Travel Archives - Page 8 of 8 - Mother 2 Mother Blog

Visiting the Martin Luther King Childhood Home

January 17, 2015 by Rhonda Gales

In honor of Black History Month I wanted to share my trip to Martin Luther King childhood home, in Atlanta, GA. It’s one of the great travel destinations that I have checked off my Bucket List. The weather was perfect for photo opportunities and sightseeing during my stay. I visited the and the MLK Center for Non-Violent Social Change during my visit.

So, this is a picture of my sister and me sitting on the front porch of the childhood home that Dr. King grew up in. I will always treasure this picture. Most importantly, I will cherish the feelings that I had when I stepped upon that porch. It literally sent chills through me. To see where this genius and American Icon and Civil Rights leader grew up was so emotional.

Witnessing a part of history, especially since the Civil Rights movement that had impacted me and my family significantly was mind boggling. Sharing it with my sister put the icing on the cake. We always have a good time together.

Dr. King’s childhood home is beautifully maintained and has lots of character. It is actually quite large, four bedrooms, dining room, kitchen, study, parlor/living room, a bathroom and a huge backyard. That was a large home, especially for a black during that time. My favorite feature of the house is the wrap around porch.

Unfortunately, Dr. King would be assassinated during the peak of the Civil Rights movement. This is the farm wagon that carried Dr. King’s coffin from his Ebenezer Baptist Church to Morehouse College, his alma mater, for the second service. The wagon was pulled by 2 mules through Atlanta for 3.5 miles. If everyone remembers, Mrs. King walked with her children ahead of the wagon in the funeral procession.

Across the street from the King Center is Dr. King’s final resting place at the King Center in Atlanta. His wife Coretta Scott King was laid to rest beside him.

Last, across from the Kings’ Crypt is the eternal flame. There is also the Civil Right Walk of Fame located at the King Center. Below are a few prints from the walk which include Dr. Maya Angelo, Sidney Poitier, Magic Johnson, and Maynard Jackson. Maynard Jackson was the first black mayor in Atlanta. My brother, Dr. Robert Holmes, wrote Maynard Jackson’s biography.

Finally, I hope that you enjoyed the photos of Dr. Martin Luther King childhood home. Furthermore, I hope you remember and honor what Dr. King dedicated his life doing. Be kind to and love one another, and take the time to learn something new during Black History Month. Additionally, you may also like: African American Invent

Filed Under: Travel, Vacation Destinations Tagged With: Atlanta, GA, Martin Luther King, Things To Do in Atlanta

Hunt Club Farm Christmas Displays

November 30, 2013 by Rhonda Gales

The holiday season officially starts for my family Thanksgiving Day. The tree goes up and we’re planning holiday activities. My daughter lives in Virginia Beach, VA. A mile down the road is Hunt Club Farm. They sit on 23 acres and cater to children all year. Each year we take the grandchildren to see the Christmas displays. Their displays are amazing. They are full of automated elves, soldiers, reindeer and everything else you can image. It’s a child’s delight. Here are some of the displays from last season:

It’s a great place for photo opportunities as you can see. My granddaughter is not into picture taking for some reason. She doesn’t like to cooperate for the camera, so I’m hoping I can get a few good shots. This is my grandson last year in front of their Christmas tree. Amazing how much he has grown in a year. Precious I might add.

If the weather is nice we move on to the Petting Zoo. This is Mr. Llama. He was on display last year. The great thing about the Petting Zoo is you never know what animals you will come across. The have great displays there too. Last year they had an adorable little building that housed Santa. Xavier was a little shy, but he gave Santa his wish list.

We end our trip at the fire pit roasting hot dogs and making S’mores. They have a stand that sells the hot dogs and buns and everything needed for the S’mores. The roasters come with the package. You can pick up hot chocolate or apple cider to wash it down. If you live in the Hampton Roads area, plan a trip. It’s a great way to start the holiday season and makes great memories for the kids.

Filed Under: Parenting Tips, Travel Tagged With: parent tips, things to do in Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach activities

Traveling With Toddlers

October 31, 2009 by Rhonda Gales

Traveling with your toddler can be difficult. A mother and her 2 year old son were kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight from Amarillo, TX to San Jose, TX because her son was disruptive. According to a Southwest Airline representative, the child was so disruptive passengers were unable to hear pre-flight instructions. The child repeated over and over, “Go Plane Go” and “I Want Daddy”.
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Filed Under: Parenting Tips, Travel Tagged With: parenting tips, traveling tips, traveling with toddlers

Twelve Hotel Atlanta Georgia

September 19, 2009 by Rhonda Gales

Today, I’m sharing my Twelve Hotel Atlanta Georgia review. I was actually there for a business trip. And, it was absolutely beautiful. Especially, if you like high end hotels, The Twelve Hotel Atlanta Georgia is a must. The hotel is located in downtown Atlanta about 5 blocks from the Coca Cola Company, Aquarium, Olympic Park and the CNN Building. I was hoping that I would see that gorgeous Don Lemon or Dr. Gupta, but it didn’t happen.

Fortune Magazine has named this hotel as one of the best business hotels in the country. I agree.

travel destination

There’s a wonderful gourmet sandwich shop around the corner from the hotel, Jimmy Johns. They have the best sub sandwiches. It takes less than 5 minutes to get your order. By the time I paid, the sandwich was made, bagged, and ready to go. If you want to splurge, visit BLT Steak on Ivan Allen Blvd. It’s ranked as the number two steakhouse in Atlanta. It’s also around the corner from the hotel. You see that I spoke of food first. Food is a top priority rather I’m traveling for business or pleasure.

Now for my take on the hotel. There’s nothing better than having the comforts of home while you’re away. This hotel delivers. It has a full kitchen with gorgeous stainless steel appliances and cherry cabinets. It also offers a dining area and breakfast bar if you wish to cook. Not interested in cooking, they have a ghost computer where you can order room service and set your wake-up call on line. Room service can be expensive with the delivery fee and gratuity, but it was worth it. The hotel also delivers mixed drinks, wine, beer whatever your preference. Furthermore, if you want to socialize, they have an upscale restaurant and bar down stairs.

There’s a balcony off the bedroom. I was on the 11th floor, so I didn’t venture out too far. Although I’m a veteran flyer, I have a fear of being on balconies if I’m up that high. I wanted to admire the view of downtown Atlanta, so I did stick one foot out while holding on to the door, lol. Downtown Atlanta is beautiful at night. I tried to get a few night photos, but they didn’t turn out. Proving once again, I need photography lessons.

I absolutely loved the bedroom. The decor was stunning. It was spacious, and offered ample closet and drawer space. It was decorated in a contemporary decor with a king size bed and full length stainless steel mirror. The bed was comfortable and the bedding soft. I woke up feeling rested and ready to start my day.

The hotel room had a separate shower, but I decided to filled this tub while I was there. I always carry candles when I travel. So, I lite my candles and soaked until the water turned cold. It was so relaxing. My tub at home is just as nice, but I’m always in a hurry so I jump in the shower. I’ve decided that I’m going to use it more often. It’s good for these aching joints and old bones. Twelve Hotel Atlanta Georgia offers a complimentary robe too. If you wish to purchase it will cost you $75.00. I didn’t purchase, but I did make use of it while I was there. It was so soft and comfortable. My body could get used to Egyptian cotton. Than again anything would be better than my tattered and torn bathrobe at home.

In the summer, you can take a swim in the pool located on the roof top. I’m a veteran traveler, and this hotel met all my needs except one. It doesn’t have a washer or dryer for hotel guest. It offers laundry service, but there’s a fee for each piece of clothing. I had a week’s worth of clothing with me, so I opted to carry my dirty laundry home. That’s something I hate to do.

The suites start at $189.00 a night with a discount. The Marta Train is across the street, which takes you to the airport or the hotel will arrange a shuttle or a cab. I took a cab since I was carrying numerous bags. The hotel is located 12 miles from the airport. However, they offer a flat rate fee of $30.00 for door to door service. If you’re in the Atlanta area and looking for a 5 star hotel, Twelve Hotel Atlanta Georgia is the place to stay. It’s a business traveler’s paradise.

I thank my employer for such luxurious accommodations. They usually set me up at the Crown Plaza when I’m in Atlanta, but they out did themselves on this trip. I hope my Twelve Hotel Atlanta Georgia review will give you some insight on this beautiful hotel.