I just joined this list because it seems to be more civilized than other lists.

I'm from Kansas City Missouri and have been wearing kilts for 3 years now. I have 5 UK's and 3 trade tartan kilts made by J Higgins is Kansas City.

I have a couple of questions that are totally unrelated to each other.

First I am not Scottish and I can't really tell by my last name because my great grandfather was adopted and given the adopted family name. Other side of the family went back several generations and never got out of the US. I would like a tartan that means something to me. I know blackwatch and Royal Stewart are supposed to be universal but that is the problem, it won't have a connection with me. My wife on the other hand is part Scottish and her last name was Rose. Is it unusual to use the tartan of your wifes family?

Second sometime summer or fall of 2007 I would like to take a trip to Scotland and I would like some ideas of places I shouldn't miss when there. It will probably be a one time deal and I don't want to find out about something after I return. Is Culloden field a good place to visit? Anything else? Can you tour woolen mills or weavers of tartan?

Thanks in advance,
Mark Keeney