Of course, the Tin Man was there.
This week, we went down the Yellow Brick Road and visited Oz. Located on Beech Mountain in Western NC, the Land of Oz was a popular theme park open from 1970 – 1980. Shuttered for years, it is now known for an annual, 2-day fall event. But this June, they are hosting tours on Fridays at 12 and 2.
For an entertaining, kitschy peek behind the Wizard’s curtain, it’s well worth the trip and the $10 fee. To begin with you have to get a ski lift ticket and ride to the top of Beech Mountain (also $10), which offers great views in all directions.
Dorothy was a terrific guide and you can even sing-a-long.
Once greeted by the Mayor and paying your admission, you are off to Dorothy’s farmhouse (built to a 5/8 scale); and then, off down the Yellow Brick Road. For the June tours, guests help out by playing some of the popular parts to support Dorothy, who leads the group while performing admirably along the way. The vast collection of movie memorabilia is interesting, even if the interior of the house is a bit musty. Wear good, comfortable shoes, the venue is definitely NOT handicapped accessible and at one point you are walking in near darkness down a ramp to simulate getting to the basement to hide-out before the tornado hits.
It‘s all in good, campy, nostalgic fun for adults and kids.
A visiting Dorothy, is ready to set off on the Yellow Brick road.
Need to know:
The tours are run by a local realty group that owns the property www.emeraldmtn.com 828-387-2000. This year’s fall event will be held October 4 & 5; if past year’s is an indicator, 7,000 are expected to attend. For info about the fall event check out www.autumnatoz.com. The ski lift can be little scary, but is fun. There are restrooms near the lift station and more at the top near the “bar” area where you gather prior to the tour. You can purchase sodas and water at the bar. Tours last about 1 hour and there are no facilities along the Yellow Brick Road.
At the farmhouse (just before the tornado hit).
Follow the Yellow Brick Road . . . .
Locals who built the park had trouble with the word “gazebo” ~ so, as they called it, this is one view from the aptly named “gaze-bo”.
Wiley’s Championship BBQ in Savannah was as good as their press. We tried it all: ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, white mac & cheese, smoked baked beans and the sauces. No room for the peach cobbler or bread pudding.
With no fanfare and seats for about 30 diners, the hotspot is tucked into an unassuming strip of shops by a Five Guys. Dinner service only, from 5 – 8 on weekdays and til 9 on weekends, closed Sundays. We ate at the small counter and chatted with the friendly wait staff and customers from the neighborhood.
Known as the best BBQ in Georgia, they recently added TripAdvisor’s 4th best BBQ in the USA to their long list if kudos.
To quote my generally unimpressed husband “this was a meal to remember. ”
Majestic view of the Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock. Tickets $29, seniors $27, for a ride up to three levels of 360 degrees of fabulous views.
Central Park in bloom. All those dots on the grassy area are sunbathers enjoying one of the first warm, and dry, days of the year.
Central Park from ground level. You can’t see them here – but colorful tulips are in bloom everywhere.
Take the Roosevelt Island tram for a beautiful view of the East River and a relaxing outing at Southpoint Park. Be sure to check out the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park at the tip of the island. Metro cards work on the tram, or buy a one-time round trip pass for $6.
View back towards the Queensboro Bridge (59th & 2nd), where you catch the tram for the 5 minute ride across the East River.
Beautiful views of the NYC skyline can be seen from the tree-lined riverside walk on Roosevelt Island. Take a picnic and enjoy the view. On the island old buildings are coming down to make way for phase one of the new Cornell Tech campus.
No visit to NYC is complete without a stop at Carnegie Deli. Pictured here, our favorite dessert – chocolate babka! There are thousands of great spots for foodies in the city. On this trip we enjoyed Bobby Van’s Grill (convenient for theater district); cocktails at Gordon Ramsay; grilling at our table at the Japanese Gyu-Kaku; and sharing plates with family and friends at the Stanton Social on the lower east side. I just want to know where was Gordon Ramsay when my bourbon was served in a chipped glass? (To their credit, the great waitstaff did rectify with a fresh drink)
The Vault on the second floor of the Art Moderne, Alfred Dupont Building in downtown Miami.
The former Security/Capitol building from the Land Boom in 1920s Miami, now houses a contemporary gallery.
Miami is a young city, and many visitors and residents don’t realize the rich and interesting history found within the boundaries of Miami-Dade County. We’ve grown and we’ve grown fast.
Whether people have come to speculate, study the incredible natural surroundings, immigrate for a new chance, or hobnob with the rich and famous; Miami has, and does, have it all.
March and April are always Dade Heritage Days. Together with other like-minded historically-oriented organizations, the Dade Heritage Trust sponsors and highlights a wide variety of tours, guided walks, movies, special events and more. You could keep busy practically every day with the selection available, learning about the fascinating history and characters of the area.
Each year, we try to make it to at least one different area of the county to explore. This year we chose to attend a special event, the “Taste of Historic Downtown Miami.” A progressive trip through Miami’s architectural heritage, we visited eight locations while sampling specialty cocktails, tasty snacks and listening to a smorgasbord of musical styles. It was a typically beautiful April night, and a fun way to see how the buildings have been restored and re-purposed.
My favorite was La Epoca Department Store, an original Walgreen Drug Store from 1936 in the Streamline Moderne Style. Once promoted as the largest in the chain, with an 88 foot soda fountain, the inside stills retains the dramatic feel and look of an ocean liner. Today this site is part of the Downtown Miami National Register Historic District.
We rounded out our weekend activities by participating in The Villagers Historic Hunt. The Villagers is a volunteer group formed in 1966, dedicated to the restoration and preservation of historic sites in the area. This year was their 25th annual hunt and although we did not repeat any of our past winning efforts – we had a blast.
The theme was “Entertaining Miami” (which was also the theme of this year’s Dade Heritage Days), and the creative clues led us to 10 sites originally used as theaters, some well-known, some still in use as theaters. We traveled from the Lincoln Theater in Miami Beach (now an H&M store), through Miami and Coral Gables before finishing at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Coconut Grove. Our team learned a few new things and had a lot of fun along the way. The event is open to the public, with funds raised going to historic preservation. Stay tuned next year for advance information and come join us!
To Learn More: For a downtown Historic walking tour, a map with key sites and information is available. Contact the Downtown Development Authority or www.dwntwnartdays.com
The Lyric Theater was the centerpiece for Overtown’s “Little Broadway,” an after-hours hot-spot for African-American performers who were not allowed to stay in the “whites-only” hotels in which they performed. Entertainers like Billie Holliday, Louis Armstrong, Nat “King” Cole, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and the Inkspots stayed and played in the once thriving Overtown neighborhood.
The Mediterranean Revival Style Gesu Church was built in 1925 on land donated by Henry Flagler. It houses Miami’s oldest Roman Catholic parish founded in 1896, and still operates with a daily mid-day Mass.
Bronze bas-relief elevator doors featuring Florida motifs are a highlight of the 1939, post-Depression Alfred Dupont building in downtown Miami.
