About The Eatonton messenger. (Eatonton, Ga.) 18??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 2025)
C2 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025 The Eatonton Messenger www.msgrnews.com Luxury Outdoor Travel mixes military precision with freewheeling fun Ian Tocher ian@msgrnews.com For Frank and Courtney Adkinson, travel is not just a passion; it’s a way of life. The husband-and-wife team behind Luxury Outdoor Travel (LOT), say their mission is to help people see the world not just as tourists, but as they both prefer, as educated, inquisitive travelers. Both share a passion for adventure — their honeymoon took them on safari in Botswana — and both were experienced world explorers even before meeting. “We provide authentic and immersive travel experiences,” explained Frank, who recently retired after serving 29 years as a U.S. Army infantry officer. “That can mean anything from adventure travel and cultural experiences to cruises, culinary tours, or family vacations. We do it all, including group trips, solo travelers, even corporate and university travel.” The couple marked joining the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cut ting ceremony last Tuesday evening in front of the chamber office in downtown Eatonton. Afterward, they stressed Luxury Outdoor Travel exists to facil itate full-service trip planning for destinations worldwide. Their motto: “You dream it; we’ll do it!” is intended to capture the spirit of “luxury outdoor travel” through person alized itineraries built on local i W IAN TOCHER/Staff Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce President Robbie King (center with bow) watches as Courtney Adkinson cuts the ribbon with her husband Frank at her side, to officially announce the opening of Luxury Outdoor Travel, near Publix in Greene County. connections and authentic experiences. Courtney, who holds a master’s degree in communica tions and marketing, handles much of LOT’s client coordi nation. The Adkinsons lived in Europe for three years, where they began forming many of the relationships that now anchor their travel network. “We want our clients to feel like they’re part of a place they visit, not just looking at it from a bus window,” she said. “Those personal connections make the experience so much richer.” Courtney added, too, that LOT’s approach remains high- touch, high-service, regardless of a client’s budget. “Luxury doesn’t always mean five-star hotels,” she explained. “Luxury can just be peace of mind. Just knowing that if something does go wrong, you’ve got someone back at home working to fix it ASAP. That’s where we really shine.” Meanwhile, Frank’s military career was defined by leadership and logistics. Multiple overseas assignments helped to shape both his worldview and his approach to planning. “The Army teaches you to plan for every contingency and that mindset carries over perfectly to travel,” he explained. “We make sure every detail is covered so clients can relax and just enjoy the journey and the experience.” Those decades of foreign living also provided Frank with an invaluable network of connections for LOT and its clients. “I can call friends we’ve made over the years in Croatia, France, Budapest, or several other places and get real, reli able recommendations,” he said. “Travel is not just about booking flights and hotels; it’s about giving people the experiences that locals love — and tourists don’t always find.” LOT-arranged trips range from a weeklong Croatia group tour featuring oyster harvesting and wine tasting, to a Munich Oktoberfest experience in part nership with Putnam County’s Bruzze Brewing. The Adkinsons can also plan custom adventures like photography safaris, hiking tours, or ancestry-based travel. “We’re small, but we’re full service,” Frank stressed. “If someone wants to go fly fishing in the Dolomites or attend the Grand Prix of Monaco, we can make it happen.” Courtney agreed, adding that the most rewarding thing for them is seeing and hearing clients’ reactions when they return from an overseas trip. “Sometimes people are nervous to travel abroad for the first time, but then they come back and say, Well, where am I going next?’ That’s really the best feeling in the world for us,” she said. Luxury Outdoor Travel oper ates out of Flowspace, a commu nity workspace near Publix in Greensboro. For more informa tion, contact LOT at 816-277- 878 or visit luxuryoutdoortravel. com. SATURDAY .Marion St. Gallery Hours 11 AM - 5 PM WED-FRI 10 AM - 3 PM SATURDAY 3 W. Marion Street, Eatonton am - 5 pm The cast of On Golden Pond at The Plaza includes (standing l-r): Lou Benjamin, Dennis McClain, Robin Cassidy, and Pete Stephan, with (sitting l-r): Andrew Tam, Sarah Daily-Weir, Bill Dudley, Jackie Hill, Brent Mero, and Luis Quinones. CONTRIBUTED From Home Cooks to Professional Chefs Th? &, S •7 ‘ 3 Experience ‘On Golden Pond’ at The Plaza The Smart Choice ...for all your kitchen needs! Cookware & Utensils • Glassware, Flatware, China Banquet & Catering Supplies • Bar Equipment & Supplies Commercial Cooking & Refrigeration Equipment “Want to see my teeth?” That’s Norman Thayer’s introduction to his daugh ter’s boyfriend. And that snappy opener sets the “biting” tone for the rest of this performance. Norman is forgetful, unreasonable, cantan kerous, hard-of-hearing, opinionated, rude, forgetful, surly, narrow- minded, anvil-stubborn, and ... forgetful. So am I. That’s why I got the role. Yep, even though the role of Norman probably has more lines of dialogue than I have lines of memory, I’m Norman! Look, If you can tolerate that kind of person and look past my ... my “storage” problem, you should absolutely, positively see On Golden Pond, because the other actors are a delight! They respond like thoroughbreds to the ingenious direction of Dennis McClain and Lou Benjamin; both who excel at wit and emotion. Norman’s wife, Ethel Thayer (“thounds ath if I’m lithping, doethn’t it?”), is brought to life by Sarah Daly Weir, star of the NY stage, LA screen, and numerous soaps ... just six or seven years ago. She’s just as feisty as Norman, but consid erably more kind and patient, and easier on the eyes. Jackie Hill, a famous Lake Country artist, plays Norman’s daughter, Chelsea, and the primary recipient of his jibes. Jackie plays the role with the same sass and sincerity as Sarah. Brent Mero, every one’s favorite chef, is the larger-than-life Charlie the mailman, who deftly delivers the mail by boat, ignores Norman’s attempts to goad him, and whose laugh, the fir IReStore Habitat for Humanity of Putnam 9 NEW HOURS! iff tets Restore your donation helps a family build a strong foundation for the future. | putnanrcoijnlyhabitat.org| $706-991-1600 - NEW LOCATION Less than one mile from Harmony Crossing! 866 Harmony Road Wednesday Thursday: Friday: Saturday: 10am-5pm 10am-5pm 10am-5pm 10am-4pm audience will soon learn, is ... contagious. Talk about typecasting! Andrew Tam is a real-life dentist in Greensboro playing the role of Bill Ray, a dentist from LA in love with Chelsea and meeting “The Parents” for the first time. Is city-boy Bill ready for the woods? Dogs and Norman and Pandas ... oh my! Thirteen-year-old Billy Ray Jr. is the son of Bill Ray and possesses a knack for charming prospec tive stepmothers, old ladies, and even ancient curmudgeons. Billy is admirably portrayed by another 13-year-old, Luis Quinones, a Lake Oconee Academy seventh grader. In the school’s next play, Luis will probably be playing Rooster Hannigan or Daddy Warbucks — or perhaps, with the help of a massive red wig, Annie. And to think, we knew him when! Witness us all “On Golden Pond,” as it comes to life on The Plaza stage (305 N. Madison Ave., Eatonton) at 7 p.m., Nov. 13, 14, 20, and 23, with matinee performances at 3 p.m., Nov. 16 and 23. Tickets to all shows are just $25 each and avail able now at plazacenter, org. — Contributed Food Equipment Co, Inc. Eatonton, GA 31024 210 Sandy Creek Road, Athens 706.549.7088 « [www.manningbrothers.com BRING THIS AD & GET 10% OFF YOUR PURCHASE! Schedule a Free Donation Pickup We pick up large furniture & home goods. Visit our showroom, call, or shop online! Shop. Donate. Volunteer. Shop gently-used home goods, appliances, and furniture. Every purchase helps local Putnam County families build homes! RUSSELL W. 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