Georgia

Savannah: A Beautiful City For A Mini Vacation

Last week, my “adopted” granddaughter, Abbey, and I went on a mini vacation to Savannah, Georgia. Savannah is a great place to get away from it all, and not break the bank. It is so convenient to get to from almost any city in Georgia. If you live in the metro Atlanta area, just take I-75 south to Macon, where you pick up I-16. I-16 takes you right into downtown Savannah. Because we live in west Georgia, we went Hwy 27 south to Hwy 16 thru Newnan, and got on I-75 at Forsyth. It was a much more pleasant drive.

Once you get to Savannah, there are so many options of things to do, and places to eat. On our first day there, we took a trolley tour that went around every square in town. The guide told us so much about the history of Savannah, too. After the trolley tour, we took a Savannah Riverboat Tour. The cruise went west first to the docks where the big ships unload, then east down past Ft. Pulaski. That night, we went to Tybee Island so we could see the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, while we were eating dinner a thunderstorm rolled in, with lots of lightning, so we did not get to see it.

On the second day, we drove up to Hilton Head Island for another chance to get our feet wet in the Atlantic. This time we were successful! We didn’t stay long because we both tend to sunburn in a very short period. We drove home and rested for a bit, then went to dinner at a barbecue restaurant. After dinner, we went on yet another tour! This time it was a walking ghost tour! It was a two hour tour, with more history of the city, and lots of ghost stories and thrilling tales. By the time it was over, I was exhausted! I took my walker with me on this trip, and was so glad I did. It has a seat so that I could sit down whenever we stopped at a haunted house, while the tour guide told us his story.

I’ll be telling about our trip to Savannah in more detail, with lots of pictures, in the next few days, so stay tuned!

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I’m Going To Savannah Next Week!

Karen · Leave a Comment

Back in the 1980’s, I was a Girl Scout Leader for my daughters. Troop 147 went on a lot of trips, both locally and on the road to other places. We went to Huntsville, Alabama to the Space Center. We took a 10 day Amtrak train trip to Washington, D.C., Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City. We also went to the home of Juliette Gordon Lowe in Savannah, Georgia a couple of times. I haven’t been back to Savannah since 1988.

This time I am taking my “adopted” granddaughter, Abbey. She has never been to Savannah, so it will be a fun trip for her. We plan to do all the things and eat all the things. We will be staying at the Fairfield Inn and Suites on Martin Luther King Blvd, which is only about two blocks from the Savannah River and River Street. The plan is to take a walk down River Street to see the sights.

We will also go to eat at The Pirates House Restaurant. I have been to The Pirate’s House a couple of times. It is one of the traditional places to eat in Savannah. The menu includes lots of seafood, which will make both Abbey and me happy!

One of the days that we are in Savannah, we hope to drive out to Tybee Island to get our toes in the sand of the beach. I don’t do well in the sun–I always burn to a lobster like red. So, the plan is to go to the beach late in the evening when it cools off some. And one of the nights that we are there, we hope to go on a ghost tour. I think our days will be full of things to do and see, and we will have a ton of fun. Of course, I’ll be blogging it all.

Savannah is a good weekend trip from most places in Georgia. From my home in Buchanan, which is on the Alabama border, it is only a 300 mile drive. From Atlanta, it is 248 miles. A trip from Milledgeville is only 168 miles. Even from Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia, it is only a 358 mile drive.

Y’all come back and read about our trip next week, and plan a trip of your own to Savannah!

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5 Fun Things To Do In Augusta With Kids

Karen · Leave a Comment

If you are a grandma like me, you may be looking for things to do with the grandkids when you travel. Taking a trip by car with several young kids can be trying, even for the most patient person. I try to look for things to do in cities we may be passing through, just to get off the road for an hour or so, and let the kids walk around, run, get that energy out so the trip will pass by easier for everyone. Here are five fun things to do with grandkids I recently found in Augusta, Georgia that you may like to visit.

The Playhouse

One thing that caught my eye about The Playhouse was the Toddler Zone. So many places don’t have a special area just for the little kids. The Toddler Zone gives the littles a place to play without having to compete with bigger kids. A big “thumbs up” to The Playhouse for having this place.

In addition to the Toddler Zone, there is a low impact paintball area for kids 10 & up. Admission includes face mask, chest gear, paintball gum, and unlimited ammo. Contact The Playhouse for prices and waivers.

They have a new 8 lane slot car track that looks like it will be a lot of fun. When I was a kids so many years ago, we had slot car tracks at home. Racing the cars was fun! You have to have a lot of skill not to crash these cars, but even if you crash, it is still fun. I would go to The Playhouse by myself just to play with the slot cars!

There are lots more things to do at The Playhouse. Click here to check them out.

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park

Get out of the car and take a hike! At Phinizy Swamp Nature Park, there are several short trails that would perfect for kids of all ages. The one that looks most appealing to me is the Beaver Dam Trail. The opportunity to see beavers swimming in the creek makes me want to go today! Other animals you might see on this trail are River Otter, Red Shouldered Hawk, Egrets & Herons. Go to their website for more information, and check to see if your travel plans would allow you to go on one of the guided nature hikes.

Patriot Riverboat Tours

Take a tour of the riverfront of Augusta with a narrated tour. From their website:

Patriot Riverboat Tours allows you to see Augusta’s downtown, beautiful riverfront homes, and natural landscapes and wildlife all along the Savannah River. One hour riverboat tours depart Wednesday through Sunday at 3 p.m. from the 10th Street dock located behind the Marriott downtown Augusta, GA. Saturday Sunset Cruises are also available. Check the website for Sunset Cruise departure times. Food and beverages are allowed on-board. Public Tour Rates (Purchase tickets at the boat; cash or check only): 1-Hour Tours are $12. 2-Hour Saturday Sunset Tour are $20. Children Ages 6-12 are $6. Reservations are strongly suggested.

Civil War

photo courtesy of Augusta Canal Boat Tours

If you are interested in Civil War sites, there are quite a few places in the Augusta area to take a look. The Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson offers tours Thursdays-Saturdays on the hour from 10 am to 4 pm. Tours last approximately 45 minutes. Admission is $5 for Adults, $4 for Seniors, $3 for Students K-12, and Free for children under age 5.

Take a tour on the Augusta Canal, where you will learn about confederate operations there during the Civil War. Tours depart daily at 1:30 p.m. and cost $14 for adults, $12 senior 60+, student or military.

Evans Towne Center Park

Evans Towne Center Park offers so much for a family to do, with a great playground that includes a splash pad, and shaded picnic areas for picnics. There’s a dog park too, so every member of the family is welcome here. Take a change of clothes for after the splash pad!

There you have it, five fun things to do with grandkids in Augusta.

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Great Fishing Spots In Georgia

Karen · Leave a Comment

Fabgrandpa and I have always loved fishing together. We have fished in lakes and streams, and have even fished for shrimp in the intra-coastal waterway in Florida. Our best fishing holes were in Georgia, though. We often took a weekend drive with the fishing gear loaded in the car, looking for a good place to go fishing.

Fabgrandma with the catch of the day at Sweetwater Creek State Park in 2000

Sweetwater Creek State Park is in Lithia Springs, Georgia. We lived about three miles from there when we first got married. We spent a lot of time fishing from the shore, and walking in the creek. I loved going out in a rental boat, though, because I could catch more fish that way! Just look at that stringer of Crappie that I caught.

Our grandson, Michael, with is great catch!

Although R-Ranch is a private resort, we were friends with a couple of people who were owners there, so we stayed in the cabins a couple of times. We loved fishing in the lakes there. My grandson, Michael, caught those fish on his first ever fishing trip.

We rented a boat at Lake Burton in north Georgia one day. Fabgrandpa had a great time catching bass. I caught a bream as big as my boot, but alas, I can’t find the picture to prove it.

Fabgrandpa caught this big bass when we lived at Stone Mountain Park in 2005.

In 2005, we workcamped at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta. We lived in the campground there for 10 months. We took one of the rental boats out several times a week with our trolling motor. It was fun to catch bass there. This day, Fabgrandpa caught the biggest one.

I know there are other places we fished in Georgia that I don’t have pictures of . In one of the cold streams in the north Georgia mountains, I caught several trout one day while standing on some rocks. That day was one of my favorite fishing days. I would love to still be able to go fishing. If I could, I would fish the Tallapoosa River that is near our house here in west Georgia. Where do you go fishing? What is your favorite fish to catch?

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Fogo De ChÃO New Summer Salads

Karen · Leave a Comment

The good folks over at Fogo De ChÃo invited me and a guest to come try out their new summer salads on the Market Bar. My son, Seth, and I went and we are so glad we did.

If you are like me, and have a really hard time deciding on which cut of meat to order when you go out to a steak house, then you are going to LOVE Fogo De ChÃO. The Brazilian restaurant where they serve fire roasted meats off of huge skewers brought to your table, in the Churrasco style, is one of the most unique places I have dined.

They have two locations in Atlanta–one on Piedmont Rd in Buckhead, which is where my son and I went; and the other in Dunwoody on Ashford Dunwoody Rd. You can check their website to see if there is one in your area.

As soon as we arrived, the manager, Carlos, came over to our table to welcome us. He had a delicious shrimp cocktail brought out, too. It was almost too pretty to eat, but eat it we did. Six huge shrimps over ice, served with cocktail sauce. Carlos also treated us to a couple of cocktails from the bar. For my son, he presented a Honey & Smoke, which had Monkey Shoulder Whisky, gingered honey, Peaty Glenmorangie Original, Luxardo Cherry. For me, a pink confection with Guava that was made with Belvedere Vodka, guava, lemon, La Marca Prosecco. Both were really good. Carlos said they were the two most popular cocktails from the bar.

Next, I went to the Market Table. The Market Table at Fogo De ChÃo is a huge assortment of salads, fresh vegetables, cheeses, cured meats, and more. The new items were Heirloom Tomato and Fresh Mozzarella Salad, and a Watermelon Feta Salad. Both were beautifully displayed, and tasted great. Next time I’ll try the artichoke hearts, and some of the scrumptious looking olives.

Most everything at Fogo De ChÃo is gluten free, even the table bread made from a Brazilian recipe. Other side dishes brought to table include fried plaintain, garlic mashed potatoes, polenta, and an assortment of sauces to accompany the star of the show, the fire roasted meats. When I say that there is a big assortment of meats from which to choose, I am not kidding. On this night, Seth and I tried all of these:

Picanha, which is the prime cut of sirloin seasoned with sea salt or garlic to bring out the natural flavor.

Beef Ancho, the most prime part of the rib eye, oh, so tenderQ!

Lamb Chops, my personal favorite.

Costela De Porco, tender pork ribs slow roasted for remarkable flavor and tenderness.

Filet Mignon, get it seasoned in the gaucho tradition and fire roasted, or wrapped in bacon.

Frango, unique cuts of chicken including legs, and bacon wrapped chicken breast.

Linguica, pork sausages.

Seth and tried all of those items. There were more things to choose from but we just did not have room to try them all. Everything we tasted was so good. I would go back to Fogo De ChÃo as often as I can.

We also tried two of the desserts. There was the Tres Leches Cake, with whipped cream and strawberries; and papaya cream topped with black currant liquer.

The full Churrasco Experience, which includes the Market Table and the Fire Roasted Meats served at table, and sides, at the Atlanta locations, is $53.95 for dinner, but well worth it. You can sign up at the Fogo E-Club to get a promotional emails and other info from Fogo De ChÃo.

The manger, Carlos, with one of the Gaucho servers with a skewer of Picahna.

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Great Wolf Lodge Tasting Event

Karen · Leave a Comment

Great Wolf Lodge is opening a new resort in Lagrange, Georgia in May of this year. The new 457-suite family resort opening this May in LaGrange will offer eight unique eateries that range from the farm-to-fork elevated dining experience at Barnwood to satisfying sweet cravings with ice cream treats at Ben & Jerry’s. They invited me to come to City Winery in Atlanta on April 5th to taste some of the food that will be on the menu when they open.

Abbey and I at the Great Wolf Lodge Tasting Event.

I was allowed to take a guest, so I invited my adopted granddaughter, Abbey, to go with me. She was so excited to go because this was her first event experience.

The event started out with cocktails and Small Bites. There were lots of choices on the table: Cheese & Charcuterie; Pretzels with stone ground mustard and beer cheese; Pimento Cheese with Lodge Pickles and crackers; Crab Cakes with Chipotle Aioli and Micro Greens; and Mini Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits with Pepper Jam and Lodge-made Pickles. Everything was so good, but those Crab Cakes were absolutely delicious. I would go to Great Wolf Lodge just so I could order them!

The tables set up at City Winery for the event.

After the social hour where we met several other bloggers and magazine reporters, we found our seats. Each place at the table was set with name cards indicating where we would sit. I had Abbey to my right, a fashion blogger on my left, and representatives of The Good Life Magazine and Atlanta Magazine across the table. It was quite an interesting mix of folks making for great conversation. Before the food was served, we were introduced to Jason, the Communications Manager for Great Wolf Lodge, and Chef John Suley, the VP of Food & Beverage.

great wolf lodge — Introducing members of management from Great Wolf Lodge.

After the introductions, the first course that was served was Fried Green Tomatoes. I am not normally a fan of this traditionally southern food, but I tried these and they were really good. They had just the right amount of crunch, and were not too tart, which is why I don’t normally like them. I would order them if I went to Great Wolf Lodge. They were served with a Cajun Buttermilk dressing. Oh, and everything on the menu for the evening was gluten free except for the Mini Southern Fried Chicken Biscuits, and the corn that was served later on.

great wolf lodge menu — Fried Green Tomatoes with Cajun Buttermilk

Another thing on the menu that surprised me was the Roasted Golden Beets , with lodge-made Ricotta, Arugula, and white Balsamic. I don’t eat beets, ever, because they taste like dirt to me. However, I told myself that I would taste everything that was served. Chef Suley prepared this beet dish to perfection. I liked it and wanted more! That is a good thing! I did not get a picture of it. It was a very pretty dish of food, too.

I also did not get a picture of the Braised BBQ Short Ribs with Creamed Corn and Crispy Shallots. These short ribs were so tender! The Crispy Shallots made an excellent accompaniment. Mushroom Risotto with Mascarpone and Fresh Thyme was a creamy rice dish. I loved it!

Great Wolf Lodge eats — Mushroom Risotto with Mascarpone and Fresh Thyme

When we were first seated at the table and looking over the menu cards, I heard someone at our table remark “Let’s see how this Yankee Chef handles the Shrimp and Grits”. Well, I’m telling you he did a wonderful job. The Shrimp & Grits with Andouille Sausage and Roasted Jalapeño Cream were the highlight of the menu for me. Out of this world delicious!

Great Wold Lodge Eats — Shrimp and Grits with Andouille Sausage and Roasted Jalapeno Cream

As if the Shrimp & Grits weren’t the best thing served yet, it seemed that Chef Suley kept the best for last. The New York Strip Steak with Grilled Vegetables and Compound Butter was melt in your mouth tender and so, so good! I wasn’t able to get a good photo of it, but if you like your steak medium rare, it was cooked just right. I don’t think I have ever had a steak that was so good. The vegetables served along with the steak were very good, too. So far, everything that was served was really good. With eight restaurants in which to dine at the Great Wolf Lodge in Lagrange, Georgia, and food this good, you could spend a week there and not taste all of the wonderful food!

The last thing served, of course, was dessert. Banana Pudding and S’Mores Sundaes were cleverly dished up in mason jars. They looked so good, and proved to be delicious.

The Great Wolf Lodge Atlanta in Lagrange, Georgia opens on May 24, 2018. The centerpiece of the resort will be the nearly 100,000 square foot indoor water park. With signature Great Wolf Lodge water rides and attractions including Fort Mackenzie, a multi-level interactive water fort treehouse with a massive tipping bucket, high thrill water slides, a relaxing lazy river, a huge wave pool, and several zero depth entry pools and kid water play areas, the new resort will feature water fun for everyone. There is a whole lot more to do there, though. To learn more about Great Wolf Lodge, the activities and attractions, and to make a reservation, visit their website. I haven’t been there yet, but believe me when I say I want to go just so I can enjoy the food!

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The Big Zombie Tour 2 with Atlanta Movie Tours Review

Karen · 7 Comments

Our tickets were comped by Atlanta Movie Tours so that I could write this review, but all opinions are mine.

The Walking Dead. I absolutely love that show. I love it so much that we watched all the episodes from season 1 through season 6 over the summer. I am itching to see the season 7 premiere. October 22 can’t get here fast enough! To say that I am a fan is, well, an epic statement. So, when Fabgrandpa was in the hospital back in August, we were talking about The Walking Dead with two nurses who were in the process of removing the catheter from his leg. One of them asked me if I had been on any of the Zombie Tours yet. And I said, “No! I didn’t even know they had tours.” She said her mother works for Atlanta Movie Tours, and we talked a little bit about it. You never know what you are going to learn from talking about things you love.

So, I got in touch with Atlanta Movie Tours, and worked out a plan for doing a review of Big Zombie Tour #2. Fabgrandpa still did not feel well enough to go, so I asked my daughter, Emily, if she wanted to go with me. Even though she is a teacher, and it was on a school day, she took the day off as a personal day so she could go. She is an even bigger fan of The Walking Dead than I am, if that is even possible!

On the day of the tour, we left my house at noon, headed to Senoia, Georgia. It was a 66 mile drive from my house to The Waking Dead Cafe, the check-in point for the tour. You can also meet at the Atlanta Movie Tours office in Atlanta, and ride their bus to Senoia. There was a sign on the sidewalk in front of the cafe so it was easy to find. Inside the cafe, there were The Walking Dead posters on the walls. The coffee drinks were all named after characters in the show.

The Big Zombie Tour #2 with Atlanta Movie Tours — The Big Zombie Tour sign on the sidewalk.

The Big Zombie Tour #2 — The Waking Dead Cafe sign.

When all of the people who were going on the tour had checked in, we got on the bus and started the tour. The tour guide, Kent, has worked as an extra and as a Walker on the show many times. He had a remarkable amount of knowledge about the show, and kept us entertained with inside information about the show, the actors, how to get a job as an extra or a Walker on the show, and about the movie and TV industry in Georgia. The bus also had a TV, and when we were passing by or stopped at a location that was used in the show, one of the tour employees played clips from the show with scenes from that location. The clips made the places we were seeing come to life.

One of my favorite locations was the “Pudding House”. On one of the episodes, Carl found a 112 ounce can of chocolate pudding, and sat on the roof of the porch while he ate the entire can. I loved that episode, because it showed that even though Carl was mature beyond his age due to the challenges of living in a post apocalyptic world, he was still just a boy at heart.

Big Zombie Tour #2 — The “Pudding House”, where Carl ate an entire 112 ounce can of chocolate pudding while sitting on the roof of the porch.

The railroad was central to a couple of seasons of The Walking Dead. We saw several places along the railroad that looked so familiar because we had seen them in the show. This was the tower where Tara had to rest after twisting her ankle.

Most of the tour we were on, The Big Zombie Tour #2, was easily accessible for me. I have a disability that makes getting up from a seated position, sitting down, going up and down stairs, and walking long distances difficult. There were only two places where it was hard for me, but I managed to do it. The first place was at an abandoned factory that was the location of the “fight arena” in Woodbury, where The Governor pitted Merrell against Darrell in a fight to the death of one of them. The only way to get to the set location was via a very steep, narrow, stairway. It was harder going down them than coming back up. I’m glad I made the effort, because I volunteered to be one of the people in “Zombie School” where we learned how to walk like a Walker on The Walking Dead. Fun! That’s my daughter, Emily, on the stairs in front of me. I went last so I wouldn’t hold anyone up.

The fight arena location:

The second place where I had a hard time was when we got to the place where Morgan’s Apartment was. The tour guide parked the bus, and we had to walk a couple of blocks. I was waaaay behind everyone else, because I am so slow walking, but I made it all the way to the apartment. This is what is on their FAQ page about accommodating handicapped guests:

Do you make provisions for handicapped guests?
Yes. We want everyone to enjoy themselves. There are portions of the tours that occur on foot, but all surfaces should be safe for wheelchairs. The bus is not equipped with a lift and we ask that you notify us in advance if you need to bring a folding wheelchair with you so we may make arrangements for storage.

You can also find information on the FAQ page about transportation to Senoia from Atlanta for the Big Zombie Tour #2 and Big Zombie Tour #3; refund policy; interpreters; and a lot more.

Tours are priced at $65 per person, which in my opinion are well worth the cost. My daughter and I really enjoyed our tour. We saw a lot of places (I didn’t even show you pictures of more than half of them!) and learned a lot about how and where our favorite show is filmed. We are planning to go on Big Zombie Tour #1 and Big Zombie Tour #3 as soon as we can!

To contact Atlanta Movie Tours, you can call them at 855-255-3456; send them an email at info@atlantamovietours.com ; or visit them at their shop at 327 Nelson St SW, Atlanta, GA 30313. You can save $5 per ticket when you purchase them online using promo code FABGRANDMA at checkout!

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la Madeleine Country French Café: The Holiday Feast Is Ready!

Karen · 2 Comments

This post is sponsored by la Madeleine French Café
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My friend, Elaine, and I recently visited la Madeleine French Café in Marietta to taste their Family Holiday Feast. We were both pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. We were served oven roasted turkey breast, cranberry apple stuffing, cranberry orange chutney, roasted asparagus, and creamy wild mushroom sauce. (note: this is NOT gluten free),

The turkey breast was so moist and delicious! I don’t think I have ever had turkey that good. (Sorry, Mama). The dressing was really good too. It had a nice texture and was seasoned just right, and had cranberries and diced apples in it. I am thinking of adding them to my dressing next time I make it. For dessert, the waiter brought out Crème Brûlée Cheesecake and Grand Chocolate Tart.

This meal for two was so delicious, and very reasonably priced. If we had been paying customers, it would have been less than $25 for entree, sides, drink, bread, and dessert.

Imagine being able to serve a meal this good to your family and friends for the holidays, with no work on your part other than driving to La Madeleine to pick it up! La Madeleine is taking the worry out of holiday event hosting with the Holiday Feast, suited for every celebration this season. Holiday Feasts for the family are prepared in la Madeleine’s cafés and available for pick-up. Both Turkey and Ham Feasts serve up to eight people and are served with three house-made sides, accouterments and desserts. Reminding hosts and their guests why this time of year is truly “la Madeleine season,” Feast recipes blend time-honored traditions of the holidays with la Madeleine’s own unique French twist.

After pick-up, a simple reheat is all that is needed to serve the Feast at home for $14.99 per person.

La Madeleine Country French Cafe Holiday Feast

The feast includes:

Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast or Hickory-Smoked Spiral Cut Ham
Cranberry Apple Stuffing
Cheesy Potato Gratin
Green Beans Almondine
Cranberry Orange Chutney
Creamy Wild Mushroom Sauce
Sourdough Petit Pain
Choice of two desserts: Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Tart, Chocolate Tart, Lemon Tart or Bûche de Noël, the traditional French Yule Log cake (available after Thanksgiving)
For more information, visit www.lamadeleine.com.

About la Madeleine Country French Café

Dallas-based la Madeleine Country French Café was established in 1983 by self-described “French country boy” Patrick Esquerré to fulfill his dream of bringing classic French country fare to America. Inspired by his mother’s cooking, Patrick insisted on maintaining the integrity of French cuisine by using fresh ingredients and recipes that have been passed from one generation to the next.

From its signature fireplace to its crave-worthy food, la Madeleine offers a warm, welcoming atmosphere where guests are invited to come and stay in a casual, French home atmosphere. La Madeleine’s French-inspired fare served throughout the day during breakfast, lunch and dinner features handcrafted entrées, sandwiches, salades and soupes, as well as freshly-baked breads, artisan pâtisseries and several additional distinctive specialties. La Madeleine’s authenticity, innovation and fresh menu items differentiate the brand, creating widespread appeal.

A treasured part of many communities for more than 30 years, there are currently more than 75 cafés across Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia and Florida. For more information on menu items, café locations and hours of operation, visit www.laMadeleine.com.

WIN IT! One reader will win a $50 Gift Card from La Madeleine. Enter using the Giveaway Tools form below:

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