By Kara Kimbrough A replica of the Statue of Liberty, complete with a lighted torch, greets guests as they enter the lobby at the Beau Rivage, much like the original Lady Liberty greeted immigrants enroute to the U.S. in the previous centuries. (Photo by Kara Kimbrough) America’s 250th birthday is next week and for those of you who, like me, are excited about this milestone in our nation’s history, I’m happy to report that July 4, 2026 lands on a Saturday. It’s the perfect opportunity to...

By: Kara Kimbrough The 33,000-acre Barnett Reservoir located in parts of Madison and Rankin Counties, is filled with numerous opportunities for boating, jet and water-skiing, swimming, fishing and picnicking. One of the most popular picnic areas is Lakeshore Park on the Rankin County side. (Photo courtesy of Pearl River Valley Water Supply District) Filling up the car with gas in advance of a road trip during the long Memorial Day weekend ahead was not a problem in previous years. But...

By Kara Kimbrough It’s not a “pretty” dish, but Dirty Spaghetti is a tasty alternative to traditional red sauce pasta. (Photo by Kara Kimbrough) The month of March is shaping up to be a great one, filled with some of my favorite things: Daylight Savings Time; a few day trips, culminating with a few stops along the Mississippi Gulf Coast; new food and treasure finds; spring break courtesy of a school-related job and of course, the advent of spring itself. In no particular order, here are...