| Charleston's top 5 city tours and One-tank trips in five states |
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(SouthernLiving.com) -- We went on 19 tours -- that's a lot of Charleston -- and then worked up this list of the five best ways to explore historic downtown.Who it's for: First-time visitors who want a 101 overview of downtown Charleston -- or anyone looking for a refresher course.Why we picked it: After we tried every carriage company in town, Palmetto stood out for its guides' wit and historic accuracy.Southern Living tip: Palmetto offers free downtown parking. Take advantage of it: Arrive early and wander around the Market.Who it's for: Food Network addicts who dream of going behind-the-scenes and want to sample the dishes on Iron Chef.Why we picked it: The 2½-hour overview of Lowcountry dining combines tastings and chats with some of the city's top chefs.Southern Living tip: The Chef's Kitchen Tour is given Friday mornings. Plan it as a weekend kick-off--it may inspire a reservation. [Read the full article] (Southern Living) -- Explore Nashville, Tennessee, at five of Southern Living's favorite spots for live music, local produce and more.Located on Hillsboro Pike, in an unassuming strip mall between a Shell gas station and a McDonald's, the Bluebird Café is one of the top venues in America for hearing up-and-coming (and already famous) singers and songwriters. The small, 100-seat room isn't fancy, but an evening there sure is fun. Country, rock and contemporary Christian songwriters gather nightly for the 6 p.m. shows (6:30 p.m. on Friday through Sunday), sometimes joined by Bluebird alumni, such as Kathy Mattea and Garth Brooks.You'll find fresh food every day in downtown Nashville. Truckloads of homegrown melons, pattypan squash and enough peppers to make you whistle are hauled in early seven days a week in the shadow of the capitol. The sprawling market is home to dozens of sun-wizened growers, such as tomato guru Johnny Howell. [Read the full article] (MentalFloss.com) -- From how to score a cocktail to where to scatter grandma's ashes, this is your ticket to the real Magic Kingdom.The Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland is one of the scariest places in the park, but not for the reasons you'd expect. In his 1994 book "Mouse Tales," former Disney employee David Koenig tells the story of a tourist group that requested a little extra time on the ride so they could hold a quick memorial for a 7-year-old boy.Disney gave the family permission, but it turns out, the memorial was only half their plan. When the mourners were spotted sprinkling a powdery substance off their "doom buggies," the Haunted Mansion was quickly shut down until all the remains could be cleaned up.Amazingly, this wasn't an isolated incident. Stealthy ash scatterings have occurred all over Disneyland. Not everyone tries to skirt the rules, though. Every year, several families ask for permission. [Read the full article] 
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