Roban Johnson

You won't need a magic carpet to visit the "Empire of the Sultans." Now through Nov. 9, the Museum of Arts and Sciences will feature Ottoman Art from the Khalili Collection, an exhibit of more than 200 secular and sacred masterpieces that reveal the rich artistic heritage of the Ottoman Empire.

The Ocmulgee National Monument is usually a quiet place where peace and solitude go hand-in-hand. That changes each fall when Native Americans from across the country return to their ancestral homeland bringing with them the customs, stories and cultures of the people who first inhabited these lands.

I have never flown anything larger than a Cessna 172, yet here I am in the seat of an F-15 with the throttle up and ready to roll. Do I have what it takes to be a "Top Gun?" I'll soon find out. I'm strapped in and ready for adventure.