Kick Back in A Small Town

Murphy, Morgan

Park the car, and crank up the fun. Good food and great times await on every corner.

We've searched the South's cities, villages, and hamlets to find a small town perfect for a fun summer getaway. There's no better time for a refreshing escape, and we've picked just the spots-Jonesborough, Tennessee; Mandeville, Louisiana; and New Bern, North Carolina.

Each town boasts a special beauty. Yet there's more than just historic architecture and stunning natural landscapes to these places. Listen to stories, and dance on Main Street in Jonesborough. Enjoy the festivities in Mandeville, which parties like its big sister, New Orleans, but with smalltown flair. Play on the water in New Bern. Dozens of cultural events, quaint shops, and fabulous restaurants dot each town. Best of all, all three are easy on the budget, and residents go out of their way to welcome visitors. Don't even think of yourself as a tourist-chances are, by the time you leave you'll be family.

One Amazing Story-Jonesborough

Coast to a stop at the crest of Main Street's gentle hill just outside of town, and look down upon this striking village in northeast Tennessee. American flags furl and flap on nearly every building. A quaint wooden gazebo shades mustachioed band members, working out the oompahs of a Sousa march. Giggling children dart in and out of an icecream parlor. Couples stroll along the street, holding hands and ducking into unique shops. And everyone everywhere seems to know one another.

Make your first stop the Blair-Moore House Bed & Breakfast. Its austere Federal facade hides a bounty of surprises, including what might be the world's best breakfast. For a non-B&B option, try the Eureka hotel next door.

By the way, park the car and leave your keys in the room. Jonesborough is laid out as God intended: with everything on or near Main Street. The International Storytelling Center makes a fun afternoon-listening to tall tales told live by colorful characters. There are other performances in town as well. Friday nights this time of year often bring Music On The Square, an event that showcases regional bands and closes the road to all but foot traffic. Amble down the street, and browse cool shops such as Jonesborough Antique Mart, the Jonesborough Art Glass Gallery, and The Celtic Cupboard.

For meals, try Bistro 105, a former post office that now delivers gourmet salads, pastas, and desserts, or The Cranberry Thistle, a gathering place that dishes out an inexpensive breakfast and interesting gossip. Bring your ears and appetite, and you'll leave with a great story. MORGAN MURPHY

JONESBOROUGH, TENNESSEE

* Blair-Moore House Bed & Breakfast: 201 West Main Street; 1-888-453-0044. Rates: S115-S150.

* Eureka Hotel: 127 West Main Street; toll-free 1-877-734-6100. Rates: $109-$129.

* The International Storytelling Center: 116 West Main Street; 1-800-952-8392.

* Jonesborough Antique Mart: 115 East Main Street; (423) 753-8301.

* Jonesborough Art Glass Gallery: 101 East Main Street; (423) 753-5401.

* The Celtic Cupboard: 121 East Main Street; (423) 913-2889.

* Bistro 105: 105 East Main Street; (423) 788-0244.

* The Cranberry Thistle: 103 East Main Street; (423) 753-0090.

Living Large by the Lake-Mandeville

Louisiana has more to offer than the partygirl city of New Orleans. Mandeville nestles on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain. A 24-mile-long bridge (Lake Pontchartrain Causeway) draws visitors from the bustling Big Easy to this take-it-easy city on the North Shore.

Wandering the sidewalks along the Pontchartrain is a must. Lakeshore Drive, lined with beautiful, stately homes, also features a gazebo that often serves as a backdrop for bridal photos. Car washes and lemonade stands complete the summertime picture.

Many morning wanderers turn into Java Grotto and then take their coffee and pastries outside. Every Saturday morning, visitors make the pilgrimage to the Mandeville Trailhead Community Market, located along the Tammany Trace. Forty to fifty vendors sell their wares here, which include everything from produce and pottery to homemade salsas and soaps. More shopping takes place at Stone and Paper Art Center, where hand-thrown pottery (pieces start at $10) makes a great memento.

Just a block from the lake, MarVilla Guest House welcomes weary travelers. The 1870s coral-colored house features three guest rooms, all with modern amenities. For another option, Courtyard by Marriott in nearby Covington offers good accommodations.

It doesn't hurt that The Original Broken Egg Café resides next door to MarVilla. One of the best menu items has to be the Garden Delight omelet ($7.45). A special treat awaits guests who plan an elegant dinner at Alex Patout's Restaurant on Lakeshore Drive. Crabmeat Imperial ($19.95) and crème brûlée ($5) put the final perfect touch ona visit to this charming waterside town. WANDA MCKINNEY

MANDEVILLE, LOUISIANA

* Java Grotto: 1943 Lakeshore Drive; (985) 626-0976.

* Mandeville Trailhead Community Market: 675 Lafitte Street; (985) 624-3147.

* Stone and Paper Art Center: 500 Gerard Street; (985) 674-9232.

* MarVilla Guest House: 2013 Claiborne Street; (985) 626-5975.

Rates: $95.

* Courtyard by Marriott: 101 North Park Blvd., Covington, LA; (985) 871-0244. Weekend rates: start at $84.

* The Original Broken Egg Café: 200 Gérard Street; (985) 624-3388.

* Alex Patout's Restaurant: 2025 Lakeshore Drive; (985) 626-8500.

Tucked Between Two Rivers-New Bern

What's neat about New Bern? This little burg may be one of the prettiest and friendliest places on the coast of North Carolina. The vibrant, revitalized downtown district sits perched on a triangle of land bordered by two rivers, the Neuse and the Trent. Visitors will also fall in love with New Bern's beautifully renovated old homes, some dating back to the 1700s. Most of the shopping, dining, and cultural action centers around the town's riverfront-actually two riverfronts-along Front and South Front Streets. The best part? People can park their cars and walk to most places and never be farther than a stone's throw from the water.

If you actually want to get out on the water, Wind Sailing School and Cruises offers day and evening charters from Northwest Creek Marina at Fairfield Harbor. Two-hour day cruises along the Neuse River cost $20 per person, and sunset cruises are $25.

Cool breezes and great views come with a visit to Union Point Park, located right where the two rivers meet. Another good way to see the town is by taking a trolley ride with New Bern Tours, which offers 90-minute guided tours of the historic district ($12 adults, $6 ages 12 and under).

New Bern's number one attraction has to be Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens. (New Bern, the secondoldest town in the state, served as North Carolina's first colonial capital). An imposing Georgian brick mansion overlooks 14 acres of patterned and themed gardens. Costumed interpreters bring the past into present-day liveliness.

After seeing Tryon Palace, visitors can cool off with a banana split ($4.25) at Cow Café. Or you can enjoy lunch at Marina Sweets Café & Deli. Items here include such deliciously clever sandwiches as the Historically BLT ($4.95), which comes served as a pita wrap instead of on the usual sliced bread. New Bern abounds with good places for dinner. The Chelsea Restaurant, set in a 1912 building on the corner of Middle and Broad Streets, offers such entrées as their Sonoma-shrimp and bacon over pasta with a blue cheese cream sauce ($14.95).

Among the town's other notable places is The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola. Pepsi was concocted here in 1898 by pharmacist Caleb Bradham. Today, manager Larry Cook serves Pepsi, 7 Up, and Mountain Dew from a fountainhead tapper.

Lodging choices in town include the Sheraton New Bern hotel and Marina and the Comfort Suites Riverfront Park. Both offer easy access to downtown and views of New Bern's remarkable rivers. MARK G. STITH

NEW BERN, NORTH CAROLINA

* Wind Sailing School and Cruises: 104 Marina Drive; (252) 332-5804.

* Union Point Park: 210 East Front Street; (252) 636-4816.

* New Bern Tours: 333 Middle Street; (252) 637-7316.

* Tryon Palace: 610 Pollock Street; (252) 514-4900 or 1-800-767-1560.

* Cow Café: 319 Middle Street; (252) 672-9269.

* Marina Sweets Café & Deli: 208 Middle Street; (252) 637-9307.

* The Chelsea Restaurant: 335 Middle Street; (252) 637-5469.

* The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola: 256 Middle Street; (252) 636-5898.

* Sheraton New Bern hotel and Marina: 100 Middle Street; 1-800-326-3745. Rates: start at $89.

* Comfort Suites Riverfront Park: 218 East Front Street; (252) 636-0022. Rates: start at $80.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2005
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