(Photos by Taylor Bruce, Tanner Latham, and Robin Weekley)

I was 15 when, as a high school player from Georgia, I first visited Rickwood Field in Birmingham. Forever afterwards, no ballpark experience matched up. None. Suiting up for a game in America's oldest ballpark is the apex. But watching the game from the scoreboard heights might be a close second.

I'm an Alabama fan, so I usually swear under my breath upon hearing "Big Orange," but that's a whole 'nother rant for a whole 'nother blog. (Besides that, I work with too many Tennessee fans who know where I live.) So last week when I stumbled upon Tanner's Big Orange in Greenville, South Carolina, I was immediately taken in by the iconic sign poised like an exclamation point over South Pleasantburg Drive. The giant hot dog did not escape my notice either since I have never been one to turn down nitrates in any form.

After seeing the Birmingham Barons play the Jacksonville Suns in the annual Rickwood Classic Thursday, I'm convinced I've reached the pinnacle of farm league baseball experiences.

Four days, 34 stops, and 400 miles of shopping round out the 5th annual 400-Mile-Sale down Kentucky's historic highway 68. Below are a few stops that piqued our interest, as well as a map of all the locations (check out 400mile.com for details on communities, stores, and special events).

I pride myself on being a good packer. I should be--I pack and unpack a suitcase about twice a week. This month alone, I've logged 26 days (out of 31) on the road. So I've pretty much got packing down to a science. Sure I've forgotten things before: toothbrush, running shoes (so much for that workout), sunscreen. All things that I can either go without or find a quick fix. But on my most recent trip to Alexandria, Virginia, I wasn't so lucky. Thank goodness for an understanding concierge at Kimpton's Hotel Monaco.

(Photo by Lisa Shaw)

If you're on the lookout for a healthy meal, low in saturated fat and cholesterol, I'm afraid I can't recommend the Catfish Landing in Childersburg, Alabama. But if you're in the mood for some solid Southern fried catfish and homemade slaw and hush puppies, check out this quaint little stop on the banks of the Coosa River approximately 35 miles outside Birmingham.

(Photos courtesy of Curtis Palmer)

Tomorrow marks my favorite day in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the day Rickwood Field, America's oldest ballpark, comes back to life with the sights, sounds, and smells of baseball. The crack of maple. Venders chanting out sales of hot dogs and peanuts and ice cold sodas. Young players stretching singles into a hard-won doubles. The Rickwood Classic makes grown men become boys again.

1. Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Dishes

Stop in for lunch at Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Dishes. Order the chicken-fajitas ($8.50, cash or checks only), and soak up the lively, Old Mexico, cantina-esque atmosphere for which this local institution is known. Scan the many framed autographed photos of celebrities who've eaten here, such as Tiger Woods, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Bette Midler.
Open for lunch and dinner daily. Find on map.

Riverfest Arkansas is an annual event that takes place over Memorial Day weekend in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Tickets are $10.00 in advance at select area stores and $20.00 at the gate, and they are good all weekend. Musical acts include Better Than Ezra, One Republic, ZZ Top, among others.

If you'll be in the area, here are a list of five attractions in Little Rock to see while you're there (recommended by Associate Travel Editor Jennifer Mackenzie Frazier, photography by Art Meripol).

Virginia Beach may have missed the list, but there's plenty of reasons to give it another look this summer. (Photo by Meg McKinney)

Southern Living Editors put together a top ten list of Memorial Day Destinations. Our list follows below, but our question to you is this: where are you headed this Memorial Day? Whether it's a backyard barbecue or a trip cross country, drop a comment and let us know your Memorial Day plans below.

"Jerusalem in Miniature"

When I first stumbled upon the Ave Maria Grotto, a vast collection of miniature religious sculptures in Cullman, Alabama, I almost dismissed it as mere Southern kitsch. The "Jerusalem in Miniature," however, deserves a closer look. So if you're driving down I-65 on a Sunday afternoon, take an hour to enjoy this thoughtful and contemplative collection.

When you think of cutting-edge architecture, Nashville may not be the first city that comes to mind. Designers like Ryan Thewes, however, are making a name for themselves and giving Nashville a splash of unique homes (and getting some well-deserved praise here, here, here and this last one is a digital magazine, but you can flip to page 38 to see an award Thewes pulled in).

Yesterday I drove 266 miles in a steady rain throughout southeast Missouri’s Mark Twain National Forest, towns like Rolla, Winona, Eminence, and Fredericktown. The landscape was just gorgeous, rolling forests and old barns tucked onto bright green pastures, the Current and Jack’s Fork Rivers along curvy backroads, what Missouri writer William Least Heat-Moon calls blue highways.
    Rain at first put a literal and figurative damper on my day of research and exploration: I was supposed to be checking out hiking trails, canoe companies, and camping spots. But it turned out, as I drove south from Salem, Missouri, towards the upper fourth of the Current, the rain brought a needed sense of serenity, quiet, and even dripping beauty.
    The stormy day reminded me how to travel well in the rain.

I was standing in Natchez--Under The Hill, to be exact--when the sky went pastel as the sun set behind the far banks of the Mississippi River. Cross that bridge, and you'll find yourself in Louisiana. Vidalia.

"It's another beautiful day at The Bluffs."

That's what you hear when telephoning the charming resort on the outskirts of St. Francisville, Louisiana. And it's not just a good public relations ploy. The whole world seems to shine brighter when you visit this blooming spot.

The flowers are stunning, the weather’s divine, and the Grand Hotel is better than ever. Come on down to the coast.

In the Gulf South, L.A. stands for Lower Alabama. Seasonal delights appear at every bend, especially along the coastline circling Mobile Bay. Two venerable attractions promise to brighten up your visit with flowers, fun, and a sense of wonder.

Bellingrath Gardens and Home

(Photos by John O’Hagan)

(Photo by Warner McGowin)

Here's a shot of the capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky, taken from the Governor's Mansion near sunset.

They're everywhere. Giant red plastic penguins. One sits quietly--all 4 feet of him--next to the sofa in the hotel lobby. Another peers stoically out the gift shop window. More congregate in large numbers on the roof and stand sentry on the outside window ledges. Holy cow, it's like something out of a Monty Python movie. I decide to check in and check out this hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, that blends the best of contemporary art and plush accommodations. I also have a sudden yearning to watch Animal Planet.

(Photo and video by Tanner Latham)

“Good luck on #17.”

The valet guys at the Sawgrass Marriott in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL whisper it when you toss them your keys. Our breakfast waitress winked when she said it while dropping off the check. No surprise, really. This is arguably one of the most famous holes in golf, and if you play the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass—-home to THE PLAYERS Championship kicking off today—-it’s the hole that’s stuck in your head from your first swing on the practice range until your final putt on 18.

Why?

Normally, manatees are long gone from Blue Spring this time of year, as they’ve made their way back to the waters closer to the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. I, however, got lucky on my visit to the state park (on the western edge of Orange City, Florida) in late-April, as two calves were being reintroduced into the wild. The story was they had been injured and taken to Sea World. The staff there had nursed them back to health and placed them at Blue Spring. Having been acclimated to people, they chose to hang out at the dock with their radio transmitters bobbing on the surface just above them as they lounged on the spring’s bottom.

Is this a face only a mother could love? Apparently not, as sailfin suckermouth catfish (Pterygoplicthys disjunctivus), like the one pictured, are breeding in such numbers they threaten the health of the rivers in which they live. Native to the Amazon basin, these catfish are exotic to waters in the South, such as the Blue Spring basin in north central Florida where this specimen was captured in late April.

(Photo courtesy of Pegasus News)

While walking through Dallas' NorthPark Mall, a place of high fashion, modern art, and exquisite landscaping, Senior Photographer Art Meripol and I came upon a real surprise: John Lennon's Steinway upright, the one where his peace anthem "Imagine" came to life.

(Photo by Art Meripol)

I grew up in a small town in Alabama. I have a Southern accent that digs deep or floats shallow, depending on the situation. I thought I knew Southern accents, until I met Lindsey Vincent at the Good Earth Peanut Company while researching a story out this month on the best stops off I-95.

Kentucky knows how to show off. That's a good thing. We went to the 134th annual Kentucky Derby this weekend, and we started on Friday, the day before the race, with a tour of Calumet, probably the most legendary horse farm in the world. And despite the tragic ending for Eight Belles, the Kentucky Derby remains an icon of the South, rich with history and pride.

We're one month in here at Tales From the Road, and here are the most popular posts for April:

1. Top 5 Paths to Plane Peace
Want to avoid that chatty seat mate on your next flight? Follow Annette Thompson's five tips to ensure a peaceful plane ride.

2. Backstage with Dierks Bentley
Meet country music's "hardest working man" with travel editor Jennifer V. Cole.

3. "World Peace and Bacon Grease!"
In Charleston, South Carolina, (and perhaps elsewhere in the South), "World Peace and Bacon Grease!" as an appropriate salutation. Read Jennifer V. Cole's reflections on returning to life in the South...

4. Comet Ping Pong Wins Best Family Restaurant in D.C.
Check out the best ping-pong pizza restaurant in Washington D.C. and get in a quick round of table tennis while you wait for your (other) table...

5. Decadence in Miniature: Stealing Hotel Shampoo
Don't let all that perfectly usable hotel shampoo go to waste. In an era when traveling with toiletries is a matter of national security, these small 2-3 ounce bottles come in handy.

6. Free Art in Dallas
The only thing better than fine art is free art, and in Dallas, you can appreciate both. Take a walking tour of some of the most creative artwork this Texas hub has to offer.

7. Stuck in the Memphis Airport
So you're stranded in the Memphis Airport, but don't fear. Livings Editor Richard Banks has a tip that will make an unexpected hours-long layover fly by.

8. Forest Fire Razes Talladega Superspeedway...Wait, No
A hazy smoke lingers over the Talladega Speedway on race weekend. A forest fire? No, just thousands of happy, grilling NASCAR fans.

9. Only Pumpkin in the Patch: Middleburg, VA
Meet Pumpkin Lee of Middleburg, Virginia. She's done tack repair work for Olympian equestrians, and she's an only child - the only pumpkin in the patch, so to speak.

10. Birmingham Jazz Legend - Cleveland Eaton
So you missed Jazzfest. Well, if you live anywhere near Birmingham, you can check out this living legend every week.

(Photos by Matt Bigelow and Kelsey Blackwell)

A tree grew straight through the passenger side window of this rusted-out 1957 Chevy truck in Providence Canyon State Park in Lumpkin, Georgia. (Google map).

(Photos by Tanner Latham)

I’m not a food writer.  I’m not a golf writer.  I’m not an adventure writer.  I like all these things and write about them generally, but I’m not an authority on any.  There’s one thing I know I can do.  I can read a map.