DROG – Our Driving Blog | Things we find and do along I-95

NC: Visit The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola

Posted on May 18, 2015 by sandra

New Bern, NC Exit 98: In 1893, Caleb Davis Bradham opened a drugstore and soda fountain , where he served his own cola concoction called Brad’s Drink.

“Brad’s Drink,” made from a mix of sugar, water, caramel, lemon oil, nutmeg, and other natural additives, became an overnight sensation. If Brad’s drink doesn’t ring a bell, maybe you’ll recognize it by the name that we use today: Pepsi.

In 1898, Bradham changed the name to Pepsi-Cola. He believed the drink was more than a refreshment but a “healthy” cola, aiding in digestion, getting its roots from the word dyspepsia, meaning indigestion. (Despite its name and hearsay, pepsin was never an ingredient of Pepsi-Cola).

In 1998, The Birthplace of Pepsi Store opened to share Caleb Davis Bradham’s story, his legacy, and his cola with the world.

Location: The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola:
256 Middle Street, New Bern, NC 28560
Open: Mon – Sat 10 – 6pm, Sun noon – 4pm.
Tel: 252-636-5898
www.pepsistore.com/

Posted in Drink, Fun, Kids, Museum, North Carolina, Trivia | Tagged additive, aid, birthplace, Bradham, caramel, cola, digestion, drink, drugstore, dyspepsia, fountain, healthy, indigestion, ingredient, legacy, lemon, natural, New Bern, North Carolina, nutmeg, oil, pepsi, pepsi-cola, pepsin, refreshment, root, soda, store, story, sugar, water, world | Leave a comment

FL: Float, Flip & Soar Like an Astronaut in Outer Space

Posted on May 13, 2015 by sandra

Titusville, FL Exit 215: Ever dream of experience the effects of zero gravity on the moon ? The ZERO-G Experience® is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience true weightlessness on their specially modified Boeing 727, parabolic arcs are performed to create a weightless environment allowing you to float, flip and soar as if you were in space.

G-FORCE ONE flies level to the horizon at an altitude of 24,000 feet. The pilots then begins to pull up, gradually increasing the angle of the aircraft to about 45° to the horizon reaching an altitude of 34,000 feet. During this pull-up, passengers will feel the pull of 1.8 Gs. Next the plane is “pushed over” to create the zero gravity segment of the parabola.

As a Zero-G passenger, while donning your flight suit (which you get to keep), you’ll experience true weightlessness for as much as 30 seconds at a time, and the maneuver is repeated 15 times during a complete mission. The best part of all is you can do it in an afternoon, without traveling to the Moon , or even leaving the atmosphere. Costs $4,950.00 per passenger

Location: Zero G , 355 Golden Knights Blvd Titusville, FL 32780
Tel: 888-664-7284 for details and flight schedules
gozerog.com/

Posted in Florida, Fun, Special Event | Tagged Boeing, Florida, gravity, moon, parabolic, Titusville, weightlessness, zero, zero G | Leave a comment

SC: Have You Seen The Button Man?

Posted on May 11, 2015 by sandra

Bishopville, SC Exit 160: In Bishopville, just west of Florence, you can find The South Carlina Button Museum, listed as the largest button collection in the 1990 Guinness World Book of Records.

The Button King, aka Dalton Stevens, started covering things with buttons 15 years ago because he suffered from insomnia and needed something to keep him busy. He now has a museum filled with his creations and memorabilia.

This is where can you see a suit with 16,333 buttons, an outhouse, piano, and guitar all covered in buttons, a Chevrolet Chevette with 149,00 buttons, a hearse that has 600,000 buttons, and two caskets, one of which Stevens will be buried in when he passes away.

Stevens is also a vocalist and made numerous appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and The David Letterman Show where he performed one of his button inspired original songs.

Admission to the museum is FREE, but Stevens does accept donations.

Location:55 Joe Dority Road, Bishopville, SC 29010
Hours: opened 6 days a week
The Button King is around most of the time, but call first to make sure
Tel: 803-236-6096
www.scbuttonking.com

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Fun, Kids, Museum, South Carolina | Tagged admission, appearance, Bishopville, book, button, Carson, casket, Chevette, Chevrolet, collection, cover, creation, Dalton, donation, Florence, free, Guinness, guitar, hearse, insomnia, inspire, King, Letterman, memorabilia, Museum, original, outhouse, perform, piano, record, show, song, South Carolina, Stevens, suit, tonight, vocalist, world | Leave a comment

NC: Rub Shoulders With Your Favorite NASCAR Drivers

Posted on May 7, 2015 by sandra

Charlotte, NC ( N- Exit 119, route 64, S- Exit 13, route 74 ) : Celebrating its 21st year, the Speed Street 600 Festival is a huge Uptown Charlotte event. They celebrate the May races at Charlotte Motor Speedway with spectacular family-oriented event promoting motor sports throughout the Charlotte region.

Live musical entertainment, appearances by top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers and celebrities, dynamic interactive exhibits for fans all ages and and a roaring assembly of NASCAR show cars and simulators are all there – and it’s all FREE.

Don’t miss the “Little 600” race at the GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, N.C., where drivers and their wives take the wheel of the arrive-and-drive rental karts to compete in the Lady 600 and Little 600. The fan-friendly race format allows spectators an opportunity to watch several heat races that will set the starting grid for the final 15-lap event under the lights.

This popular multi-day, free event is attended by more than 400,000 people annually. For complete schedule of events, locations, and times please see website.

Location: Tryon Street between Seventh & Stonewall, Charlotte, NC
The Coca-Cola stage, is located in front of the NASCAR Hall of Fame between Brevard and Caldwell Streets and features all musical entertainment
Date: Thurs- Sat May 21, 22, 23, 2015
Hours: noon – 11 pm daily
Tel: 704-455-5555
600festival.com/

Posted in Drink, Entertainment, Festival, Food, Fun, Kids, Nature, North Carolina, Special Event | Tagged age, annual, appearance, arrive, assembly, car, celebrate, celebrity, Charlotte, Charlotte Motor Speedway, commemorate, compete, consumer event, driver, entertainment, event, exhibit, family-oriented, fan, festival, final lap, format, free, friendly, GoPro Motorplex, grid, heat, interactive, kart, lad, largest, live, May, motor, motorplex, multiday, musical, NASCAR, North Carolina, promote, race, racing, region, rental, show, simulator, Southeast, spectacular, spectator, speed, Speed Street 600, speedway, sport, Sprint Cup Series, street, street uptown, tranform, wheel | Leave a comment

DE: Savor 42 Gastronome Experiences at Wilmington Wine + Food Festival

Posted on May 4, 2015 by sandra

Wilmington, DE Exit 5C : The Wilmington Wine & Food Festival brings together top chefs with notable winemakers from around the world to appreciate and celebrate great wine and food and beer while showcasing the area’s unique and rich culture and history.

Chefs and winemakers collaborate on approximately 42 different events at 40 locations. Venues range from private homes of distinction, stately hotels, intimate and award-winning restaurants, elegant barns and dramatic public spaces rarely used for events, including historic properties.

Visitors enjoy one-of-a-kind epicurean experiences, meet and chat with chefs, vintners, brewers, distillers and other experts ready to share their knowledge and love for their craft. Take a culinary journey and enjoy the impressive events and the opportunity to sample over 200 different wines and beers throughout the weekend paired with scrumptious bites from many of the best locally owned restaurants, caterers, and food trucks.

Vote for the best dishes and wines with medals to be awarded to the winners. Tickets and more information available online now.

Location: throughout Greater Wilmington Area, Wilmington, DE 19801
Date: Wed May 13, 2015 – Sun May 17, 2015
Hours: Various, please refer to website events schedule
Tel: 302.660.2200 x110
mawff.org/

Posted in Delaware, Drink, Entertainment, Festival, Food, Fun, History, Restaurant, Special Event | Tagged award, award winning, barn, beer, best, brewer, caterer, chef, craft, culinary, culture, Delaware, dish, distiller, distinction, epicurean, event, expert, Food, food truck, historic, History, home, hotel, journey, knowledge, location, medal, one-of-a-kind, oublic, private, property, Restaurant, sample, truck, venue, vintner, vote, Wilmington, wine, winemaker, winner | Leave a comment

CT: Try a “Taste” Of New London on a Food Stroll

Posted on April 29, 2015 by sandra

New London, CT Exit 84: Indulge your inner foodie with the offerings of nearly 50 restaurants and specialty shops best cuisine at New London’s Historic Waterfront District “Spring Food Stroll”.

With your Food Stroll button, discover new dishes and savor signature ones sampling from the District’s interesting eateries. Take advantage of special discounts, promotions and demonstrations at many specialty shops and boutiques. Enjoy diverse musical performances by local musicians throughout downtown.

To purchase your button on the day of the event: The Atrium,
165 State Street, New London, from 10am-5:30pm or until button sell out. The Food Stroll is a rain or shine event.

Location: New London Main Street, CT
Date: Wed May 13th, 2015
Time: 5:30-8:30pm
Tel: 860-444-2489
www.newlondonmainstreet.org/

Posted in Connecticut, Drink, Entertainment, Food, Fun, Kids, Nature, Restaurant, Special Event | Tagged atrium, boutique, button, Connecticut, cuisine, demonstration, discount, discover, dish, district, Downtown, eatery, event, Food, historic, local, London, music, musical, musician, new, New London, performance, promotion, purchase, Restaurant, sample, savour, shop, signature, special, specialty, spring, stroll, taste, waterfront | Leave a comment

VA: Visit Nine Historic Sites for Only $10 in Alexandria

Posted on April 27, 2015 by sandra

Alexandria, VA Exit 177: The Alexandria Key to the City museum pass offers visitors the best way to unlock Alexandria’s rich history. For only $10 this pass grants you access to nine historic sites.

From the nation’s first president to Alexandria’s co-founders, the Civil War to civil rights, walk amongst original 18th-century buildings and walk on the same cobblestones streets once ussed by some of the most famous men in American history.

Sites include: Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Alexandria Black History Museum, Carlyle House Historic Park, Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site, Friendship Firehouse Museum, Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden, The Lyceum: Alexandria’s History Museum and Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum.

Purchase the Alexandria Key to the City pass at:
Alexandria Visitors Center,221 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Tel: 703-746-3301 or 800-388-9119
For more information on any of the 9 sites or to buy the pass online: www.visitalexandriava.com/things-to-do/historic-sites-attractions/key-to-the-city/

Posted in History, Military, Museum, Nature, Virginia | Tagged 18th-century, Alexandria, American, apothecary, archaeology, building, Carlyle, civil, Civil War, co-founder, firehouse, Fort Ward, friendship, Gadsby's, garden, historic, History, Lee-Fendall, lyceum, Museum, nation, original, President, rights, Stabler-Leadbeater, tavern, Virginia | Leave a comment

CT: Donkeys and Mules: Free Show and Fun at Bishop’s Orchards

Posted on April 24, 2015 by sandra

Guilford, CT Exit 57: Itching for some good ol’ country air? Check out the 7th Annual Bishop’s Orchards Donkey & Mule Show featuring over twenty events throughout the day including halter, showmanship, coon jumping, costume, driving, riding and obstacles. Participants will include all sizes of donkeys and mules such as mini, standard and mammoth sizes.

Along with the Donkey & Mule Show, there will be free wagon rides running throughout the day on a guided tour of the orchard with beautiful views of the apple trees in blossom. In addition, there will be face painting, a moon bounce, kid’s crafts, story times, vendors and wine tasting for the adults.

FREE admission to a day filled with loads of fun in a farm family friendly atmosphere.

Location: Bishop’s Orchards Farm Market and Winery,
1355 Boston Post Rd., Guilford, CT 06437
Date: Sat May 2, 2015
Hours: 9 – 4 pm
Tel: 203-453-2338
bishopsorchards.com

Posted in Connecticut, Drink, Entertainment, Festival, Food, Fun, Kids, Nature, Special Event, Sports | Tagged adult, annual, apple, atmosphere, bishop, blossom, bounce, Connecticut, coon, costume, craft, donkey, driving, event, face, farm, friendly, fun, guided, Guilford, halter, jumping, kid, mammoth, mini, moon, mule, obstacle, orchard, painting, participant, ride, riding, show, showmanship, standard, story, tasting, tour, tree, vendor, view, wagon, wine | Leave a comment

FL: The Players Championship – Biggest Purse on the Tour

Posted on April 22, 2015 by sandra

FL Exit 344: Since its start in 1974, The Players Championship has been one of the PGA Tour’s most coveted titles.

Held annually in May, The Players is one of the most anticipated tournaments on the PGA Tour calendar usually including the top fifty players in the world rankings, but also the biggest purse on the PGA Tour- $10,000,000.

The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is a golf course built with both the pros and the fans in mind. The course first hosted The Players in 1982 and is now the permanent home of the annual event. Golf fans travel from all around the world to experience The Players Championship in person.

Location: TPC Sawgrass, 110 Championship Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082
Dates: Tues, May 5 to Sun, May 10, 2015
Hours: May 5, 6, 9, 10 Gates open at 7:30 a.m.
May 7, 8 Gates open at 6:30 a.m.
Tel: 904-543-7446
www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-players-championship.html

Posted in Florida, Special Event, Sports | Tagged annual, calendar, championship, course, event, fan, field, Florida, golf, home, host, Jacksonville, May, permanent, PGA, player, Players, professional, purse, ranking, Sawgrass, stadium, title, tour, tournament, travel, world | Leave a comment

NH: Hooray for Children’s Day!

Posted on April 20, 2015 by sandra

Portsmouth, NH Exit 7: From a cruise aboard the M/V Thomas Laighton to a photo with a favorite friend from Character Island; this family-friendly environment is filled with activities, entertainment, and crafts, and usually, an ice cream sundae.

Portsmouth creates a unique map for kids of all ages to follow the alphabet around town. From A to Z, they can visit shops and restaurants, and head to a Block Party on Pleasant Street, which is closed off to vehicles for the day.

Enjoy this fun, FREE event; the day is filled with something for everyone.

Location: Portsmouth Downtown, Portsmouth NH
Date: May 3, 2015
Hours: 12:00 -4:00
Tel: 603-610-5521
www.proportsmouth.org/childrensday.cfm

Posted in Arts and Crafts, Entertainment, Festival, Food, Fun, Ice Cream, Kids, Nature, New Hampshire, Restaurant, Shopping, Special Event | Tagged activity, alphabet, bock, character, child, children, craft, cruise, day, entertainment, environment, family, favorite, free, friend, friendly, fun, ice cream, island, map, New Hampshire, party, photo, Pleasant, Portsmouth, Restaurant, shop, street, sundae, Thomas Laighton, town, vehicle, visit | Leave a comment

DROG – Our Driving Blog

NC: Visit The Birthplace of Pepsi-Cola

FL: Float, Flip & Soar Like an Astronaut in Outer Space

SC: Have You Seen The Button Man?

NC: Rub Shoulders With Your Favorite NASCAR Drivers

DE: Savor 42 Gastronome Experiences at Wilmington Wine + Food Festival

CT: Try a “Taste” Of New London on a Food Stroll

VA: Visit Nine Historic Sites for Only $10 in Alexandria

CT: Donkeys and Mules: Free Show and Fun at Bishop’s Orchards

FL: The Players Championship – Biggest Purse on the Tour

NH: Hooray for Children’s Day!

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta