Columbia, South Carolina - rich with American History

Founded in 1870 on an 80-acre plantation in Columbia, South Carolina by the American Baptist Home Mission Society, Benedict College was established for the recently emancipated peo­ple of African descent. A branch of the NAACP was founded at Benedict in 1937. Five buildings on the campus are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The mission of the Historic Columbia Foundation is to nurture, support and protect the historical and cultural heritage of Columbia and its environs through programs of advocacy, education and preservation.

Historic Columbia Foundation was founded in 1961 by a group of preservationists intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House, known today as the Robert Mills House. In 1967 the restored 1823 residence opened to the public as a house museum. Also that year, Historic Columbia Foundation became the steward of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, which had been operating as a shrine to our nation's 28th president since 1932. Five years later, the organization gained stewardship of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and in 1978, the Mann-Simons Cottage.

Today Historic Columbia manages these four historic house museums and their associated artifacts. A city leader in heritage tourism, Historic Columbia Foundation provides daily house museum tours, walking tours and guided bus tours of Columbia's cultural and historical assets. Additionally, the organization hosts annual programs and events such as the Parlor Lecture Series, the Tour of Homes and Gardens and the Jubilee Festival of Heritage. As an advocate for the preservation of Columbia's built history, Historic Columbia Foundation works closely with city and county officials to ensure proper protection is provided to structures with cultural and historical importance. Regardless of the format, Historic Columbia Foundation's efforts focus on improving the quality of life for residents of Columbia and Richland County and on ensuring that those who visit leave with a positive, lasting impression.

The Columbia Fire Museum celebrates the rich history of South Carolina's largest fire department. Located downtown at Fire Department Headquarters, 1800 Laurel Street, it is near the historic Robert Mills House, Hampton Preston Mansion, and Woodrow Wilson's boyhood home. Some of the artifacts date to the mid-1800's and include antique fire fighting equipment, an interactive exhibit, a photo history of fire fighting in Columbia and a history of African-American firefighters in the CFD.

Visit the Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information on the history of the Columbia, South Carolina area.

posted by luv2travel! at 4:32 PM

Attention Golfers!

Carlsbad, California is, of course, Southern California's sweet spot when it comes to golfing. Now that the holidays are over, isn't it time to treat yourself to a relaxing golf weekend getaway? Between the perfect weather, and the variety of courses available, golf in Carlsbad offers something for every golfer.

The Four Seasons Resort Aviara Golf Club offers one of the finest golf facilities available in southern California. Aviara's memorable 18-hole coastal layout was designed by Arnold Palmer. The 7,007-yard, par-72 course is sculpted around the natural topography, with water hazards positioned as visual extensions of the lagoon. The club includes a 32,000 square foot (3,000-square-metre) two-storey Spanish colonial clubhouse with a complete golf shop.


La Costa Resort and Spa is perhaps best known for its golf courses and amenities, some of the most prestigious and spectacular in the U.S., having been listed as one of the Best of Golf Resorts by Links magazine.

As host of PGA Tour events for more than 30 years and home of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, La Costa allows visitors to measure their performance against the best players in the world. Golfers can tee-off from the same spots as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicholas, Arnold Palmer and Phil Mickelson. Those who take on the courses find that they use virtually every club in the bag. Furthermore, La Costa's courses present players with special challenges, such as the last four holes of the South Course, known as "the longest mile in golf."

Whether a beginner or a low handicapper, golfers can refine their skills at the newly opened Jim McLean Golf School. Both Golf Magazine and Golf Digest rank McLean as one of the top instructors in the world. His school at La Costa provides individual and group instruction for resort guests, members and the public.


San Diego Golf Reservations will book your individual tee times up to 60 days in advance at San Diego's best golf courses. Tournament and Corporate Golf Outings can be confirmed and coordinated up to two years in advance at just about every course open to the public...including Torrey Pines.

Their experienced staff has all the knowledge and information you'll need to select the best courses for your busy work or vacation schedule and budget. This includes course type, design, facilities, current conditions, scheduled maintenance and renovations as well as traffic conditions and typical drive-times between your hotel and all the golf courses.

Their locally staffed, high-tech Call Center in La Jolla is electronically connected in real-time to most of San Diego's best golf courses. You and your Golf Coordinator can check availability and prices and then make all your confirmed reservations together in just "One Call."

Your confirmed golf schedule along with a map and directions to each course you'll be playing is sent to you by fax or email. All this information and coordination service is provided to you - COMPLIMENTARY!

Local Knowledge ... Professional Coordination...It doesn't get any easier!

posted by luv2travel! at 4:21 PM

Take a trip to the spa in Boulder!

Now that the holidays are over, we can sit back and relax, right? A trip to the day spa is a great way to do that - and Boulder has some teriffic spa treatments available.

Cross the foot bridge at Ninth Street and wander through the iron gates, flower gardens and trees to reach the arched doorway entrance. Take the steps down to the garden level and discover a wonderful secret - a small, high quality massage and bodywork center, built within the refuge of century-old walls, graced with the quiet beauty of artwork and hanging plants. Colorado Massage Center is a contemplative refuge for discriminating patrons, a beautiful, safe, and quiet space. Its small scale operation allows for a more personalized interaction and affords its reputation for high quality massage and bodywork services.

At Sensorielle, our treatments are inspired by the beauty of the world and are brought to you in an exotic, blissful environment. Nature abounds in everything we do from our organic facials and algae body wraps to warm woods and botanicals within the spa. We use only natural and organic products for all our treatments.

On Broadway Hair Studio & The Boulder Spa, has been an Aveda salon for the past 22 years. Located now on Arapahoe Avenue in beautiful Boulder Colorado, you're invited you to visit for all of your salon needs. From hair and nails to skin and spa, they'll take complete care of you from head to toe. Open seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Additionally, all wedding parties receive a 10% discount on all services including hair and nails.

You'll find more Boulder Day Spas and other great ways to relax at the Boulder, Colorado Convention & Visitors Bureau.

posted by luv2travel! at 4:16 PM

It's Hockey Time in Long Beach!!! Go Ice Dogs!!!

Ice Dog Hockey games are some of the best games around. The East Coast Hockey League is one of the funnest leagues to watch. We used to go to the Alaska Aces games in Anchorage, but now that we live in Southern California, the Long Beach Ice Dogs are our team. The Ice Dogs are playing the Anchorage Aces January 19th at home, which is a game I can’t wait to see. Then the next night, January 20th, they play the Fresno Falcons ... two nights in a row of home town Hockey! Between now (Jan 10) and the end of the month they play 6 home games with Victoria and Utah (boo Spenrath!) being the other two hockey teams. Even if they are in last place in the Pacific Division, they at least entertain!

posted by luv2travel! at 4:15 PM