tions which are some of Tennessee’s greatest assets.”

The trail’s name was inspired by the Carter Family,one of the most famous performers from the BristolSessions. Their theme song on radio was the Christianhymn, “Keep on the Sunny Side. Sunny Pickens, arambling musician character created to promote thetrail via social media will provide an insider’s guide tothe best of the Sunny Side Trail at www.sunnyside-trail.com.

For more information on the state trails initiative, goto www.tntrailsandbyways.com.

Things to Do...Discover the trails

Spring, 2010 www.weekenderextended.com

African Black FootedPenguins have arrived atRipley’s Aquarium of theSmokies!

GATLINBURG – Ripley’s Aquarium of theSmokies has opened “Ripley’s PenguinPlayhouse,” a new indoor/outdoor multi-million dollarhabitat featuring a colony of African Black FootedPenguins.

The 4,000-square-foot exhibit features a habitat thatclosely models the home of African Black FootedPenguins, also known as Jackass Penguins for the distinc-tive braying sounds they make. Naturalistic rockwork andplantings surrounded by more than 30,000 gallons oftemperature-controlled saltwater depict the coastal islandrookeries along the coast of South Africa.

“Our penguin habitat is a wonderful family experiencethat showcases these beautiful birds and adds a newdimension and added value to our guest’s aquariumvisit,” said Ryan DeSear, general manager of Ripley’sAquarium of the Smokies. “Each penguin has its own lit-tle personality and charisma. The habitat is an entertain-ing and playful environment for both the humans and thepenguins. I’m not sure which speciesis having more fun.”

Aquarium guests can view thepenguins, with names such as FastEddie, Little Joe, Fearless Frank andStormin’ Norman, by crawlingthrough clear underwater acrylic tun-nels and popping up on the pen-guin’s private beach to view thebirds nose to beak.

The highly interactive habitat hastwo wave machines and multiple spajets that will create continual watermovements, which in turn will createan inviting watery playground forthe birds.

The penguins have all been bred at

other zoos and aquariums and are a part of the SpeciesSurvival Plan of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.When these young birds reach breeding age, they too willcontribute to the survival of this species in the wild.

The exhibit is the largest and costliest expansion everat the aquarium, now celebrating its 10th year in thefoothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. More than 14million visitors have visited the aquarium since its open-ing in December 2000.

Things To Do:

Play with the Penguins

For more information, please visit online at: www.ripleys-aquariumofthesmokies.com.


LEXINGTON, KY - MichaelJohnathon, famous folk singer,author, and “tree hugger” is the cre-ator and producer of the weekly syn-dicated WoodSongs Old-Time RadioHour which allows a live audienceand features grassroots acousticartists.

The name of the show comes froma song Michael wrote for a friend asa tribute to every artist, author, songwriter, and poet who dares to pursuehis dream. It started in 1999 in asmall recording studio in Lexington,KY with only 12 people in the audi-ence. Today WoodSong’s fills thehistoric Kentucky Theater, airs on470 radio stations, and now brags aworldwide audience of over one mil-lion listeners each week.

Expect to see artists, such as theson of WillieNelson,newcomersHomemadeJamz BluesBand, orlegendaryartists likeRichieHavens orOdetta. Enjoy talent from the beauti-ful world of folk, bluegrass, song-writers and poets from theAppalachian Mountains and further.

You don’t have to befamous, you just have tobe good!”, says Michael.

At the age of 19,Jonathon worked as a DJin Texas. While listeningto the 60’s folk song‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ by theByrds, he decided to pur-sue a career as afolksinger. Two monthslater, he bought a guitar,a banjo, and moved toKentucky. He spent thenext three years learningthe music of the moun-tain people. He began performing atcolleges, then Earth concerts andbenefits for homeless or sheltershelping battered women and children.

Billboard Magazine headlined himas an“UnSungHero” aftersinging tomore than twomillion peoplein a four-yearstretch.

TheWoodSongs

Old-Time Radio Hour has become aglobal success in large part becauseof the support and participation of aloyal audience and a volunteer crew,

says Michael Johnathon. “They areworking from their heart, not theirwallet.”

The television version of the showis available to all PBS TV stationsnationwide. Tickets to view theweekly Monday night taping of thelive show are available online atwww.woodsongs.com.

Come for an extended weekendand stay at the historical Platz ParkInn conveniently located a fewblocks from the Kentucky Theatre.Be sure to visit with Chef Jonathonfor a superb authentic Kentucky din-ner. Jonathon’s is located within the-hotel - a perfect combination. Forreservations, visit www.gratz-parkinn.com

People To See: Michael JonathonMichael Jonathon

“ Take the inventiveness of Bob Dylan, the melodic voice of John Denver, addthe showmanship of Garrison Keillerand that’s Michael Johnathon.”

Bob Spear - Publisher, HEARTLAND REVIEW

Spring, 2010 www.WeekenderExtended.com Page 18

Places To Go:

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The Weekender c/o BarnettPRO71 Plymouth StreetPlymouth OH 44865

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