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Category: United States

Ghostly fun in Gettysburg

Few places in the U.S. inspire as many ghostly tales as Gettysburg, Pa., where thousands of men in gray and blue were killed in one of the fiercest battles of the Civil War.

Apparitions have been spotted all over the battlefield and in countless homes and inns in this central Pennsylvania hamlet. Ghost tours are big business this time of year.

One of the most noteworthy haunted inns is the Farnsworth House Inn, where Rebel sharpshooters secured a strategic attic post during the three-day battle. Some believe the sharpshooters may have been responsible for the only civilian death during the battle. A young woman who lived down the road was killed by a stray bullet while making bread in her kitchen.

Spend a night at the Farnsworth House, a brick structure built in 1833, and see if you don't get spooked. You'll hear weird noises, for sure, and even feel an odd presence here day or night. But the Farnsworth also is a good stopover during a tour of Gettysburg. The dining room serves Civil War era fare ... game pie, spoon bread and sweet potato pudding are not to be missed.

Its tavern at the rear of the building is a favorite with re-enactors. During the filming of "Gettysburg," the actors and crew hung out here. Lots of memorablia from the movie is on display.

Ghosts or no ghosts, the Farnsworth House is great staging area for a visit to Gettysburg, and adds to the experience of exploring a Civil War battlefield.

Check out Farnsworth House Inn.

Category: United States

From sea to shining sea

If you're planning to go all Jack Kerouac on us, you may want to check out a couple Web sites that will help you prepare a little better than that beatnik. A good one to start with is So You Wanna.com, which will give you the basics on choosing and prepping a car for the drive, picking a route, packing, finding a place to stay and preparing for an emergency. The site also offers useful tidbits such as: dialing #55 on a cell phone will usually put you through to state highway patrol officers. Once you've got a general plan, have a look at RoadsideAmerica.com, which bills itself as a "Guide to Uniquely Odd Tourist Attractions." The site is truly a cornucopia of oddities - a vampire grave? they've got it. A conspiracy museum? Yep, they've got it - why do you ask?! And as you make your journey, you can write in and submit your own tips! RoadsideAmerica also offers a state-by-state electronic map of attractions, tips, and advice on accomodations.

Category: United States

Reality meets fantasy meets reality meets reality

In light of Michael Richards' recent racist rant, Kenny Kramer, the man who was the real-life inspiration for Richards' character on "Seinfeld," has drawn a distinction between himself and the comedian. On the real Kramer's Web site, he says, "In no way do I condone or endorse what Michael Richards said or did. It is really annoying, and sad, that people are saying that Kramer is a racist. Michael Richards ceased being Kramer eight years ago." Kenny Kramer has a vested interest in avoiding like the plague any ties to Richards' meltdown: He makes a living, in part, by conducting public bus tours of "the factual and fantasy world of Seinfeld" in New York City. So, if you're a "Seinfeld" fan, consider booking one of his 3-hour tours next time you're in the Big Apple. Kramer himself has been known to answer the reservation hot line!