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PUBLISHER’S note
Living along Florida’s East Coast has shown me that treasure takes many forms. It can be a sunrise over the Atlantic, a quiet boat ride on the Intracoastal, sea turtle tracks in the sand, fresh local seafood, or dinner shared with family and friends. at spirit inspired the name of this month’s journal, TREASURE. To me, it represents the people, places, and everyday pleasures that make our coastal communities feel like home. It is found in the restaurants we return to, the local businesses we support, and the familiar views that still catch our attention.
As you explore these pages, I hope you discover a new destination, a restaurant to try, an idea for your home, or another reason to enjoy our remarkable coastline. Florida’s East Coast o ers riches at every turn, o en hiding in plain sight. Sometimes the greatest treasures are already right outside our door.
Warm regards,
Publisher Coastal Pearl Living, Glen Fetzner
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TREASURE Coastal Pearl Living explores the promise of inspiration through the people, places, and distinctive experiences that shape life along the coast. As a premier luxury publication, Coastal Pearl Living curates stories that re ect elegance, inspiration, and re ned coastal living. We publish 13 times a year, o ering readers an exclusive look into the essence of coastal luxury. Each issue brings thoughtful editorial, exceptional design, and fresh perspectives to discerning readers who appreciate coastal style. Publisher: Glen Fetzner Executive Editor: Denise Copeland Digital: Luis Cruz Creative Director: Yolanda Cole Asst. Art Director: Tara Macgillivray For advertising information and rates, contact us today (772)334-2121 or by email at sales@mediaoms.com STAY CONNECTED
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The Write Address
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Fall Inspired Recipes
CoastalPearlLiving.com
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Editor’s Choice Wines
Music Cities River
Contents
TIDES OF STYLE 48 Selfless Love Foundation Gala Highlights Impact & Inspires Generosity Supporting children & youth impacted by foster care COASTAL CURRENTS 26 The Music Cities River A riverboat tour on the American Symphony
SPOTLIGHT 12 America Voted Stuart, Florida the 2nd Best Coastal Small Town USA Today’s 2024 Reader’s Poll Results SOUTHERN TASTE 38 Fall Inspired Recipes Butternut squash with tender lobster, Gulf shrimp, fresh herbs and rich, creamy sauces
42 Book Reviews
The Write Address An inside peak at Florida based authors and best sellers
America Voted For Stuart
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TREASURE
Coastal Pearl Living reserves the right to deny any advertisement or listing. Submissions are welcome, but unsolicited materials are not guaranteed to be returned. Coast Pearl Living assumes no responsibility or liability for the information, services, products, claims, statements, accuracy, or intended or unintended results of any advertiser, editorial contributors, company, professional corporation, business or service provider herein this publication. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor even touched, but just felt in the heart.” — Helen Keller
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W hat if healthcare focused not only on treating disease, but also on helping you stay strong, energetic, independent, and healthy for decades to come? Dr. Ahmet Ergin, MD, is a board certi ed endocrinologist and functional medicine physician dedicated to helping patients optimize their health, restore vitality, prevent age related decline, and improve quality of life. As the Treasure Coast’s only Functional Endocrinologist, Dr. Ergin combines the science of endocrinology with evidence based functional medicine, advanced hormone optimization, medical weight loss, peptide therapy, and longevity focused preventive care. At the Diabetes, yroid and Hormone Center of the Treasure Coast, patients receive a level of personalized care that extends far beyond routine laboratory testing and medication management. Dr. Ergin works closely with men and women seeking solutions for weight gain, fatigue, low testosterone, menopause symptoms, thyroid disorders, loss of muscle mass, poor recovery, insulin resistance, in ammation, metabolic dysfunction, and the challenges that naturally accompany aging. His philosophy is simple. e goal is not merely to help patients live longer. e goal is to help them live better. Dr. Ergin focuses on optimizing the factors that most in uence long term healthspan, including metabolic health, hormonal balance, body composition, muscle preservation, cognitive performance, cardiovascular risk reduction, sleep quality, energy production, and healthy aging. By identifying and addressing the underlying drivers of dysfunction, many patients experience improvements in energy, strength, mental clarity, physical performance, and overall well being. For individuals struggling with stubborn weight gain, Dr. Ergin o ers comprehensive medical weight loss programs that address the hormonal and metabolic factors oen overlooked in traditional approaches. His programs may include advanced GLP 1 based therapies, metabolic evaluations, nutritional interventions, exercise optimization, and muscle preserving strategies designed to help
patients achieve meaningful and sustainable results. Many patients experience signi cant reductions in body fat while preserving lean muscle mass and improving metabolic health. Hormone optimization is another cornerstone of Dr. Ergin’s practice. He provides individualized treatment plans for men and women experiencing symptoms related to hormonal imbalance, including low testosterone, menopause, perimenopause, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal dysfunction, and age related hormonal decline. Rather than relying on a one size ts all approach, treatment plans are customized to each patient’s unique physiology, goals, symptoms, and laboratory ndings. Dr. Ergin also incorporates emerging evidence based therapies designed to support recovery, performance, body composition, and healthy aging. Depending on the patient’s needs, treatment strategies may include peptide therapy, regenerative approaches, advanced nutritional support, metabolic optimization, and personalized longevity protocols. ese therapies are carefully selected and integrated into a comprehensive plan that prioritizes safety, e ectiveness, and measurable outcomes. His expertise is built upon an exceptional academic foundation. Dr. Ergin graduated at the top of his medical school class in Turkey before completing his Internal Medicine training and Endocrinology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, consistently recognized among the most prestigious endocrinology training programs in the United States. He has authored numerous peer reviewed scienti c publications as well as educational books focused on hormones, metabolism, weight management, diabetes, and healthy aging. Beyond patient care, Dr. Ergin has become one of the most recognized physician educators in the country. rough his SugarMD platform, YouTube channel, podcasts, and social media presence, he has educated millions of people worldwide on health optimization, hormones, metabolism, weight loss, and longevity. His educational platforms have attracted more than one million followers across YouTube and social media, making him one of the most in uential physician voices in his eld. His commitment
to excellence has also earned recognition from his peers. Dr. Ergin was selected as one of Stuart Magazine’s Best Doctors, an honor voted on by fellow physicians who recognize outstanding clinical expertise, patient care, and professional leadership. Patients oen seek Dr. Ergin’s care aer years of frustration. Many have been told their laboratory results are normal despite experiencing fatigue, weight gain, declining energy, brain fog, poor sleep, low libido, or loss of motivation. Dr. Ergin believes that optimal health requires looking beyond reference ranges and understanding how the body’s hormonal and metabolic systems interact to in uence daily function and long term wellness. Whether your goal is to lose weight, optimize hormones, improve energy, maintain muscle, enhance performance, reduce future health risks, or create a personalized longevity strategy, Dr. Ergin provides a comprehensive medical approach designed to help you achieve meaningful and lasting results. Insurance is accepted for eligible medical services. For patients seeking more advanced functional medicine, hormone optimization, peptide therapy, and longevity focused care, exible self pay options are also available. Ask yourself: Are you tired of feeling older than your age? Are you struggling with weight gain despite doing everything right? Are you losing muscle, energy, motivation, or con dence? Do you want to improve your hormones, metabolism, and overall performance? Do you want a personalized strategy for healthy aging and longevity? Do you want a physician who combines elite endocrinology training with modern functional and preventive medicine? If so, Dr. Ahmet Ergin o ers a level of care designed for patients who want more than disease management. ey want optimization. Because true health is not simply the absence of disease. It is waking up with energy. Maintaining strength and muscle. inking clearly. Sleeping deeply. Optimizing hormones. Protecting long term health. Aging with con dence. And creating a longer, healthier, more vibrant life.
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America Voted for Stuart USA TODAY readers named Stuart the nation’s 2nd Best Coastal Small Town in 2024. A closer look at its riverfront, beaches, restaurants, museums and historic downtown explains the vote.
D rive across the Roosevelt Bridge into Stuart and the town appears below in a sweep of blue water, sailboat masts, tiled roofs and palms gathered along the St. Lucie River. Historic Downtown sits at the water’s edge, where Flagler Avenue and Osceola Street lead toward shaded sidewalks, old storefronts and a boardwalk that slips behind restaurants and parks. In April 2024, USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards named Stuart the No. 2 Best Coastal Small Town in America. Stuart had nished second the previous year, then rose to rst a er four weeks of public voting, beating places such as Key West, Newport, Gulf Shores and Pismo Beach. ose of us who live here welcomed the distinction with considerable pride and a small amount of concern about future parking. Visitors should understand Stuart’s geography before arriving. Downtown overlooks the St. Lucie River rather than the Atlantic Ocean, while the beaches, Elliott Museum, Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center and House of Refuge are reached by crossing to Hutchinson Island. e separation works in Stuart’s favor. Downtown
o ers a compact base for walking, dining, shopping and evening entertainment, and the island is only a short drive away for surf, sand and marine attractions. A car is useful for exploring the larger area, but once downtown, it can remain parked while the free city tram and a comfortable pair of shoes handle the rest. e best introduction begins along Flagler Avenue, where boutiques, galleries, cafés and restaurants occupy buildings scaled for people rather than skylines. More than 50 locally owned businesses ll the downtown district, and their windows carry clothing, jewelry, coastal home décor, antiques, paintings, books and the occasional object no sensible person needs but may purchase anyway. Co ee Bar Blue Door is recognizable by its cheerful entrance and leafy courtyard, where a latte can gradually become a glass of wine as the a ernoon progresses. e streets are compact enough to wander without a plan, and the Riverwalk boardwalk is never far away. It follows the St. Lucie past docks, mangroves and waterfront lawns, with benches positioned for watching boats idle beneath the bridge.
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History appears throughout the walk. e Stuart Heritage Museum occupies a 1901 general store built of Dade County pine, the oldest commercial building in the city. Its rooms hold photographs, household objects, business signs, shing equipment and artifacts from Stuart’s years as a railroad, pineapple-growing and trading community. A few blocks away, e Lyric eatre provides a more glamorous survivor. Built in 1925 as a silent movie house and opened in 1926 with a pipe-organ overture and a screening of Skinner’s Dress Suit, it now presents musicians, comedians, theatrical productions and speakers. e theater remains intimate enough to preserve its historic character, although its calendar frequently includes performers one might expect to nd in a much larger city. e Court House Cultural Center adds another layer. e building began as Stuart’s rst schoolhouse, later served as the Martin County Courthouse and received an Art Deco addition through a Works Progress Administration project in the 1930s. Saved from demolition by local residents, it now houses two galleries with changing exhibitions. e original marble staircase, terrazzo oor, judge’s vault and awning windows remain, giving visitors a chance to view the artwork inside a piece of local history. Beyond downtown, the Creek District carries the arts into working studios, murals, cafés and small businesses along Colorado Avenue and neighboring streets. Sunday reveals Stuart at its most sociable. Market on Main lls the waterfront area with local produce, baked goods, owers, prepared foods and artisan stalls. By a ernoon,
Rock’n Riverwalk brings free live music to the outdoor stage beside the river. Regulars arrive with folding chairs, families settle under the trees and boaters sometimes anchor within listening distance. Tourists are welcome, but the gathering never seems designed solely for them. It is a weekly ritual belonging to the community, which may be one of the strongest reasons a national readers’ poll responded to Stuart so warmly. Dining downtown deserves more than a vague promise of “fresh seafood.” At Riverwalk Cafe & Oyster Bar, a smart lunch or dinner might begin with oysters on the half shell, oysters dressed with sour cream, shallots and caviar, or tuna nachos with Asian slaw and ponzu. Fresh local sh appears grilled, blackened or jerked, while the dining room also gives serious attention to prime steaks and a wine list extensive enough to turn a quick decision into a committee
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America Voted for Stuart
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meeting. It is polished without becoming formal and works particularly well before a performance at e Lyric.
e Ga ord, a few doors from the theater, is another downtown favorite with a menu that gives local ingredients a Southern accent. Pretzel-crusted local snapper arrives with honey-Dijon beurre blanc, Mabel’s fried chicken is served with black-dot gravy and garlic mashed potatoes, and the signature 20-ounce bone-in ribeye settles any concern that a coastal town must survive entirely on grouper. For a meal directly beside the water, Stuart Boathouse pairs broad St. Lucie River views with seafood, sushi, steaks and cocktails. A table outside brings passing boats into the entertainment, including captains who approach the dock with varying degrees of con dence. CoLab Kitchen, near the Creek District, o ers a more relaxed farm-to-table setting with a large lawn, covered patio, re pits and seasonal New American cooking. Menus change, but dishes have included potato-encrusted snapper with sweet corn purée, seared yellow n tuna with kimchi and bacon fried rice, local vegetables and a popular weekend brunch. Sailor’s Return at Sunset Bay Marina is another strong choice for guests who want dinner among yachts, palms and dock lights. e atmosphere is decidedly coastal, with seafood, steaks and nightly specials served beside one of Stuart’s busiest marinas. Reservations are sensible during winter and spring, when seasonal residents and visitors suddenly remember every restaurant at approximately the same hour. Water is not merely a backdrop here. Stuart sits at the eastern end of the Okeechobee Waterway, with the St. Lucie Inlet providing access to the Atlantic, and boats are woven into daily life. e city was ocially recognized as the “Sail sh Capital of the World” in 1957 a er decades of attracting o shore anglers. Visitors can book a deep-sea
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“The real Florida is a land of beauty and serentiy.” — Ernest F. Lyons
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Albany was built on the belief that exceptional results and exceptional care are never mutually exclusive.
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Albany Aesthetics: Expanding Our Vision THE EXPERIENCE WEST PALM BEACH HAS BEEN WAITING FOR
As the demand for Albany’s signature aesthetic approach has grown, so too has their footprint. In a highly anticipated move, Albany Aesthetics is thrilled to announce the opening of their newest luxury destination in West Palm Beach. Located at 2600 S. Dixie Highway, the expansive new space brings Albany’s world-class aesthetic medicine and patient-centered care to Palm Beach County. e facility was meticulously designed to re ect the brand’s commitment to luxury and tranquility, o ering a seamless experience from consultation to recovery. “We do this because we truly care,” Kiera re ects on the expansion. “It’s an honor to be trusted with someone’s con dence, and we never take that responsibility lightly. Bringing our practice to West Palm Beach allows us to build lasting relationships with a new community while maintaining the intimate, personalized care our patients expect.” Albany provides a full spectrum of advanced aesthetic treatments, from neurotoxins and precision ller work to laser skin resurfacing, body contouring, and medical-grade skincare. Patients have access to some of the most soughtaer technologies in aesthetic medicine, including HALO laser resurfacing, Forever Young BBL, Morpheus8 radiofrequency microneedling, CO2 laser treatments, and MOXI, all delivered by providers who have been trained to Kiera’s exacting standard. “I want every patient to feel like they are getting me, even when they are not sitting across from me,” Kiera says. “ at is why I invest so deeply in the education of our entire team. e philosophy, the technique, the attention to detail. It is all the same, no matter who you see.”
Kiera’s credentials speak for themselves. As an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse and Certi ed Registered Nurse Anesthetist, she brings a level of clinical precision to aesthetic medicine that is rare in the industry. Her background in anesthesia gives her an intimate understanding of facial anatomy, nerve pathways, and vascular structures that directly informs how she approaches every injection and every treatment plan. It is a foundation that has made her one of the most respected injectors and educators in the country, sought aer not only by patients but by fellow practitioners who travel to learn her technique. “Anatomy is everything,” she explains. “Understanding what is beneath the surface is what allows us to create results that look natural, that move naturally, and that age beautifully. at knowledge is non-negotiable for every provider on my team.” Albany Aesthetics has assembled a team of licensed, highly trained providers across multiple specialties, including advanced practice nurses, aesthetic specialists, and a board certi ed plastic surgeon, each selected for their expertise and their alignment with the Albany standard of care. No matter which provider a patient sees, the approach is the same: thorough, intentional, and deeply personalized. at consistency is not accidental. It is the direct result of Kiera’s hands-on training program and her belief that every patient deserves the same level of excellence, every single time. It is this integration of expertise, technology, and genuine human connection that has made Albany Aesthetics a destination practice. Patients do not simply come for a treatment. ey come for an experience, and they return because the results speak for themselves. (772) 320-9791
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SERVING: STUART, SEWALL’S POINT, PALM BEACH, JUPITER ISLAND, & BEYOND
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Kim Spears Broker Associate, Senior Director of Luxury Sales
Elizabeth Spears Director of Luxury Sales
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continued charter, explore the calmer river and estuary with a local captain or take a sunset sail lasting roughly two hours. Treasure Coast Sailing Adventures allows passengers to help raise the sails or simply bring a picnic and watch the shoreline pass. Wildlife sightings may include dolphins, manatees, pelicans and wading birds, although nature has never shown much respect for a printed itinerary. A beach day requires crossing to Hutchinson Island, where the atmosphere shi s from riverfront town to open Atlantic. Stuart Beach is the easiest choice for a rst visit, with lifeguards, restrooms, volleyball courts, chair and umbrella rentals and a wide stretch of sand used by swimmers and surfers. Seaside Café sits directly beside the beach and serves breakfast and lunch from an order window. Shrimp and grits, breakfast tacos, a blackened mahi sandwich and sh tacos can be carried to a table beneath the chickee hut, sparing visitors the unhappy discovery that a granola bar has become lunch. Farther south, Bathtub Reef Beach is known for a fragile reef formed by tiny tube-building sea worms that cement grains of sand together. During calmer spring and summer conditions, the reef so ens the waves and creates the shallow “bathtub” e ect that families appreciate. e ecosystem supports hundreds of marine species, making the area interesting for careful snorkeling when tides and surf cooperate. Conditions change with erosion, storms and seasonal wave action, so visitors should check Martin County’s live beach updates before setting out. e beach may look gentle on a postcard, but the Atlantic retains nal editorial approval. e House of Refuge at Gilbert’s Bar supplies the island with one of its most dramatic historic sites. Built in 1876 to shelter shipwrecked sailors, it is the last remaining refuge station from the original network established along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Inside, keeper’s quarters, rescue equipment America Voted for Stuart
LOC INTER STO
and exhibits describe a period when this shoreline was remote and dangerous. Outside, dark Anastasia limestone meets the surf, and the wreck of the Georges Valentine, which sank during a storm in 1904, rests o shore. e setting is particularly striking early or late in the day, when the old white building, rocky shoreline and Atlantic light require very little help from a photographer. Two nearby attractions are substantial enough to rescue an overcast a ernoon or justify leaving the beach before sunburn makes the decision. e Elliott Museum is far more eclectic than its name suggests. Its permanent exhibits include vintage automobiles displayed through the ingenious Wheels of Change system, an extensive baseball collection, local history, aviation, the notorious Ashley Gang, Florida Highwaymen paintings and a tribute to entertainer Frances Langford. Rotating exhibitions add contemporary art and other subjects, creating a museum where automobile enthusiasts and their less mechanically
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CAL REST ORY
devoted companions can remain on speaking terms.
and restored guest houses occupies buildings dating as far back as 1890, with modern kitchens and amenities added to the historic architecture. Travelers who prefer to wake beside the Atlantic can choose a Hutchinson Island resort, but they should expect to drive into downtown for dinner and evening entertainment. Staying downtown produces the reverse arrangement: an easy walk home a er dinner and a short morning drive to the beach. e climate a ects the rhythm of a visit. Winter and spring bring the most comfortable weather, fuller restaurant reservations and busier streets. Summer is quieter and beautifully green, although heat, humidity and a ernoon thunderstorms reward early beach plans and a exible schedule. Sunday is especially appealing for the market and riverfront concert, while any evening can be built around dinner downtown, a Lyric performance or a walk along the water as the bridge lights appear.
Across Ocean Boulevard, the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center occupies 60 acres of coastal habitat between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon. Visitors can touch stingrays, observe resident sea turtles, see sharks and game sh, explore aquariums devoted to Florida species and walk nature trails through mangroves. Daily presentations explain the animals as well as the less photogenic work of restoring oyster reefs, protecting seagrasses and monitoring water quality. Children are usually captivated by the touch tanks; adults o en leave with a clearer understanding of how much science and labor are required to maintain the waterways they admired from the bridge. Stuart also o ers lodging that reinforces its character. e Old Colorado Inn places guests in the middle of downtown, within walking distance of the Riverwalk, e Lyric and many restaurants. Its collection of rooms, suites, cottages
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continued America Voted for Stuart What voters recognized in 2024 was Stuart’s ability to combine all of these experiences without turning itself into a sprawling resort complex. A visitor can eat breakfast beside the Atlantic, meet a stingray, inspect a century-old automobile, browse downtown shops, sail the St. Lucie and nish with local snapper before a show. e town o ers enough for a full weekend, yet its scale allows room to improvise. History remains useful, the waterfront belongs to the public and restaurants serve the community throughout the year instead of opening solely for a tourist season. Annual travel titles eventually move elsewhere, but Stuart’s victory captured an enduring quality. e city earned national attention because people continue to live within the very scenes visitors come to enjoy: shopkeepers greet regulars, anglers compare increasingly ambitious sh stories, families claim their usual patch of grass for Sunday music and friends meet along the boardwalk at sunset. America voted Stuart its best coastal small town because the experience is genuine, varied and remarkably easy to enjoy. We are pleased the secret is out, although we still reserve the right to complain if someone takes our parking space.
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Coastal Pearl Living - TREASURE 25
The Music Cities’ River
American Symphony by Denise Copeland
“It’s hard to imagine American music and literature without the river.” — Douglas Brinkley, historian
F or years, I tried to persuade my mother to take a cruise with me. Every invitation was met with the same list of objections: the ships were too large, the walking excessive, the crowds exhausting and the atmosphere far too similar to a giant oating mall with several food courts attached. At 86, my mother is a spunky, active Midwesterner who is perfectly capable of traveling. She simply has no desire to spend a vacation studying deck plans, waiting for elevators or hiking half a mile because someone seated us in the wrong dining room. I occasionally attempted to defend ocean cruising by explaining the restaurants, entertainment and clever ship design. My arguments were received with the polite detachment usually reserved for telemarketers. What she had always wanted was a riverboat cruise. A proper one, with towns along the riverbanks, a private balcony and a ship small enough that reaching breakfast would not require provisions. When I showed her the nine-day Music Cities itinerary aboard American Symphony, traveling from Memphis to Nashville with approximately 180 passengers, her resistance disappeared.
e ship had ve passenger decks rather than eighteen, no casino, no water slides and no shopping promenade selling watches beneath arti cial palm trees. is, she decided, was cruising. So we packed for Memphis and were met with barbecue smoke, neon signs and a blues guitar spilling through an open doorway on Beale Street. Beyond the music and trac, the Mississippi moved in broad brown folds, carrying barges beneath a sky that seemed far larger than it had any right to be. As a rst-time river cruiser, I had expected a pleasant passage with several good shore days. I had not expected the water itself to become the connective tissue of the trip, joining music, war, art, industry and small-town life into one unfolding American story. e nine-day Music Cities itinerary begins with a hotel night in Memphis before the ship sails toward Nashville by way of the Lower Mississippi, the Ohio and the Cumberland. My rst night at e Guest House at Graceland supplied an appropriately theatrical overture. Elvis portraits and polished surfaces set the mood, while the Graceland visit moved beyond rhinestone mythology into something more personal: family rooms, stage costumes,
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awards, cars and the quiet meditation garden where the scale of his fame briey gave way to the shape of an individual life. By breakfast, strangers were comparing favorite songs as if we had already formed a small traveling club. Embarkation aboard American Symphony was refreshingly simple. ere were no airport-style corridors, no maze of terminals and no anxious hunt for an elevator bank. e ship’s four-story atrium was bright and inviting, sunlight poured through a tall wall of glass and traveled across open landings, pale wood, glass railings and so ly upholstered seating below. Instead of the gilt columns, chandeliers and casino shimmer I had associated with cruising, the architecture felt airy and contemporary, almost residential. e vertical openness made it easy to understand the ship at a glance, but the scale remained human. Even at its grandest, the atrium felt like a handsome gathering room rather than a lobby designed to announce its own importance. Designed by Miami-based hospitality rm Studio DADO, the ship’s interiors favor contemporary residential comfort over continued
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American Symphony continued The Music Cities’ River
traditional riverboat nostalgia. Interiors draw their palette from the river landscape without turning the ship into a nautical theme park. Indigo, slate, sand, ivory and so gray appear in blue velvet sofas, striped club chairs, patterned carpets and textured drapery, balanced by warm wood and clean white surfaces. Abstract art adds color without crowding the walls, while potted greenery so ens corners and window bays. e combination is quietly coastal, with enough variation to give each room a personality and enough consistency to make the whole vessel feel composed. e River Lounge quickly earned a spot in my daily routine. Low sofas and swiveling chairs faced broad windows, so even a conversation over co ee remained connected to the passing banks. e Sky Lounge o ered a brighter perch near the upper deck, while the Study provided a more private corner for reading. Elsewhere, the Storyteller Lounge hosted talks and evening music, and the Game Room drew passengers into cards, puzzles and amiable competition. Nothing shouted for attention. ere were no casino bells or choreographed pool-deck spectacles, it was the perfect blend of what belonged on a river journey. Our neighboring staterooms extended that same sense of ease, and my mother immediately approved of having her own private retreat close enough for morning co ee without requiring an
appointment. Her cabin o ered ample storage, a desk, refrigerator and conveniently placed outlets.
My stateroom extended that same sense of ease, and my mother immediately approved of its practical design. e generous cabin o ered ample storage, a desk, refrigerator and enough conveniently placed outlets to prevent negotiations over chargers. She inspected the drawers, closet and bathroom with quiet Midwestern eciency before turning her attention to the oor-to-ceiling glass doors and private balcony. By the following morning, co ee beside the river had become our daily ritual as we watched towboats work against the current and studied the passing shoreline. Cabins range from about 250 square feet to spacious suites of more than 600 square feet, yet square footage was secondary to keeping the river within view. e Lower Mississippi scenery was not quite as polished. Levees, industrial structures, grain facilities and working barges shared the banks with trees and open sky. is section of the cruise presented a working river, blue collar, still carrying freight and shaping towns, and watching a long tow pass from the balcony became a lesson in scale. By our rst full river day, I had stopped asking what activity was next and started paying attention to the choreography outside.
continued
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American Symphony continued The Music Cities’ River
e Ohio River brought a so er mood with its broad surface reected the weather in silvers and greens. Wooded banks and the occasional burst of industry waved hello through passages. We passed through our rst lock, which was an unexpected surprise and quite interesting for cruisers who have never experienced it. “River cruising does not race toward its destinations. It allows each place to arrive gradually, rst as a line on the horizon and then as a story with a voice.” Days underway were not empty, although the schedule rarely felt overwhelming. Naturalists and local historians supplied context for the waterways and towns ahead, while trivia, cra s, cards and cooking demonstrations o ered gentle reasons to gather. Live musicians were especially e ective at connecting the route to its subject. Blues, country, gospel and familiar standards sounded di erent when the landscape that shaped them was sliding past the windows. Passengers generally skewed mature, conversation came easily and the ship’s scale prevented anonymity. By midweek, dining partners had become excursion companions, and the evening question was less “Where should I sit?” than “Who has room at the table?” e dining room continued the ship’s thoughtful visual language. White linens and generous windows gave the space a clean brightness, while woven-back chairs, warm wood overhead, plants and slim metal dividers kept it from feeling formal or cavernous. At breakfast, the room was washed in cool river light; by dinner, the same windows framed wooded banks and small riverside towns in the warmer tones of late a ernoon. e Back Porch Café o ered a casual alternative for a quick meal or snack, especially useful on days when an excursion returned close to lunch or a balcony and a book seemed more appealing than a long table. Meals leaned toward familiar American and Southern cooking, o en with regional touches. Menus moved among sh, pork, turkey, steak and vegetarian choices, followed by desserts such as fruit pie, red velvet cake or a whiskey-laced cake that encouraged considerable table diplomacy over the last slice. Open seating made each meal social, and cocktail hour brought passengers together before dinner with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Service was warm and personal, even when the polish varied slightly from one meal to the next. A fork might arrive a beat late, but someone on the crew usually remembered how I took my co ee, which seemed the better measure of hospitality. continued
“The Upper Mississippi becomes more and more storied as people start claiming their river history.” — Douglas Brinkley, historian
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American Symphony continued The Music Cities’ River
Paducah, Kentucky, made the rst persuasive case for choosing a cruise built around smaller ports. e city’s oodwall murals turned the riverfront into a long illustrated timeline, while the LowerTown Arts District revealed studios, galleries and restored buildings on walkable streets. e National Quilt Museum was the revelation. I had expected cra smanship; I had not anticipated work with the scale, color and emotional range of contemporary painting. Paducah has been part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network since 2013, and that recognition made sense a er an a ernoon spent seeing textile art treated as a living form rather than a nostalgic footnote.
Lake Barkley appears a er Paducah as the ship travels toward Dover, Clarksville and Nashville along the Cumberland River. Wooded coves replaced the working edges of the larger rivers, birds appeared along the shoreline and the ship seemed to move through a quieter, greener corridor. It was an ideal day to use the upper deck, where the air carried the clean scent of water and leaves. is portion of the route clari ed one of the cruise’s most appealing nuances: the scenery is not a single continuous panorama. It shi s among industrial river, broad commercial waterway, lake country and the narrower Cumberland, giving each day its own visual character.
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Fort Donelson added gravity to the itinerary. e 1862 battle brought an important Union victory and helped establish Ulysses S. Grant as a national military gure. Standing near the earthworks and river batteries made the geography of the campaign far clearer than a textbook map ever had. e water was not background; it was a strategic route, an obstacle and a source of power. is stop added contrast to our journey, crossing through history with a landscape marked by consequence.
history, while visits associated with Dunbar Cave and the area’s music heritage widened the story beyond famous stages. I chose an excursion centered on Johnny Cash, where family memories and personal artifacts brought the icon back to human proportions. A distillery visit supplied another window into Tennessee culture, with enough discussion of grain, barrels and patience to make the tasting feel educational, although no one at my table seemed troubled by the practical component. Nashville announced itself well before disembarkation. e Cumberland tightened around bridges and buildings, the skyline rose ahead and the calm of the river began to share space with downtown energy. Docking within reach of Broadway created a delicious contrast: one minute I was watching the river from a blue club chair, and soon a erward I was walking among neon signs, boot shops and music pouring from open doors. e Country Music Hall of Fame supplied the broad history, the Ryman Auditorium delivered atmosphere and the Grand Ole Opry provided a polished nale. First-time cruisers should arrive prepared for a relaxed, adult atmosphere. Dress is generally casual, with a collared shirt or simple dress more than adequate for dinner, and the ship’s elevators make the decks manageable for many travelers. Some river landings and historic sites involve uneven ground or steep ramps, so comfortable shoes matter more than decorative ones. Popular excursions deserve early reservations, Southern heat and humidity can be formidable, and internet service may vary as the ship moves between towns. I initially booked this cruise because my mother had wanted to travel by riverboat for years. While we expected music, scenery and visiting several towns, we had not considered how much time we would spend together. We explored each port side by side, then compared notes over cocktails and dinner. Mom and I o en spent a ernoons playing Rummikub in one of the lounges, where it was easy to strike up conversations with other passengers. We met fellow travelers who shared our interests in music, food and exploring new places, and those conversations continued over cocktails, dinner and the evening performances. e ship o ered quiet corners and river views, but the games, entertainment and good company made the hours between ports especially enjoyable. By the end of the cruise, familiar faces greeted us throughout the ship. By the end of the cruise, Mom was already talking about taking another, which says a lot for someone who had rejected every cruise I had previously suggested.
Clarksville restored the musical thread with a more intimate tone. e Customs House Museum o ered local art and regional
“Before Nashville was the Music City, it was a river city. — Tom Manthey, president of Nashville Riverboats
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