LAKE PICKWICK, SHILOH BATTLEFIELD, AND CANADIAN ROCKIES!

Sometimes it’s fun to write about travel unrelated to our business, so forgive me as I give a little publicity to a beautiful destination in Tennessee—Lake Pickwick.

Pickwick Landing Dam is located on the Tennessee River, creating a reservoir touching Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. Pickwick Lake offers almost 500 miles of shoreline. I’ve learned that the origin of the name “Pickwick” dates back to the War Between the States. The landing received its present name from the first local postmaster whose fondness for the works of Charles Dickens prompted him to name the post office Pickwick in honor of the Pickwick Paper.

My cousin Lee made arrangements for our little reunion, designating Pickwick Landing State Park as headquarters. The Pickwick Landing State Park Inn is relatively new with very comfortable accommodations, located in the park near the dam, and each hotel room offered excellent views of the forest-rimmed lake. On Saturday, we rented two pontoon boats from the nearby marina and spent the day catching up with family news, swimming (make that mostly floating), and touring the lake. Talk about some beautiful homes!

After checking out Sunday, we traveled the short distance to Shiloh National Military Park, site of the famous Civil War battle led by Albert Sydney Johnston for the Confederacy and Ulysses S. Grant for the Union army. My family has special interest in Shiloh, because we are Johnston’s descendents. My brother Bubby Johnston and I posed at the monument marking the site of Johnston’s untimely death during the battle. For more information, click here and here!


A big thanks to Lee for setting up our overdue reunion! We hope to convene again next year in San Antonio.

As you know, Ben and I specialize in cruises and have received Master Cruise Counselor accreditation by Cruise Lines International Association. However, we also book land packages.

Just last week we set up a tour for next June through the "Canadian Rockies by Train," offered by Collette Vacations.  Begin June 2 in Vancouver (photo by Ben) and travel via domed rail car through the majestic Rockies to Jasper, Alberta.

From there, you’ll bus to Lake Louise, Banff, and Calgary, enjoying tours in each area.

And yes, you’ll stay one night at the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. (Rockies photos courtesy Jeff Catalina.)

Want more information? Just email me and I’ll mail a beautiful brochure to you with all the details. 
 

We hope you have had an amazing summer!