When I began my first "real" full-time job, I wanted only one thing from that first paycheck.    >> Read more

Living in East Tennessee for fourteen years, I loved the rich culture and natural beauty of the area.  The nearby Smoky Mountains offered an endless source of entertainment, and the friendly manner of the locals made it easy to feel right at home.    >> Read more

In honor of Older Americans Month, I'd like to share a really special magazine with you.  You may have heard of Elderhostel, the organization that develops amazing programs for global lifelong learning.  Did you know that the Elderhostel periodical program directory is now called Exploritas?  And that we've got it here at the Main Library in the Periodicals Department?    >> Read more

When I was a little girl of about 4, I was crazy about dinosaurs.  I read every children's dinosaur book the library had.  I reeled off long scientific dinosaur names like other kids tell you the names of all the Smurfs.  I was obsessed.     >> Read more

Recently, I wrote a blog post telling you all about our magazines from Canada.  Now I'd like to let you in on a magazine we get from our other neighbor to the north - North Carolina.  (No joke - I have an aunt who told us upon crossing the North Carolina border, on our way to a funeral in Philadelphia, that she had never been "up north" before.  I think she may have expected our Pennsylvania relatives to speak another language altogether, and for the whole endeavor to require a currency exchange.)

Charlotte is the closest "big city" for us here - it's pretty much the farthest I'll drive for a shopping trip, for example.  (How 'bout that Ikea?)  Coincidentally, it also has a great local magazine (called, shockingly, Charlotte.) 

The magazine is so pretty and so full of great restaurants and things to do that it gives me city envy.  Now, normally I think Charlotte (the city, not the magazine) is all well and good if you want to go to the Apple store or eat some Swedish meatballs while you decide if you want to buy the Ektorp or the Karlstad, but Columbia is where it's at in terms of personality and interest.  Charlotte (the magazine, not the city) has so many great pictures and mouth-watering dining reviews that I get a momentary hankering to relocate a hundred miles north.

Each month, Charlotte covers personalities, events, performing arts, shopping, dining, and nightlife.  It also offers feature articles on doctors and hospitals, schools, places to live, and more.  Supplements cover weddings and homes and gardens.  You can see more at their Web site, charlottemagazine.com.

Even if you don't plan on moving to Charlotte, the magazine is a great resource for day trips and helps you take advantage of the benefit of having a bigger city close enough to drive to but far enough away that it isn't in your way all the time.  Come by Periodicals and take a look at Charlotte (the magazine - if you want the city you'll have to go up I-77!)    >> Read more

Augusta, Georgia, the second oldest and second largest city in Georgia, lags far behind Atlanta or Savannah as a tourist attraction.
Augusta, once the capital of Georgia, seemed to have forgotten its history and geography, being situated on the banks of the Savannah River.

Augusta has now reawakened, and I have seen first-hand the development of its downtown, and the efforts made to recapture the glory of the city.

If it’s taken you years to save enough money to afford a family vacation, then you probably want to make sure you get your money's worth when purchasing airfare and finalizing accommodations.     >> Read more

Summertime brings to mind thoughts of travel to Europe or some great U.S. destination. Getting ready for a trip can be fun – and a challenge!

Like a lot of you, I took a vacation to Florida over the long weekend.

(I know many of you did the same thing because I was stuck behind you on I-95.  You know who you are, and you know there was no reason for you to slow down to look at that wreck.) 

While I was down there, I took a kayak nature tour of the salt marshes and tidal rivers.  It was awesome!  I'd never been kayaking before, and it turned out to be a lot more fun than I'd imagined.  I'd show you pictures, but unlike the woman who dropped her keys and camera into the murky tidal oyster flats, I kept my valuables safe and dry.  You'll just have to take my word for it.

Well, now I've been bitten by the kayaking bug.  When I got back to work, I took a look at Canoe & Kayak, a monthly magazine we subscribe to that's dedicated to, yes, canoes and kayaks.  It features articles on all kinds of paddling sports, including canoe camping, whitewater kayaking and more.  Find a great place to go kayaking, read about dedicated paddlers or shop for some great new gadgets!  There's also an annual gear guide in January that has all the newest boats, paddles, clothing and accessories. 

Canoe & Kayak also has a hilarious Letters page - they seem to have a policy of publishing the angriest, most critical letters they get.  The issue I read had somebody who hates the new typeface, a prisoner who's sick of not reading enough whitewater kayaking coverage, and somebody who thinks a magazine about canoeing and kayaking somehow carries a political bias.  This is one Letters page you don't want to flip past!

The Web site, canoekayak.com, has a ton of free content, including all that gear guide information.  It also features news reports and a lot of content that supplements the magazine stories, including video technique guides and tutorials.  There's a whole section just for newbies like me!  The content is excellent and in-depth online and in print - this is a great magazine to teach you all about a new hobby.    >> Read more

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