At a Juneteenth sleepover, campers commune with ancestors
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, South Carolina — There is nothing to fear in the woods that have grown over the Civil War-era settlement. But by inviting visitors to this place, where tall oaks and sea pines obliterated the sky, the staff at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park were hoping to evoke the spirits of the past. If this were 165 years ago, the park's executive director said, most people who lived on Hilton Head would have been in shackles.
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Style Blueprint
6 hours ago
- Style Blueprint
6 Kentucky Trails Worth Traveling For: Kentucky Food, Drinks, Music & More
Share with your friends! Pinterest LinkedIn Email Flipboard Reddit From Kentucky bourbon and barbecue joints to ghost tours and garden strolls, the Bluegrass State has trails that showcase Kentucky's soulful food, storied history, and vibrant culture. While we're just scratching the surface, here are six standout Kentucky trails worth packing a bag (and your appetite) for. *You can use the links below to jump to specific trails! Kentucky After Dark: Where Legends Linger If you love a good ghost story or a brush with the eerie and unexplained, Kentucky After Dark is your kind of adventure. This spine-tingling trail leads you through some of the state's most haunted and historic places. There are 21 stops on this spooky trail, but here's a sampling: Waverly Hills Sanatorium | Louisville : Once a sanatorium for tuberculosis, today the home of shadowy people and ghostly children. Visit one of the most haunted spots in the country … if you dare! : Once a sanatorium for tuberculosis, today the home of shadowy people and ghostly children. Visit one of the most haunted spots in the country … if you dare! Hauntings at The Elm | Henderson : Built in 1904, The Elm in historic downtown Henderson has several ghosts, including two ghost boys and a creepy doll (that moves!). : Built in 1904, The Elm in historic downtown Henderson has several ghosts, including two ghost boys and a creepy doll (that moves!). Octagon Hall Museum | Franklin : A Civil War-era home with a long history of paranormal sightings, Octagon Hall is home to a ghostly teenage girl who won't leave. : A Civil War-era home with a long history of paranormal sightings, Octagon Hall is home to a ghostly teenage girl who won't leave. Rohs Opera House | Cynthiana: Live theatre, movie screenings, and spectral sightings? Sign us up! SB Tip: Many locations offer night tours for extra thrills. Pin Pin Kentucky Garden Trail: Blooms, Beauty, and Botanical Bliss The Kentucky Garden Trail celebrates nature at its finest, taking you through some of Kentucky's most beautiful public gardens and arboretums. Perfect for springtime or a peaceful weekend escape, there are 12 stops on this trail, including: Mahr Park Arboretum | Madisonville : This 265-acre park features a natural environment filled with wildlife, native trees, and plants. Enjoy trails, the Nature Play Area, fishing ponds, kayak launch, dog park, disc golf courses, and picnic pavilions. Be sure to stop by the Mahr Historic Home. : This 265-acre park features a natural environment filled with wildlife, native trees, and plants. Enjoy trails, the Nature Play Area, fishing ponds, kayak launch, dog park, disc golf courses, and picnic pavilions. Be sure to stop by the Mahr Historic Home. Yew Dell Botanical Gardens | Crestwood : A nationally recognized destination with display gardens, walking trails, and seasonal events, Yew Dell is the only National Register-recognized landscape in Kentucky. : A nationally recognized destination with display gardens, walking trails, and seasonal events, Yew Dell is the only National Register-recognized landscape in Kentucky. The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky | Lexington : Visitors are immersed in the natural splendor of Kentucky at The Arboretum, home to 100 acres of themed gardens, walking paths, and Kentucky-native plant life. : Visitors are immersed in the natural splendor of Kentucky at The Arboretum, home to 100 acres of themed gardens, walking paths, and Kentucky-native plant life. Liberty Hall Historic Site | Frankfort: With its historic homes and gardens, Liberty Hall boasts almost five acres of beautifully maintained green spaces and two homes that offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. Pin Pin Kentucky Music Trail: The Soundtrack of the Bluegrass State From the hollows of Appalachia to the honky-tonks of Western Kentucky, music is in Kentucky's DNA. The Kentucky Music Trail celebrates the state's deep musical roots, from bluegrass to blues and beyond. Experience venues, landmarks, and live music, including: The Muhlenberg Music & History Museum | Central City : Explore the legacy of The Everly Brothers, Merle Travis, John Prine, and more. Then, head outside to visit Festival Square, a charming green space that pays homage to the musical legends who called Central City home. : Explore the legacy of The Everly Brothers, Merle Travis, John Prine, and more. Then, head outside to visit Festival Square, a charming green space that pays homage to the musical legends who called Central City home. Lexington Opera House | Lexington : Recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, this premier performing arts center offers something for everyone: music, ballet, comedy, dance, and more. : Recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, this premier performing arts center offers something for everyone: music, ballet, comedy, dance, and more. The Amp at Log Still | New Haven: Catch live music, events, and concerts at The Amp at Log Still — a state-of-the-art amphitheater with an intimate setting on the grounds of Log Still Distillery. Catch live music, events, and concerts at The Amp at Log Still — a state-of-the-art amphitheater with an intimate setting on the grounds of Log Still Distillery. Rosemary Clooney House | Augusta: For something a little different, explore the childhood home of the celebrated 'girl singer' and movie star. If you like the Christmas classic White Christmas, you will love the display of movie memorabilia! Pin Pin West Kentucky BBQ Belt: Where Smoke Meets Soul Western Kentucky does barbecue its own way, using mutton, pork, and unique sauces that set it apart from its Southern cousins. The West Kentucky BBQ Belt takes a smoky, tasty saunter through over 40 locations, including: Brother's Bar-B-Que | Madisonville : At Brother's, you'll find family traditions and fantastic flavors in a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere. : At Brother's, you'll find family traditions and fantastic flavors in a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere. Old Hickory Bar-B-Q | Owensboro : With a history stretching back to 1918, this local fave is known for its hickory-smoked mutton and burgoo. : With a history stretching back to 1918, this local fave is known for its hickory-smoked mutton and burgoo. Starnes Barbecue | Paducah : Famous for its vinegary sauce and perfectly smoked meats, this laid-back spot offers a fun vibe and generous portions. : Famous for its vinegary sauce and perfectly smoked meats, this laid-back spot offers a fun vibe and generous portions. Thomason's BBQ | Henderson: Follow your nose to Thomason's BBQ. The smoky aroma wafting from the chimney will lead you to hickory-smoked meats pulled by hand and dipped to order. SB Tip: Don't forget to try the regional specialty, a chopped mutton sandwich with a side of tangy sauce. Pin Pin West Kentucky Brewery Hop: Small-Town Charm, Big-Time Brews Western Kentucky's brewery scene is growing fast; this friendly trail gives you a taste of it all. The West Kentucky Brewery Hop gives you a mobile passport to try ales, pilsners, stouts, and lagers as you meander through locations in nine cities. Here's a taste of what's in store. Tradewater Brewing Co. | Madisonville : This small brewhouse uses local ingredients whenever possible to create a rotating range of delicious, small-batch brews. You'll find a cozy taproom, a beautiful event space, and The Tee at Tradewater, the city's premier indoor golf simulator. : This small brewhouse uses local ingredients whenever possible to create a rotating range of delicious, small-batch brews. You'll find a cozy taproom, a beautiful event space, and The Tee at Tradewater, the city's premier indoor golf simulator. Henderson Brewing Co. | Henderson : Sample an array of approachable and award-winning beers in the comfortable, beautifully restored taproom. : Sample an array of approachable and award-winning beers in the comfortable, beautifully restored taproom. Paducah Beer Werks | Paducah : Located in a historic Greyhound Bus terminal, this cool, sleek downtown pub offers award-winning house-made brews, a rotating selection from guest breweries, and an inviting menu of local favorites. : Located in a historic Greyhound Bus terminal, this cool, sleek downtown pub offers award-winning house-made brews, a rotating selection from guest breweries, and an inviting menu of local favorites. Hopkinsville Brewing Company | Hopkinsville: Woman- and veteran-owned, this downtown nano-brewery offers small-batch beers, live music, food trucks, and tons of charm! Pin Pin Western Kentucky Wine Trail: Sip, Swirl, and Savor Rolling hills, quiet countryside, and award-winning wines make this trail a delight for casual sippers and wine aficionados alike. Nine beautiful vineyards await on the Western Kentucky Wine Trail, including: Purple Toad Winery & Distillery | Paducah : One of Kentucky's largest wineries, Purple Toad Winery is known for its award-winning gourmet sweet wines and Southern hospitality. They've recently branched out into dryer wines and a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. Stop by for a tour and sample your favorites in the delightful tasting room. : One of Kentucky's largest wineries, Purple Toad Winery is known for its award-winning gourmet sweet wines and Southern hospitality. They've recently branched out into dryer wines and a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. Stop by for a tour and sample your favorites in the delightful tasting room. Bluegrass Vineyard | Smiths Grove : Bluegrass Vineyard is a woman-owned business featuring a Tuscan-inspired winery, gorgeous views, a bed and breakfast, event space, and tasting room. : Bluegrass Vineyard is a woman-owned business featuring a Tuscan-inspired winery, gorgeous views, a bed and breakfast, event space, and tasting room. Naimoli Estate | Hopkinsville : This lush vineyard is bringing a taste of Italy to Western Kentucky. You'll find premium wines, tours and tastings, and special event venues in a beautiful setting. : This lush vineyard is bringing a taste of Italy to Western Kentucky. You'll find premium wines, tours and tastings, and special event venues in a beautiful setting. Reid's Livery Winery | Alvaton: Sample award-winning wines, ranging from sweet blends to dry reds and whites. While you're there, consider saddling up for a horse riding lesson! Pin Pin Whether you're chasing ghosts or flavor, Kentucky's curated trails offer something for every kind of traveler. So pick your path (or mix and match a few) and let your journey be as memorable as the destination. ********** For more travel inspiration, visit our archives. About the Author Gaye Swan As a professional writer of over 20 years, Gaye is an avid traveler and enjoys highlighting food, culture, and attractions around the South. While Gaye is passionate about her home city of Memphis, she's still a Mississippi girl at heart — born and raised in Meridian, MS.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Washington Post
At a Juneteenth sleepover, campers commune with ancestors
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, South Carolina — There is nothing to fear in the woods that have grown over the Civil War-era settlement. But by inviting visitors to this place, where tall oaks and sea pines obliterated the sky, the staff at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park were hoping to evoke the spirits of the past. If this were 165 years ago, the park's executive director said, most people who lived on Hilton Head would have been in shackles.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
'Deeply Negative Message': Relatives of Fort Gregg-Adams' Namesakes React to Trump Renaming
Relatives of the late Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams-Earley anticipated it, but when President Donald Trump announced their parents' names would be stripped from the Virginia base, they were still surprised. Trump, in front of a crowd of Army soldiers Tuesday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, said "for a little breaking news" that his administration would be removing the name Fort Gregg-Adams, which was bestowed on the base in 2023, and returning it to Fort Lee, originally named in honor of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who commanded troops of the slave-holding South during the Civil War. In a follow-up statement from the Army, it became clear that the base would not be explicitly named for the leader of the Confederate troops but instead for Pvt. Fitz Lee, a Buffalo soldier awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery in combat during the Spanish-American War. Read Next: Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance In all, the Trump administration is restoring the names of nine Army bases that shed Confederate namesakes in 2023 following an independent commission review directed by Congress. In each case, the administration found service members to use as namesakes who shared the names of the Confederate Civil War-era figures that were removed. The latest renaming was designed to sidestep the law passed by Congress ordering the removal of names honoring Confederates who fought to secede from the U.S. However, in Trump's speech at Fort Bragg, he specifically mentioned "Robert E. Lee." It was seen as a slight to the descendants of Gregg and Adams-Earley. Stanley Earley, the son of the soldier who served as the highest-ranking Black female officer in World War II, told that while he wasn't shocked at the change, he was "surprised" as well as "disappointed and upset" by the sudden announcement. "The naming of Fort Gregg-Adams sent a powerful positive message to the future," Earley told in an interview Wednesday. "Undoing it sends an even stronger, deeply negative message." Just two years ago, Fort Lee was renamed for Gregg -- the first Black brigadier general in the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps and the first Black lieutenant general in the Army -- as well as Adams-Earley, who was the first Black officer in what would later become the Women's Army Corps prior to her death in 2002. It was a particularly powerful moment for Alicia Collier, Gregg's daughter. He was one of the first service members in recent history to have a base named after him while he was still alive. He died in August at the age of 96. "It's very disheartening," Collier told on Wednesday. "My father worked his entire life trying to move the Army and, as a result, the nation forward, and now we're watching it slip backwards." Collier and Earley both first spoke to in February, expressing worries that their parents' names could be removed from the Virginia base under Trump's Department of Defense. Both previously praised the intensive review process of the Naming Commission, which was created by Congress to make recommendations on base names and ultimately landed on their parents' histories to honor. Notably, neither said anything negative regarding Pvt. Lee, whose name will now adorn the Virginia base. The Spanish-American War hero was born just 25 miles away from the base in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's database. "During a coastal assault in Cuba, Lee voluntarily disembarked under direct enemy fire to rescue wounded comrades from the battlefield," the Army's statement said. Ultimately, it's the legal technicalities that are concerning to the relatives of Gregg and Adams, as well as Trump's own admission during the speech that it was to honor "Robert E. Lee." "I think that the intent is that we're still honoring the original Robert E. Lee," Collier said. "It's a very interesting way to work around." Neither Collier nor Earley said they had been contacted by government or military officials prior to Tuesday's announcement by Trump. Earley said he was caught off guard, in part, because in late April, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson honored the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the Six Triple Eight commanded by Adams, with a Congressional Gold Medal. Johnson praised "the incomparable Lt. Col. Charity Adams-Earley who guided her unit" and commended her "unshakable grace and resolve," according to a copy of his remarks. In a few weeks, Earley was surprised that sentiment seemed to change. "They just had the Congressional Gold Medal session for the Six Triple Eight, and there were so many positive statements about the unit and my mother and what they did," Earley said. "It's a little bit surprising." The renaming of the bases is just the latest in a wide range of Trump administration actions removing historical ties. Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Navy to rename a ship that honored Harvey Milk, a gay rights icon, and other ship names are reportedly under review. Given the cultural shift by the administration, both of the descendants said it's not clear what the next steps forward would be. "There isn't really any recourse that's likely to be successful, so I guess we'll just have to move forward and hope that maybe, at the very least the original decision to rename, and that Charity Adams' and Arthur Gregg's names, will still be a part of our history and that we won't erase it," Collier said. Related: Their Relatives Were Black Heroes. They Fear the Military Won't Celebrate Their Stories Anymore.
