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Mardi Gras World – How The Floats Are Made, Day 144

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 30, 2020
Categories In Louisiana, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Mardi Gras World – How The Floats Are Made, Day 144

We are getting closer and closer to Mardi Gras, and that means that float making season is in full force at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans!

But before we go into how the floats are actually made let’s step back and look at what happens before that famous Mardi Gras celebration.

Many of you might not know that there is a Carnival Season in New Orleans. From January 6 to Fat Tuesday, there are many parades and celebrations that occur in and around the city.

jester props — The float is returned to Mardi Gras World after the parades and the props may turn into a new character in the year’s to come.

And the two weeks before Ash Wednesday, you can almost guarantee that there is a parade, or two, that will pass down St. Charles and Canal Streets.

In fact, this year, there will be a total of 54 parades in New Orleans that are scheduled to happen within that short, 7-week period.

Mardi Gras Parades

Every parade has a separate Krewe that is in charge of putting on and funding the parade. Therefore, in order to pay for the cost of the parade, each Krewe charges a membership fee to each individual who wants to be associated with that specific parade.

This membership fee will help fund not only the building of the floats, but also the costumes and any items that they want to throw out of the float as it goes down the street.

Some of the Krewes build low-cost floats themselves. But the larger, more extravagant parades that you most often hear about, hire professionals to build floats that they rent for use in the parade.

And this year, Mardi Gras World is responsible for providing all the floats for 18 of those parades.

However, this process may take longer than you can imagine. So in order to find out more about this famous celebration, we took a trip to Mardi Gras World.

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World is in a large warehouse where the floats are designed and built. In the front of the building is a gift shop where you can buy a ticket to get a behind the scenes tour of the work that is being done to build the floats.

Although it was impressive to see the finished products of many of the props from previous year’s floats, it is the actually building process that was simply amazing.

pixie router — Although many of the props are cut out by hand, an automatic router cuts out smaller designs independently.

The process to design a float begins the day after Mardi Gras. The team gets together to decide on a theme for next year’s parade.

And immediately, the designers get to work. Rough sketches are made and presented and once approved the building of the float is quickly begun.

Building Process

The first step is to build the structures that will be mounted on the float itself. Superheroes, fictional characters, animals, famous athletes, and whatever else you can imagine is built here.

Here you can see a worker applying layers of paper mache to the ‘curls’ of a woman prop.

Today, most of the props you see are made out of layer of styrofoam that has been glued together.

It is then cut out either by hand or by a mechanical router, nicknamed Pixie.

Next carvers start carving out the designs to make them 3-D by using electric carving knives, curry combs, and blades.

Paper Mache

Once the shape is formed, it then gets moved to the paper mache working stations.

painted props at mardi gras world — The props are painted by hand or air brushed in order to bring them to life.

That’s right. They use the old technique of paper mache to smooth out the rough edges of the styrofoam so that the finished product is nice and smooth.

The Final Station

Once the paper mache application is finished, the Mardi Gras World staff transfers the prop to the painting stations.

Here is where talented artists, painters, and air brush specialists bring the prop to life. Then, the final step is to mount them to the float itself.

It is truly amazing how this process is coordinated. And because it is getting so close to the busy parade schedule, we were able to see floats that were nearly complete.

So if you are ever in New Orleans, we encourage you to take the tour at Mardi Gras World. And as a bonus, they will even come pick you up on their FREE shuttle!

Check out what else we have seen and done on our Trip Across America.

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 144 of 365
States : 18/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Livingston, Louisiana
Miles Driven : 110.3
Total Trip Miles To Date : 16,127.2
Total Gallons Used : 1,168.63
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 3.2
Hiking Miles To Date : 327.1

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

You can follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

Visiting The Hauntingly Beautiful Cemeteries Of New Orleans – Day 143

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 29, 2020
Categories In Louisiana, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Visiting The Hauntingly Beautiful Cemeteries Of New Orleans – Day 143

With so many stunning districts, historic buildings, and 3000+ restaurants to try out, you might wonder why we spent an entire morning taking in the cemeteries of New Orleans.

But to be sure, the sprawling graveyards of New Orleans are actually a must-see sight to behold. Their historic and artistic beauty are not only unique, but admittedly, a bit haunting to stroll through.

the cemeteries of New Orleans — Although we couldn’t go inside of Lafayette because of ongoing maintenance, just walking the perimeter and peering in through each gate was a sight to behold.

The cemeteries are a huge part of the city of New Orleans, and tell their own unique story of this city’s past.

It was certainly a morning well spent learning their fascinating history and taking in a few of the monumental structures that dot the city’s landscape.

The Above Ground Cemeteries of New Orleans

When you create a city below sea level, it certainly raises quite the issue when it comes to burying the dead. And for New Orleans, it meant coming up with an elaborate cemetery system of above ground vaults.

The Lafayette Cemetery, one of the oldest of all cemeteries in New Orleans.

The history of some of these amazing eternal resting sites dates all the way back to the first french settlement of Lafayette – the original name of what is now called New Orleans.

Created in 1833, the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is one of the oldest of all. With over 7000 buried and 1,100 tombs , it is also one of the more famous.

It is located in the Garden District of New Orleans, which is filled with some of the most elaborate and historic homes in the city.

The Lafayette cemetery is located in the Garden District, right along with some of the oldest and most beautiful homes in the city.

It was surreal to walk to the gates and look in at the tombs and vaults.

Unfortunately, do to a bit of ongoing maintenance, the cemetery was closed to walk-through visitors. But peering through each of the iron gates that closed off the four walled sides was more than enough to take in the haunting beauty of the site.

Peering in through the gates of Lafayette, you could see the historic above ground vaults – some of which date to the 1830’s!

Within it’s vaults are some of the first inhabitants of the area. German, French and even early Irish settlers are buried here. And the cemetery is still active and governed by the city today!

The Rich History of the New Orleans Cemeteries

As we drove around to take in a few more of New Orleans cemeteries (St. Louis and St. Roch), it was incredible to see the elaborate vaults and almost little-city feel walking the tiny “streets” within the walls.

Of course legends and stories abound about the cemeteries and their haunted past. And the famous music-led funeral processions that take place at many burials.

As we walked and strolled through, it is fair to say there is certainly an eerie beauty to it all.

The cemeteries almost have a small-city feel with the streets that lead to each row of vaults.

One of which I can both say we were happy to be touring in broad daylight, and not on a moon-lit night! But one thing is for sure, the cemeteries of New Orleans really are hauntingly beautiful!

So far, it has been a great week all throughout Louisiana, but there is still much to see and do! Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 143 of 365
States : 18/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : New Orleans, Louisiana
Miles Driven : 90.1
Total Trip Miles To Date : 16,016.9
Total Gallons Used : 1,160.64
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 7.3
Hiking Miles To Date : 323.9

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Jackson Square, The Center of The French Quarter, Day 142

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 28, 2020
Categories In Louisiana, The Days Of The Trip
2 Comments on Jackson Square, The Center of The French Quarter, Day 142

Today we headed to one of New Orleans’ most recognizable landmarks, Jackson Square.

This National Historic Landmark is nestled in the center of the French Quarter.

Early French colonial New Orleans was centered on what was then called the Place d’Armes (“weapons’ square”). Under Spanish colonial administration in the late 18th century, the name was Plaza D Armas.

Then, in 1803, this is the place where Louisiana was made a United States territory pursuant to the Louisiana Purchase.

However, this area remained an active military plaza. Following the 1815 Battle of New Orleans it was renamed Jackson Square, for the battle’s victorious General Jackson.

And in the center of the square there is a bronze statue of Andrew Jackson mounted on his horse that has been standing since 1856.

But that isn’t all that is interesting about the Jackson Square. On the north side of the square are three 18th-century historic buildings.

Jackson Square’s Buildings

The center of the three is St. Louis Cathedral. The cathedral was designated as a minor Basilica by Pope Paul VI. In fact, it is the oldest, active cathedral in the United States.

To its left is the Cabildo, which once was the city hall. In fact, it was where the final version of the Louisiana Purchase was signed and it is now a museum.

On the cathedral’s right is the Presbytère, built to match the Cabildo. Although it was initially planned for housing the city’s Roman Catholic priests and other church officials, that didn’t last forever.

inside st. louis cathedral — A peek inside Saint Louis Cathedral – the oldest Cathedral in the United States.

The first transition was to make the building a courthouse at the start of the 19th century, and then, in the 20th century, it became a museum.

On the other two sides of the square are the Pontalba Buildings. They are matching red-brick, block-long, 4 story buildings built in the 1840s.

The ground floors house shops and restaurants. However, the upper floors are apartments and are the oldest continuously rented apartments in North America.

Artist and Other Talents

art on Jackson Square — Artists display there work among the sidewalk and along the iron fence around Jackson Square.

However if you look all around, you will find something even more unique about Jackson Square. It is also the location of an open-air artist colony.

This is where artists display their work on the outside of the iron fence. You can purchase many of the items or have one custom made for you.

But you can also find several other individuals that sell their talent. From tarot card and palm readers, to musicians and magicians, you can find it all here.

And the next time you are watching a movie or a crime scene show, you might just catch a glimpse Jackson Square in the background. It has served as a backdrop in a number of popular feature films and television shows.

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 142 of 365
States : 18/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Livingston, Louisiana
Miles Driven : 130.7
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,926.9
Total Gallons Used : 1,154.12
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 3.6
Hiking Miles To Date : 316.6

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

Hello Louisiana – Incredible People, And Cajun & Creole Food Too! Day 141

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 27, 2020
Categories In Louisiana, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Hello Louisiana – Incredible People, And Cajun & Creole Food Too! Day 141

Make no bones about it, we have been looking forward to Louisiana and some incredible Cajun & Creole food for a long time. 141 days to be exact!

And as we drove down from the Arkansas state line, it sure didn’t take us long to find it. Right along with some serious Louisiana hospitality at our very first stop, Soileau’s Dinner Club in Opelousas, Louisiana.

A Love Of Cajun & Creole Food

Both of us have always loved any and all dishes related to Cajun or Creole food. There is a difference for sure, but we have always embraced both with open arms. Or should that be open mouths? 🙂

Cajun And Creole Food — What a find Soileau’s was! Our first taste of Cajun and Creole in the state didn’t disappoint!

You name it, we love it. Gumbo, Jambalaya, Crawfish and Shrimp étouffée, Po Boy sandwiches. And the list of course can go on and on, with all being simply divine.

Our hope this week was to try local spots throughout the state to get a sampling of it all. And luckily for us, as we drove down from Shreveport on our way to Baton Rouge, it began quickly on our overnight stay in the city of Opelousas.

Soileau’s Dinner Club in Opelousas, Louisiana

As we arrived in Opelousas a bit late in the day from Shreveport, we were both more than ready for a bite to eat.

sea food gumbo — Nothing like a little seafood gumbo to start off our Louisiana week!

We were only in town for the night at a local campground, so there wasn’t a lot of time to ask around. But Google came to the rescue.

You know if a restaurant has been around for 80 years, there is a good reason why. And when Mary came across Soileau’s Dinner Club, the reviews were outstanding.

The grilled catfish was the perfect companion to a little gumbo. I don’t think our week here will be long enough for either of us!

And what a find it was! Mary had seafood gumbo, and I started off my week of Louisiana eats with grilled seasoned catfish. Both were out of this world!

But as incredible as it was, there is something else amazing we have both noticed about our first 36 hours into Louisiana – the people!

The Welcoming State of Louisiana

From out stay in Shreveport, to our drive through the state thus far, everyone has been simply gracious and welcoming. I don’t think we have ever had more honks and waves on the road than we have in the last few days.

And every place we have stopped, it has been exactly the same way. Our waitress at Soileau’s was so nice, and talked to us about our trip at length. And as we left, we were greeted by the manager Chris at the door, who not only wished us well on our travels, but gave us a jar of their famous Cajun seasoning to take along with us!

seasoning spice from Soileau's — A little Cajun seasoning will come in handy for cooking in the camper!

It has been the same at the campgrounds we have stated at as well. Just tonight, we came back to a note of encouragement and a bottle of wine sitting outside our camper door.

And along with it all, some great emails of support too. As we drove through Shreveport, we received an email from Elaine.

She just happened to see us and our camper driving by, and reached out with a wonderful message of support. She let us know that she too had gone on out on the road RV’ing for 5 straight years and loved it all.

We simply never tire of hearing all of the great stories, meeting so many great people, and seeing so many wonderful places. And of course, enjoying some great Cajun & Creole food along the way!

Here is to continuing our trek through Louisiana in Baton Rouge and New Orleans for the next few days!

Happy Traveling – Jim & Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 141 of 365
States : 18/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Shreveport, Louisiana
Miles Driven : 207.1
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,796.2
Total Gallons Used : 1,144.65
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 2.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 313.0

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Explaining Our Daily Routine In The Camper, Day 140

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 26, 2020
Categories In Louisiana, The Days Of The Trip, Tips
7 Comments on Explaining Our Daily Routine In The Camper, Day 140

We have received several comments, emails and even Facebook messages asking if we could go in more detail about daily routine in the camper.

When we set out on our one year quest to see all 50 states in exactly one year, we really didn’t know what to expect.

Although I camped in a tent a few times as a kid, I never had even been in a camper for an overnight stay.

And Jim had never camped before we had the T@B 400 trailer.

2019 uCamp Rally guests – all owners of a T@B/T@G camper. The best resource available to help new campers!

So we took it out a total of 3 times before our one year journey began on September 9, 2019.

We learned a lot during those short trial run trips. And the staff and attendees at the uCamp rally last June were extremely helpful!

However, nothing can really prepare you for daily life in the camper until you actually get on the road.

camping in the rain — We even learned how to camp in some pretty hard rainstorms!

Daily Routine In The Camper

So what is it like living on the road as you travel from state to state? For every person it is going to be a different and unique experience.

But we have found our own routine that works for us. And over the next several weeks, we will explain how we manage daily tasks and routines in the camper.

The Morning Routine

As most of you know, we have a total of 4 websites that we maintain and write new articles for every week.

daily routine — The first and most important task of the day is when Jim makes coffee!

Therefore, on most days, we require a little time to write on our computers. And most of the writing is completed first thing in the morning.

Since we are in a bed where only one side is exposed to the hallway Jim, who sleeps on the outside, gets up first.

He then begins to make and pour our coffee. As he is doing that I make our bed.

Now this is a little workout in itself, since the bed is tucked into the curvature of the camper. However, it is important to me that we make the bed everyday.

Not only have I accomplished a task within the first few minutes of getting up, it also makes me feel neat and organized. And in a small, 18 foot camper, that is important. Plus, we often have unexpected guests ask to see inside the camper and we want it to look good when we show them.

After that we sit at the dinette table with our computers and coffee. We do our daily check and scheduling for our websites. This takes about 30-60 minutes and gives us a chance to enjoy a cup or two of coffee.

daily routine working at table — As we sip on our coffee, we do a little writing and scheduling for our websites.

Making Breakfast

The next part of our daily routine is to make breakfast. But we don’t do this task together.

Because we eat two entirely different things for breakfast, we have found it easier to make our own. And due to space constraints while using a two burner stove, we do it at separate times.

two burner stove — Our camper stove – the perfect size for one person to cook on!

As soon as the first person finishes up at the stove, the other one takes over.

Now what comes after breakfast? Dishes! Over the past 100+ days with life in the camper, we have figured out the perfect system.

One person will stand at the sink to wash dishes. Once they are rinsed, they are placed on a towel at the dinette table. Then the other person dries the dishes as they sit, and more importantly, stay out of the way.

And yes, we alternate this duty equally.

Jim’s breakfast of eggs, toast, fruit and jalapeno peppers.

Getting Ready For The Day

Next it is time to get ready and head out for the day. But before we do that, we have to get ourselves presentable.

Depending on what we have planned for the day, or where we stayed overnight, we have a couple of options.

If we stayed at a Harvest Host or are boondocking off grid, we take a shower in our T@B 400.

However if we are at a campground with a nice shower, we take advantage of the large and spacious area. Plus, if it has a heavy stream with hot water, I may stay in the shower for longer than I should!

After showering, I typically dry my hair back in the camper. However, the only mirror in the camper is the one that is mounted inside the bathroom door.

campground shower — Some campgrounds have extremely nice and clean showers with great water pressure.

If I try to dry my hair in the bathroom with the door closed, it gets too hot. So I stand in the hallway with the door open to dry my hair.

If Jim needs to pass by and get to the closet, I step in the bathroom and close the door until he gets through.

Since he gets ready much quicker than I do he will continue to work on other daily tasks that need to be done. This may include taking out the trash, refilling our water bottles for drinking, and even make coffee for the next morning.

Bathroom Space Dilemma

After my hair is dry, it is time to use a curling iron or straightener. Although I plug it into the bathroom outlet, there is only one issue. There is no safe place to set it as it heats up.

daily routine doing hair — I hang my straightener around the shower faucets and let it hang while it heats up to prevent from melting anything in the bathroom.

So instead, I wrap the cord around the shower faucets and let it hang as it heats. The process has worked really well so far!

Once I finally am finished with my hair, it is time to grab the toothbrushes.

If we have taken a shower in the camper we will use the foldable sink in the bathroom. However, if we have used the campground shower, we brush our teeth in the kitchen sink.

You see, the foldable sink works great. However, if there is any water left in bowl, once you fold it up, the water falls down to the shower floor.

So if the floor is nice and dry, we want to keep it that way so our socks don’t get wet when we walk in to go to the bathroom.

Now that our morning daily routine is complete, it is time to head out to see what the town has to offer!

Happy Traveling! Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 140 of 365
States : 18/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Shreveport, Louisiana
Miles Driven : 96.4
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,589.1
Total Gallons Used : 1,121.5
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 3.6
Hiking Miles To Date : 310.5

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Follow along by signing up for our twice weekly email updates at the bottom of the page. You can also follow us on Facebook : Live Simple Tour Facebook and Instagram : Live Simple Now Instagram Page.

A Visit To Craziest Post Office & Courthouse In The United States! Day 139

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 25, 2020
Categories In Arkansas, The Days Of The Trip
5 Comments on A Visit To Craziest Post Office & Courthouse In The United States! Day 139

Imagine a post office and courthouse building so crazy that it actually has two separate zip codes. Even more, that sits in two different states!

But that is exactly the case at the Texarkana U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse in Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana, Arkansas.

The Texarkana Post Office / Courthouse — The concrete sidewalk outside of the courthouse displays the state line right down the middle. It is the only courthouse in the U.S. that is located in two states.

The building is actually built right in the middle of the state line between Texas and Arkansas. And it has been there since 1932 to serve the residents of Texarkana’s two cities.

The cities of Texarkana are certainly unique. Although divided by the state line of Arkansas and Texas, they are one community, but two separate cities.

The Same, But Different

They each have their own city governments, fire departments and city positions – but there is no mistaking the people here think of it as one big community.

The waterfall on one side of the Post Office and Courthouse that details the state line. If you look at the grates below, you can see the state names on each side.

The two states are split down the middle on State Line Road. And yes, you guessed it, the double yellow line in the middle of the road is the real state line!

The Craziness Of The Texarkana Post Office & Courthouse

At the end of State Line road sits the Texarkana Post Office and Federal Courthouse. And is it ever a sight to behold!

Outside, on each side of the building, there are unique markers to showcase the split. One one end, a state sign with the state cut-outs for the split. And on the other, a fountain that streams down the exact point of the state line as well.

the crazy post office in Texarkana — The coordinates for the state line of Arkansas & Texas outside the Post Office building in Texarkana.

It even continues inside the building too. The Federal judge’s chair behind the bench is actually bolted to the floor. Why? So he or she can sit with one foot placed equally in each state!

It is actually the 2nd most photographed U.S. courthouse, ranking behind only the U.S. Supreme Courthouse in Washington D.C.

Of course, we had to take advantage of the photo opportunity!

state line sign at the courthouse in Texarkana — The only time we have been in two separate states during the trip!

We joked that it is the first time on the trip we’ve been in different zip codes at the same time. And of course, different counties and states as well!

Our trip to the Texarkana Post Office & Courthouse certainly made for one of the more memorable and crazy visits we have had so far. Tomorrow its on to our 18th state, Louisiana!

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 139 of 365
States : 17/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Texarkana, Arkansas
Miles Driven : 34.9
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,492.7
Total Gallons Used : 1114.6
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 0.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 306.9

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

The Ace of Clubs House in Texarkana, Day 138

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 24, 2020
Categories In Arkansas, The Days Of The Trip, Uncategorized
4 Comments on The Ace of Clubs House in Texarkana, Day 138

Today’s adventures took us through both Arkansas and Texas to explore the historic Ace of Clubs House in downtown of Texarkana.

As we drove down the street, we immediately noticed the house.

Although it sits back from the road behind a brick wall, you could see the house is distinctively shaped like a club, from a deck of playing cards.

In fact, it is built with three octagon-shaped wings with the fourth rectangular wing that represents the stem of a club.

This Italianate Victorian style home was built in 1885 by a local dry goods businessman and lumberman, James Draughon. Although it looks very extravagant, it is said to have cost somewhere between $10,000 – $15,000 to build.

texarkana art — Texarakana is filled with many historic homes and buildings that are being restored.

According to local lore, he built his house in the shape of a club in honor of winning a large bet in poker with the Ace of Clubs.

In fact, those winnings helped launch his entrepreneur path to financial success.

However, Draughon didn’t live there long. In fact, after two years of ownership, he sold the house to William Whitaker.

ace of clubs brick wall — To enter the home, you have to find the iron gate at the north entrance of the house.

Whitaker was also a local lumberman and a railroad investor. This family enjoyed the home for seven years before deciding to sell it as well.

The Ace of Clubs House Final Owners

Therefore the house changed hands in 1894, when it was purchased by a prominent attorney and his wife, Henry and Katharine Moore.

However this time the house remained in The Moore Family for 91 years.

Three generations of their family lived there from 1894 to 1985. The last owner was Olivia Smith Moore, who willed the house to the Texarkana Museums System. It was her wish to have the house operated as a museum.

The deed of the Ace of Clubs house was transferred over to the Texarkana Museums System in 1985. The house was refurbished in 1987 and has been open to the general public for tours since 1988.

This photo is courtesy of ***The Texarkana Encyclopedia of Arkansas*** and shows the front entrance and spiral stair well.

Each room was restored to represent a different time period in the history of the house, spanning from 1880 to 1940. The collections include original family furnishings, personal belongings, and historical materials.

Not only is this house open to the public for tours. It also the location of many weddings, parties and receptions.

The dining room still looks like it did when the Moore’s lived there. Photo courtesy of ***inspirock.com***

And The Ace of Clubs House has even been featured on the HGTV television program Christmas Castles.

It is amazing what you can find in just about any town across America!

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 138 of 365
States : 17/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Texarkana, Arkansas
Miles Driven : 30.8
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,457.8
Total Gallons Used : 1,112.07
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 0.5
Hiking Miles To Date : 306.9

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

Our 3 Favorite Diner & Dive Meals On The Road So Far – Eating Local! Day 137

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 23, 2020
Categories In Arkansas, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Our 3 Favorite Diner & Dive Meals On The Road So Far – Eating Local! Day 137

We get the question often: What has been your favorite meal or favorite place to eat at so far on the trip?

Let’s face it, one of the best things about traveling to all 50 states is having the opportunity to try local food and flavors everywhere. And we have certainly enjoyed that portion of the trip for sure!

tom's ice cream bowl — Although not on our list today, we have our own incredible Diner & Dive right in our backyard in Ohio, Toms Ice Cream Bowl. We love trying new places and eating local wherever we go.

So for today’s daily update, we thought we would share our three favorites along the route so far! One each for our favorite breakfast, lunch & dinner.

It was tough narrowing them down, but here we go!

Favorite Meals, Breakfast: Palace Hotel Cafe – Webo, Montana

Breakfast may be the hardest one to pick of all, because we have had the good fortune to take in some amazing little breakfast joints and coffee shops. In fact, as we talked about which was our favorite, we started to realize just how many we have tried!

wibaux palace cafe - 3 favorite meals — The Wibaux Palace Cafe – an amazing find in the small town of Wibaux, MT.

This little cafe nestled in the tiny town of Wibaux, Montana is simply awesome! From the amazing service, the locals friendliness, and the over-the-top down home breakfast, it was a sensational morning event.

It is what small town diners should be all about. The made from scratch portions were more than generous, and it was a treat to meet such a wonderful owner. (Breakfast At Wibaux)

Adding to this favorite meals selection, she told us to make sure to visit her brother’s Kolache shop when we went through Texas. We did exactly that, and loved it as well!

And speaking of those Kolaches – way too good, and way to dangerous for the diet!

Favorite Meals, Lunch: D’Jangos Rough Bar & Grill – Fort Bragg, California

Don’t let the name fool you, there is nothing rough at all about this incredible seaside diner in Fort Brag, California.

But our lunch of fresh caught, prepared and lightly fried fish, house made chips and coleslaw was out of this world. And I mean the best of the best as one of our favorite meals!

The best fish and chips dinner ever! D’Jangos Rough Bar & Grill

This pick is almost unfair due to the ambiance of eating outdoors while overlooking the waters that lead to the Pacific.

But when you add in the generous portions, a great staff and the best fish and chips we have ever tasted – it is a winner, winner fish dinner!

Favorite Meals, Dinner – Salt Lick Barbecue – Driftwood, Texas

Always, always, always ask locals where to eat! It is the best advice we can ever give to someone looking for a good spot to eat when traveling. And it never seems to fail!

Especially when it came to us finding Salt Lick Barbecue in Driftwood, Texas.

texas barbecue pit — Inside Salt Lick you can see the hustle and bustle behind the art and science of smoking the meat over a wood fire pit.

When you ask about barbecue in Texas, you will get a thousand suggestions. Maybe 10,000! But one name kept coming up for a place that had the best barbecue and atmosphere – Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood.

Between the atmosphere, the scattered pits in the various buildings, live music, and a winery with an outdoor garden area attached, it is already a home run before you ever sit down to eat.

our texas barbecue dinner - one of our favorite meals — Brisket, pork ribs, chicken and more! An authentic Texas barbecue dinner!

But the BBQ – there is no doubt it had to be on our favorite meals list today! We have had some outstanding brisket, smoked chicken and ribs along the way – but this took the cake! See : Eating At Saltlick BBQ

More To Come…

With 200+ days still left to go, we may have to update this along the way as needed. I mean, we certainly have to be willing to not give up and keep trying! 🙂

But one thing is for sure, there are some incredible eats to be found all over this country. And wonderful people to meet there as well. Here is to finding and enjoying some more favorite meals along the way!

Happy Traveling – And Dining, Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 137 of 365
States : 17/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Texarkana, Arkansas
Miles Driven : 199.7
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,427.0
Total Gallons Used : 1,109.86
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 0.0
Hiking Miles To Date : 306.4

Historic Little Rock Central High School, Day 136

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 22, 2020
Categories In Arkansas, The Days Of The Trip
No Comments on Historic Little Rock Central High School, Day 136

Today we took a trip back in time when we visited Little Rock Central High School.

Some of you might remember watching the historic events that unfolded in September, 1957 on television.

And for others, you most likely learned about this high school in history class.

So when we decided to stay in Little Rock, Arkansas for a couple of days, we knew that we had to make a trip to Central High School.

What You Need To Know Before You Go

However, before we headed out to the school itself, there were a few things to take note of.

central high school museum — Inside the Visitor Center there is a beautiful museum dedicated to the events that occurred at Little Rock Central High School.

First, Central High School is still an active high school. More than 2,000 students attend the school today.

Therefore, you just can’t walk into the high school to have a look around.

However there is a National Historic Site Visitor Center across the street from the school.

This building is home to a self-guided museum, dedicated to the history of the desegregation crisis at Little Rock Central High School.

As you walk through the museum you can read about the horrific events that occurred during that time period. And you can even watch several news coverage videos from that era as the events unfolded.

But what is most important to know is that if you want an actual guided tour that takes you through the high school, you must schedule that tour at least 48 hours in advance!

We were lucky enough to have planned just enough time to be able to take the tour lead by a National Parks Ranger.

And what a tour it was! Although we can’t possibly go into all of the details of what we learned, here is a quick overview of the tour.

Little Rock Central High School Tour

The first part of the tour is completed at the visitor center. Here a Ranger takes you back into time and reviews a bit of history. The focus is on how the 13th and 14th amendments came about.

14th amendment — The 14th Amendment is posted right outside the doors of the Visitors Center.

And how the term ‘separate but equal’ wasn’t truly happening in Little Rock, and definitely not in the school system.

The second part of the tour takes you outdoors on the corner where a Mobil Gas Station once stood.

Here is where the news stations were positioned when the riots were occurring in front of the Central High School.

And across the street is where the first black student was dropped off to face thousands of angry white people. The protestors were yelling horrible things at her and even spitting in her face as she walked down the street, simply to go to school.

Entering The School

Finally we made the same long walk that she did and walked up the steps and into the school itself. Due to privacy concerns of the current students, no photos were allowed to be taken inside the building.

The last part of the tour focused on not what you saw on the news with the students eventually being escorted into the building by Army’s 101st Airborne.

It was all about what occurred when the Little Rock 9 had to attend school in an all white school who didn’t want them there.

steps to Central High School — Just imagine a 15 year old girl being escorted into school by the Army’s 101st Airborne just so she could get the same education as any 15 year old white student.

The details that we learned were horrific. And we both couldn’t have more respect for the students that risked their lives every day for the right to have the same education as anyone else.

The entire tour took about 2 hours, but will have a lifetime impact on us. We would highly recommend that you plan on visiting Little Rock Central High School and taking the guided tour.

It is simply life changing and a history lesson that everyone should experience.

Quick Facts

3 out of the original 9 students graduated from Central High School.
The school was shut down in 1958 in protest of having black students attend a white school
The Little Rock School System wasn’t fully integrated until 1972

Click HERE to see where else we have been on our journey across America.

Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 136 of 365
States : 17/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Maumelle, AR
Miles Driven : 45.2
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,227.3
Total Gallons Used : 1,095.49
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 1.6
Hiking Miles To Date : 306.4

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States

A Visit To Hot Springs National Park & Bathhouse Row – Day 135

Post author By livesimplenow
Post date January 21, 2020
Categories In Arkansas, The Days Of The Trip
4 Comments on A Visit To Hot Springs National Park & Bathhouse Row – Day 135

Arkansas as a state has surprised us both in a lot of ways, and our visit today to Hot Springs National Park is another perfect example of that for sure.

I had been to Arkansas a few times before this trip, but both were brief trips spent on business. They certainly didn’t give me an opportunity to see much beyond a few downtown blocks in the city of Fayetteville.

Tower at Hot Springs Mountain — The view from the tower atop of Hot Springs Mountain – Just another example of the beauty of Arkansas.

And for Mary, this served as her first trip inside the Arkansas borders. But as we travel the back roads from Bentonville down to areas around the capital city of Little Rock, we have both been in awe of the immense beauty the state has to offer.

Especially considering we are here in the middle of winter! One thing we have learned throughout this trip is that our preconceptions of cities and states were not completely accurate.

For instance, Idaho simply blew us away with scenery we didn’t knew existed. Oregon and Washington surprised us as well. But Arkansas – wow, we both just didn’t realize all it has to offer!

The architecture along Bathhouse row was stunning to see. These old buildings were created to be as opulent as possible.

It’s streams, rivers, rolling hills and thick forests of hardwoods and pine are impressive. And today, with our tour of Hot Springs National Park, we learned about their amazing Hot Springs, and their storied place in world history.

Hot Springs National Park

Hot Spring National Park was our 18th visit to a National Park. And it was certainly different than our previous 17. In fact, a lot different.

We took the elevator ride to the top of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. It certainly gives a great view of the beautiful mountains and woods that surround Hot Springs.

The hot springs coming from this area of Arkansas are actually quite sensational. The heated waters bubbling up from the ground averages 143 degrees Fahrenheit. And by the time it reaches the surface, the waters that arrive are from rains that fell 4000 years ago!

How much water? The National Park alone collects over 700,000 gallons to use in the bathhouses each day!

Hot Springs National Park — The National Park museum is a great way to see how the Bathhouses looked back in the day. These bathtubs were filled with water heated solely from the hot springs.

What makes Hot Springs unique is that the heat does not come from volcanic activity, but from bubbling up deep below from the earth. The water is super-heated as it travels through cracks in the hot rock.

Hot Springs History

The hot springs notoriety goes back far in history. In fact, as far back as the 17th century. They springs were well-known by Native Americans, and thought to be discovered and used by Spanish explorer DeSoto as well.

The first public bathhouses appeared in the 1800’s, when word spread of their supposed healing powers. It became so popular, that by 1832, the U.S. made the Hot Springs area its first designated protected federal land.

Just taking in some of the sights and touring the museum’s bathhouse was a bit surreal.

It is crazy to see how popular it all became. And continues to be with visitors to the big, mansion-like bathhouses that still sit on Bathhouse Row today.

In addition to touring the museum, there is also great hiking on the Hot Springs Mountain. We took on a couple of trails and finished with a ride to the top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower.

Just another fun day of discovering more about this incredible country and all it has to offer. Can’t wait to see what Arkansas has left to show us for the remainder of the week! Happy Traveling – Jim and Mary

CURRENT TRIP STATUS TO DATE:

Day 135 of 365
States : 17/50
National Parks / Monuments : 20
Stayed In : Maumelle, AR
Miles Driven : 128.2
Total Trip Miles To Date : 15,182.1
Total Gallons Used : 1,092.23
Biking Miles : 0.0
Biking Miles To Date : 158.4
Hiking Miles : 5.2
Hiking Miles To Date : 304.8

About Our Living Simple Tour

On September 9th, 2019, we set out in our NuCamp T@B 400 Teardrop Camper to travel to every state. You can check out all of our dates here : Dates for the States