Tag: Insider

Situated inside Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, the Carousel Bar has lured thirsty passersby to its 25-seat rotating bar since 1929. Marvin Allen joined the party in 2002, quickly learning how to hop over the bar top to start his evening shift (there’s no door or entryway) while patrons clapped and cheered.

Through tours and educational programs, Marty Smith and his team ensure that Dr. King’s story is told not only as that of a historic civil rights icon but also as a child shaped by family, faith, and community.

One year on a family visit to Asheville, Lizzie Whitcher fell in love with Biltmore—so much so that she studied floriculture at Texas A&M with hopes of eventually working at the estate. Soon after, she made that dream a reality. In addition to managing decor for events, her team of 10 designers directs the installation of more than 100 trees, hundreds of thousands of lights, and thousands of feet of garland for Christmas at Biltmore.

Founded in 1967, Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida, has been the launch site of numerous missions, including Apollo 11, which first put humans on the moon. Today it’s both a working research center and a popular tourist attraction. There is always at least one astronaut on site, meeting visitors and leading them on a journey.

Since opening in 1905, Louisville’s Seelbach Hilton has been a gathering spot for everyone from the cultured elite to gangsters, including Al Capone, who frequented the property during its Prohibition speakeasy heyday (allegedly coming and going through underground tunnels). If stepping inside the ornate lobby feels a bit like walking into a novel, there’s good reason: The site helped inspire F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 work The Great Gatsby, a bragging right Louisville will celebrate with a series of centennial events this spring.

Situated at the intersection of the mighty Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, the West Virginia park boasts more than 200 historic structures. Though the West Virginia town of the same name is home to fewer than 300 full-time residents, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

November marks the 20th anniversary of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum in Little Rock. Administered by the National Archives, it’s also home to the Arkansas offices of the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton School of Public Service. In addition to exhibits, the library hosts special events, educational programs, and a lecture series, all through the lens of the 42nd president’s work.

Founded in 1778, the iconic Greenbrier resort is no stranger to famous guests. Captains of industry, professional athletes, even American presidents have dropped their bags in front of the massive, Georgian-style hotel. But even if a guest’s name isn’t of the household variety, lead doorman Dale Mann won’t forget it.

Scott Dean shares his favorite hiking trails, advice for seeing spring ephemeral flowers, and an unforgettable outdoor event in the Smokies.

Executive director Emily Havens shares details on current exhibitions and which red carpet looks are not to be missed.