Overview
Introduction
This small town in west-central Georgia has two claims to fame, one having to do with music and the other with art.
The music comes from several attractions that opened in the early 1990s. The National Country Music Museum has a unique collection that includes a pair of Tanya Tucker's stage boots and a George Jones guitar. The Elvis Collection Museum has memorabilia related to the King—scarves, costumes, furniture and more. And the Silver Moon Music Barn has music shows, including performances by big-name country entertainers.
The art comes from Pasaquan, the legacy of free-spirited artist Eddie Owens Martin, who died in 1986. His homestead, about 5 mi/8 km from Buena Vista, is a tangle of creation: There are sculptures and murals inside and out. Much of the work displays Martin's fascination with Eastern and African themes. Martin has been lauded as one of the foremost folk artists in the U.S. by Smithsonian magazine and others. Pasaquan is open on Saturday and Sunday or by appointment. Buena Vista is 105 mi/170 km south of Atlanta.
Overview
Introduction
A visit to Hacienda Buena Vista, Puerto Rico, a 19th-century coffee plantation, is like taking a trip back in time.
Located between Ponce and Adjuntas, about a two-hour drive from San Juan, the estate has operated for more than 120 years, changing its cash crop from coffee to corn flour and cotton to oranges as world markets shifted. The manor house, coffee and corn mills, and slave quarters have all been remarkably restored.
The 90-minute tours (services for the handicapped also available) are offered Wednesday-Sunday by reservation only. Phone 787-722-5882 (weekdays) or 787-284-7020 (weekends). http://www.paralanaturaleza.org.
Note: Puerto Rico sustained severe damage during Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Recovery efforts may take years. Travelers should investigate current conditions prior to planning a visit. Watch out for deep potholes and downed utility lines on steep and winding roads near the Hacienda.