Weekend Getaways in Alabama

Book excerpt: NAMED A "BEST BOOK" BY TRAVEL & LEISURE Like its predecessor, Weekend Getaways in Louisiana and Mississippi, Mary Fonseca's new, updated version presents the same wide choices for excursions that are designed for a two-to-three day stay. Covering cities large and small from Houma to Ruston, from Natchitoches to Lake Charles and in between, it includes Cajun music festivals, historic state capitals, antebellum plantations, swamp tours, outdoor adventures, and much more. Specific entries for lodgings, restaurants, and attractions list addresses, phone numbers, shopping, guide services, major annual events, and traveling instructions. Selected maps also help guide the way to overnight and three-day vacations in one of the Deep South's most interesting states. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fonseca is a freelance writer who frequently speaks to various clubs, organizations, and travel groups. She has written several cover stories for Louisiana Life, including seven pieces of a series entitled "Say 'Yes' to Louisiana," which won first-place honors from the Press Club of New Orleans. Additionally, her writing and features have appeared in Americana, Nation's Business, Traveler, Vista USA, Mississippi, and other leading publications.